Domestic or International Holiday with Two Kids

L4Flowers on 02/03/2025 - 21:15

Hi Everyone,

I'm so glad I recently found OzBargain. For context I have two kids and would like to take them on a holiday for 2-3 weeks early next year OR we could maybe have a 1 to 2 week holiday the middle of this year. I would have loved to take the children to England, but the flights alone would cost $7,500.00 return so I'm looking for other reasonable options for a holiday in Australia or overseas. Please share any ideas for destinations, flights, or airlines to try for 1 adult and two kids. Thank you so much.

Travel Holiday

Comments

  • MS Paint on 02/03/2025 - 21:18
    +10

    I hear Logan in QLD is where it's at.

    • life is suffering on 02/03/2025 - 22:36
      +1

      Hurricane season

      • AMofOz on 03/03/2025 - 09:53
        +1

        wabbit season, duck season.

  • Tiredman on 02/03/2025 - 21:32
    +19

    Japan. Safe and fun and plenty of things to see and do.

    • aussieplip on 02/03/2025 - 21:37
      +2

      Japan is heaps cheaper and no jetlag. Kids will love the theme parks

      • Protractor on 02/03/2025 - 22:14
        -4

        And Strayan is now the first language, with Ocker& Bogania being the most prevalent sub dialects. Apparently you can smoke on the ski slopes ,too.Trad Japanese love the influx of Aussie tourists. You can even buy up cheap houses over there.
        /s

        • Caped Baldy on 03/03/2025 - 15:35
          +8

          The cashed up bogans are ruining everything again.

      • Poor Ass on 03/03/2025 - 18:08
        +1

        the queues suck though

        • belongsinforums on 03/03/2025 - 23:05

          i thought we all go to the theme parks FOR the queues

          • Poor Ass on 03/03/2025 - 23:11

            @belongsinforums: nah this is like next level queuing

            • belongsinforums on 03/03/2025 - 23:13

              @Poor Ass: i saw one of those little signs telling you the wait at disney sea. 6 hour wait for that stupid 30 second VR flight across the world. and people were queued up to the sign.

              • Poor Ass on 03/03/2025 - 23:16

                @belongsinforums: i saw something similar at USJ and the sign said 2.5 hours but really took 1.5hr… it was also a VR one that was getting decommissioned

                one thing good about Japanese theme parks is they always overestimate the waiting time

                • belongsinforums on 03/03/2025 - 23:18

                  @Poor Ass: my experience waiting for other rides that day were pretty accurate with wait times. almost 2 hours for the tower of terror. got in just before they closed off the line. USJ was way better with the single lines

                  • Poor Ass on 03/03/2025 - 23:22

                    @belongsinforums: agreed the single riders in Japan was great

                    Tower of Terror….. that closed like 6 years ago. You mean Giant Drop?

                    • belongsinforums on 04/03/2025 - 00:08

                      @Poor Ass: disney sea's tower. forget its name but basically a shorter drop with added animations

      • Hangryuman on 03/03/2025 - 18:09
        +1

        today's searches for March-April hotel rooms for a couple in Japan showed me Kagoshima hotels averaging $120-140/night, Nagoya $240/night, and Tokyo $350/night - of course YMMV - that's just our price checks today …

  • AustriaBargain on 02/03/2025 - 21:44
    +4

    Age and sex of the kids?

    • 4Flowers on 02/03/2025 - 23:29
      +3

      I should have mentioned that. Two boys - 14 and 17.

      • Hangryuman on 03/03/2025 - 18:10
        -1

        so the answer to the second question is "no for now, and hopefully sometime"

  • oscargamer on 02/03/2025 - 21:51
    +1

    Age of kids?

    • 4Flowers on 02/03/2025 - 23:29
      +1

      Boys 14 and 17

      • belongsinforums on 03/03/2025 - 23:06
        +1

        phuket for the ping pong ball shows

  • Benoffie on 02/03/2025 - 22:07
    +1

    Need more info. Interests will be helpful.

    • CyberMurning on 02/03/2025 - 22:19
      +3

      Hobby and star signs as well.

    • 4Flowers on 02/03/2025 - 23:30
      +2

      One loves Lego everything and the other fishing and technology.

