We are trying to decide on a 4 week trip with our two kids (6 and
in March this year. We had wanted to do Bali and Lombok but now concerned with the volcano status. The appeal of Bali was the climate, surfing, culture and have heard it is very family friendly. As we are hoping to go for 4 weeks, Indonesia's cost effectiveness was also a draw. Thoughts on other places we could travel for this time period that would offer the above?

Thailand?

Portugal

Costa Rica!

Problem with CR is its nowhere near Indonesia for cost effectiveness. I have travelled to both places in the last year and spent less than half in Indonesia than CR, and did way more things and stated in 4 1/2 star hotels.

Thailand and Vietnam! Beautiful and cheap.

VIETNAM! I absolutely loved it.

Vietnam for sure. So safe, everyone is very friendly and it’s cheap.

Yes...we are now leaning towards Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. Excited but nervous to do this with our kids. Haven't done this kind of travelling since kids. Thanks everyone. Such amazing ideas!

Good choice

I found Vietnam and Cambodia friendlier than Thailand. We saw so many young families travelling around Vietnam when we were there a few years ago. We are planning on taking our girls there in a few years.

IM headed to Vietnam in Feb...any tips? please PM me !

Nicaragua, Panama?

I'd recommend Vietnam and currently there's a great sale on hongkong airlines!

excellent tip, thank you

I also would recommend Vietnam

Right now?? Ty for the tip!

Hm.. Can't deal with it today. Tomorrow hopefully

Sayulita Mexico.

Funny - we had started looking at Sayulita but have decided to save that for when we don't have as long as it's much easier to get there from here. Thanks!

Sayulita is awesome and we planned to visit with our daughter at peak season next year until we read about the raw sewage issues they're having. Some food for thought when traveling with little ones. Have a great trip, wherever you pick
http://www.greenecoservices.com/swimming-in-sewage-in.../
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Swimming In Sewage In Sayulita, Mexico

Bali even with the volcano. I was just there and I have friends there currently and I can tell you they have said its blown (literally) out of proportion. You will be fine There, most tourist places are far away and safe from the Volcano. If you need a guide I can recommend the best he took our family around everywhere, the entire time we stayed there.

isn't it the case that anything could happen?

Of course but if you want to think that way, any number of other things could happen in any other destination you would visit. Its just my own personal opinion.

Here are post she put up the last two days (Of course I edited her name etc)

Tanya isn’t the smoke a sign of more to come?

Could be or it could go dormant for another 50 years, like I said only my opinion.

If it was just my husband and I, we would still plan for Bali but with kids it's a different element and would hate for the volcano to be even more of an issue come March. We don't want to end up having to cancel last minute. I know it could be completely fine but we don't want to risk it. Will save Bali for another time as it's definitely on our list!

Good luck!!! I'm heading to Portugal/Spain this year.

Tanya enjoy and thanks for your tips!

You too!!!

Would love your contact for a guide in Bali. Also, best, remote beaches?

Michele no beaches in Bali Michele.

Bali Smart Tours Dewa is THE Best. I highly suggest snorkeling in Blue Lagoon (best day) Padang Padang beach was incredible.

Tanya My daughter is there right now. Fingers crossed about the volcano, especially for the local people

BOOOM!

I had friends head to Barcelona last Spring Break. The weather wasn't cold and was quite warm compared to here. In the 20C range during the day.

Belize.

Message me if you want/need additional info.

Sri Lanka!!! Kite surfing. Surfing. Beaches. Safaris. Temples. Comparable budget to SEA (just a little more $). Safe. Friendly people and good food. Can't go wrong.

We flew through dubai. Great stopover for a few days. On emirates too

Kid friendly?

Very!! They love kids. Very easy to travel there

I’d be interested in any advice/ info you’d like to share!

Malaysia.
My hubby and I went to Bali in 2012. Loved it.
Just beware if going with young kids no censorship on some of the artifacts souvenirs there.
Bottle openers ( male genital) biggest souvenir there

Thailand, Vietnam or Cambodia

100 times Bali over Vietnam!!!

You can still visit Indonesia and go to beaches that are not in Bali. You can explore Java and to Yogyakarta and the beaches along the Souther side of Java. You can also go to Manado and visit places such as Bunaken. There's also the possibility of visiting Komodo Island with the beautiful pink beach.

