We are really hopeful to get a family trip in the last week in May and first week of June (2 weeks). We know this is Covid and International Relations dependent, but are going forward with the brainstorming stage so we can hopefully start reserving one the end of March or beginning of April if factors allow.
We love scenery and exploring - not so interested in cities unless “old” history is involved. Not really interested in cruises either. Probably have 8 people traveling - all adults - and a working budget of 20-25K (could be more, but not say, double that cost). We don’t need first class or luxury accommodation.
Places on the table so far include:
Victoria Falls and then a safari in Africa
Trans Siberian railroad trip
Alaska of some sort (only state in the US most of us haven’t been to)
Jordan (repeat for half, but a revisit isn’t out of the question)
French Polynesia - but need to price that to see if it’s still in consideration
We would like more to consider, so if you’ve BTDT and think we should consider it - AND the end of May/beginning of June is a good time to go there, what do we add?
More options help us if Covid or lack of availability is an issue when it comes to booking time.
I’m making a spreadsheet of options that the family will have access to for their consideration.
Most places in the US we’ve been to (most of us have), so aren’t high priority, but could come into play if Americans still can’t travel elsewhere easily. Those dates of availability for all are rather set in stone.
Have you considered Croatia? Beautiful coasts as well as mountain terrain. Tourism runs the economy. The locals are friendly and nearly everyone in the service industry speaks English. I would visit Zagreb, Split, and Dubrovnik. All of these cities date back to Roman times. The center of activity in Split (Old Town) revolves around a place Diocletian (a Roman emperor) built as his retirement home. Depending on what interests you, there are lots of options. Accommodations are very reasonable. I hope to return in the fall of 2021.
I think the African trip for eight will not fall within your budget.
What about someplace like Tulum? You could go to see the ruins, relax on the beach, have great food, walk on the beach. That part of Mexico has some interesting history.
Arrive Munich - 1 day sampling food / beer gardens, can add a day trip to Dachau museum, then Neuschwanstein castle 1 day, then hop among Austria and Switzerland Mountain towns for rest of time, unbelievable mountain scenery and hiking, then back to leave from Munich. International airport, usually plenty of reasonable cost accommodations along the entire itinerary, easy travel between stops by trains - no rental car necessary.
Don’t think we will be traveling but… One of the best bargains and the new cool place to go to is Southeast Asia… Indonesia/Malaysia , Vietnam, Cambodia, Loas,… Pick one or a few since its easy to travel to. My daughter between sophomore and junior year took a gap semester and back packed solo. My wife went to meet up with her. Many people we know have gone.
Southeast Asia looks quite appealing. I’ll add that to the list. Ditto Croatia. H, med school lad, and I were supposed to go to Germany/Poland this past April/May and it got cancelled. Maybe I’ll consider that for all of us. One of our exchange students lives in Germany. We had planned on visiting her and her family.
Back when we originally started looking (pre-Covid), Victoria Falls followed by a safari came in budget (enough) if we stayed at the Hostel and didn’t pick a super fancy safari.
With Covid I’m not sure how prices will change with anything. If it’s ok to travel, I suspect a lot of people will be traveling and booking in late March for May will be tight, esp for popular places like most of Europe. Choices will likely be limited and prices could be high.
If you decide to look Into Tulum, you want to be in the little village with the hotels along the beach…not in main town. Gorgeous beaches. Most rooms facing the water with porches. Honestly, it’s like the South Pacific except far less costly and you won’t be spending multiple days of your trip traveling.
The travel time needs to be considered for anything in Southern Africa. It’s way more than a 24 hour trip plus the jet lag issue is a huge one. And the time change!
Two weeks is the minimum we will do for anything similar to these places, though on medical mission trips my guy has done single weeks to the Philippines and Cote D’Ivoire. We like to think we’re young enough to deal with jet lag, esp if we allow the first day just to acclimate a little.
Mexico isn’t really appealing to us, esp in May (been there, but not to Tulum). We go to Canada often (every year except this year), but haven’t done a train trip out to Western Canada - so maybe that could be added. Comparatively I’d rather do the Trans Siberian though - if Covid allows. New (to us) places are preferred by all of us.
ok, so I’ve been to a few places on your list and will recommend some others.
