Once in a lifetime holiday?

[cjt110]

Where would you go?

We have the opportunity to have a holiday in Feb just me and DH. We have a shortlist of places but nothing final.

Our short list so far is Thailand, Sri Lanka, Mauritius. This gives an idea of what we are looking for - somewhere exotic, with experiences (Elephant trekking etvc).

We have a budget of around £2k and would preferably like to be all inclusive.

Please share with me your once in a lifetime holidays!

Check when it's Chinese New Year though as overpriced then and full of mainland Chinese who lets just say behave differently to us!

WTF do you mean by that?
And who are 'us'?

I've just got back from Koh Samui this morning. There's no way you can do that comfortably in a week.
It's a lovely place with the friendliest people but you will be shattered.

I have been to loads of exotic locations but mostly on a backpacker budget. I would say it depends on how experienced you are at travelling. If you’ve never travelled to the far east then don’t start with India. I love India but it can be a culture shock. If you want a couple of weeks on a beach then i’m not your man.

Bali is a beautiful Island but Kuta Bali is the Australian Benidorm. You can climb a volcano and have your breakfast cooked in volcanic steam. Beaches are great.

Vietnam is my favourite but it’s a huge place and getting round may involve internal flights. If you go there Ha Long Bay is amazing, a three day cruise through the bay would be amazing, I did a two day one and wished I’d done a three day one. You essentially get fed the best seafood you’ll ever taste, cruise around the small islands of the bay in a chinese style junk and then swim, canoe and visit floating villages. Beaches are amazing and there are quiet unspoilt resorts that are fantastic. Da Nang is not a quiet unspoilt resort.

Hong Kong is great, the star ferry, victoria peak, Lan Tau island and the big Buddha are great. You can also do a day trip to Macau which is good.

Thailand has lots of highlights. Bangkok is one of my favourite cities and as long as you learn to relax amidst the hustle and bustle it’s great. I went to Kanchanaburri to see the bridge over the river Kwai. Maybe a two centre holiday with a couple of days in Bangkok, a week on the beach in Koh Samui or Koh Pan Gan and then back to bangkok for the souvenir shopping.

Cambodia is great, Pnom Penh and Angkor Wat are fabulous but I’m not sure a trip round the killing fields is everyones idea of a holiday.

I have travelled in Africa and Tanzania is great, one of the highlights was the Ngoro goro crater for an amazing safari. Zanzibar for an awesome beach holiday. Zambia and Victoria falls (I know it’s in Zimbabwe) for adventure stuff. White water rafting, boogy boarding, microlite flights, river cruises, safaris, proper safaris and game restaurants(maponi worms are vile).

Like I said, beaches aren’t my thing and my idea of a great holiday would be Machu Pichu in Peru.

I did a 3 week multi-country holiday with G Adventures (formerly GAP). Was amazing, accommodation was pretty basic but the things we saw were amazing.

The trip is called the Volcano Trail, starts in Antigua then goes south via Honduras and Nicaragua and ends up in Costa Rica. Truly amazing experience, and I cannot wait to get back to that part of the world.

Of course, if you want a more luxurious break then this is most definitely not for you!

If you only have a week, I honestly wouldn't do longhaul, what a waste of time without the kids, all that travelling! I would do the very best in Europe TBH.

Have you been convinced not to go elephant trekking OP?

With your budget you could have a wonderful holiday in Sri Lanka. There are loads of fascinating places to see. We stayed at a beach hotel in April but hired a driver to take us to other parts of the country. He was terrific, took us exactly where we wanted but suggested other places which we would have overlooked. He charged $60 a day, including petrol and on our overnight trip he brought another driver so he could concentrate on telling us about the country. It is stunningly beautiful.

The Sri Lankans are very fond of the British, you feel very safe and there are no teeming hoards of beggars following you around.

And, super food.

Whilst i agree thai islands are prob too far for a week, because of transfer times, I once had a fab 5 night stay in hong kong. In our winter the weather is lovely.

You also have to factor in travelling to the airport. Waiting to get your flight.
We've been up for 38 hours since getting up yesterday morning in Bangkok.
Trying to stay awake until 7pm so I can get back into this time zone quickly.

Another vote for Sri Lanka, I was going to suggest like trickyd hire a driver and explore more of the country - it's really cheap to do a tour like that. Dh is Sri Lankan, when we had our wedding over there we brought my mum and dad to do a tour like that. Loads to see, beautiful country and quite affordable

A lot of the places recommended on here you won't get for £2k eg South Africa.
There are not elephants in Mauritius.

To be honest I wouldn't think £2k total would get you much anywhere if you're looking for holiday of a lifetime. I went to Thailand a decade ago and probably spent £1k including flights for 3 weeks and we stayed in cheap hostels.

I would be looking at an adults only 5* AI in Europe for total relaxation and luxury, we've taken our 4 and nearly 3 yo abroad twice this summer and it's as far from relaxing as it gets! Very enjoyable but a million miles away from a couples holiday!

Cuba?

I really want to get there before it changes too much. I hear it's already becoming Westernised (Americanised) but you can find old Cuba still.

For similar reasons I have a hankering to visit N Korea, but that's hardly a relaxing holiday....

Kerala, south India. Lots of experiences like going on the backwaters cruise, 5 star hotels (not resorts) for £100-£150/night for two of you (and you will be treated amazingly) and the flight isn't too long, although you would need a stop over in either Dubai or Mumbai.

2K isn't going to take you far really - even if you really rough it the flights alone will eat up half of that.

By the way I would cost my suggestion at about £1,000 for flights, accommodation anything from £40 a night for perfectly reasonable 3/4star hotels to £100-£150 a night for 5 star luxury (could do a mix), spending money is marginal because everything is so cheap but could easily eat a couple of courses with drinks for between £10-£15/dinner.

Once in a lifetime wise I would opt for Iceland/northern lights type place or perhaps Japan.

Mine and dh holiday without kids (fair few years off yet) will be the Maldives! Although I would take the kids before then if we win the lotto

Another for South Africa. I am going in April and flights were £400 return each. Safari at the Pilanesburg is pretty reasonable and more so if you sat locally like the Kingdom Resort and self drive. I have done this holiday on less than 1K easily and with exchange rates favourable, no jet lag and lovely weather that is winner in my eyes! And the night life is very good - Jo'burg and CT are both top nights out!

To all the people suggesting South Africa, yes it's lovely, but way over Budget. We go, admittedly in school holiday time. To Cape Town and its £4.5k for a family of 4. That's flights only. A safari is about £200 per night.

I think your destinations are too far for just a week, I did Vietnam in a week and it just isn't long enough- could you do ten days?

Xpost with turnip. Must have a massive differential term time.

I think £2k for both of you is going to rule out five star and as others have said the flights alone for long haul could easily eat up a lot of your budget.

Does it have to be in Feb?

Although having just done five star in Greece - I think you'd struggle to do that for a week for two of you for £2k.

Holidays are very expensive if you want five star.

However places like the amalfi coast in Italy are stunning and would be lovely in June and you could get cheap flights if you book as soon as they're released. And there are lots of lovely places to stay and you can then spend as much or as little as you want on food.

Sadly I just don't think £2k for two people will get you a long haul once in a lifetime holiday.

Op were you not previously looking at one of the attitude resorts in Mauritius? Did you manage to get one for £2k if you did I would snap it up.