to ask you all for first child free holiday ideas?

[TravelBug747]

We have never been on holiday without the kids. Ideally we would love to go to Bora Bora for a week (special anniversary this summer) but we realise it is prohibitively expensive.

So - AIBU to ask for kid-free holiday ideas / suggestions in August for the two of us, preferably short-haul or even at home in the UK, and a beach, a bit of culture / romance, and perhaps the luxury of an all inclusive?

Hopefully you wonderful lot will come up with something so fabulous we won't feel TOO guilty about leaving the kids at home...

What budget are you thinking? And what do you like doing? Lazing about, seeing the sights, staying in bed, city, country or beach?

Cruise. All inclusive, very nice place to stay, time to relax, get to see loads of different cities.

Pyjamas and bed.

if you go in Europe, go to an adults only hotel. I went last year with a friend and it was bliss. No screaming children, no babies, pool was totally relaxing and we did all inclusive (it was in Ibiza).

tbh I hadn't realised how child focused I had become on holiday - friend doesn''t have dcs and said she only stayed in adults only places!

I think where you go will depend on what heat you can tolerate. There are a lot of lovely places to go in Southern Europe but it's likely to be bloody hot and not everyone enjoys that!

Santorini, Oia specifically.

DH and I went to Muscat in Oman. It's about a 7hr flight so not too far but the weather was glorious. We went in January and it was mid 20s, so nice and warm but not boiling. We were at an adult only resort too. Just went for a week but it was lovely. DH and I walked along the beach during the evenings, sat by the pool, swam, went to the private beach, DH snorkelled. Generally just relaxed.

I would also add that as a Muslim country it is nice to observe a traditional dress code when out and about, however I saw many tourists in short shorts and vest tops, although the Omani people were accepting of this, it wasn't for me and I wore light but fully covered clothing out of respect for their customs! A headscarf is a good to take though and you'll need to be fully covered to visit the central mosque.

Thanks all - sadly OH can't tolerate boats so cruise is out of the question.

Budget @£1500, we like a bit of R&R, happy with heat if there's shade. Beach / pool would be great, and culture - just to get out and about and see new things, have a coffee and people watch before heading back to base. So really a mixture of lazy days peppered with some sites would be perfect.

Venice is well worth putting on your shortlist. Culture, history, romance, fabulous hotels, amazing food.
Couldn't imagine taking my kids there so didn't feel bad leaving them with DGM.

Adult only resorts?? Do such things exist??

Lol, that's Venice straight off the list then!

Barcelona is fab. Good choice of hotels. Short flight. Beach and culture and shopping. Lots of nice places to eat.

@DaffoDeffo sounds glorious - where did you stay in Ibiza?

@Lollyice - I've always wanted to go to Venice but was warned off an August trip....

There are nicer places in Italy to visit than Venice, the only nice bit is hiring a hot young thing in a nice speed boat to pilot you into the main canal, the rest of it is v v crowded, dirty and smelly and full of shops selling utter shite at inflated prices. The food is v over priced and very touristy too.

This place https://www.poggiopiglia.com/en is amazing for a relaxing holiday and if you hire a car you can visit some fantastic cities.

Make sure you have sex at least every morning and every night during your holiday

@NotPennysBoat Santorini looks AMAZING - thank you! We shall check out Oia.

@PurpleCrazyHorse - as it's a little longer to fly there than we were looking, Oman may well be for another time but thank you, it sounds like something worth following up!

@Elasticity

http://www.castelmonastero.com/en/home or here, Sienna is an amazing city to people watch in.

Tuscany - somewhere in the hills outside Sienna. Hire a car tootle about, drink wine, eat lovely food, stay in a farmhouse hotel.

Google adult only hotels there's loads

Cross posts!

Oman was just amazing. I haven't really travelled so it was so different to anywhere I've been before. It was remarkably safe (although the roads were a bit interesting at times!) and a tiny bit of Arabic and a nod to conservative dress went an awful long way. A lovely local lady at a tourist spot helped me with my headscarf as it kept falling off, she was an absolute delight and seemed so pleased that we were being respectful. She didn't speak English and I don't speak Arabic but her smile was just glorious. We would love to go back but it was a one off special occasion so not something we can repeat soon, sadly.

My lord I am soooo Jealous!!! Would love to have this problem lol

:)

Barcelona - has the interest but also the beach. Gorgeous city and ticks all ur boxes!

TravelBug747 I can defo recommend French Polynesia! I thought Moorea was better than Bora Bora, as more to do.

2 years DH & I went to Santorini wout the kids & stayed in Oia, amazing.

UK the Scarlett in Cornwall.

We went to Morocco in January for out first child free holiday in 13 years. 4 hrs ish flight from Manchester, not too expensive and 20 odd degrees. Was lovely