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 think I’d be bored spending 5 weeks in Hawaii. Or anywhere. I’d do a month road trip in America followed by a month in Hawaii.

Or three weeks in New Zealand, then separate trips to Iceland and Norway if I could squeeze them in the budget.

Or a 5 week tour of Italy.

What a delicious dilemma. Keep us posted.

Followed by a WEEK in Hawaii. Obviously.

Cruise cruise cruise! Food and drink included 😁 and lots of places to visit/things to do!

I'd go to Costa Rica and Panama - beautiful scenery, snorkelling/diving, amazing wildlife. If Galapagos appeals to you, these counties could offer similar experiences for a lower budget.

Your money will go further in SE Asia. Or I would hire a camper van and tour around either New Zealand, Australia, Canada or America.

For me, if i was spending £7500 for 5 weeks, i wouldnt want to be scrimping and saving the whole time like i fear you would in hawaii. Id want to be eating out every meal, staying in nice places, doing fun things and i dont think you have the budget for that in hawaii.

First class interrailing through europe. 5 weeks in asia. Route 66 in usa. Train moscow to beijing, all sound as though youd get more value and see more things

I can't add to these many excellent suggestions, other than to say avoid going five-star/first class all the way, even if you can afford it, it soon gets a bit samey and you stop appreciating it.

I would aim for a mixture of quirky local (but not backpacker) accommodation, activities, meals etc, with a few strategic splurges on a top-of the range hotel, once in a lifetime activity and outstanding restaurants dotted throughout your trip
Best of all worlds

(Also, a very boring tip but on a long trip its nice to stay in a self-catering apartment or villa with a washing machine at a strategic point(s), so that you can wash all your clothes without wasting half a day at a laundrette Its also easier to occasionally slob about with local bread & cheeses and a bottle of local vino rather than eating in restaurants every night, which eventually gets old)

Not rtft - my friend did a tour with Intrepid, amazing and different!

OP is probably home by now.

New Zealand without a doubt. But Jan/Feb to get the summer. It has everything, stunning beauty, beaches, whales/dolphins, activities like the glacier hike etc.

Update: we bit the bullet and booked flights to Hawaii, so will be there for just over a month! Got a really good deal on return flights, £1400 for the two of us. Just need to get a couple more inland ones but they shouldn't be too expensive.

Now to find cheap airbnbs etc. where we can do our own cooking, to save a bit more money .

Thank you all very much for the suggestions!

Phillipines (search el Nido!) and probably back to the gili islands in Bali. Island life is bliss

Ahh missed the date of the original posts in my holiday wishlist excitement sounds beautiful op have a wonderful time