AIBU to ask where you would go for 5 weeks, with £7750.

[Dontforgetyourtowel]

NC as very outing! I will soon finish a 9 year long stint of work and study, and to celebrate my freedom (i.e. not having to study evenings and weekends ever again), my DH and I have decided to go somewhere, anywhere, for a period of 5 weeks, in autumn 2018 (we're in the UK).

We have been thinking Hawaii, 'do' all 4 of the main islands. He's quite set on it but I'm being indecisive..! My main worry (not really an appropriate word but ykwim) is that our budget is 'only' around £7500. This would need to include everything (flights, car hire, food etc.) for the both of us (no DC).

I did the maths and I know that we can go to Hawaii on that but we'd have to be very careful (airbnbs, cook our own food, only pick a couple of big budget adventures, and spend the rest of our time hiking and snorkelling). Imo we might be better off going to Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Things are so cheap out there that we'd never really feel we'd have to budget all the time.

Where I really want to go is Galapagos or Bora Bora but I know that the budget most definitely won't stretch to that!

So I wanted to ask, if you had 5 weeks and £7750, where would you go? Inspire me! We love adventure, diving, sun, good food, nature and meeting people!

This isn't a stealth boast, we've pretty much been looking forward to this and saving for it for a good few years, scrimping and saving on everything else

I'd go to the US and go to Yosemite. I'd rent a little house on Air BnB, rent a car and just bike, hike and run to my little heart's content. Then I'd read books and drink weak American beer.

Thanks for the biscuit TheSunIsFar - my first one. But they're not the type I like so you can have it back:

Exactly as above, I’d ‘do’ as much of America as I could. Always been my dream. I’d stretch out the budget as much as posssible by staying in cheap motels (which would add to the fun of it).

That sounds amazing Johnnycomelately1 - I would love to see Yosemite!

How fab.
I'd go on a road trip, hiring a motorhome, around America/Canada.

Thanks for the biscuit TheSunIsFar - my first one. But they're not the type I like so you can have it back: biscuit

Side note, I always thought that was a flower.

I have to decide between food and petrol most week. Your OP makes me want to cry. That amount of money would change my life - and my holiday would cost me $200 camping. The rest would pay for most of 2018.

I would really recommend Vietnam - as you say, the money will go much further there and there are so many amazing countries in that region that you could do a fantastic tour in five weeks. I think autumn is a good time to go, too (we went in summer and were very lucky with the weather, but it was sheer luck).

"Only" £7500? I know just how you feel. I thought only this morning that my diamond shoes were too tight.

liminality I'm really sorry you're struggling but a) I don't really see why you came on this thread - the title makes it very clear what it's about - and b) I think OP knows that she's very lucky, and that this is a very big luxury indeed.

Ive been lucky enough to do my dream American road trip 2 years ago - Phoenix, Grand Canyon, Vegas and then California. I would defintely do California again. Thats doable for 2 on your budget.

Go to the antipodes. Lots of adventure and nature there, and you will be going into the spring/summer season.

I would travel round Thailand, head to different islands and maybe head to Cambodia and Vietnam too.

Oh for god's sake, surely MN is a place for people at all stages in their life? The OP has explained her situation right from the start. She's not bragging, she's explaining. The fact that most others don't have that much money to spend on a holiday doesn't mean she should feel she can't talk about it here. She's not gone onto a thread about food banks and said she wants to talk about a fab holiday.

I don't think op is boasting and tbh mumsnet is a huge website with very different levels of income, sorry I have No idea where I would gonop but enjoy it

All those being rude to the op, get a grip. I'm as poor as fuck, but I can't see anything wrong with the op wanting to celebrate working her arse off for 9 years!!

I think I would also do an RV across America.

I would definitely recommend Thailand/Vietnam/Cambodia/Laos.

Laos especially is stunningly beautiful, and less touristy than the others. I was taken by surprise how much I adored it as I didn’t really have any expectations.

Then boyfriend (now DH) and I went to SE Asia and travelled in all the countries I mentioned for 4 months and spent far, far, FAR less than your budget so if you go there with that kind of money I reckon you could live like kings for 5 weeks.

All those being rude to the op, get a grip. I'm as poor as fuck, but I can't see anything wrong with the op wanting to celebrate working her arse off for 9 years!!

Agree with this.

OP you have earned your trip of a lifetime by working hard and I'm sure you'll enjoy it!
How about a safari with balloon rides etc?

I think I would ‘do’ America, hire a motor home and plan a route that allowed me to see the areas I would like.

Sounds amazing though! Well jel

Go somewhere on your bucket list for less time rather than spend the lot on 5 weeks somewhere that's just good rather than wonderful.

Poor OP; don’t be unpleasant to hear because she is in the fortunate position of having this money to spend on a holiday. Yes, plenty of people live off that for a whole year, but equally plenty of people spend that (or more) on their holiday every single year . Good luck to to you OP - wherever you decide, have an amazing time.

South East Asia. Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Borneo.

Trans Siberian railway.

Hawaii sounds great.

I'd go to the Caribbean. If I had to pick one island, Cuba. But I'd look at the possibility of moving from one place to another and visiting 2 or 3 islands