To ask what you’d spend £528 on for your 32nd birthday after my bday plans fell apart?

[MellowSwan]

I booked a spa hotel for two nights to celebrate my 32nd birthday (which is today) but it’s been a disaster. My room was full of bugs and spiders and when they moved me, the new room had centipedes and ladybirds! I decided to check out early and got my money refunded (£528). Now I’m wondering what to do with it instead - what would you spend it on if it were your birthday? A luxury treat? A different experience? Or would you just save it? Inspire me!

Happy birthday.

I would go get my nails done and go shopping.

Me too! A nice lunch also!

Spa day, lunch, a shopping treat

More importantly where is this so we don’t book? I do not find spiders remotely relaxing 🤣

I'd go with either nice jewellery or a weekend at Champney's (except in the unlikely event Champney's was where you had the bad experience) with some nice treatments booked.

Nope buy something that you ll keep

• handbag
• hermes scarf or similar
• jewellry
• a fabulous pair of shoes

if you want to do rhe experience

• hotel 1 night in a fabulous 5 stars with room service and breakfast - you may have to add a bit on your budget though
• have a great tasting menu with wine pairing at a fabulous restaurant, better still at the chef’s table
• travel away

I wouldn’t - I’d wait until the weather was better then go to the gardens at Alnwick and stay overnight in a nice hotel.

Bacon

Id buuy flight somewhere

A return train to London (first class, if within budget).
A gallery.
Nice pre-theatre supper.
A show or play.
A night in an OK hotel (budget might be strained by this point!).

I'd have a nice meal/night out and a few drinks and save 300 for a rainy day. Sorry this didn't work out OP, happy birthday!

I’d go on the BA website and get a city break through them. It’s around £200, you’d have spending money left too.

I’m really intrigued as to why you bothered to contribute to this thread without reading the OP.

OP asked what others would do with the budget... Lots of people have said similar

If you’re in London, Aire Roman Baths, lunch at Fallow, then a ticket to a show/ballet. Whatever you decide to do, I hope you have a fabulous day

Happy birthday to you!

I’d probably spend it six times over in my head and then buy a nice piece of fabric for a blouse (not £500 nice, but nice).

Maybe I’d also get a new pair of prescription glasses more expensive than I’d usually choose. And lunch at the Wolseley.

If it was me..I would hire a nice little air bnb or cottage, take my 2 best mates.
Do a lovely food shop to take with us and lots of wine and spend a night or 2 holed up eating yummy food, drinking and gossiping.

I'd go somewhere that's cheap once you get there. Prague or Krakow spring to mind.

I’d go to Rome for the weekend

Visit Liberty and mill round. Consider buying scarf, handbag, perfume (Le Labo Santal), Diptyque. Have lunch at the Ivy Cafe in Broadwick Street, OK it’s a chain but it’s always fun and lively. It’s a lovely day so mill round Soho.
OR Buy an antique objet for my home. I collect Obelisks, love Bitossi, linen, lamps etc. maybe go to Alfie’s Antiques Market and then wander down Marylebone high street via La Fromagerie, lunch at Relais de Venise

Or go and see ‘big’ band or singer if they were on tour - someone like Springsteen or The Killers.

Do something nice today OP like hair/nail appt, lunch out with some fizz, and pick up some small treats for yourself.

I would keep the rest of the money and then spend it on something you actually want, rather than throwing it at things just because it’s your birthday. There might be a hotel you would like to visit later in the year where you’d rather spend the money!

I think I would book a weekend away somewhere.

If you live in London, I'd get an early Eurostar to Paris, nice lunch, museum, bit of shopping, walk along the river, maybe see restored Notre Dame, last train home.

Jewellery. I've become a penniless magpie of late - browsing but not buying !