snow or sand - thailand or japan - pls help me

[Phteven]

aaagggh I'm so torn.

We've just sold part of our business and we're very relieved to be rid of that part and we have a bit of extra cash so we're off on holiday to celebrate (sensible people would save their money ).

So now I'm torn between Thailand and Japan.

Japan would be 2 nights in Tokyo then off to the ski fields for 8 nights then home. We would probably do a day or 2 sightseeing near the ski fields.

Thailand would be fly to Phuket then travel to Krabi and then just drift around or stay put as the mood takes us. We would definitly ride an elephant but other than that we would mainly be lazing about.

Sooo the Thai option would be really relaxed and unstructured and spending lots of time with the children whereas the Japanese would be much more active and structured and since the boys would be at ski-school and creche we would see less of them and have daily deadlines for pick-up and drop off.

Which would you do? Please help me choose because every time I think I have chosen I start thinking taht the other would be better

[Indadhanu]

If it was just me, I'd go to Japan and skiing. For a family holiday I'd go Thailand, spend lots of time with the kidies.

Do the kids love skiing, so snow school would be fun for them? Or would they rather swim?

[Phteven]

Yasin loved his last snow school . He can already stop and turn at low speeds but if we get a snow school he doesn't like then it would be a big problem. Imran can't ski and still isn't reliably toilet trained so it would probably be creche for him (unless we can find a snow school that's ok with nappies) which he woul be cool with but not as happy as spending the day swimming with us.

DH and I have been wanting to go to Japan for so long so it's hard to turn our back on the dream *sigh*

[Indadhanu]

You'll get there eventually hun!

I'd probably go Thailand myself, and plan on Japan when they're a bit older and will REALLY enjoy ski school with other kids cos don't want to hang out with mum and dad anyway lol

(I just read back through my other post, how unhelpful am I lol!)

[Pandora]

While I would love to go there, there is no way I'd be travelling to Thailand at the moment while the DFAT have warnings out against travel. But thats just me.
So depending when you are planning to go I'd probably go Japan.

[AliBaby]

Yasin loved his last snow school . He can already stop and turn at low speeds but if we get a snow school he doesn't like then it would be a big problem. Imran can't ski and still isn't reliably toilet trained so it would probably be creche for him (unless we can find a snow school that's ok with nappies) which he woul be cool with but not as happy as spending the day swimming with us.

DH and I have been wanting to go to Japan for so long so it's hard to turn our back on the dream *sigh*

Go to Japan hun. I can tell by your post that this is where you really want to go. I am not being mean to Imran but he is so little and will hardly remember the holiday and you an take him swimming anywhere in Australia. He can still have some plays in the snow with you guys and make snowmen and throw snowballs.

I think that if you and DH have sold part of the business and its your dream to go tot Japan then go there and have a fantastic time. You deserve it!

[sushee]

I'd go to Japan.

Yes it may be more structured but a family holiday, I reckon, is fun when the kids are lots to do, and new adventures to experience. I know Thailand will be more relaxed, but after a bit the kids will probably be climbing the walls! Lol!

So no contest for me. I reckon Japan for sure.

(I also am not fond of Thailand personally)

[Phteven]

Rayray, that's a concern but we are planning on travelling to a small area that is relatively safe. We won't be in Bangkok or the very southern provinces.
I've never been very responsible when it comes to the travel advisories. Maybe it's time I grew up and started acting responsibly.

[Amie]

I have a feeling my post is going to leave you still fairly and squarely on the fence but here goes...

Skiing in Japan is AMAZING!!! We went in March '08 and even though there was relatively little snowfall (which is apparently very rare) it was still fantastic. It's a bit of a catch-22 though; for the boys to really get the most out of ski school you might need to go somewhere a little more westernised, like Niseko. But the places around Hokkaido (like Furano) are much quieter, more Japanese (iykwim) and much cheaper.

Thailand will be much cheaper and will be an absolutely beautiful, relaxing family holiday. (We're going in March!)

If money isn't a huge issue, go Japan!! Who knows what kind of ski season we'll get here this year??!!

[suse]

I say Japan, but mostly so I can live vicariously through you. (One day I'll make it there, really I will).

If you are worried about the amount of time the boys would spend in ski-school/creche, if you plan to spend some of the time sightseeing around the area anyway, could you stagger that time so that you spend only a couple of days on the fields at a time, followed by a day with the family? It might help to break up the 'structure' a little.

[MantaRay]

This is tough. I love both places, but having lived in Japan for a year I have a real soft spot for the country. I would not miss an opportunity to go there, however having said that, I would most likely not be ski-ing there (not for the whole trip anyway), I would be travelling around a lot.

I think the decider for me in that situation would be whether the boys are going to respond better to structured or unstructured time. For some kids, a structured holiday would not work well at all while for others they wouldn't respond well to a lack of routine. Only you know what will work best for your family.

Best of luck with the decision. Either way I know you will have a fantastic time. I'm very, very jealous!!

[Indadhanu]

Maybe it's time I grew up and started acting responsibly.

In that case... BE RESPONSIBLE and go to Japan

[pucci]

I've been to Japan twice and Thailand twice. If you are dreaming of visiting Japan, I would suggest you go for longer and not to just ski. There is so much to see there. You would need more money as well, especially if you were travelling around as you'd need a rail pass that costs around $600 per adult per week if I recall. I'm just thinking that if you only went skiing you would not get the real Japan experience. We went when the dollar was better and the food/hotel prices were on par with what you'd pay to visit Sydney.
Can you save and plan a big 3 week trip for next year?
The kids would love Thailand, and it's super cheap. The hotels probably have kids clubs etc. There are lots of themed animal type things over there but be careful that you pick legitimate ones, they don't have the best track record for animal welfare.
Expect your kids to get lots of attention in Japan, they are fascinated by geigin children.

[Phteven]

Thanks everyone for your advice. After thinking it through and doing some research we decided that we will enjoy Japan better when the boys are a year or 2 older and also that for the price of the Japan trip we can go to Thailand in march and ski in NZ in July (at Cardrona where they have a great kid's program)and get sand and snow so that's what we're doing
I guess I still haven't become a sensible person - one day.....