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

We spent several weeks travelling round the Philippines last year - It's a Christian country so English is one of the main languages which made it very easy.

It was also well within your budget and a great mix of relaxing and adventure plus the friendliest people in the whole world!

OK, tonight's entertainment is going to be planning my imaginary 7 grand on a dream holiday.
I'll report back.
(This is fun, it's like the adult version of cutting up the Argos catalogue for the house you're going to live in when you're a grown up. Cut meself out a four poster bed, a swanky sofa, etc....." )
or maybe that was just me

Spend £600 on a flight to Vegas and put the rest on red.

South East Asia, definitely. Northern Thailand and Vietnam especially! Your money goes SO much further - I spent 3.5 weeks in Vietnam & Cambodia over Christmas last year and, including flights, spent less than £2000, and we didn't scrimp or save at all during the trip - stayed in some lovely hotels, ate well, drank a bit, went on all kinds of trips etc. We did go off the beaten track (slightly) - so you may find it more expensive in the more well-known areas, but you can do so much with your money out there. Plus, Vietnam and Thailand both were lovely, friendly, beautiful countries (Cambodia I didn't enjoy as much). Enjoy! :)

The Galapagos are amazing, and you could possibly fit in say a week there and then the rest of the time in cheaper places in Ecuador and Peru. A quick Google shows return flights Gatwick to San Cristobal for £1465 which leaves you with £4820 spending money.

Otherwise I'd spend the time travelling Central America.

@sprinklestar I agree, personally I wouldn't want to fly long-haul only to land in an English-speaking country.

I would 100% recommend China, amazing country.

Vietnam, before it gets totally over developed.

You can still stay in wonderful 'homestays' - guest houses - with aircon and sometimes a pool, very cheaply. Food is incredibly cheap and fabulous, and just bargain everything right down.

Food in beach cafes can be exquisite and tiny money.

If you stay in upmarket hotels and eat and drink n their restaurants and bars it will be more expensive.

We didn't tip and found that tips were actually not expected.

I might have another go at DH re the US road trip now after this thread. He wasn't keen because he doesn't like driving or sitting on planes for over 5 hours . I wonder if I can plan a rail trip around Europe for 5 weeks? Anyone done that? How much would we have to save up?

Oh yes, the food in Vietnam is the most incredible I have ever tasted! I dreamed about it for ages when I came home.

@PumpkinSquash Nope. You're not on your own with the imaginary furnishings

For all the things you want definitely Peru/Ecuador and the Galapagos.

I spent a glorious week on Utila, an island off the coast of Honduras. Scuba diving / backpacking paradise, and you can island-hop between the islands. I loved it so much I was all set to take a sabbatical from work, move there for 6 months and work for my divemaster qualifications.
Utila, Roatan and the other 3rd one whose name I can't remember - would be back there in a heartbeat given funds and time.

What about a cruise? You get to visit different places, have access to good food/facilities and someone else has to worry about the transport bits.

I also agree with @sprinklestar

I've been to mainland USA three times and really don't get the affection for it. It's no Galapagos. It doesn't excite me at all. I wonder what I'm not getting?

Yolo - yes, China is amazing. Another one I've lived in. Could be a good starting point for a south east Asia adventure too.

"This is an incredibly insensitive OP"

Right, I suggest you ask MN for a filter that blocks all threads where people ask advice on housing that is beyond you, handbags, shoes, wedding costs, kitchen extensions that you wouldn't be able to afford etc etc.

I travelled round the world for a year on £7500 :) South africa or SE asia, your money will go much further.

I have so much nostalgia for my travelling days after reading this thread! I remember getting off a boat on a random Thai island without a clue where we were staying or how we would get there. Ended up in a beachside hut for about £10 a night. Heaven.

Beadnell.

I would go to Beadnell. It has a lovely beach, good fish 'n' chips, and at this time of year it's not too crowded.

@PumpkinSquash Nope. You're not on your own with the imaginary furnishings

phew

Just to add, I've also done a road trips in Canada and the SW US and while they are stunning, particularly the Canadian Rockies and Yosemite, it's not the same kind of experience as travelling in Latin America or SE Asia. Your money will go a lot further in the latter two (barring the Galapagos and maybe Patagonia which is also pricey). You could probably squeeze a 10 day Galapagos trip and then 3 weeks in Ecuador, Peru or Bolivia (and maybe the Atacama) out of your budget. My personal favourite is Bolivia but Peru probably gives the most bang for your buck, there's just so much to see and do.

Queensland, Oz. Wasn't that keen on Hawaii but probably only saw the very touristy and concretey part. The smaller islands are meant to be better.

Ottos I spent a week on Utila and Roatan in the summer, I didn't want to leave either! Despite getting almost eaten alive by mosquitoes

@sprinklestar I totally get it. The travel thing never got me so i’ve basically been to Europe and that’s it.

However there was something I loved about the cultural strangeness. I very quickly realised that yes, I know the culture through exports, I speak the language... but there is something deeply ‘other’ about the culture that I am just never going to get. I enjoyed that dissonance tbh. We also prepped for the visit by watching ken burns ‘the west’ documentary which gave some darker cultural context that certainly cast a different light on some of our experiences (eg we went to manzanar, where Japanese Americans were interned during ww2. Our very lovely host couldn’t understand why we would want to visit there.)

personally I wouldn't want to fly long-haul only to land in an English-speaking country.

America and Canada may be English-speaking, but that to me doesn't mean they're not interesting enough to warrant a visit. I can't believe that e.g. Austin or Montreal are not going to be different and exciting to someone like me who's in London.

Not to mention the incredible coasts, mountains, deserts and wildernesses.

Don't get me wrong; I'd love to go to SE Asia and I adored my trip to India, but I'd be just as keen to go to North America.