Sunny holiday in March suggestions
Discussion
Forgive the ludicrously open question, but I've never been outside Europe and know diddly squat about holiday destinations around the world. My girlfriend and I are looking at a two week holiday in March next year somewhere sunny and warm (so we're guessing Southern Hemisphere?). We like nice scenery, walking, snorkeling, and swimming in the sea. Sitting on a beach doesn't appeal, and neither do rows of sunbeds. What we hate is commercialised or rowdy places, but equally we don't want to be stuck in a tin roofed hut with a dozen old people staring at us whilst they untangle their fishing nets.
Coming from my limited European reference points, I guess we're looking for a tropical version of the Scilly Isles or the Greek Islands. The Maldives was our first thought, but it's a bit on the pricey side for anywhere decent. Any ideas? We were thinking of Thailand, but have heard its turning into a honeypot for chavs...
Any suggestions would be gratefully received!
Even if it just gives me something to type into Google - I really don't have a clue at the moment.
Coming from my limited European reference points, I guess we're looking for a tropical version of the Scilly Isles or the Greek Islands. The Maldives was our first thought, but it's a bit on the pricey side for anywhere decent. Any ideas? We were thinking of Thailand, but have heard its turning into a honeypot for chavs...
Any suggestions would be gratefully received!
Even if it just gives me something to type into Google - I really don't have a clue at the moment.Thailand is a good option for you, as it is very easy to get around and well developed for independant travel; a good option for someone travelling outside of Europe for the first time.
Also consider Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia if you are in that part of Asia.
We visited China, Nepal, Vietnam and onto Indonesia for our honeymoon many years ago and it was quite simply stunning. Not much in the way of snorkelling though in Nepal!
Have to say, Nepal is the most beautiful, interesting and fascinating place I have ever had the pleasure to visit.
Also consider Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia if you are in that part of Asia.
We visited China, Nepal, Vietnam and onto Indonesia for our honeymoon many years ago and it was quite simply stunning. Not much in the way of snorkelling though in Nepal!
Have to say, Nepal is the most beautiful, interesting and fascinating place I have ever had the pleasure to visit.
Canaries?
Forget the the preconceptions about beer and chips in the sunshine and all day Butlins entertainment for Chavs image in a crappy all inclusive hotel. If you choose your destination with care you'll be well away from it.
Northern Furteventura and southern Lanzarote have the best climate of all the islands especially in the spring. Choose Furteventura for fantastic beaches and desolate inland mountain scenerey with some pretty villages and excellent hooning roads and Lanzarote - the whole island is a UNESCO biosphere - for similar with a bit more culture and excellent food.
Tempeartures will almost certainly be in the mid 20s, sea will be cold but bearable, there's plenty of good restaurants and car hire is cheap. It's a 4 hour flight too and most airports are covered by the budget airlines.
If you're up for it you can have a day quadbiking or go on a Jeep safari, hire a winsurfer, go scuba diving, there's some serious guided tour walking through unbelievable volcanic scenery or when island fever kicks in - it always does for us sooner or later - you can just spend the morning watching the world go by with a good book and a couple of espressos or lazing about on the beach.
Forget the the preconceptions about beer and chips in the sunshine and all day Butlins entertainment for Chavs image in a crappy all inclusive hotel. If you choose your destination with care you'll be well away from it.
Northern Furteventura and southern Lanzarote have the best climate of all the islands especially in the spring. Choose Furteventura for fantastic beaches and desolate inland mountain scenerey with some pretty villages and excellent hooning roads and Lanzarote - the whole island is a UNESCO biosphere - for similar with a bit more culture and excellent food.
Tempeartures will almost certainly be in the mid 20s, sea will be cold but bearable, there's plenty of good restaurants and car hire is cheap. It's a 4 hour flight too and most airports are covered by the budget airlines.
If you're up for it you can have a day quadbiking or go on a Jeep safari, hire a winsurfer, go scuba diving, there's some serious guided tour walking through unbelievable volcanic scenery or when island fever kicks in - it always does for us sooner or later - you can just spend the morning watching the world go by with a good book and a couple of espressos or lazing about on the beach.
Kerala in Southern India or Zanzibar off the coast of Tanzania.
Southern India is fantastic (and extremely cheap once you're there) though I'm not sure about the snorkelling opportunities - I did it once at Lighthouse Beach and it was too sandy, like being in a snow-globe. Snorkelling is going to be better in the Canaries (cold water though and harder to get in the water due to the rockiness), Cyprus (brilliant snorkelling there) and of course the Red Sea (never been there though)
Zanzibar offers much the same as India but is probably more "dangerous" to go round on your own but it has amazing snorkelling. It's not really developed at all, they have self-contained resorts which are sympathetic to the environment 9though locals don't like them as they're owned by Italians and so the money doesn't go into the local economy).