        • 4Flowers on 03/03/2025 - 20:17

          Thank you. I'm not sure why got negative votes if that's what they're called.

          • AustriaBargain on 03/03/2025 - 20:45

            @4Flowers: Haters are going to hate.

          • Save 50 Cent on 03/03/2025 - 22:48

            @4Flowers: Because using chatgpt for everything is getting out of hand and just lazy as.
            You obviously were asking for personal experiences and i take it you know who to use chatgpt/google yourself.

      • Benoffie on 03/03/2025 - 10:31
        +5

        Japan.

        Just did it in 23 with a then 17 year old boy.

        Super safe, not crowded. Tech for days, models, Gundam, Lego, you name it. They will drive you bonkers chasing stuff.

        Try staying around Shimbashi station to maximise the local lines on the subway.

        Get the kids to have a look and give you feedaback.

        South Korea - meh. Unless they are into the K culture, I wouldn't bother. That is crowded, no where near as polite or forgiving, outside of Seoul English is difficult and there's no translation or dual languages. Japan isnt like this. Didnt matter where we went, everyone, even aholes, were polite (even if frustrating). That, I could deal with with a kid in tow.

        • Hangryuman on 03/03/2025 - 18:13
          +2

          in Seoul I was not impressed when I went looking for snacks in a local convenience store and it seemed all the drinks they were selling were soju - or strong rice alcohol - {shudder} - I won't bother trying to read this article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_alcoholic_drinks

          • Benoffie on 03/03/2025 - 20:13

            @Hangryuman: Its not cheap, everything is pegged to USD (which is a killer for us) and yes, the unrestricted licensing on alcohol and general culture around drinking isnt great for kids

        • belongsinforums on 03/03/2025 - 23:14

          good tip to stay near shinbashi. easy walk back home if youre out past midnight for some reason

  • Wiadro on 02/03/2025 - 22:14
    +7

    japan travel is cheaper then traveling locally

    • Agret on 03/03/2025 - 18:23
      +4

      They're 14 & 17 so they are teenagers rather than children, definitely old enough to remember their trip.

    • Save 50 Cent on 03/03/2025 - 22:49

      I’m sorry you parents neglected you.

  • El cheepo on 02/03/2025 - 22:45
    +10

    If the kids are at least high-school age or close to that, an international trip is a great way to broaden their horizons and give them a different look at the world outside of Australia.

    Travel is a real eye opener for anyone, but especially young ones still learning about the world.

    • CyberMurning on 02/03/2025 - 23:30
      -7

      Nah they wont remember a thing if too young.

      • El cheepo on 03/03/2025 - 10:40
        +1

        Thats why i said

        If the kids are at least high-school age or close to that,

    • 4Flowers on 02/03/2025 - 23:31
      +2

      That’s a fact. We have family in England and I should add we used to live there but a long time ago. Accommodation probably wouldn’t be an issue but flights are just horrendous nowadays.

      • drprox on 03/03/2025 - 16:07
        +1

        Also when you step off the plane you're in England!

  • Dollar General on 03/03/2025 - 04:47
    +6

    Singapore or Japan

    • Downvoter on 03/03/2025 - 08:39
      +2

      Singapore how boring

    • AMofOz on 03/03/2025 - 09:51

      I have Singapore on my bucket list, but I worry about the crowds lol.

      • Caped Baldy on 03/03/2025 - 15:36
        +1

        You should be more worried about the humidity.

        • AMofOz on 03/03/2025 - 19:33

          fair

      • belongsinforums on 03/03/2025 - 23:08

        singapore is fine as a quick stopover. dont know why anyone would willingly stay there longer than a day

  • drewbytes on 03/03/2025 - 08:40
    +2

    If you can afford the trip to the UK the kids will love it. We've been on many trips with our boys and they love exploring the countryside, castles and other ancient ruins, piers with all the games, etc etc. Join English Heritage and see as many sites for free (when you're a member) as you can get to. We've been to approx. 200 of their 400 sites.

    • 4Flowers on 03/03/2025 - 20:21

      That sounds amazing and it is certainly something my boys would love. Given the distance I think 3 weeks is required as a minimum. If I choose this option we will need to decide if we travel in winter or the British version of summer lol.

