Koh Samui is an excellent family-friendly destination with gorgeous beaches and plenty of resorts to choose from. One of the most popular areas (and best beaches) is Chaweng, the largest resort town on the island. The town also features a huge 6km long beach. One of the best places to stay in Chaweng for families is the Chaweng Garden Beach Resort, which features a stunning beachside restaurant and two outdoor pools.
Bophut is also an excellent beach destination for families. You’ll be within walking distance of the fisherman’s village and one of the best night markets on the island. A great accommodation choice here is the Bandara Resort and Spa, which is set right on Bophut Beach. Guests have access to two outdoor pools surrounded by gardens, and there are family rooms and deluxe villa suites to choose from.
Lamai is also a good choice of resort. Lamai beach is one of the best in Koh Samui, and kids will love the Coco Waterpark set very nearby. The Samui Harmony Resort is an excellent budget option where you can stay in a beach hut right on the beach! One of the most exclusive 5-star resorts in Koh Samui – The Bayan Tree, is also located in Lamai. Guests stay in a range of Deluxe Villas, and there’s a massive range of excellent on-site facilities.
Yes- You can drive from Amman to Aqaba.
Aqaba is a hidden gem which is under-visited by tourists from the UK. A beach holiday in Aqaba would a be thoroughly enjoyable on its own as a standalone trip and so I would definitely recommend including a few days in Aqaba during your holiday to Jordan.
Getting from Amman to Aqaba
Royal Jordanian which is the national airline of the country does operate flights from Amman to Aqaba, but the schedules are erratic and infrequent. None of the flights from Amman to Aqaba connect with the flight that comes in from London and will require an overnight stay in Amman. The shortest transit time on a flight from London to Aqaba via Amman is just over 7 hours. Flights from Aqaba to London via Amman with a short transit time of about 2 hours are an option on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. So ending your Jordan holiday in Aqaba would be sensible thereby allowing you to fly back to the UK from Aqaba.
Transfers from Amman to Aqaba
A pre-booked small private car that would be suitable for a couple will take you from Amman to Aqaba for about £100. A pre-booked mini van for a family will cost about £160. Other popular transfer routes for travellers on holiday in Jordan is to travel to Aqaba from the Dead Sea or from Petra to Aqaba. The journey from Petra to Aqaba will cost £90 in a small car or about £130 in a mini van. Getting from the Dead Sea to Aqaba will cost about the same as the journey from Amman to Aqaba.
Self Drive from Amman to Aqaba
A fly drive in Jordan is, in my opinion, probably the best way to experience the country. A typical self drive holiday to Jordan would start in Amman where I do not recommend driving. Amman is hectic and the driving is no different. Taxis are easy to flag down in Amman and Uber operates in the city. After 1 or 2 nights in Amman, most people head to one of the luxury resorts in the Dead Sea for 3-4 nights. You would pick up your rental car on the day you leave Amman and then make the 75 minute journey from the capital city by road. From the Dead Sea you would head to Petra for a couple of nights followed by a rustic (or even luxury) experience in the desert for one night and one of the many tourist camps in Wadi Rum. You would then end the journey in Aqaba where you would be able to return your car. To rent a car for 10 days will cost about £400 and will therefore work out much cheaper than paying for private hire journeys between the destinations.
I frequently get asked whether it is safe to drive in Jordan. Most travellers that have experienced a fly drive itinerary in Jordan will tell you the roads are safe when travelling between the destinations. Roads in Amman are also safe, but, for the typical British driver may be a little overwhelming.
In summary, you can and you should drive to Aqaba – especially if you are able to break up the journey by stopping at various destinations along the route.
Planning your Aqaba holiday in Jordan
If you are travelling to Jordan for the first time, it is important to thoroughly research the destination and then plan out your itinerary in meticulous detail if you want to get the most of your holiday and ensure you get the best value for your money. As an experienced travel agent that knows the destination, I am able to save you time and a lot of money by creating a bespoke itinerary that specifically caters to your needs. In the vast majority of cases, the rates I have access to with airlines, hotels, car rental companies and local tour operators will be much lower than any rates you are able to access online.