Surfing is awesome in Puerto Escondido México!

Any places to stay you could recommend?

Andrew look at airbnb. Lots of listings there - mainly in the very nice rinconada neighbourhood.

Bali is a lot more expensive now was just there in march and my bf was there a year before that and prices have gone up by double or even triple in some places from when he was there

Volcano just about to erupt Check your itinerary for Bali

“Climate, surfing, culture + family friendly” = Nicaragua!! Harder to get to but not expensive when you’re there: one of my favourite countries. I know several folks who love Sayulita, Mexico for family surfaris too - Troncones is another option.
(The Hawaiian Islands fit your description too, but they can be a pretty spendy holiday.)

Sayulita is pretty great

Sayulita is great for surfing, our kids loved it there. Very safe as well. No resorts but lots of great Air B&B places.

I would definitely agree with Nicaragua as well. Been to both and would much prefer Nicaragua for a family vacay

I absolutely adored Bali, but I would not go for the beaches. They were very dirty, especially Kuta (e.g. diapers, plastic bags, garbage, etc.). I would still recommend Bali for an awesome holiday, but not a beach holiday.

I’ve never been to Bali, but sadly I’m hearing this more + more about their beaches

It depends on which beach you visit though

Kuta is known for pollution, but other beaches are away from the currents!

I've heard this too but I've also heard it depends where you go. We were planning to avoid Kuta. It's completely possible that the volcano won't be an issue by March but since we are travelling with kids we'd rather not take the risk and end up going nowhere. So I think we will save Bali for another time.

Robin I'm in Bali now and the Volcano hasn't been a huge issue for me. That being said, there are a team of experts issuing warnings, if I was traveling with kids I would tend to side with their opinions. There have been flights canceled and trying to deal with that at the end of your holiday would be stressful, and if it does blow (nobody can say it won't) then the options to get out are long bus-boat-bus-plane.
I love Bali and think it's a great place, but I think maybe in you situation, look at somewhere else.
Nicaragua is beautiful (little corn island my fav)
Thailand, Vietnam.
Good luck and happy travels

Samantha Marra thanks so much for chiming in. Appreciate it!

Levana Fernadi Which beaches would you recommend?

Michele obviously if you stay in hotels with private beaches they're mostly clean. the beach in seminyak is not very dirty. have heard good things about a beach called dreamland. if you take a 30 minute ferry from sanur, you can get to a small island called nusa penida which has pristine beach

We stayed in Sanur. The beach in front of our hotel was "clean", but we did see them digging holes on the beach and burying garbage.

The beaches on Gili T were clean. They were rocky/pebbly rather than sandy.

Guatemala is cost effective, has volcanoes for hiking and exploring, plus Tikal, and it's close to other amazing Central American countries (Costa Rica and Belize are pretty expensive due to popularity but Nicaragua, Panama, Honduras, and El Salvador all have amazing sights to see).

Sri Lanka is great

Have heard this...might end up on our short list. So many beautiful places around the world to choose from. Thanks.

Did you take kids too?

I took my son for a short stay in a stopover last year. My hubby used to work seasonally there before kids. I'm part of a travelling mom's fb group that's shared several blog posts about experiences there. Let me know if you would like a link.

Yes please. Would love the link.

https://travelynnfamily.com/.../sri-lanka-itinerary-with.../
TRAVELYNNFAMILY.COM
Sri Lanka Itinerary with young kids.

Thank you!

https://www.bebevoyage.com/join-bebe-voyage/ link to join a great fb community for travel with kids.
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Philippines! Boracay is beautiful and inexpensive.

Belize.
Lots of kid friendly stuff.

Nicaragua

There is nothing kids can’t do there. We’ve had “all” our grandkids there to swim, snorkel, fish, ho to Banana farm, zoo, zip line, go to ruins, etc, etc. BUT, do not stay in Belize City. We have a place in Placencia do that is where we go.

Portugal: great surfing, the best beaches, distinct culture, cheap, great food, very safe.

