To ask you to help me plan a child free week away with dh?

[Callie85]

My amazing mum has offered to have the kids next year in May half term so that dh and I can have a week away together. ALONE!

I now have the very first world problem of being unable to choose where to go.

Ladies of Mumsnet - can I ask you to plan our trip? We are erring towards an all inclusive somewhere (where?!) but also keep coming back to the idea of New York...

Where would you go in our shoes? Any amazing hotel or villa recommendations? Budget preferably under £2.5k.

Thank you in advance for any ideas you might have!

It depends what you want from your child free week. Do you fancy city touring or a more chilled relaxed vibe with sunshine, short strolls to lovely beaches with no having to watch kids around the pool ext. Both are great but think you need to decide which kind of holiday you really fancy then people can come up with amazing destinations for you. It will be amazing whatever you choose

Oh you're right @shiningstar2 but half the problem is both types would be bloody brilliant! I really need to narrow it down. I think we would rather have a chilled out relaxing holiday. Pool, beach, bars. Excellent food and drink is a huge must.

Can you describe what your day would look like, in an ideal world, to help us find the perfect match for you?

Is breakfast a leisurely business on coffee with a lovely view, or what you do in the first break of the mountain climb when you reach base camp having set out at 3am ?

Are your surroundings urban or rural? How many other people are around?

How many museums/galleries do you visit over the week. How many nightclubs? How often are you still awake when the sun comes up?

Do you seek experiences or wish for no need to move from the sun lounger to order another cocktail.

How lovely to choose ...

What about Barcelona or another costal city? Then you have the beach and sightseeing and good food and drink

Cadiz is a beautiful old town (supposed to be the oldest town in Europe) at the end of a 14 mile beach, lovely restaurants on the beach, lots of lovely hotels to choose from, all inclusive or b,b & evening meal do you can enjoy the beach restaurants for lunch

Las Vegas, sooo much fun and a trip you don't want kids with you for. Pools, drinking, the casinos are amazing to look around and there are some stunning natural sights to go see either with a car or excursions.

Hvar?

New york is hectic and busy, so it depends what you are likely to be in the mood for, and any other holiday plans.

Personally I’d go for something relaxing or a “staycation” and keep most of the money!

What about Boston for a couple of days in the city, and hire a car and head to Cape Cod where you can lie on the beach ?

another vote for Las Vegas, amazing fantastic brilliant place

If you want great food don't go all
Inclusive! Definitely save that for the kids, even the expensive ones aren't great (unless Maldives!)

I would suggest Vegas! Very adult holiday. Very chilled and fantastic weather in May

We did this in February and went to Las Vegas for 5 nights - it was amazing. We could chill during the mid afternoon but also explore too. £750 pp for hotel and flights.

I went to Kephalonia in May once, it was heaven. Not much to do so we did nothing.

Wherever you choose, make sure it’s adults only. You don’t want other people’s kids getting on your nerves when you don’t have your own!

I hated Vegas too. Very marmite type of place.

I would either choose an adults only resort or, if you want something a bit more active and cultural somewhere like Barcelona or Amsterdam and pack in lots of sightseeing and nice dinners, punctuated by coffee or beer in bustling squares whilst you watch the world go by.

I second Barcelona - best of both worlds, city break with a beach too! DP and I did it as an adult only long weekend and it was fab, an unexpected gem as neither of us knew much about the place. We've done NY too, and its one of those places you have to visit, but its not very relaxing!

New Orleans is a good adult focused destination.

We did a few days in Milan, then a few days at Lake Como - food was sublime, views were spectacular and we did a lot of exploring - wine was very nice too

I knew I'd come to the right place, thank you so much everyone. Barcelona might be the winner at the moment - like you say, best of both worlds with city and beach. Any suggestions for lovely hotels?

Still open to other suggestions. I have so many browsers open at the moment it's ridiculous. Hvar looks divine too.

Oooh @boddtm and lake como is a contender too!

I'd also say look at Vegas for sure. I've been twice now for work and am desperate to save up and go back with DH for a child-free holiday!

I had so many preconceived ideas about Vegas before I went - I thought it would be seedy and a bit naff but I absolutely loved it. It's honestly the cleanest city I've been in, the service is incredible and it is just so much fun.

Should have said - there are obviously no beaches, but every hotel has an amazing pool and if you stay at one of the Caesars resorts you can hop between any of their pools.

We stayed in Barcelona last year above a bakery called pratik bakery. It was nice hotel. Rooms were small but good location

Also Vegas mid week is cheaper than weekends. We stayed at the bellagio years ago for half the price mid week compared to weekend