Southern India is fantastic (and extremely cheap once you're there) though I'm not sure about the snorkelling opportunities - I did it once at Lighthouse Beach and it was too sandy, like being in a snow-globe. Snorkelling is going to be better in the Canaries (cold water though and harder to get in the water due to the rockiness), Cyprus (brilliant snorkelling there) and of course the Red Sea (never been there though)
Zanzibar offers much the same as India but is probably more "dangerous" to go round on your own but it has amazing snorkelling. It's not really developed at all, they have self-contained resorts which are sympathetic to the environment 9though locals don't like them as they're owned by Italians and so the money doesn't go into the local economy).
Thanks for all the suggestions, much appreciated 
Snorkeling's a tricky thing - most of the Canary Islands for instance shelf off too steeply to offer any opportunities, and swell near rocks makes it too dangerous getting in and out.
Looks like we've got some nice googling to do this weekend when the rain starts again!
Snorkeling's a tricky thing - most of the Canary Islands for instance shelf off too steeply to offer any opportunities, and swell near rocks makes it too dangerous getting in and out.
Looks like we've got some nice googling to do this weekend when the rain starts again!
RobM77 said:
Snorkeling's a tricky thing - most of the Canary Islands for instance shelf off too steeply to offer any opportunities, and swell near rocks makes it too dangerous getting in and out.
From experience on Lanzarote, there is a little place at the southern end of Puerto del Carmen but it gets hogged by a local dive school. Quite a few fish around that area. I snorkelled at Papagayo and there were some fish but not a huge selection or variety and just off Playa Blanca it's not bad at all as it's all relatively shallow and very easy to get at. ploenty of fish in the rock pools when the tide drops.The best snorkelling I did was at the southern end of the beach at Protaras in Cyprus which has lots of nice rocky bits and the sea goes deep not far out and offers alot of opportunity to see shoals etc. Protaras is one of the smaller resorts though and not really what you're looking for. Also went on a coastal cruise boat which allowed you to swim further out and there were hundreds of fish out there.
RobM77 said:
Forgive the ludicrously open question, but I've never been outside Europe and know diddly squat about holiday destinations around the world. My girlfriend and I are looking at a two week holiday in March next year somewhere sunny and warm (so we're guessing Southern Hemisphere?). We like nice scenery, walking, snorkeling, and swimming in the sea. Sitting on a beach doesn't appeal, and neither do rows of sunbeds. What we hate is commercialised or rowdy places, but equally we don't want to be stuck in a tin roofed hut with a dozen old people staring at us whilst they untangle their fishing nets.
Coming from my limited European reference points, I guess we're looking for a tropical version of the Scilly Isles or the Greek Islands. The Maldives was our first thought, but it's a bit on the pricey side for anywhere decent. Any ideas? We were thinking of Thailand, but have heard its turning into a honeypot for chavs...
Any suggestions would be gratefully received! Even if it just gives me something to type into Google - I really don't have a clue at the moment.
Haven’t looked at everyone’s suggestions but with the exception of Zanzibar I don’t think any of them are in the southern hemisphere. Coming from my limited European reference points, I guess we're looking for a tropical version of the Scilly Isles or the Greek Islands. The Maldives was our first thought, but it's a bit on the pricey side for anywhere decent. Any ideas? We were thinking of Thailand, but have heard its turning into a honeypot for chavs...
Any suggestions would be gratefully received!
Even if it just gives me something to type into Google - I really don't have a clue at the moment.
It all comes down to budget, 4.5k may get you something nice in the Maldives for a fortnight however I don’t think it meets your requirements unless you really into diving it’s mostly about chilling out and doing not allot.
Thailand is nice with many quieter less touristy places still around, also easily couple with a city break in Bangkok, Hong Kong etc. Also Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos if you don’t want to lie on a beach for 2 weeks.
TBH I find your requirements a bit contradictory, you want something tropical but pick the wrong place and wrong time of year and it could be too hot and humid to do much in the way of activities. I’d suggest for shorter haul the Gambia, cheap and year round good weather, plenty to do and see. Also Mauritius (but your going up in budget towards Maldives prices) Good snorkelling and beaches but much more to do and see outside of the resorts.
Budget is everthing.
Thanks for all your suggestions. In answer to your post Andrew, heat and humidity is an issue with strenuous activities like running or cycling, but it won't stop us walking, snorkeling, swimming, kayaking etc.