I loved Thailand, and am going to Vietnam soon. Highly recommended

I read all of the responses and they all sound good, from personal experience and what I've heard. For that price point, Costa might put you over, Hawaii would unless you're in to groceries and camping (which I'd recommend anyway), El Salvador I would say is less safe for a family, Guatemala is for sure diverse but maybe not as easy as Nicaragua would be to travel. I've been to all of the above and Nic is cool. Sayulita and Mexico as super great and safe in the right parts. I just got back from Sayulita last week and it surprised me! It was great. I hear Manzanillo is really good too. I'd say though Nicaragua or stick with indonesia....good luck!!

Thank you!

Thailand!

Definitely Thailand, Cambodia and/or Vietnam

Thailand and Vietnam for sure

If you're sticking in Asia:
- East Malaysia, like Kota Kinabalu, has great snorkeling, beaches, and sea turtles
- Southern Thailand has plenty of beaches, some better for a younger crowd, some for older folks, some for families
- Central Vietnam, like Nha Trang and Da Nang, with a lot of local culture too
- Okimawa, Japan, but can be a bit pricey
- Boracay, Philippines, though the safety and corruption can be questioned in many parts of the country
In the Americas:
- Costa Rica, a popular family destination
- Galapagos in Ecuador, but also gets pricey with extra visitor fees and airfare
- Mexico, I would probably say Mazatlan, Manzanillo/Ixtapa on the west, Cozumel or Puerto Plata on the east for beaches. Tulum is within reach for the Mayan pyramids. Oaxaca for inland culture and the origin of Mexican cuisine.
- Belize, a pricier Costa Rica without language barriers and plenty of rainforest excursions
- Honduras, namely Roatan and San Pedro Sula. Not a country renowned for safety though.
Other areas:
- South Pacific, like Fiji, Cook Islands/Rarotonga, New Caledonia, Hawaii (Maui especially)
- Caribbean, though very touristed in places
- Cape Verde, if in the peak travel season
- Indian Ocean, so Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Reunion

Thank you!!! All amazing suggestions and idea. Appreciate it.

Philippines. Go to Boracay, or El Nido or Coron island in Palawan. The beaches are out of this world in beauty and the foods are fresh and cheap. According to conde nast magazine, I mentioned them as the most beautiful islands in the world, better than Bali. See for yourself and judge if the magazine is correct. Its cheap accommodation and the people are warm and friendly. Can speak english all over the archipelago

just had the best holiday of our lives on Boracay, last May. We were 8 adults so we booked the Mansion, on the hill. $400 US included van and driver, we paid for groceries and the staff cooked breakfast, plus dinner , for tips. the house manager booked all our activities, at a discount. We were picked up at the airport, just paid the ferry costs. walking distance to beaches, can't say enough. 4 bedrooms with ensuites- swim pool, sauna, internet, bottled water, amazing views in every direction, secure. long flight, though.
Palawan is more natural but closer to the south , where the Muslim troubles occur.
- amazing fresh fish market- never seen the like on 5 continents. Food is amazing! And, they study English in school, so the language is never a problem.

Agreed, we're going back in February. Love the whole country! Beautiful, fun and so friendly.

I've been there several times. If mr. Mack is into deep sea diving, i will recommend Sequijor island in the central visayan region where you can witness an out of this world adventure under the sea and afterwards savour the different flavours of seafoods like sea urchins, lobsters, yellow, bluefin or ahi tuna, and prawns are almost mini lobster in size. If you want paragliding, deep sea diving, and other sea adventures, i suggest boracay island in panay, central visaya. Food are cheap, reasonable and booze are aplenty. 1st class hotels are all around and amenities can measure up to your expectation. Had it not been for some disturbance in the southern Philippines, i can recommend more than you can desire for that Mindanao island is the most blessed region of the Philippines. There are more than enough to see a lifetime of beauty to behold. If You like natural beauty from mountain climbing, snorkeling, scuba and other water sports, that is more than sufficient to last a lifetime. However, because of fanaticism of a certain religion and adventurism of some individuals, i will not recommend you to go south farther than Bohol. Hopefully, someday, these problems can be solved. In the meantime, go to Palawan or to northern luzon and experience the culture, food and hospitality of the Filipino people. Go mountain hiking at Mt. Pinatubo. Go see the most perfect cone volcano, mt. Mayon in Legaspi, Bicol and be awed of its beauty ( if you've been to Japan, i have, Mayon is similar in symmetry with mt. Fuji. Only difference, its snow capped. Wonder for its history and legend. But if you like the sea eith your kids, Boracay, El nido or Coron. You choose. All can exceed your expectation. Do not believe the negative news about peace and order. It's already peaceful except what i said, i do not recommend at this time for you to go southern part of Mindanao. God how i wish peace returns in that paradise island. Philippines is really God endowed beautiful and rich natural wonder. Go see and discover for yourself snd your family. Enjoy!

