Family Travel – Southeast Asia Family Holidays
‘Be a bit more adventurous with you next family holiday’
Here is Peter Jones from the independent travel company See Asia Differently to give his recommendations of where you can travel to in Southeast Asia and what’s possible. He recommends that families should be a bit more adventurous and look for something a little bit different for their next family holiday away.
Family holidays should be exactly that, something for all the family. But how often do you go away and feel that you are the one missing out on your holiday experience at the expense of trying to please someone else in your family. Make that a thing of the past!
It is imperative when on your holiday that everyone feels that the holiday is for them. There should always be at least one activity / experience that has been chosen by each family member. This is where the abundance of inexpensive experiences and activities on offer in South-East Asia give you the trump card. Whether it be water sports, animal interactions, zip-wire rides, paddle boarding, horse riding, quad biking, boat trips, mountain biking and incredible food to name just a few.
Also when visiting Southeast Asia, I strongly recommend interacting with the locals as much as you can. The more curious you are and the more questions and conversations you have with the local people the more you will get from your holiday experience.
When we lived in Cambodia at weekends, we used to swim at a local hotel pool. We always encouraged our children to go up to the bar and order their own drinks. Your order is always put on a tab, so it is the perfect opportunity for children to gain confidence and interact. My son used to spend hours sitting on a bar stool at the pool bar talking to the barman as we laid on sun loungers and swam. He is now the most sociable boy you could meet. I am not saying do as I do exactly, but more, that there are so many opportunities on a holiday to Southeast Asia, for your children to express themselves in a safe environment; giving you more time to relax and rewind as parents.
So, what are my top holiday recommendations?
Cambodia – Our top Family Holiday Pick
My top recommendation for a family’s first South East Asian experience away together would be Cambodia. Cambodia has it all and some; incredible temples to explore, boat trips, elephant, and dolphin encounters and for older children specialist gibbon treks. There is history & culture galore for the parents as well as delicious local food to try. On the flip side there are many western dishes and restaurants available if you have and fussy eaters in your group. The Cambodians do not cook always cook with chilli, so the local noodle and rice dishes are easy to introduce to children. Cambodia also has a stunning coastline with white sandy Islands where you can relax after an action-packed itinerary. There are also ziplines, homestay opportunities, paddle boarding, horse riding and many educational insights such as the Apopo mine rates, museums and music and dance performances such as traditional Apsara dancing and the internationally renowned Phare Circus with its incredible storytelling, upbeat music and jaw dropping acrobatics. Oh, and did I mention a new wake board park perfect for a fun afternoon.
Vietnam – Perfect for slightly older children
Cambodia is my top pick for first timers to SE-Asia, but Vietnam is a close second. Whereas Cambodia is great for all aged children including infants; Vietnam in my opinion is perfect for children that are a bit more independent from around the age of 8. From this age your children should appreciate the main sights more. Such as the UNESCO World Heritage Ha Long Bay where you can spend one or two nights on stunning Junk boat, or enjoying a gorgeous mountain trek in Sapa, to wondering the streets of the ancient town of Hoi An. There are also fascinating insights of local life on the Mekong Delta, Vietnam war history in Ho Chi Minh City but also stunning beaches to unwind on the Island of Phu Quoc.
Indonesia – Adventure and trekking options for older children
Yes, the Islands of Bali are perfect for younger families that are looking for a more relaxing beach holiday. For that Bali and the Gili Islands are perfect, with safe shallow waters, beautiful white sandy beaches, and wonderful clear snorkelling opportunities. Having said that I believe Indonesia’s best and most exciting adventures lie in visiting the remoter locations, where you get more truer traveling experiences. Such as the stunning and rustic Island of Flores which boasts a once in a lifetime opportunity of trekking up to and staying with the locals in a mountain top traditional village called Wae Rebo; there are also Komodo Dragon interactions on the coast. More adventure lies in Java with a massively rewarding sunrise trek to Mount Bromo and Ijen the ‘blue fire’ crater that looks just magical as you view it just after dusk.
Laos – Fun for more independent children
Laos is a little more rustic than Cambodia, but simply oozes charm and the people are lovely. If you’re looking for an adult getaway with younger children, then Laos could offer you the perfect option. There are some incredible hotel options up in Luang Prabang where you can relax, unwind, and explore the ancient UNESCO streets and witness such sights as the memorising morning monk alms ceremony, the incredible museum and then the awe-inspiring temples that are dotted around the chocolate box town. The town is also perfect to soak in, one coffee shop at a time, with the being many perfect vantage points to watch the world go by. Up the Mekong from Lunag Prabang lies many adventurous boating excursions and fun activities such as gold panning. The only reason why we say that Loas is more suited for the more independent child traveller is that Loas is still pretty rustic and once out of the main towns, food options are more limited to local dishes of rice and noodles, which might not be manageable for some travellers.
Thailand – Not just beaches!
Thailand is often peoples first thought of a holiday destination when they think of Southeast Asia. Beautiful beaches, cheap beer and more of a package type beach holiday. However, Thailand does not have to be like this as there is so much more to discover if you care to delve deeper. Offering wonderful history such as the bridge over the river Kwai in Kanchanaburi, the enchanting north of Chiang Mai and Rai and of course you can forget about the amazing island-hopping opportunities and stunning beaches in the south.
Please do not take the ages mentioned in this piece exactly as all children and families are different and enjoy different things while on holiday. Some children are more independent and adventurous where others need more time to find their feet.
My favourite family photo of us living in Cambodia
Peter Jones is the founder of the independent travel company See Asia Differently that specialises in tailor-made holidays to Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Laos and Thailand.