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Original poster

Where should DH and I go on holiday?

37 replies

Largepiecesofcrookedwood · 04/09/2018 17:14

I know, it's a real first world problem
DS is going away next August on an expedition, will be away for three and a half weeks. DH and I can probably realistically get a week to ten days off during that time. So far the only thing we've been able to come up with is that a cruise would be foolish, in case anything should happen to DS and we are out of reach in the middle of an ocean somewhere (also, both of us would rather chew our own ears off than actually go on a cruise anyway- this means we're not actually any further towards a decision than before we came to this conclusion Grin)
So the criteria are very loose:

  • somewhere where we can be in contact if necessary
  • ideally not a long flight though I could always drug DH if the need arose
  • not the USA

All past holidays have been planned to accommodate us as a family so we're genuinely floundering under the weight of choice. Wise MNers hit me with your most fantastic ideas please Smile

OP posts:
Mitzimaybe · 04/09/2018 17:19

What sort of things do you like to do and what sort of places do you like? Relaxing by the pool? White sand beaches that stretch for miles? Activity holidays? Sightseeing - and if so, what kind? Historical, busy cities, cultural?

I like off-the-beaten-track holidays and I'm looking at Sudan for next year - but I wouldn't want to go to the Sahara in August!

Tell us more about what you enjoy doing.

Mitzimaybe · 04/09/2018 17:22

I know you said not a cruise but a small boat cruise of the Croatian islands might be nice? You can go ashore every day so you could get home in an emergency.

www.jet2holidays.com/croatia/dubrovnik-area-of/cruise-dubrovnik/adriatic-cruise-on-ms-eden

Original poster
Largepiecesofcrookedwood · 04/09/2018 23:38

Thanks mitzi,

  • never had a hotel/ pool type holiday and I think we're a little bit snobbish about them if I'm honest (considering we've never actually tried one) Blush
  • active type holiday, though as DH nears 70 our idea of "active" and "holiday" in the same sentence is meaning quite different things. Something like a canal boat is a good middle ground for us ATM.
  • not a total city break, but for this holiday probably not in the city IYKWIM?

DH has just suggested Morocco Shock
My dream is to overland through Africa, which is as far from DH's idea of a holiday as it's possible to be. I don't know all that much about Morocco if I'm honest, but I'm prepared to seize the opportunity with both hands as his earlier suggestion was Devon Grin

OP posts:
BackforGood · 05/09/2018 00:03

What about a safari ?

EarlyModernParent · 05/09/2018 00:15

Walking in Corsica or Lanzarote. Both are very different inland from all the hotels and villas on the coast.
Sailing the Norwegian fjords or Lofoten islands.
Iceland or the Faroes.
West Africa: do the countries from Senegal to Benin, seeing all the colonial castles, slave forts etc along that coast.

goose1964 · 05/09/2018 00:19

Czesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic easy to get there from Prague. It's a small town in the mountains, has a great castle and a river running through the centre where you can hire rafts. It was a very friendly place and really beautiful.

Dontgiveamonkeys1350 · 05/09/2018 06:29

My son is away next August for the same amount of time. If your child off to America to? We have planned our first child free holiday in 15 years. We are stopping in Paris for four days. Driving down to the south of France for a week and stopping off on the way back somewhere for five days.

I can’t wait. Someone did mention to me that I ought to be at home incase I need to fly out there if there is a problem. But I figured I could get a flight from France just as well as I could from the uk.

I can’t wait.

BarbaraofSevillle · 05/09/2018 08:11

Madeira?

You can go walking the Llevadas, which are canals used to transport water around the islands, which I think is fairly gentle walking rather than mountain trekking, but check.

Also things like botanical gardens, boat trips, whale and dolphin watching.

Plus the hotels and food are supposed to be quite decent, and you can also try a few hours of relaxing by the pool/swimming here and there, it doesn't have to be all or nothing - they do allow you out of the hotel to do other things though.

Original poster
Largepiecesofcrookedwood · 05/09/2018 08:13

Ooh, more to look into Wink
dontgiveamonkeys, no he's not. He didn't get through a somewhat dodgy selection and TBH wasn't all that fussed. He's actually going on expedition to Africa with our local District instead, which we're all happier about.
We've also been told that we should stay at home in case we're needed. We live in the West Country and are a minimum of a good four hours from any airport flying to Africa, so in most cases we would probably be closer to a suitable airport if we were away Grin
It will be fifteen years for us too since we had a child free holiday, so we've practically forgotten how to do it Grin

OP posts:
Lauren0rder · 05/09/2018 08:15

Do a tour of Italy.