We're currently looking in depth at Thailand - just trying to find the right mix of things to do with lack of chavs or heavily developed tourist areas. Ko Chang looks lovely, and we've found a great place to stay, although I hear the snorkeling's not so great so we need to check how easy it is to get to the nearest village that do trips. Thanks for your suggestion of Cambodia - a friend of mine also suggested there so we'll have a look at that tonight.
We're currently looking in depth at Thailand - just trying to find the right mix of things to do with lack of chavs or heavily developed tourist areas. Ko Chang looks lovely, and we've found a great place to stay, although I hear the snorkeling's not so great so we need to check how easy it is to get to the nearest village that do trips. Thanks for your suggestion of Cambodia - a friend of mine also suggested there so we'll have a look at that tonight.
LuS1fer said:
RobM77 said:
Snorkeling's a tricky thing - most of the Canary Islands for instance shelf off too steeply to offer any opportunities, and swell near rocks makes it too dangerous getting in and out.
From experience on Lanzarote, there is a little place at the southern end of Puerto del Carmen but it gets hogged by a local dive school. Quite a few fish around that area. I snorkelled at Papagayo and there were some fish but not a huge selection or variety and just off Playa Blanca it's not bad at all as it's all relatively shallow and very easy to get at. ploenty of fish in the rock pools when the tide drops.The best snorkelling I did was at the southern end of the beach at Protaras in Cyprus which has lots of nice rocky bits and the sea goes deep not far out and offers alot of opportunity to see shoals etc. Protaras is one of the smaller resorts though and not really what you're looking for. Also went on a coastal cruise boat which allowed you to swim further out and there were hundreds of fish out there.
Well, I have been visiting Thailand for over 20 years one way and another and seen the place change beyond all recognition in many places.
With kids of 7 and 12, the holiday that we are after now is very different to when we first visited and probably fairly different to what you are looking for, but I will try my best.
Koh Chang is a very beautiful, green and natural looking island. As we approached from Trat on the roll on-roll off ferry, the first thing to strike me was how densely forested and lush looking the place is, with high (750m) peaks. Chang is a little smaller than Phuket, but that is where the similarity ends. Development is fairly strictly controlled and the majority of the island is a National Park. There is a fairly good infrastructure about the place, with a pretty good road circumnavigating the island (nearly). There is a strech art the southern end which isn't there and is not navigable in a car. Maybe in a very good 4x4 or an off road bike; I wouldn't chance it though.
The west coast of the island has all the resorts and hotels. There is a complete cross section from simple stilt bungallows to 5 star resort places. Prices are cheaper than in Phuket, Krabi, Samui etc. The whole place is slower and significantly less busy than the other big holiday islands.
You do have a few resorts that are full on Thai beach resorts for the holidaying westerner, with Irish Bars and Go-Go Bars, specifically the stretch from White Sand Beach down to Haad Khlong Phrao. Not offensive, but more akin to something you might find in a mainstream destination.#
Head south from HKP though and it becomes more "back packer". I don't mean that in a bad or negative way at all. There are some wonderful hotels there, it's just the nightlife is more chilled and simpler.
The area from Lonely Beach down to Bang Bao is more favourite.
We were there for a friends wedding, that had to be re-organised from Samui at 7 days notice, due to extensive and unseasonal flooding. The new location was the Amari Hotel, which is lovely and efficient, but a little sanitised for me.
Probably the best place I could suggest is Buddha View at Bang Bao http://www.thebuddhaview.com/Home.html
It's right on the end of the pier and whilst a little bit quirky, it's truly special. The restaurant is on stilts in the sea and the whole side opens onto the sea scape. You can sit at low tables with your legs dangling into the water through huge opening in the floor under the glass table. the water is illuminated at night, so you get a good warning of what's coming to nibble your toes! I cannot recommend this place enough!!
Snorkelling is pretty good at a couple of islands close by and there are a few companies located on the pier that can arrange this.
The extreme south of the island is very unspoit, but isolated - think carefully before staying there.
If you want to know any more, just ask.
With kids of 7 and 12, the holiday that we are after now is very different to when we first visited and probably fairly different to what you are looking for, but I will try my best.
Koh Chang is a very beautiful, green and natural looking island. As we approached from Trat on the roll on-roll off ferry, the first thing to strike me was how densely forested and lush looking the place is, with high (750m) peaks. Chang is a little smaller than Phuket, but that is where the similarity ends. Development is fairly strictly controlled and the majority of the island is a National Park. There is a fairly good infrastructure about the place, with a pretty good road circumnavigating the island (nearly). There is a strech art the southern end which isn't there and is not navigable in a car. Maybe in a very good 4x4 or an off road bike; I wouldn't chance it though.