I just got back from Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos. If I were you, I would go island hopping in Thailand. So easy, affordable, and beautiful. Try Ko Lipe, Ko Ngai, Ko Phi Phi. When you get bored of beaches, Chiang Mai is short (and cheap) flight away where you can hang out with elephants, eat great food, and explore tribal villages. Plenty of culture and beautiful friendly people. Cambodia and Laos are probably less interesting for kids.
Having said that, Bali is fantastic and although you may not be able to go northeast with the volcano right now, it is likely/hopefully will settle by March. But if it isn’t, you may not have an option to enjoy some of the best beaches and gilis islands may be affected as well.
Costa Rica is more expensive than you expect, but it is great surfing and lots of fun outdoors for children. I am not a big fan of Hawaii, and it is certainly completely different price range from Southeast Asia.

Thank you. I agree that Hawaii is not quite what we are hoping for on this trip. Beautiful but we want something different!

Oh, and Philippines is beautiful, but logistically more difficult to get around. Also the food is way better in Thailand and Bali.

Thailand, I took my two kids who were 8 and 10 two years ago for a month. We are going back again this summer for almost 6 weeks with a week in Malaysia! We
Thailand!

We spent almost a month in Costa Rica in March and loved it but found it very expensive!

Peru

Thailand has been completely transformed by the wave of Chinese tourists in recent years. I would avoid it. Try Laos, Cambodia... both beautiful countries, or my favorite... Japan. Japan has everything you could want. It's very exotic on the one hand but also safe, clean, efficient and welcoming. Really, any type of vacation you want is available in Japan.

I disagree, doesn't matter from where tourists come from. Yes, there are a lot of Chinese tourists in Thailand, but beautiful beaches are still there, with the excellent service and yummy food.

Oh, and Vietnam. Hanoi is beautiful and the countryside is stunning. Still favour Japan though...

VietNam, Costa Rica

Vietnam is everything that you are looking for - just avoid Na Trang. Japan is not a budget place to travel, we find Vietnam cheaper than Bali and have travelled with multiple generations.

Thailand is still a good choice. The three islands in the gulf, Ko Samui, Ko Phangan, and Ko Tao all have nice beaches, great snorkeling, lots of decent accomodations and restaurants. You might try some time on each for variety. No surfing, though! In recent years we have noticed an influx of Russian tourists. Some of them can be pretty obnoxious.

Bali is same as Philippines. They speak English too thus easier to get around

Guatemala with trips into Belize maybe for a few nights.

Nicaraguan or Panama would be good options in my opinion. Nicaragua is very affordable but a little harder to get around, Panama is more expensive but more developed and more of a tourism industry so a bit easier to get around. Both cheaper than Costa Rica and have the things you're looking for. A plus with kids is much less jet lag compared to Bali!

We spent a month in Sri Lanka and adored it as did our daughters

Bali is the most beautiful place I've ever travelled. If you do decide to go it's absolutely worth it (should no volcano erupt that is)

I can't recommend the Philippines enough!!! It was my favourite part of my honeymoon. We also really enjoyed India but that's a whole other beast.

I agree! Philippines is great! However... I would still vote for Sri Lanka - no islands = no boat travel = waves/weather issues. Easier to get around.

Hawaii is great....we have been 3 times with our kids, visited both Oahu and the Big Island. Very family friendly, you can rent a condo or a house.....stock up on groceries at Costco. All the islands are super easy to get to, about 1/2 plane ride between each, and each one is unique. We love it there, for this spring break our kids had a choice between Disneyland or Hawaii and all three picked Hawaii. west jet has some great rates on flights right now Out of Vancouver. We have also flown out of Seattle on Hawaiian air and gotten good rates.

