If you had £5000 for a trip of a lifetime

[DogDaysNeverEnd]

Where would you go? Or more specifically, can you recommend somewhere for our family of 3 (LO will be 4). We married between lockdowns with no guests and definitely no honeymoon. It may still be premature thanks to covid chaos, but with winter looming I'm looking for escapes.

So can anyone suggest places? Thinking January/February, absolutely max £5000. We're quite active and enjoy swimming/diving etc, and have been lucky enough to live and work in Asia/Pacific so more interested in Atlantic/Indian Ocean/Caribbean. Please, help me dream!

Surely the Caribbean islands at that time of year? Cuba even? As far south as you can get!

Dubai.

It wasn't anywhere I'd wanted to go but we went with DH's work a few years ago. Our son was 10 months old at the time.

It's amazing with kids! Loads to do, and the weather in Jan / Feb is pretty good.

For that money you can also look to stay somewhere quite nice, though I wouldn't stay on the palm as it's a pain to get on and off.

Costa Rica

Sri Lanka

Mexico cave diving but no idea if it's the right time of year, or suitable when you have a LO in tow.

Or Galapagos, but same caveat with weather and child suitability, but at least I think it's summer there.

Just ideas as a diver of bucket list places that are more out of the ordinary than standard European/Red Sea, which are still amazing, but more accessible.

But then again, South America is still bad wrt Covid. Perhaps spend some of the money on bribing grandparents to look after the 4 YO for a week or two and then go on a Red Sea liveaboard and get the best cabin. Diving is beyond amazing. Wrecks. Thistlegorm. Dolphins.

Not quite what you asked for but what about somewhere snowy. Northern Norway and Sweden have loads of active things to do and it's a bit different, although it will be very cold ( - 20 degrees give or take 10 degrees) at that time of year.

South Africa.

Aruba

Although I have to admit I'm not sure you could do it as a "trip of a lifetime" for 3 people for that budget - have a look tho, things might be cheaper post covid than they were when I looked at going on 2019

Maldives! 😍

However the budget may not stretch to that, so I'd say Mauritius 😊

Do you like all inclusive?

I am going a cruise end of this year to carribean
All inclusive and excusions such as snorkeling hiking waterfalls etc are available at an extra costs.

Not sure how far 5k would get you, inside cabin would probably work in budget.

Weather would be good and has kids clubs so can have some adult time in evenings and in day etc

Strong start, thank you I'm googling away here. Sadly I have terrible sea sickness so liveabord/Galapagos probably not the best. Cuba could be interesting, likewise Costa Rica and I have a good friend who will be heading that way later next year.

I started looking at Kenya safari as LO is mad about animals but seems too young. I've been to parks in SA self drive and I'm maybe glossing over the many hours of boredom before seeing something so maybe not the right time.

Dubai doesn't thrill me, but I will look because it is very easy. Aruba I am slightly embarrassed to say I've never heard of but thanks the the internet I can solve that!

I think I'm caught between something spectacular but also suitable for a wee one. Sadly no grandparents for child caring so we have to find something suitable for us all.

Somewhere like the Cayman Islands might work - English speaking, lovely weather that time of year, no mosquitoes as I think they spray them all. Plenty of opportunities for snorkeling etc?

Costa Rica
Vietnam (couple of cities then an island for chilling out)

Lived in Oman for a couple of years a long time ago- great in winter.

Hungary is amazing, beautiful city, amazing history to be seen, swimming in the balaton, walking up the volcanos. Would be amazing!

Sri Lanka and see wild elephants

Another vote for Costa Rica.

Hire a car and drive around and you will have at least four holidays for the price of one - rainforest, cloud forest, stunning tropical beaches and historical towns/cities. And finish it off with a couple of days in La Fortuna and get a two-day pass to the Springs Resort. Heaven on earth!

Tbh, 4 yeas old won't remember anything. So go to somewhere you really want, if it's a trip of your life time. Or wait a bit longer and go somewhere your dc wants when she is old enough to remember.

I think we keep coming back to this point - that LO is too young to do much and basically won't remember a lot but will cost almost as much as an adult. Perhaps it's worth waiting a few years more when the world has settled and we have more options. But ohhhh, for some sunshine.

Another vote for Costa Rica! Friends of ours went with a 4 year old a few years ago and had a great time.

But surely that's true of where ever you go with lo? This would really be for you. Id be exploring St barts and places that way. Or split it into smaller holidays so have things to look forward too.

French Polynesia is top of my list, although it’s a bloody long way and not sure what £5k would get you. But fun to google/dream!

Oh, just seen you get seasick. Costa Rica is a close second, most eco-friendly tourist destination!

Don’t want to piss on your chips but £5k for 3 people isn’t really trip of a lifetime money…
Cuba, proper Cuba, Havana, Trinidad, vinales, not the fucking awful resorts is amazing but not sure how far £5k would get you

Personally I'd do Denmark, Sweden, and Iceland...not ideal if you want sunshine though!