Short flights.
Hire a car

Every region of Italy is different and the food and culture are fabulous.

Visit Siena and Florence and go to Lake Garda.

ForalltheSaints · 05/09/2018 08:22

Strange to be asked to be at home, assuming this means the UK.

Canal boats would be lovely but probably expensive in August. Canal du Midi in the south of France is ideal for this.

LIZS · 05/09/2018 08:24

Agree with Italy - Bologna is also lovely and foodie. Fly into Milan and work your way from Lakes Como/Maggiore down towards Rome.

InezGraves · 05/09/2018 08:26

Drive the Wild Atlantic Way from Derry to Cork, or a section of it, if you’d like to take it slowly. Beautiful and excellent walking.

Disfordarkchocolate · 05/09/2018 08:31

There are so many places in Europe that you could be back from before your son got back from Africa, it would be as good as being home. I would tour, starting with a city then a few days somewhere rural with good walks and nice food, and finish with a beach/lake. Getting a bit jealous now, no child free holiday for 27 years here.

Ariela · 05/09/2018 08:44

I'd visit the Channel Islands. Lots of lovely walks, nice beaches. Boat trips to visit other islands, often see dolphins.

PlainVanilla · 05/09/2018 08:44

Kenia or Austria

HeyMicky · 05/09/2018 08:57

Take the train to Moscow! Do a days stop in Paris and day in Berlin or Warsaw, or similar. Then fly home.

BitOutOfPractice · 05/09/2018 09:00

Drive through the Loire valley drinking wine and visiting beautiful Châteaux.

PeridotCricket · 05/09/2018 09:04

We went to Egypt recently and it was amazing. I’d rather not go on holiday than go on a cruise (trapped, activities....ugh). But we did a cruise along the Nile for seven days on a lovely boat, with our own guide. Saw so much, weather was amazing. Ver6 few tourists so could easily see everything. Then Cairo on our own which was fabulous and if we£ had time I’d have gone to Alexandria. Instead we went to Hurghada which was ok and would probably be great if you’ve never been snorkelling which is fab, Hurghada hasn’t much else to recommend it though.

I also loved Morocco, especially fez and essoiurra...

Mitzimaybe · 05/09/2018 13:41

Having read your updates, have you done the Italian lakes? I think a pp might have suggested it. We've been to Como (stayed in Menaggio) and Garda (stayed in Sirmione.) Although I did say that I wouldn't like to stay in Sirmione in August as it was very busy (with tourists) in June. You can get ferries up and down the lakes, visit pretty towns, do some walking (as strenuous or gentle as you like) etc. Scenery is stunning and the big cities are only a short trip away.
Sirmione is only about half an hour from Verona airport and Como isn't far from Milan.

I didn't personally like Morocco (too much hassle & having to watch your back the whole time.) Having said that, it's a long time since I went and it might have improved. What about Jordan? Lots to do and see and then you can relax at a Dead Sea resort.

sproutsandparsnips · 05/09/2018 14:13

I second the Italian lakes or Corsica.

twiglet · 05/09/2018 14:18

Do not go to Morocco in August unless you are a lover of 40+ degrees.....

We loved going around Croatia we did 10 days which included split, brac Island and sibenek. A hire car was pretty cheap and we stayed in air bnb apartments which was great.

KennDodd · 05/09/2018 14:20

You could try one of those European river boat cruses?

juneau · 05/09/2018 14:25

Okay, so you need a 7-10 days next August and not too far from an international airport and you'd like something active, but maybe with a city nearby (which if you want an international airport, you probably will be anyway). TBH, I'm a bit Hmm about you being told to be at home in case you're needed, but you might want to see which international airports have flights to the bit of Africa he'll be going to - that could narrow down your search.

August tends to be hot in a lot of Europe, so I'd probably head to the mountains for some walking, etc. The Italian lakes are lovely, but busy in August and popular with families. What about walking in the Alps, Dolomites, Pyrennees, Black Forest?