Bali is congested and traffic a nightmare. Mexico offers great value vs CDN$ & Canadians are beloved by Mexicans - totally into kids!! Look on sayulitalife.com, check San Pancho or even Rincon de Guayabitos, all north of Puerto Vallerta & accessible by bus. Bucerias also an option - Mega grocery store there but we've shopped locally in Sayulita 4 trips no problem
SAYULITALIFE.COM
502 Bad Gateway

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CR8HB6CQrbw
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#AllYouNeedIsEcuador - International Tourism Campaign featuring BEATLES

I absolutely loved Malaysian Borneo. We didn't travel with children but I think it would be fine. I loved that it was less touristy but still had all the necessities.

We spent a month there and could have easily spent more time. There was so much to explore!

How about San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua? inexpensive, surfing, friendly people, family -focused culture.....

We took our kids to Costa Rica for a month at about that age (Grade 1 and 4 I think). They loved it - still their favourite memories. We spent about a week in Corcovado / National Park for some diving / snorkeling and wildlife (every type of monkey!!), then flew up to the west coast and spent time in Mal Pais and Nosara for beach and surf, then into the Arenal / Monte Verde area for some rainforest vibe.

Following

Cambodia Thailand and or Vietnam or better all 3

Thailand is very easy and wonderful destination.... I think I was assuming you had been there.
but still voting for Sri Lanka

My husband and I have been to Thailand and so were originally hoping to do something different but realize now we can add Vietnam for a couple weeks and a couple days in Cambodia, and make it a different trip as we have not been to those spots. Plus we can visit different places in Thailand than we went almost 10 years ago.

Morocco!!!!! We took our son earlier this year when he was 18 months old. I can't stop thinking about it!

im going next yeat cant wait for the.food and history

I just commented below on Morocco...awesome country, but I think too chaotic with kids.

Jenny I don't think so at all but of course that depends on what kind of traveling the family has done before. We went to Japan a couple months after Morocco and found that to be wayyyyy more chaotic and we even had my mom with us! Hah.

We did a 3 week trip to Europe with our 7 and 8 year old children. It was the best trip we've ever done. We were able to get flights from Vancouver to London through westjet for $650 each roundtrip and then used small airlines like ryan air to go to Italy and Portugal. Portugal has the most beautiful beaches and it is extremely affordable to eat and stay there! We rented a 5 bedroom house with a pool next to the beach for only $1000 for 12 days! Our kids loved learning about the different cultures and thought the historic architecture was amazing. It was an amazing experience and we can't wait to take the kids back!!

Thailand. Much nicer beaches than Bali as well. More to explore from Thailand as well as you can hit Angkor Wat in Cambodia for a couple of days. Can also take short trips to other completely different places like Vietnam, Burma, Hong Kong Disneyland on the way there or back, etc. I lived in Bangkok for 10 years so would be happy to give you any further info if you need it.

Thank you! May take you up on that!

I’m here in Australia-going to Noosa is a joy and surfers delight. I’m heading back to delta next week and apparently missing the best that is yet to come, weather wise.
Friends here say Fiji is also an option

I so agree and go up to Cairns

We love Oz but hubby and I have both been there and I've spent considerable time so saving that one for awhile. Ps Noosa was one of my most fav places in Australia
!

*

North Africa and spain. you can ferry across. Morocco, Tunisia and Libya. cheap and open.

I am currently in Morocco. It is such an awesome place, but it would be difficult to navigate with kids. If your little one ran off in the medina, I am not sure you would find him/her.

I LOVE reading everybody's responses! Thank you for taking the time to reply. It gets me even more excited and just want to travel the world and ditch reality.
Will let you all know what we end up deciding upon but leaning towards Vietnam and Thailand for this trip.

I just got back and will pm you some info you might find helpful!

We're actually booked to go to Bali in May. Has anyone heard anything about how things are after the volcano erupted?

I am boycotting Indonesia because of their dismal record in despoiling their environment. Plastic waste dumping, palm oil plantations, illegal logging. The worst country in the world.

Palwan, El Nido. Philippines. Amazing!

