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

Australia - I love Australia
Great Barrier Reef if you love diving & snorkelling

Sounds wonderful 5 weeks ahhhh....... oops sorry I drifted off there dreaming of holidays.

Anyway lol America and Canada for me though India staying in 5*accomodation a lovely taj hotel is hard to beat. sounds like you deserve it.

I would tour around New Zealand. Long evough to be worth the jet lag.

I'd have a few days in Singapore and Hong Kong en route

I'd do the Garden Route in SA for 10 days, a safari, then 4 weeks hanging out in Uganda again with friends and go to see the gorillas

French Polynesi is incredible

When I say we 'did' both America we obviously didn't do all of it! Stayed in the West and did grand canyon, Yosemite, death valley, LA, San Fran, Vegas, Washington... Quite a bit, in other words!!

I would hop on an adults only cruise ship and go on a 5 week cruise. I would probably do this one... 14 ports over 28 nights. But perhaps fly to Barbados a week early to have a pre cruise holiday.

People should stop coming on here just to say bitter things.

OP, I'd second Costa Rica –it's one of my dream trips – but suspect your budget wouldn't stretch all that far there as I think it is (rightly) quite expensive. Maybe do that for a week or ten days and then go somewhere cheaper in Central or South America?

Or how about Central Asia? Samarkand, Tashkent, a trip into the desert/steppes... would be amazing, IMO.

I’d tour Japan with that sort of money. Have an amazing time wherever you go.x

Don't worry about posting, this is a prompt for some delightful daydreaming!

Personally I think I'd go for Asia. SE Asia is the obvious destination, but if I could, I'd combine it with some time in Japan - obviously expensive, but just for the contrast.

I don't think the money would go very far in Japan, although it is fabulous.

Ooh, snap Lou!

I've been to Hawaii...it is nice enough but wouldn't bother going back. It was like a nice beach holiday and you may as well go to the Caribbean imo if that's what you want. I really didn't enjoy the food and that's an important factor for me .

I might think it worth it if you visited as part of a whole tour of America, but I wouldn't expect too much.

India is stunning (although I've only been to the south, once) and cheap. I'd go again in a heartbeat.

I almost wish I hadn't posted as now I'm absolutely overwhelmed with the possibilities..!

Another vote for a US road trip. I want to do this for our 25th Wedding Anniversary next year, but realistically we could only do 2-3 weeks and I'm worried we won't fit everything in. With 5 weeks I'd definitely go for it and you should be able to find accommodation that allows you to stretch your budget.

My dream list is San-Francisco, north to the wineries, east & south through Yosemite then further east to the Grand Canyon before heading back to the coast and Los Angeles.

I have absolutely no idea how much it costs as DH has never left uk but I’ve always wanted to do Maine and New England. Apologies if this isn’t within budget just want to wish you a lovely trip of a lifetime though —squeeze in your suitcase—

I would go with Asia too, so that you can gave lots of days that are nearly free. Or if you really want to do hawaii then just go for 3 weeks not 5 so your money isn't spread too thin.

I would do crossing America by train with various stop offs along the way, then fly from the US to Hawaii for a week or two

I'd do Vietnam and Malaysia again in a heartbeat.

There's a thought. Have you been watching Blue Planet II with DA telling us that the Great Barrier Reef is dying? Go and see that while you still can.

New Zealand in a camper van or caravan would be my choice.

SE Asia. Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, Burma.

You could include things like a diving course in the Gilli Islands, fancy hotel on Borocay, parachuting over Siem Reap ...

Heading to a country with a lower cost of living / visiting will give you an amazing 5 weeks.

Try a travel forum, this is a playground full of jealousy.