French Polynesia… ie. Tahiti… ie. Bora Bora. We flew into Tahiti, then a puddle jumper to another small island and spent a week on a private catamaran. We had 3 cabins, the husband/wife team of captain/chef had the other cabin. You can find larger boats. Technically, it was a “bareboat with hired crew” as opposed to owner/operated. They were wonderful. It was one of our most fun vacations because it is relaxing for all… no need for food decisions, or where to go, or what to do. The captain and chef take care of that based on the preference sheet.
Africa. Kenya and Tanzania are open. Not sure if within your price range - would depend on accommodations. There is a huge variety in the “safari tented camp” range - from full luxury (hardwood floors, hot/cold running water) to medium luxury (eco-friendly, safari showers, cold running water) to budget (haven’t been there, but pretty budget). We stayed in the first two types of camps and ironically, we preferred the medium luxury. The guides were amazing - we felt a more personal connection. Kenya and Tanzania are amazing - again, super fun for all and relaxing for even the travel planner.
Croatia - love Dubrovnik.
What about?
Maldives. Open with a negative covid test. Must stay in your resort or on your boat, but we had a boat booked during Thanksgiving but had to cancel. They were super accommodating and are holding our deposit until we can go. Again, a private catamaran, husband/wife team of captain/crew.
I can make recommendations for an amazing travel agent for Kenya/Tanzania. We loved her itinerary so much, we are going again this summer (we were there in spring 2017).
I can also make recommendations for the Maldives for a boat and for Bora Bora. Or I can send you a trip report if you want to see what our day-by-day boots on the ground looked like. send me a DM and we can talk off-line.
Sending you a pm as soon as I finish typing this. Would love contacts for everything you mentioned - very helpful and we want to compare options. Thanks!
I don’t think that Covid wise, Vic Falls/safari is realistic by June. Africa is very low priority vaccine wise and I don’t think covid is going to be anywhere near under control by then there, it looks like they will only start rolling out vaccines mid next year there. It is definitely an amazing experience and a trip you should do if you can, but I wouldn’t do it that soon amid a pandemic. (There are many safari options around the area all with varying options and prices.)
Definitely time will tell how Covid is doing anywhere. We have a “basic” back up if we need it, but we’re hoping we can go somewhere new to at least most of us.
We liked Bali: stayed in Ubud (artsy village) and Seminyak (beach). South Africa can be done without spending a fortune. We split time on safari between Kruger self driving / staying in the camps and a private reserve. Also drove the Eastern Cape from Knysna to Capetown. I agree though that Africa and, in my opinion, Indonesia/SE Asia will likely not be ready for real tourism yet.
Have you been to Switzerland? The Bernese Oberland is absolutely incredible. Lots of outdoor things to do in the stunning natural landscape.
Also you will get conflicting views about this but I think Vic falls is more impressive in December (rainy season when the falls really thunder). Zimbabwe/the northern parts of SA including Kruger/Botswana are summer rainfall and imo much more scenic when they are green. June is winter and it can be very dry (although that can be good for game sighting as the animals tend to cluster around scarcer water supplies too).
If you (or anyone else here) do ever want to do SA drop me a PM - lived there for 45 years
In May 2015, we took a trip following college graduation of younger kid. May was a nice time for Europe on that trip (and a trip the two of us in 2012).
One kid wanted Italy and the other Germany. So we did 4 nights Rome (airbnb), train to Venice, 1 night in Venice, night train to Munch, 4 nights in Munich. That would likely be to city-heavy for your group (though there is lots of History!). But I mention it because we really did enjoy train travel as a group of 4. Also liked seeing different countries since we had not traveled to Europe as a family.
Switzerland looks awesome, but my mind wonders if my oldest will be able to do hiking with significant elevation change by then or not. At this point he still can’t due to probable Covid back in March. I’m wondering about scuba too, but I know he’d still like snorkeling and his wife only snorkels so he might choose to stay “on top” with her anyway.
If we chose a trip with scuba it would give me an excuse for him to go in and get his lungs checked first.