Sri Lanka! Just please don't EXPLOIT animals... Riding elephants, chasing leopards and other game in Jeeps, feeding turtles, etcetera. Snorkeling is limited, due to tourism abuse, but people are extremely kind and the sights are stunning.

Da Nang, Vietnam.

Definitely Thailand. Very family friendly and pretty easy on the budget! Both the north and south are worth exploring. There are also two wonderful elephant rescues that you can visit, one in Chiangmai (North), the other in Phuket (south). That would be a life long memory for your kids for sure. Have a great time on your trip!

Thailand and Vietnam! Great weather, snorkeling, cool animals, great food and super friendly people. Also very inexpensive once you’re there.

Thailand is amazing and kid friendly! Northern Thailand is beautiful and safe. The islands are more touristy but there are some quieter islands that are gorgeous. It's also super cheap!

Don't worry about the volcano; I've been to Bali several times in the past few years, it is rarely a concern. Mind you, Thailand is actually cheaper than Bali; much of Denpasar (capital of Bali) is owned by Australians, and the Aussies travel there extensively as it is only a three or four hour flight from most big cities in Australia - they have now priced much of Denpasar at Aussie levels, so it can be quite pricy. Better to get out of Denpasar where you find better value for local offerings, like in Amed, Ubud, and other spots.
Thailand, on the other hand, has retained its affordability. There are many different places to visit, and different things to do that are amazing, and you can often get quite good deals. The weather will be fine in most places as well. I have put together several recommendations for both Bali and Thailand which I've shared with people who asked, if you'd like.

So you don't think the current increased activity- up to 600 seismic activities per day- is a potential sign of another eruption? No one can know with certainty, but this is not the current state of the volcano and its doing exactly what it did prior to the eruption in the 60s.

Bernie, we've done Bali before. And traveling to Malaysia Dec-jan. Planning to go over to thailand for a few days. First time to Thailand.
Recommendations? Thinking of Karabi over phuket. Looking for either something all inclusive like Mexico or a condo with kitchen

Bernie Recommendations for quieter beaches on Bali or the Bali area. Do not like touristy spots or bar scenes. Thanks so much!

Sandra I would not be concerned enough to stay away three months from now. Every year I've been there, there has been a spew of ash that closed down the DPS airport for a few days, but I have never been affected. Just yesterday, friends who were there the past three weeks came home, they were not delayed at all though DPS was closed for nearly three days - the backlog had been cleared within two days and they came home on time.
But if they are that concerned, then they could go to Thailand this time and do Bali some other time.

Michele stay away from Kuta, for sure. It's for young people who don't mind shabbier living quarters, full of bars, and full of scams and pickpockets. I stay in Seminyak when I am in Denpasar, but you could also stay further north of Seminyak and have more peace and quiet; some stay at Sanur on the east side, but since that is where the ferries launch to the Gilis, Lembongan, and Lombok, there is a lot of boat traffic there. Others go to Amed, further northeast, or Tulamben on the NE tip (where the USS Liberty wreck is, if you scuba or want to learn). If you'd prefer to be closer to Denpasar, try Uluwatu, which is south of the airport on the peninsula; very quiet, several all-inclusives, beautiful cliffs, temples. I also very much like Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Penida - small islands to the east of Bali, you take the ferry from Sanur, about 30 minutes over. The ferries all have pickup from the DPS airport, too. Many nice and inexpensive resorts there, and some of the best natural things to see are on Penida. Great walking and cycling trails, too, and good diving as well. A Canadian from Edmonton owns Blue Corner Dive on Lembongan, a really great professionally run dive resort with beautiful villas and a great restaurant, and very near other amenities, which has pickup and delivery from the ferries on the island.

Bernie Thank you so much!