The west coast of the island has all the resorts and hotels. There is a complete cross section from simple stilt bungallows to 5 star resort places. Prices are cheaper than in Phuket, Krabi, Samui etc. The whole place is slower and significantly less busy than the other big holiday islands.
You do have a few resorts that are full on Thai beach resorts for the holidaying westerner, with Irish Bars and Go-Go Bars, specifically the stretch from White Sand Beach down to Haad Khlong Phrao. Not offensive, but more akin to something you might find in a mainstream destination.#
Head south from HKP though and it becomes more "back packer". I don't mean that in a bad or negative way at all. There are some wonderful hotels there, it's just the nightlife is more chilled and simpler.
The area from Lonely Beach down to Bang Bao is more favourite.
We were there for a friends wedding, that had to be re-organised from Samui at 7 days notice, due to extensive and unseasonal flooding. The new location was the Amari Hotel, which is lovely and efficient, but a little sanitised for me.
Probably the best place I could suggest is Buddha View at Bang Bao http://www.thebuddhaview.com/Home.html
It's right on the end of the pier and whilst a little bit quirky, it's truly special. The restaurant is on stilts in the sea and the whole side opens onto the sea scape. You can sit at low tables with your legs dangling into the water through huge opening in the floor under the glass table. the water is illuminated at night, so you get a good warning of what's coming to nibble your toes! I cannot recommend this place enough!!
Snorkelling is pretty good at a couple of islands close by and there are a few companies located on the pier that can arrange this.
The extreme south of the island is very unspoit, but isolated - think carefully before staying there.
If you want to know any more, just ask.
Thanks very much, very helpful indeed.
I've been looking at this place: http://chivapuriresort.com in the far southern tip of the island. The accomodation looks fantastic, it's within our budget and the trip advisor reviews are all favourable. The only thing I need to find out really is if we can hire a car (presumably in Bangkok to drive to the ferry you mentioned and then drive round the island to the accomodation?), and then use that car to get up to somewhere where we can take a boat trip to good snorkeling sites, perhaps a dive school, guided hiking in the interior etc, all of which I've seen advertised elsewhere on the island.
I've been looking at this place: http://chivapuriresort.com in the far southern tip of the island. The accomodation looks fantastic, it's within our budget and the trip advisor reviews are all favourable. The only thing I need to find out really is if we can hire a car (presumably in Bangkok to drive to the ferry you mentioned and then drive round the island to the accomodation?), and then use that car to get up to somewhere where we can take a boat trip to good snorkeling sites, perhaps a dive school, guided hiking in the interior etc, all of which I've seen advertised elsewhere on the island.
A couple of thoughts for you.....
Firstly, I don't know the property, but it looks very nice. It's on a prety quiet stretch of beach, just outside Bang Bao.
Are you considering landing in BKK and then driving straight down to Trat for the ferry? If so, I wouldn't. Infact, I wouldn't bother driving yourself at all. It's a fair old trek (around 350KM) and whilst the Thais drive on the left, negotiating your way out of BKK after a 11.5 hour flight, will not be totally enjoyable. You can get road transfers of all types very cheaply. Public buses, private coaches, mini buses, taxis etc etc. These can all delivery you to the ferry terminal at Trat. Walk on the ferry and then hail a pick up style tuk tuk at the terminal on Koh Chang; they'll take you to Bang Bao. I'm sure your hotel would collect you too (for a fee). A car would be useful for a few days, but not required for the entire time on Chang. Most of the dive/snorkel trip operators will collect you from your hotel and deliver you back within the price.
Check the flight price down. Bangkok Airways own the airport, so it won't be chaep and I know it's extra cost, but you are contemplating using 2 valuable days holiday on driving along a motorway.
Firstly, I don't know the property, but it looks very nice. It's on a prety quiet stretch of beach, just outside Bang Bao.
Are you considering landing in BKK and then driving straight down to Trat for the ferry? If so, I wouldn't. Infact, I wouldn't bother driving yourself at all. It's a fair old trek (around 350KM) and whilst the Thais drive on the left, negotiating your way out of BKK after a 11.5 hour flight, will not be totally enjoyable. You can get road transfers of all types very cheaply. Public buses, private coaches, mini buses, taxis etc etc. These can all delivery you to the ferry terminal at Trat. Walk on the ferry and then hail a pick up style tuk tuk at the terminal on Koh Chang; they'll take you to Bang Bao. I'm sure your hotel would collect you too (for a fee). A car would be useful for a few days, but not required for the entire time on Chang. Most of the dive/snorkel trip operators will collect you from your hotel and deliver you back within the price.
Check the flight price down. Bangkok Airways own the airport, so it won't be chaep and I know it's extra cost, but you are contemplating using 2 valuable days holiday on driving along a motorway.
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