  • Fredfloresjr on 03/03/2025 - 09:49
    +1

    Nothing to see Locally, the reason why you want to travel is the change of atmosphere. Like many said, JAPAN is the key.

  • AMofOz on 03/03/2025 - 09:51
    +1

    I'm biased, but I loved Hawaii when we went in December! Around 10 hour flight time. There's some good deals about included flights and accommodation packages.

    https://www.myhawaii.com.au/shop/?collections=Hot%20Deals

    https://www.tripadeal.com.au/searchresults?searchText=Hawaii

    • 4Flowers on 03/03/2025 - 20:22
      +1

      I have actually always wanted to visit Hawaii. Not sure why I never thought about it when thinking about a holiday. Having a look at your links now.

  • pogichinoy on 03/03/2025 - 09:55
    +1

    South Korea.

    Japan a close second but looks to be super congested with tourists.

  • Lastchancetosee on 03/03/2025 - 10:37
    +5

    Japan. Lots of teen- and family-friendly activities. Tokyo - Ghibli Museum, Godzilla, Sky Tower, National Museum, TeamLab, Science Museum with a whole floor of robotics, Disneyland, for a start.

    There's also Universal Studios in Osaka and a second TeamLab to visit at night, and a purateship tour on the lake near Mt Fiji.

    If you take the time to look, there are hundreds of interesting things to do and places to visit. Also plenty of threads on OzB for travelling to Japan.

  • Jeannie77 on 03/03/2025 - 11:04
    +1

    At 14 and 17 you should be asking them where they would prefer to go. For me at that age I would have chosen Los Angeles.

    • bargaino on 03/03/2025 - 13:50
      +2

      Real life LA will be a sordid disappointment , compared to Hollywood movies.
      If going to the USA, see the national parks, or a decent city.

    • 4Flowers on 03/03/2025 - 20:24

      You're right. I haven't told them because this holiday wherever we go is supposed be a surprise.

  • gromit on 03/03/2025 - 16:01
    +3

    Just back from our 3rd trip to Japan (last week). Love it there, plenty to do, it is reasonably priced (if you avoid tourist trap stores). Everything from Theme parks (though lots of lines) to stuff like Sumo Wrestling, TeamLab, museums, Samarai Restaurant (formerly Robot Restaurant) and loads of cultural stuff which they may or may not be into.

  • Sigiriya on 03/03/2025 - 16:40
    +1

    Cruise to Vanuatu to NZ. All inclusive and should be able to have few excursions for that budget.

  • Brianqpr on 03/03/2025 - 16:48
    +3

    When our kids were young we were so shocked by the extortionate prices for anything in Australia during school holidays that we took them to Bali instead. My son was about 7 and my daughter 9. They absolutely loved it and we've continued to go regularly, most recently in November last year with them aged 21 and 18 now.

    Nusa Dua was ideal when they were young. Hardly any traffic, big resorts with great swimming pools etc and a nice safe beach. As they got older and could cope with the at times chaotic traffic in other parts of the island, we ventured out into other areas more.

    Ah, just noticed in the comments your kids are older.

    • The General on 03/03/2025 - 19:56
      +1

      I 2nd Bali.

      It has a bad reputation as some places are filled with the wrong kind or tourists, but otherwise, there is something for every age group. There is enough there to keep you busy everyday for weeks.

  • downhillar on 03/03/2025 - 18:44
    +2

    I would recommend Queenstown NZ for an easy holiday. 3 hour flight, cheapish compared to Europe or USA etc, amazing scenery and endless things to do.

    • AMofOz on 03/03/2025 - 21:12
      +1

      oh yeah Queenstown is also on my list!

  • 2esc on 03/03/2025 - 19:18
    +1

    Japan is a place worth definitely worth considering my 16 year old son would love to go. He has just started learning Japanese for a trip his planning for in 2 years. I got him into Sushi years ago now he loves Japanese restaurants his also into gaming, tech and Japanese Animation. My 13 son would also enjoy it though not as passionately.

  • ripprind on 03/03/2025 - 21:19

    Just FYI: studies show that more frequent shorter holidays are better "bang for buck" in creating lasting memories.

    All my life I used to think longer but therefore less frequent was where its at. But a few yeara ago I listened to a podcast from a memory researcher who explained that shorter and more frequent will make for more memories.

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