Suroj Phuket has gotten very, very touristy, and lately lots of cab scams where they drive you far away in the wrong direction then ransom you back, awful. Some scams with boutique hotels and homestays I've heard from friends as well. I avoid Phuket, and instead I prefer Khao Lak, up the west coast, a really beautiful beach town, incredibly inexpensive. I stay at the Nangthong Bay Resort there, can get a beachside bungalow for about $60 per night with a king bed, nice porch with hammocks. www.nangthong.com . Krabi is nice as well, less of a mess than Phuket. Phi Phi is apparently getting more busy with younger people and partying. I always go to Koh Tao, but then again, I'm also a dive instructor between semesters (I'm a prof here), so I can go there, dive for free (I did some of my training there), and teach diving as well. Koh Samui is actually quite nice, too; fly there from Bangkok or KL or Phuket or lots of other places, quite cheap on Bangkok Air. Usually about $130 each way per person. Koh Phangan is a young person's hangout, what with the full moon party and such, so not my thing. I just teach them diving once they are over their hangovers and come over to Tao, lol. On Koh Tao, lots of places to stay, I stay at the Koh Tao Regal Resort, but if you really, really want a beautiful place all to yourself, I have a friend who just opened three villas on the southeast side of Koh Tao, but they are not cheap, that's for sure.
As for Malaysia, I've been there several times; I often fly through KL to go places, but have stayed in Malaysia, especially Borneo; I think eleven times to the island if I bothered to count. Diving, of course. I've climbed Mt Kinabalu (you remember the story a few years ago, an earthquake, and some Canadians stripped naked at the peak? Idiots...), it's a really great adventure, be careful who you book it through, though. I like KK, and it is much, much more advanced than earlier, but you can still get great deals. I stay at Ming Garden there, superior service, free breakfast buffet that is massive and stellar, beautiful rooms, and great rates. I dive there with Scuba Junkie. If you really want great diving you need to go to Sipadan; lots of places serve Sipadan, most resorts on Mabul Island, but they all have limited permits (diving at Sipadan is limited to 120 divers per day), some have no permits at all. If you go, dive with Seaventures, they have the best permit to guest ratio of all the places so higher probability you will get a permit and go. Diving Mabul Island is also excellent, but Sipadan is top ten worldwide. On the peninsula, I really like Penang, and the Cameron Highlands. If you have an overnight in KL, and want to be nearer the airport, the Tune Hotel KLIA2 is great and right at the airport terminal 2 (do NOT stay at Tune KLIA, which is a mess and further away and you have to pay for the transfer). Tune KLIA2 is basic, but always clean and cheap. Or, I have a buddy who has a really, really beautiful BnB very near the airport, just a stop up the train north of KLIA. British guy. Gorgeous rooms, beautiful pool, and a very cool local street market two nights a week within walking distance.
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Khao Lak Resort

Bernie Hopefully you’re right but this year seems not like other years.

Thank you Bernie for your travel tips.
My husband is from Malaysia and still has family there. Normally we stay with them however this time there's a wedding in the family so we will be staying in a condo with our 2 adult daughters.
Perhaps you can send me info on your friends place in KL too. Wedding house is in ampang. So need to stay close to that for first week.

Ampang is eastern suburb; my friend's place is in Kota Warisan, near the Salak Tinggi train station north of KLIA.

Yes. We will be staying in KLLC after the wedding

Suroj Krabi Ao Nang is awesome, never been to Phuket but hear it’s crazy

Kauai.

camping is $3 a night. Has a costco for food. Most activites are hiking swimming which is free. We went there cause we thought the same thing before bringing our kids. I don't think it would be as expenseive as you think

Stacey Barclay

I am sure by March Bali will be find. I am heading there in 3 weeks!

Jelly.

I am sure it will be too but on the chance that it isn't we will go elsewhere since we hadn't already booked! Now have booked Vietnam and Thailand for 4 weeks!

New Zealand, rent a camper van from Juicy Rentals, outstanding campsite Top 10 holiday camp ground( a chain). I’m no a camper but did it with my kids for 3 weeks, outstanding .

Alec

Turkey is fantastic and very family friendly. Not as cheap as Thailand, but still cheaper than Europe. Most hotels. In Istanbul charge by the euro, but outside of the capital, prices are in Turkish Lira, which are still affordable.

Also, I am heading to Goa at the same time and that is definitely cheap. MARCH IS A SHOULDER SEASON, SO PRICE'S ARE Reasonable. It's a beautiful place and lots of culture and interesting things to explore if you want a break from the beach.

Philippines! 100%! So safe, family friendly and inexpensive! Recommend Duli Beach Resort on Palawan for surfing.