Vacation ideas for December

[Katanga]

Hi folks

I am looking for ideas of where to go for Christmas holidays somewhere in Asia or Auz.

Thinking of 7 nights max towards the end of Dec.

We have travelled extensively in Asia but are looking for ideas/suggestions from the folks in this forum.

Ideally, we would like a short city break with a beach holiday to chill out.

Thoughts so far have been Chiang Mai (but might be too cold then), Cebu (hotels look tacky), Bali ( been there to many times), Langkawi ( again, been there 3-4 times) etc.

We were homing in on Vietnam (would love to do Saigon and a beach) but have no idea where to go in Vietnam for a decent beach/resort so any recommendations highly appreciated.

The other serious option in Auz but not a city location. Again, any decent options for Auz highly appreciated e.g. where on the gold coast, Cairns etc ?

I don't want a DIY holiday so a very decent travel agent to help book would be great. All my vacations from HK so far have been booked via cathayholidays but we do not see anything exciting.

The holiday would be with our daughter so the places need to be appropriate.

Looking for a price range of about HKD30-40k for all 3 of us.

thanks

[jumpingjack]

End of December is peak holiday week in Australia for beaches and everywhere. I would not recommend it, though if do go then book now. Perth is nice, not too big a city and beaches close by, and a relatively short flight from HK. I would do somewhere in Asia and save Aust for another time.

[hbrand]

Hey there,

Thought I'd throw in my two bits.... ok, I went to a great island in Vietnam called Phu Quoc, about one hour from Saigon. Pretty weird place, was a prison during the war, but quite spectacular at the same time. Beach bungalows are the main accom, motorbikes a must. You can catch a ferry / public bus there too if you're keen enough, lay in hammock on the trip over. Pretty cool.

I went to Mongolia in May which I could go on about for hours, but in December you're talking minus 40, so don't think it's the best time to go, unless you're into frostbite. Do recommend from May-Sept though.

But where you should go is Sipadan Island off Borneo, if you haven't been there and can dive, or enjoy snorkelling, it is simply heaven, stilt bungalows over the crystal clear water, turtles, sharks, a literal volcanic mushroom island with a one km drop-off the beach. Food is magic, people are magic, it is just spectacular. Highly recommended...

Brunei's Empire Hotel has to be seen to be believed, you could combine the trip to Sipadan with a few days there.

How about Laos? Luang Prabang and the monks,untouched paradise...it's very cool, if you are not into 5 star travel.

Anyway let us know where you choose, we have just booked Thailand for the same time, tried and tested but loved and still more to be discovered.

Cheers,
Heather

[DaveD]

Sipadan is basically closed, no resorts are in business any more.

"In year 2004, the Government of Malaysia ordered all on-site dive & resort operators of Sipadan to move their structures out of the island by the date 31st of December 2004. This move is mainly to conserve a balanced eco-systems for Sipadan and its surrounding. Diving will continue to be allowed in Sipadan for divers whom are ferried in and out by dive & resort operators from the land and surrounding islands." (Wikipedia)

A few years ago, a German family was hijacked on this island and held as hostages for weeks.

[PDLM]

Ideally, we would like a short city break with a beach holiday to chill out.

if i were you, i would go to some remote places like mongolia, tibet, central asia etc...

You know of places to take beach holidays in Mongolia or Tibet?

You might do well to keep in mind the words of Mark Twain: "It is better to keep you mouth shut and appear stupid then to open it and remove all doubt."

[Katanga]

All

Thanks for the responses and ideas....

Jumpingjack; I was told my Aussie colleagues the same and also that hotels in the gold coast area are not that great. Already been to Perth a few years ago.


Sin Defender...hmmmmmm.....probably the most landlocked locations you could think of. Whilst these places sound cool, I am not sure that Dec would be the best time of the year and probably not the bext place to totally chill...with a 6year old.

Hbrand; sounds cool but we are more after a nice resort type location.

Overall, discussed with the missus this morning and we are thinking of the old tried and tested Thailand. We haven't done Chiang Mai as a family (I know no beaches !!!) but I think Chiang Mai is cool. Thinking of staying at the Chedi. Any comments on that ?

I can't seem to convince my missus that we should go to the Maldives.

My daughter does love the sea and sand so was aiming for Maldives.

Do people in this forum think that a 6 year old would enjoy Chiang Mai ? What would the weather be in Dec ?

ta

[jumpingjack]

What about Sabah? Kota Kinabalu, I have not stayed at any of the resorts there, but hear they are very nice, snorkling, beaches. Also good to do is the walk up Mt Kinabalu and seeing some of the jungle and Orang Utans. Even if you dont do the walk up Kinabalu the monkeys should amuse a 6 year old.

[martyn]

I'm surprised noone has suggested Fiji.

[Katanga]

jumpingjack - Kotakinabalu is certainly on the list of places we want to go to. Thanks for the idea of doing that for Christmas hols.

Martyn, Fiji is a bit further out but we have done that a few years ago.

Btw, we had dinner with some friends who told us that Chiang Mai is not that cold in Dec. so will be spending Sunday morning checking out the best places for Chiang Mai.

Looking forward to more ideas......

[HKFella]

Sorry, but was rather underwhelmed by Chiang Mai. Some distance away you can go trekking, rafting, and golfing, but with a 6 yr old...? The city not much of a hill station either - a mini Bangkok. Night market - big but ho hum after you've been to any in Thailand. But feel free to dig deeper - you may find some nuggets that I didn't have time to.