Ho Chi Minh city is an excellent choice of destination. There are plenty of sites to see and attractions to visit all around the city.
If you’re not familiar with Ho Chi Minh City, you should start with a guided city tour. There are various options from half-day to full-day excursions, depending on how much of the city you’d like to see and how long you’d like to spend in the city. Many tours visit the Ben Thah Market, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Reunification Palace. If you’d prefer to be taken around the city, visiting your favourite sights and attractions, I recommend you book a hop-on hop-off bus tour. Here you have the best of both worlds – a guided tour and the freedom to hop on and off as you please.
If you’re a fan of Vietnamese cuisine, I highly recommend a food tour. There are a variety of options to choose from during the night and day. Many excursions are also run on a motorbike which is a bucket list experience in itself. Try street food recommended by locals and visit the key food hubs around the city.
Another popular attraction is the Chi Chi tunnels and Saigon underground. These are best explored by guided tour so you can learn about Vietnam’s war history. You’ll also get the chance to see remnants of the war all around the city, from holding cells to propaganda press centers.
Kandy is a good choice of destination and a must-visit on any trip to Sri Lanka. On your first day in Kandy, you should book a guided city tour so that you can get your bearings and see Kandy before taking day trips further afield. Most tours include a visit to the Temple of Tooth, the Sri Mahabodhi Vihara Buddha statue (with Kandy views) and a Traditional Cultural show where locals perform ancient dances.
If you like Sri Lankan cuisine, you should think about taking part in a cooking class. Kandy is one of the most popular destinations for tourists, so there’s plenty of options to choose from. Choose ingredients from the local market before preparing them at a local house. This is also a great cultural experience!
There are plenty of day trip options to choose from. Kandy is one of the best places to stay to see inland Sri Lanka. A day trip to Sigiriya is one of the most popular choices. Climb the stone staircases to see a panoramic view of Sri Lanka from ancient frescoes. There are also some fantastic ancient calvings to see on the way. Many day trips also include a trip to a local village, elephant sanctuary or spice plantation. Another day trip for walking lovers is Horton Pains National Park. On the 10km trek, you’ll be able to spot ancient waterfalls and rolling mountains ending with a steep 880m drop and panoramic views across Sri Lanka.
A day trip to Nuwara Eliya is also a great choice. Visit ancient tea plantations, dine with mountain views and pick up souvenirs in the local town. You’ll have a taste of what it was like in Postcolonial Sri Lanka. You may even get a tour around a tea factory so you can learn how the famous Ceylon tea is made and shipped across the world.
The distance between Da Nang airport and the Thah Binh Central Hotel is 27.4km. The journey should take you around 24 minutes depending on which mode of transport you choose to use.
Pre-Booked Transfer
The best way to get from Da Nang airport to your hotel would be to pre-book a transfer. You’ll be picked up from Da Nang airport with a sign and dropped right at your hotel door, so you won’t have to try and find the hotel from the local public transport stop.
Pre-booked Shared Taxi
If you’d like to save on money, but you’d still like to be picked up at the airport and have a driver take you straight to your hotel. A shared taxi is an excellent option. There’s a variety of companies to choose between. However, you will most likely need to make stops at other travellers accommodation which will lengthen the journey time.
Airport Taxi
There is a large taxi rank at Da Nang Airport. Try to agree on a rate before you set off to avoid overpayment on a meter.
Hire car
If you’re planning on doing lots of exploring during your trip, hiring a car is a good idea. Be warned that driving in Vietnam is quite hard, so you should have ideally driven in a country with similar road rules before. This way, you could make a scenic stop on the way from the airport to your hotel. The marble mountains are an excellent option.
Local Bus
There’s also a local bus service which leaves Da Nang Airport every hour between 5:00 am and 11:00 pm. This option will be a fraction of the cost of the other options, but the journey time is around 1.5-2 hours. However, there may not be a stop near your hotel, and you could end up having to use another mode of transport to get to your hotel.
Summary
There are many ways to travel between Da Nang airport and Hoi An. I would recommend that you book either a private transfer or a shared taxi, depending on your budget.
