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Original poster

Where can I go on holiday in Jan for 5 days

21 replies

Ratbagcatbag · 08/08/2022 11:01

I'm after some collective MN minds please?

I want to go away in Jan 2023 for a milestone birthday. It will be me and my ten year old DD. (Hence why only five days). Budget of around £1500.

I keep circling back to New York, but don't know if I'm missing some epic break somewhere else I've not even considered.

Google is just giving me too wide a search area. We like doing stuff, so sitting on a beach isn't what we're after.

Any suggestions at all please?

OP posts:
BarrelOfOtters2 · 08/08/2022 11:03

Depends on your budget really. I think New York is a long flight for 5 days.

I'd go to Malaga/Rome/Seville. Malaga chance of warmish weather, nice food, stuff to do - museums, markets - you can get a train to rhonda.

Rome has so much to do. Venice would be interesting and less crowded than normal.

Summerof22 · 08/08/2022 11:06

I lived in NY for 3 years and always tell
people I would only visit April-October.

it’ll be freezing in January, you won’t be able to get the best out of walking around, eating outside, seeing Greenwich Village with all the trees in bloom, Central Park… the list is endless.

snowstorm2012 · 08/08/2022 11:08

Iceland? You may get to see the northern lights, it'll be snowy, amazing 👍🏼

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Holidays
BarbaraofSeville · 08/08/2022 11:12

Spain is a good shout if you can be away in the evening of 5th January as all the towns have the Three Kings parade where they ride camels through the streets and throw sweets into the crowd. It's the biggest part of Christmas so really memorable to experience it.

Malaga or Seville would be great, or even somewhere like Lanzarote as there's loads more to do than 'sit on a beach'. You can visit the volcano park, caves, watersports, go for walks and bike rides, all sorts of stuff.

Crikeyalmighty · 08/08/2022 11:13

I think Rome or Paris are good picks- lots to see if you aren't thinking beach and doesn't really matter if weather is a bit shit.

I would say Berlin but have been that time of year and it was incredibly cold.

Somewhere like Chamonix or seefeld or Are (Sweden) is good. Easy to get to , winter resorts though so think spas , tobogganing and ski lifts and mountainside lunches (you don't have to ski)

I love NY and it's a good choice too but only if you like the cold- and personally I find cold easier to cope with in a cosy ski resort than trudging around NY.

How about Dubai- I'm not a massive fan myself as I find it a bit boring and drinking was very expensive and a pain in arse, , but my11 year old at the time enjoyed it- fabulous accommodation, lots of great shopping malls , indoor ski slope , water park , desert trip with Bedouin feast and still pretty nice weather.

MamaNolan · 08/08/2022 11:13

I second Iceland! Break of a lifetime but I would say overbudget with spends (it really is as expensive as people say! Haha)! Also loved Krakow & Bruges in January! Husband is a Jan birthday so we usually have a city break!

Original poster
Ratbagcatbag · 08/08/2022 11:18

Thanks for the suggestions so far.

I love the idea of NY and had told DD that's what we are doing. But I can shift that to another time.

Iceland looks beautiful and has been on my bucket list for ages. We did Lapland a few years ago and loved it despite the temps. And was gutted not to see the northern lights.

Budget is around £1500 for the travel. I can do spends of around £500 on top of that.

I guess it's what we do in Reykjavik in the day. Although some holidays have two trips included which look fab. :)

OP posts:
Mydogneedsabath · 08/08/2022 11:22

Bruges is beautiful, small so very walkable. Horse drawn carriages, atmospheric buildings, waffle shops, and IMHO absolutely perfect for a winter break.

ShrillSiren22 · 08/08/2022 11:24

For a really special holiday I’d stay in the UK with that budget and stay at a really lovely hotel. 5 days if you’re flying somewhere just isn’t worth it IMO, especially with all the disruptions atm that don’t seem to be ending any time soon.

minipie · 08/08/2022 11:27

Marrakech? We went in Dec and it was lovely - blue skies, chilly morning and evening but warm in the middle of the day. Lots to see and do, souks Atlas mountains camels etc. No jetlag. I am not sure if the weather changes in Jan so check but Dec was great.

Auntpodder · 08/08/2022 11:30

Echo Seville or Rome. Marrakech would feel properly foreign and less full on that Egypt (though amazing new Cairo museum should open in November...). Iceland a fab cold weather choice (with all those thermal pools) but to see Northern Lights you'll need to be in a place of low light pollution rather than a city...

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 08/08/2022 11:32

I went to NY for my 30th for four days. It was hectic but amazing. It was in an April though with no child.

Original poster
Ratbagcatbag · 08/08/2022 11:33

@ShrillSiren22 i thought about that. But for some reason I really don't want to stay in the UK.

My only family is DD and friends are busy with their own lives, so I feel I want to do something really special and maybe one off. It's a bit of a weird one how I feel about it.

@Mydogneedsabath id never considered Bruges. I'll add it to my list to look into.

OP posts:
AtLeastThreeDrinks · 08/08/2022 11:46

another vote for Iceland! We spent five days there and only one afternoon in Reykjavik. There are so many trips / tours /activities to do, you’ll easily fill the time. Husky sledding, snowmobiles, waterfalls/geysers, hot springs, cross-country skiing, boat trips, museums

Crikeyalmighty · 08/08/2022 12:05

I love Bruges --but have been so many times I got brugesedout!!

Original poster
Ratbagcatbag · 08/08/2022 12:11

Ooooh really.

is it easy to organise all the trips and transfers?

id love a boat trip to see the Northern lights too.

OP posts:
TheWayoftheLeaf · 08/08/2022 12:16

Rome or Naples we're both stunning and you can go to Pompeii / Amalfi coast.

mocktail · 08/08/2022 12:19

How about Barcelona? Lots to see and do, great food, and warmer than the UK.

Original poster
Ratbagcatbag · 08/08/2022 16:56

Iceland all booked. Thank you so much.

I did some hunting on prices and got flights, hotel for 4 nights and transfer for less than £1k. Everyone says book trips when you're there (which I fully intend to do).

As much as I really want to do NY, the flight for length of holiday is crazy. And the risk of jetlag too. We fly on the weds. Have my birthday there on the Sat and fly back on Sunday evening. Sorted.

OP posts:
snowstorm2012 · 08/08/2022 17:24

That's actually made me so happy! Enjoy, have a fantastic time and report back, I'm very envious 😀xxx

MamaNolan · 08/08/2022 18:54

Ratbagcatbag · 08/08/2022 11:18

Thanks for the suggestions so far.

I love the idea of NY and had told DD that's what we are doing. But I can shift that to another time.

Iceland looks beautiful and has been on my bucket list for ages. We did Lapland a few years ago and loved it despite the temps. And was gutted not to see the northern lights.

Budget is around £1500 for the travel. I can do spends of around £500 on top of that.

I guess it's what we do in Reykjavik in the day. Although some holidays have two trips included which look fab. :)

We booked through secret escapes and had about 4 trips included! Definitely didn't struggle for things to do! Definitely worth looking at! The hotel was georgous and overlooking the harbour in Reykjavik

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