I've got 10 days in October/November and £7000

[Dahliaxnoir]

Where do I want to go to celebrate my 30th Birthday?

It'll just be DH and I, we've gone back and forth between Orlando and Japan but I'm wondering if there's something I'm not thinking about and would really enjoy.

Please give me some ideas - the £7000 possibly £8000 is for everything so flights, accommodation, activities and spending money.

Give me some good ideas please lovely mumnetters!

Thank you.

Vietnam or Cambodia.
South Korea?

I don't remember any strays in Bangkok, there are some on the islands but they seem pretty happy to me, even chilling in the restaurant patio areas. There's a dog sanctuary on Koh Lanta I believe. Not sure what the livestock issue is, haven't heard about that.
I like it a lot, in 10 days you can't see everything so just chose which things you like (beach, cities, hiking etc)
Bali seems like a good idea too, for a safari you might need more time ? Not sure

Safari, definitely. October is perfect for it!

This. Though the safari I wanted for honeymoon was just over £15K.

dubai, Maldives, Mauritius. I’d want sun and amazing service, I’d rather die than go to Florida!

Okok, if I could go anywhere again, it would be New Zealand - my favourite holiday destination (original plan was to go annually, managed two years then covid happened and now baby!) - but then again, I prefer relaxing holidays and a bit of walking/hiking and taking in scenery and super fresh air so might not be your thing... plus saw your reply re: Australia, and yes it is far for 10 days!

If you've been to Orlando and Japan before I would choose somewhere different. What about Singapore and/or Taiwan and/or Hong Kong? As I don't think you need 10 days in either place 😊 HK has a tiny Disneyland if you want a Disney day too 😂

Or Shanghai is a nice city with nice food and apparently the Disney is great there but never been myself!

So many places you can go but I am no help as I hate theme parks (No judgement - I just don’t like rides). Below are my favourite “safe” holidays where I don’t remember too many strays etc. (avoid Greece) but I think I’m looking for a different things to you.

Italy (Short flight, food, culture, beautiful scenery.)

Yucatan Mexico is a great holiday (cenotes, reefs, culture, amazing food). It’s super easy to do solo too as it’s basically as adventurous as Spain in terms of infrastructure. You can have a hotel driven experience or self-driven experience. As in tours from the hotel or the buses were fine and regular. Tulum did have stray dogs but the kind that sort of live at restaurants.

Vietnam is also great but no theme parks. For what I remember the animals are either well cared for pets /livestock or wild.

Singapores lovely and has an universal studio

New York and New Jersey

Personally I don't enjoy the US at alll as the values and culture of the country constantly upset me, I'd go somewhere where ppl are kind, welcoming and less obsessed with money.

Belize
sun sea forest animals food
not too far away

@clingon1012 i’ve been to Shanghai Disney! Much bigger than HK but local visitors not quite a polite..

With that budget and time scale, I’d do a 4/5 day safari and luxury beach trip, such as Tanzania and Zanzibar, or South Africa and Mauritius.
definitely don’t go somewhere you’ve already been, the world is too big and amazing for that!

We did Hong Kong in Feb this year for approx £12k for the 2 of us but it would be easily doable on your budget. There is a Disneyland there as well, although I've never been. It's a really nice mix of city and outdoorsy things and different enough culture wise but still very easy for English speakers who don't speak the local language.

I absolutely loved it and it will be a difficult choice between going back there next year or to LA, which we also loved.

We are also did a road trip hiring a camper van up the east coast of the US a few years ago which was great, starting in Florida and ending up in NYC, could that be your sort of thing?

For 10 days I'd do an African safari - less time difference. Namibia or Kenya or similar.

Another vote for the truly magical Costa Rica.

@Dahliaxnoir safari?!

I'm gonna have a nosy, I've never thought about going on one before, has anyone been on one and have any recommendations?

@Dahliaxnoir we went to Kruger but I think others are even better. Cost around 5k for four nights. It was great and the food was incredible too. Highly recommend!

Vietnam and Cambodia

Vietnam?

You would be able to stay in absolutely gorgeous hotels for your budget.

It also is in the sweet spot of very affordable, but very quickly becoming very developed.

I highly recommend https://www.scottdunn.com/ - they planned the most incredible itinerary around Japan for me last May.
They are super knowledgeable - just tell them what you are into and they will come back with lots of ideas.

A million %, go to Japan. No, a billion %. It's AMAZING

Japan

has anyone been on [safari] and have any recommendations?

Can recommend Expert Africa and Yellow Zebra Safaris as travel agents