Located off England’s south coast, the Isle of Wight is primarily known for its seafront promenades and beaches. For example, Shanklin Beach and Ventnor Beach both are featured attractions, as are Compton Bay and Yaverland Beach. The latter 2 locations contain dinosaur fossils and remains.
You may also want to visit The Needles, which represent 3 large white chalk rocks, each guarded by a lighthouse that was built in the 1800s. Another attraction you might like to see is Osborne, the cherished residence of Queen Victoria.
If you are visiting with the family, a trip to Blackgang Chine can be fun and entertaining. Known as the oldest amusement park in the UK. Blackgang Chine opened to the public in the 1840s and is located at the southern tip of the Isle of Wight. The park’s themed attractions include Realm of Dinosaurs, Underwater Kingdom, Fairy Village, and Pirate Cove.
The capital of Sicily, Palermo features a number of historical attractions that are as breathtaking as they are memorable. Drenched in the warm rays of the sun year-round, Palermo is well known for its historical attractions, all which are surrounded by mountains and sit close to Sicily’s beautiful coast.
One of the attractions you will want to see is the splendid-looking Cathedral of Palermo, with its elegant arches and towers. The structure was built in 1185 on the site of a prior basilica, which once was used as a mosque during an Arab occupation.
The churches of Saint Catherine and Saint Joseph dei Teatini dominate the square with their domes, which are featured opposite of each other. The Palazzo Senatorioro, or Palermo’s town hall (known as the Palace of Eagles) stands prominently in the square as well.
What will truly impress you about the square is its font, called Pretoria Fountain, known as one of the most beautiful fountains in Italy. The water feature takes up the whole center of the Piazza.
Yet, another structure of note is the Palace of the Normans. The fortress, which was rebuilt by the Arabs during the ninth century, was built on the foundations of an ancient Punic-Roman building. The Normans, under the rule of Roger II, embellished the palace, and made it the royal mansion. The Royal Hall or Aula Regia in the magnificent building is the heart of this memorable piece of architecture.
One of the sites you might like to see is Sakurajima (Mount Sakura), one of Japan’s most active volcanoes. The popular destination is home to natural hot springs. While the last big eruption of Sakurajima happened in 1914, you will see smoke billowing from the volcano and some minor eruptions do occur throughout the day. No one is allowed to get any closer than 1.2 miles from the volcano. However, you can find one of a number of outlooks to view the attraction.
Another volcano you may want to visit is Colima in Mexico, also called Volcan de Fuego, which is located 75 miles south of Guadalajara. Organized tours take you 4 miles from Colima. You can also hike the dormant Snow Volcano (Volcan de Nieve), or take a hot air balloon to see Colima from above.
Mount Vesuvius in Italy is an active volcano, closely monitored by scientists. To get to the rim of the famous volcano, which buried the ancient city of Pompeii with ash, you can start in Naples or Sorrento and take a commuter train to Pompeii where you can get on a shuttle van to reach the volcano. Once you arrive, you will need to hike 30 minutes to reach the top.
You can go on several day trips in Cancun through tour operators that are affordable, ranging from around $35 to $85 per person. For example, you can arrange, in the Hotel Zone, to go snorkeling or jet skiing. You can also take a romantic dinner cruise on board an old sailing vessel. Another fun activity involves taking a kayak trip through the Nichupte Lagoon.
If you want to explore ancient ruins, you might think about taking a day trip to Chichen Itza. This complex, featuring Mayan ruins, displays a large step pyramid called El Castillo or Temple of Kukulcan. The city thrived from around 600 AD to the 1200s. You can see stone carvings in places, such as the Wall of Skulls and the Temple of the Warriors. Sound and light show highlights the ancient buildings’ geometric designs.
You are on the right “trek” if you are thinking about Egypt. While you can go camel trekking in places, such as Australia, Morocco, China, Kenya, Dubai, or Tanzania, Egypt is considered a top destination for the activity.
Camel trekking is especially interesting in Egypt because the country has so many historic and ancient sites. The activity takes you back in time to the places where the ancient Egyptians ruled and also allows you to explore and see some amazing landscapes.
Camel trekking is offered along the Nile River and through the Great Pyramids. Treks are also featured through the Sinai desert with rest stops at oases.
