Where should we go?

[Attie17]

Hello all, I'd love some suggestions for destinations please.

DH and I are likely to take a holiday in December, probably for two-three weeks. But the holiday is unexpected (I recently got some additional leave). That means we haven't saved for it (which we usually do). And we are also planning to start trying for a baby towards the end of the year/early next year.

So I'm looking for destinations that are sunny and won't cost an absolute fortune (we have savings but should use these for a new kitchen). So ideally under £4k for both of us, including flights, and much lower if possible. And I want to avoid places with zika or anything that might affect possible pregnancy.

We are adventurous travellers - favourite places include El Salvador, Cuba and Paraguay. Happy to stay in hostels, but not in dorm rooms any longer!

We thought about Australia or New Zealand, but fear they would be too expensive? Also considering Sri Lanka. My ideal place would be Mexico, but I'd wouldn't want to stay in resorts and am worried about the slight zika risk.

Sorry for the long post! Any suggestions would be great.

Vietnam. Amazing place and that is a really pleasant time of year. We spent Christmas on the beach. Not scorching but just right. Hoi An is fun and the hotel prices are very low.

I would look at countries like France, Italy and Spain and also the Canary Islands. Those will cost less than your proposed budget to get to as well.

Not Vietnam nor any of the countries you have named because Zika has been reported there too.

Below is a map where Zika has been reported (these are the countries in purple).

wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/world-map-areas-with-zika

This could also be helpful for you to read:-

www.cdc.gov/zika/prevention/plan-for-travel.html

SW of the states- a beautiful time to visit. Cool enough for hiking in the cacti forests. We flew to Pheonix and did a big loop via Scottsdale, Sedona, Vegas, Grand Canyon (frosty), Monument Valley - all in a soft top Mustang (with the heating on!) Was amazing holiday. Flights were reasonable and if pre Christmas car hire and hotels all reasonable.

South Africa - beautiful stunning country, very cheap one you're there and no zika!

Definitely South Africa. We went in march as we also wanted to avoid Zika areas. Absolutely loved it and when you are there the cost of living is very reasonable and b&bs/ air bnb are of an excellent quality. We also are considering Sri Lanka for next march.

Thank you all for the suggestions.

South Africa is a great suggestion. What did you do while there, Spin and Mary?

South-west of the US also sounds fun, but I really do want some warm days where I can wear shorts! So maybe a bit too cold.

Attila, I love France, Italy and Spain. But we want to have one last great adventure before having kids. It'll be a good few years before we can force backbacks on our (all going well) future children, so in those in between years I imagine France, Italy and Spain will be our friends or family holidays.

I'm on the fence about Vietnam. It's fascinating country and am really interested in its history, politics and the changes happening in its economy. But I wasn't a massive fan of Thailand, and the friends I have who like Thailand usually recommend Vietnam in the same breadth. So I sort of see Vietnam in the same camp as Thailand. But maybe I'm being silly. Have you been to Thailand?

Hi Attie

I mentioned those countries because there is no Zika reported there and also because of your proposed 4K budget including flights. Could you realistically do longhaul on this budget?. October to March for instance is high season in SA so prices may well reflect that too.

Hi Attila, I appreciate what you are saying and for many people I guess two weeks in Italy might work out cheaper than two weeks in say Cuba or Vietnam.

But we're a funny pair. We've regularly gone away for two-three weeks and even a month long-haul, durning peak season (winter months in Europe), for under £4K for both of us, including flights. Last year, for example, we went to a relatively expensive Latin American country for 18 days and spent about £3k. That included our long-haul flights, several internal flights, accommodation, food and lots of activities/exploring.

We typically stay in private rooms in a hostel or in a basic hotel/b&b, while splashing out once or twice on a fancy hotel. This really helps keep costs down. We also tend to avoid typically touristy restaurants/resorts that charge more and eat in local places. And rather than pay for a tour, we'll often find our way to a national park, for example, by using local buses, pick-ups etc.

We like the sort of trips that my Dsis hates - she likes fuss-free holidays with transfers from an airport and lovely hotels where waiters bring you drinks. We like the chaos of standing in a crazy bus station, where people everywhere are shouting destinations in their language while you try to figure out how the hell to get to X.

Our most expensive holidays in recent years have both been travelling around Italy. Brilliant and beautiful, but eyewateringly expensive - even while mostly Airbnbing it.

I had a look for flights to SA this morning. They are £540 pp, so that would leave us with almost £3k for accommodation/spending money for two to three weeks. This fits into Lonely Planet's budget for a basic to mid-range trip, so potentially doable!

I'm not sure Australia is though! I know my DH would happily spend our savings to go there, but I'd rather not!

Thanks again for the advice!

I would say that £3k for accomodation/spending money is perfectly adequate for SA. You can stay in some really comfortable guest houses for inexpensive prices and the exchange rate is in our favour. The one thing to bear in mind is that you'll probably need to hire a car. I am (or was pre-dc) much more of a bus/train traveller but the public transport is pretty much non existent (with a very few limited exceptions) in SA and we always hire a car. Car hire and petrol is still pretty reasonable in SA (The price of petrol is regulated) but it's another cost you need to be aware of when budgeting.

We did 3 nights Cape Town (both of us had been here before) chilling and did Cape point, v&a etc. Then 4 nights franshoek as we both LOVE food and wine! We drove and spent 4 nights plett, then 2 nights Addo (much cheaper than safari and a pretty good experience) and then we did 2 nights safari in amakhala, which was our biggest cost. Loved SA and people were generally very friendly and costs very reasonable. Think you could do it without safari and staying in cheaper places on your budget!

New Zealand has amazing hostels with private rooms, pick the small ones with no on site bar ( most of them) and it is brilliant. The advertising group you want is called budget backpacker hostels ( bbh)

But needs three weeks and cost including flights will be a challenge.

You limit yourself with Zika - as many countries in South East Asia (inc Vietnam as far as I know) are considered a risk (very very very low risk, but a risk all the same).

Friends of mine have been in similer situations, and even refused to travel to Australia as scared of risk of Zika in transit at Singapore Airlines. They went to Canada instead.

Other friends have gone to India - may I suggest that as a) an adventure and b) well within your budget!

Sri Lanka is amazing- great weather, so many different things, food is delicious

Btw I hate Thailand. I was due to spend 4 weeks there and left after 10 days. Very diffent country to Vietnam very diffrent set of tourists too. But I didn't realise there was a zika risk.

I would also say South Africa but December is High season. Cape Town and wine region are great and we really liked the Little Karoo and the Swartberg Pass if you like solitude! If you avoid game parks such as Addo you can keep the price down but Plettenberg and Knysna will be more pricy in December. We have also been to KwaZulu Natal and can recommend that area too.

South West USA is California and Arizona. The desert parks would be fine and frankly, pleasant! You would just need to check what is open and temperatures.

Have to say did Pheonix and California last Christmas for 3 weeks and it was anything but warm. Some days you could wear a t-shirt but not many. South Africa sounds good.

What about China?

Another Sri Lanka fan, here. Off there next Wednesday for 3 and a half weeks.
December a good time to go. Loads of variety, plus interesting culture and delicious food. The people are also delightful and the scenery is stunning as well as being very varied.