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

oh and I'd vote new zealand.

Dont
Dont apologise for anything. Some people are just professionally upset/offended by anyone who's life is different from thiers.

The USA road trip sounds fabulous. If i had the confidence to drive in usa i would do that.
Enjoy your holiday whatever you decide to do. You saved for it you deserve it.

I loved Thailand and would love to do Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam but you could do that on half your budget and have a luxurious time. I'd spend it on the States- really scrimped when I did it (travelled across after graduation) and would love to do it again when or if I ever have enough.

Go to America, leave Vegas till the end and put the last of your money on red!

Wherever you go have a wonderful time! Don't apologise to anyone here for your hard work or good fortune.

I’ve seen many a stealth boast thread on here, and there’s been a recent ‘rich person’ troll around. The OP doesn’t seem that sort at all in my humble opinion.

If I was lucky enough to be in your position, I’d definitely ‘do’ Japan and South Korea. I’ve always wanted to do the American road trip as well, but that was a pre-kids (and Trump) dream. My partner and I have also planned a Scandinavian tour when we’re middle aged and have actual money instead of the imagery stuff we have now . We want to do it in style (and relative warmth).

I'd say either road trip around USA or Australia/New Zealand as so many different areas to explore, although I haven't got a clue how much it would cost!

The cruise someone posted the previous page looks cool if you like the idea of a cruise.

Sounds like you've worked and studied hard and have saved up for this trip especially, so I'd ignore all the moaners on the thread haha

New Zealand with a beach week in Malaysia- Kota Kinabalu, then you get mountains and orangutangs and beach.

I’d fly to Auckland, hire a camper and drive down through the glow worm caves, through Taupo and round the lake, rotorua sands, Tokanu thrermal springs, hawkes bay. I like north island best.

Or just do Malaysia, Borneo, Cambodia and Cameron highlands. I prefer Malaysia to Thailand. If you wanted luxury a week in langkawi would sort you.

wherever you go, have a fabulous time!

I went to the Galapagos on a much lower budget. There are smaller boats which are excellent as they can stop at more islands. I’d pair it with travelling through Central America first, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Panama are Wonderful places with lots to do and you’d still have access to beach resorts if you wanted to flop for a week.

'Bubbles I don't think anyone has a problem with the OP wanting to celebrating coming to the end of 9 years study. It was the boast of 'only having £7500' to spend on 5 weeks holiday that's upset posters.

I wouldn't do America. I've been a few times and don't particularly like it. I've been to the Big Island of Hawaii which is fabulous but definitely not a 5 week destination.

You could go to Canada to see the lakes, mountains and bears. Maybe hop over into Alaska...

You could cover a fair amount of Central America in that time and it's cheap.

South East Asia as already mentioned is well worth a visit. The Angkor temples are wonderful although very crowded.

Japan is great.

I didn't enjoy India.

Sri Lanka is also nice, but 2 weeks is enough to see a lot there.

Iceland = best country in the world.

Personally I'd probably go to Chile and Argentina although it's not necessarily budget friendly, particularly if you throw in Easter Island.

OPs budget is not extraordinary. I don't know why people are throwing biscuits.

How exciting! We looked at doing something similar at the end of my maternity leave and places we considered were Canada, New Zealand and SE Asia. Canada and NZ would be a stretch on £7.5k though I think. If I was without kids I think I'd want to do the east coast of Africa...maybe in the future.
Road tripping across America is also a dream. Starting in California in the summer and ending up in New England for the fall.
Good luck decided!

Please don't apologise for being able to afford this. You've worked hard and deserve it.

Dunno why you got a biscuit.

Any hoo.

I'd do Argentina.

Another vote here for a US road trip - you could then add a break in Hawaii at the end for some post travelling relaxation.

I spent 2.5 weeks traveling from San Fran to LA but also up to Napa Valley and across to Yosemite. If I’d had longer I would have started in Vancouver and gone all the way to San Diego, or included Death Valley. Our trip cost £5k around 5 years ago - we stayed in a mix of accommodation - glamping, yurts, cabins, boutique cottage/b&bs, smart hotels. It was fabulous!

I'm a boring fucker- so you've got to understand that it's to my taste- but Disney in Florida, were staying onsite, tickets and Disney dine. I know it's very few people's idea of the perfect holiday but I've spent £7500 - I flippin missed Disney done didn't I!
:-)
Maybe I need to get a life! 2 years of saving!

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
I dove there 14 years ago and it was already pretty sparse in places. Diving in SE Asia was much better I found

I have been studying all my life bar when I was a baby and a toddler!
I will be finishing next year at 35 years old and 37 weeks pregnant plus a toddler plus working full time. It will be my last exam ever. No more studies, no more exams for me. We are planning a huge trip to Mauritius to celebrate the end of this huge road for me. I cannot wait. Enjoy your holiday wherever you decide to go, you deserve it!

It was the boast of 'only having £7500' to spend on 5 weeks holiday that's upset posters.

How is that a boast? For a 5 week trip, including (possibly several) long haul flights, nicer accommodation, memorable experiences, food, the actual expense of the local area, and keeping in mind this sounds like a ‘once in a lifetime’ type holiday, £7,500 may or may not be sufficient to needs. The op is looking on advice of how to best use this budget, not make out it’s a pittance.

I'd do Alaska and Canada 👍

Twoo, the OP put 'only' in quotes to make clear that she knows it's a relative statement.

Fuck's sake.

Do people just trawl MN looking for things to be offended by?

I would do the galapogas because they may restrict it to the public in the future. I would try to think of something you really want to see/do such as watch turtles hatching/ snorkle in the GB reef/ mardi gras/ and work around that. Compromise on some things and not others. Congratulations on your studies.

Depends if you're planning on having kids in the future as this sort of opportunity probably wouldn't be an option for a long long while if kids were involved ( money, time off, chance/desire to go to less safe/less hygienic places).
I'd do Asia or South America, fit as many places in, slum it where needs be just so I could see it all then save 2 nights in a swanky place at the end.

I'd love to go to Cambodia. Definitely my dream destination. But I'm too chicken so would end up spending it on a fortnight in Skeggy and a ton of candy floss.

Twoo'
Bubbles I don't think anyone has a problem with the OP wanting to celebrating coming to the end of 9 years study. It was the boast of 'only having £7500' to spend on 5 weeks holiday that's upset posters.

Never mind! They can scroll on by whilst the rest of us shamelessly steal the ideas appearing.

MimpiDreams
I'd love to go to Cambodia. Definitely my dream destination. But I'm too chicken so would end up spending it on a fortnight in Skeggy and a ton of candy floss.

I've had family that have just come back from a trip to Vietnam & Cambodia. They say it was the best holiday they ever had and they were so welcomed! You should do it!