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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

TheFairyCaravan · 04/08/2016 17:12

£2k would get you a week AI in a really good hotel in Cape Verde.

We went in March a couple of years ago. It was really hot, really relaxing and absolutely beautiful. It was 6.5 hours on the plane which is as far as I'd go for a week.

MargoReadbetter · 04/08/2016 17:16

Iceland would be great and 2K just about enough for a week.

Frazzled2207 · 04/08/2016 17:24

I think once in a lifetime + 1 week

2k budget is difficult. We did kenya safari plus zanzibar for our once in a lifetime trip (honeymoon) and it was absolutely incredible but it cost upwards of £6k and we were away for about 12 days.

Frazzled2207 · 04/08/2016 17:25

Btw we had a recent lovely holiday in Northumberland and that cost us nearly £2k.

Roussette · 04/08/2016 17:47

I'm now only interested in the Penis Museum!

dorisdog · 04/08/2016 18:56

Cuba. It was 10 or so years ago, so it might not be so great now, but it was unbelievably safe - I travelled on my own for a few of the days and stayed with a family. Hitched lifts alone etc. But the most amazing thing was the (very inexpensive) diving. If you're into somewhere that has amazing beaches, posh, but not very expensive hotels and very retro fifties cars...

Oh and real cowboys that look like they're in a Western! That was interesting.

myusernamewastaken · 04/08/2016 19:24

Im surprised at the amount of people saying S Africa....i would not want to holiday anywhere i did not feel safe.

Drama123 · 04/08/2016 19:27

I went to Vancouver a few years back and whilst I was looking forward to going, I didnt expect to love it.
Beach, city, forest, mountains and rainforest all within easy reach. Fabulous trip!

ClockMakerSue · 04/08/2016 19:30

East Africa would be where I would go. Ugandan, Tanzanian or Kenyan safari. Definitely a trip to remember and not too far for just a week. Or maybe an adults only 5* in Hurghada in Egypt.

I know so many have said it but riding elephants is awfully cruel. Travel companies are starting to ban it on their itineraries and it's long overdue.

Unicorn1981 · 04/08/2016 19:32

We went travelling to Thailand and Vietnam for seven weeks from New Year's Eve 2011. It cost a ridiculous amount of money and now I think we should've used it to buy a house now we have dd but I'm so glad we did it. And we did go for a ride on an elephant but with this tribe living off the river Kwai. I can recommend places to stay. We did a mixture of b and bs that were ok but not great and some nicer hotels. We booked a couple in advance as we stayed in these jungle river rafts on the river Kwai (you could jump into the river) and a gorgeous treat hotel on the island of Phu Quoc in Vietnam. The others we just used booking.com as we went along. You can get around Vietnam by using trains and overnight buses and do a night train from Bangkok to Chaing Mai if you choose to go there. Please message me if you would like any more information as I could go on!

Unicorn1981 · 04/08/2016 19:33

Sorry I didn't realise it was just for a week!

Glitterfish · 04/08/2016 22:12

Costa Rica is amazing. Fantastic ecotourism, amazing beaches with hardly a person on them, wonderful warm people

Waitingforgodot · 04/08/2016 22:15

I will go against the grain and say go to Asia for a week! I've done Vietnam for a week, KL and Borneo for a week and Malaysia/Laos for a week. All trips cost less than 2K. Booked flight and accommodation separately. PM me if you want help finding something.

stayathomegardener · 04/08/2016 22:33

Place marking for great ideas.

twixxy · 05/08/2016 18:06

Sri Lanka is great. Saw (wild) elephants in Eco park safari - didn't regret not doing elephant orphanage after hearing bad things. Agree with what others on here have said . Borneo also amazing especially the Pygmy elephants swimming in the river in the rain forest but it's a hell of a long way just for a week (to get to our favourite bits it's an 11 hour flight to KL then a three hour flight toKK then a 45 min flight then three hours by boat)

blueamberuk · 06/08/2016 01:00

If it is 2k per person then many of the suggestions here are feasible but on average safari holidays would cost a minimum of 6k for the 2 of you. It all depends if you are looking at 1 or 2 weeks. Mauritius is just about in budget for a short stay in a 3* and about the same for the Maldives but the latter is just about lounging in the sun unless into snorkelling or diving. Malaysia is great value for money with lots to do as the value of the pound to ringgit is good and all inclusive is a no no as its so cheap to eat out and a short stop over in Kuala Lumpur does not add much to a trip to any of the beachier places. A lovely play to stay are any of the Shangri-La Hotels, the service etc of their Rasa Sayang in Penang is phenomenal. Its safe, friendly and we have been back to Malaysia about 7 times now over 15 years. The Hilton in Kuching in Sarawak is excellent and the Tanjung Aru and Rasa Ria in Sabah are also excellent. SOuth Africa is great value when you get there but at that time of the year air fares will be about £750 min each. Somewhere lovely and aware from the hustle of Thailand is Sri Lanka but pick a boutique rather than more commercial hotels as they are very overloaded with european mass market travellers.

Iloveowls2 · 06/08/2016 08:05

For a week I would definately only do somewhere with direct flights. Most long haul will take out 2days of travel by the time you have travelled to airport checked in flown and taken account of time zones unless you fly south. £2k for 2of you isn't going to get you far tbh. Most of the places mentioned would make fantastic family holidays. What about a fab city break in a top hotel in Rome or Venice,a short cruise might be doable. New York and take in some shows? I'd either be concentrating on quality of accommodation over distance or saving the cash to pool with family holiday cash for a fantastic family holiday

WamBamThankYouMaam · 06/08/2016 09:16

I go to Thailand loads and would not recommend it for a week, especially not with internal flights and boat travel added on.

I understand you've found deals within your budget but what are you spending when you get there?

I don't think your expectations are reasonable for your budget and time constraints.

Oh and whoever keeps mentioning Costa Rica, if you can link a deal for less than £1k pp that would be smashing!

roomonmybroom · 06/08/2016 10:09

wam I could find 2 with Thomson for £1,000 in Feb. one AI, the link is coming up far too long, and I don't know how to shorten it sorry, it is a whole paragraph, but happy to if you want.

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