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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Once in a lifetime holiday?

169 replies

cjt110 · 03/08/2016 15:08

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!

OP posts:
BarbaraofSeville · 04/08/2016 07:11

A lot of the holiday costs quoted on here seem either ridiculously cheap or alternatively bizarrely expensive.

someone upthread says that they could get 2 weeks in Thailand 5 star for their budget, which seems unlikely especially as I understand it, £2k is the entire budget, including food etc. I know it can be cheap to eat out in Thailand, but I really would have thought the flights would be at least half this amount.

On other threads people talk about family holidays in France for a few hundred pounds or at the other end of the scale spending close to £10k on a fortnights 5 star AI in somewhere like lanzarote.

SteviebunsBottrittrundle · 04/08/2016 08:16

Ah yeah sorry, I missed the bit where OP said £2k. I don't think j Oman is possible for that budget.

mouldycheesefan · 04/08/2016 08:18

Same applies to many of the other destinations recommended. Why don't people actually read the op?

SteviebunsBottrittrundle · 04/08/2016 08:20

I did read the op mouldy, but just missed that bit as I was on my slightly shit phone. I shall consider my wrist slapped, shall I? Wink.

CurbsideProphet · 04/08/2016 08:27

I've been to Mauritius and although the resort was lovely, I was troubled by the poverty. You couldn't really wander off the resort (not much to walk to) and when we got a taxi to the botanical gardens, the taxi took us via 3 designer fakes outlets.

Friends have been to Cuba and had a fantastic time, on a reasonable budget.

tokoloshe2015 · 04/08/2016 08:32

South Africa is lovely - I'm from the UK but have lived in Cape Town for 10 years and love it. Never had any bad experiences, yes you do need to be sensible (keep valuables out of sight etc) but I'd do that in any city. The dangerous areas are not places you'd go for a holiday and are difficult to wander into by mistake.

My first 5 years here I was working in a township, travelling around it, using public transport at times, and found I was very well looked after - people were curious about why I was there, but very friendly. I wouldn't do that without good advice (from my colleagues in my case), but even the high crime areas are mostly full of ordinary people just getting on with their lives.

violetbunny · 04/08/2016 08:38

I vote for Thailand, having been there in a brilliant holiday last year.

If you're doing Phuket then my advice would be to avoid staying in the really touristy areas like Patong and go for one of the quieter beaches. We stayed in Kamala Beach and then Karon Beach, we had a night or two out in Patong, but I'm glad we weren't there the whole time. We stayed in a stunning hotel in Kamala (Layalina Hotel) which was literally on the beach and had amazing views. It was also next to an amazing day spa where we had a full day of spa treatments for about the cost of a massage in the UK. I think we got better value for money where we were and the beaches weren't as crazy busy.

Original poster
cjt110 · 04/08/2016 08:53

Thanks all for your suggestions. I think it's going to be Thailand and more than likely Krabi after checking out some videos on youtube of Patong and Krabi.

OP posts:
happystory · 04/08/2016 08:55

Neither Greek island hopping nor Ibiza would work in Feb. But I'd try and change the date and do either of those, later on.

ShanghaiDiva · 04/08/2016 09:02

as a pp mentioned - do avoid Chinese New Year as prices will go up and more and more Chinese are now spending this holiday overseas.
2017 CNY - 28th January - avoid a few days before this and two weeks after.

Original poster
cjt110 · 04/08/2016 09:03

Ah shit Shanghai Our holiday is 30 Jan - 10 Feb! Sad

OP posts:
NisekoWhistler · 04/08/2016 09:10

Thailand will be very busy and prices for accommodation will be hiked up.

What about skiing? That can be once in a lifetime for some people. You'll do well to get a week in France for under 1k each mind

Original poster
cjt110 · 04/08/2016 09:22

We can get a week in Thailand for around 1700. We've seen many deals on expedia for around that price.

OP posts:
Piemernator · 04/08/2016 09:25

I went on a Safari and to Mombassa for the beach in Kenya, stayed at Treetops and the best hotel in Mombassa. It was almost 2k 17 years ago and we got it half price.

DH stayed in a 5 star hotel in Borneo with work and it was only £50 a night a couple of years ago but you got to get there.

We are off to the Isle of Wight next week and it's costing £700 for 3 nights, we are staying somewhere lovely, the ferry is crazy overpriced.

Some Chinese folk do spit a lot, my Dad was Chinese and can confirm this, they will also do stuff like ask you directly how much you earn.

NavyandWhite · 04/08/2016 09:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

waterfallsandmountains · 04/08/2016 09:39

OP Thailand is absolutely beautiful and I am sure you will have a wonderful time! Please report back! Smile

minipie · 04/08/2016 09:42

Oh I hadn't spotted that it was £2k for both of you rather than £2k each.

That does narrow it down a lot I'm afraid. You would either need a long haul package hotel deal (and quite a cheap one) or a short haul destination, but then the weather may not be so good.

Hmm.... How about Marrakech? The flights wouldn't be too expensive, and that way you have more money to spend on accommodation and food. You could have a lovely week spent half in a riad in the old medina and half in the Atlas Mountains.

Or look for package deals to Goa, Sri Lanka or Thailand. If you can find one you like the look of at a decent price then I wouldn't worry tooo much about the Chinese new year issue.

NisekoWhistler · 04/08/2016 09:48

If you're thinking Krabi whatever you do do not stay at Railay Village Resort. We got the worst food poisoning ever there, truly horrific for both of us, plus the staff were useless if you needed help.

Roussette · 04/08/2016 09:50

But cjt that gives you just £300 spending money for a week. Yes Thailand is relatively cheap but that won't finance the both of you for a week for extras, for food, for experiences, for just soaking up all that Thailand has to offer.

I've just been there, OK maybe it's just me, but the flights took me a day and a half to get over, I wouldn't dream of going there for a week, just as you start to enjoy yourself, you will be saying to yourself "oh god, we go home the day after tomorrow".

travailtotravel · 04/08/2016 09:51

£2k won't get you far with many of these destinations. By all means look at Galapagos, but be prepared to part with about £10k.

I'd suggest that you go and visit a good travel agent. Bath Travel, trailfibders etc and say this is when we've got time off. This is our strict budget what can you do. You'll save hours of trawling yourself and get some realistic options to consider. Enjoy!

minipie · 04/08/2016 09:59

Roussette it may be an AI deal that cjt has found for £1700? so food would be covered - though not day trips, agreed.

OP in your shoes, with only one precious child free week, I would not spend 2 days of it on a plane. I would go somewhere closer - even if that means the weather might be UK spring temperature rather than summer iyswim.

SteviebunsBottrittrundle · 04/08/2016 10:22

Just seconding Trailfinders - they are really good. I have found their staff so knowledgeable.

waterfallsandmountains · 04/08/2016 10:34

Trailfinders are superb.

Roussette · 04/08/2016 10:37

mini yes I agree, but I would not go all the way to Thailand with £300 for a couple for all incidentals. There would be nothing worse than travelling 15 hours on a plane to find you can't do all you want to do, and see everything, because you only have £150 each to spend. Even though Asia is cheap, everything adds up as I know to my cost!

Good idea to go into Trailfinders and lay it on the table with the budget and time you've got. They'll find you something!

minipie · 04/08/2016 10:42

yep roussette that would be a shame. And I wouldn't go all that way for a week anyway as she'd be using 2 of her days on a plane... and then getting over the jetlag...

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