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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Where to go to completely relax for a month?

51 replies

LB101 · 07/04/2018 10:05

Hi, my husband will be taking a unpaid leave over July/ August. He has been in an extremely stressful job for 5 years and is taking time off with the aim to switch off, relax and recuperate mentally. Originally he was planning to relax at home as I couldn’t get time off work and he wanted to be with the family but now I can and as we live in the Middle East where the summer is a horrible time of year, we want to escape.

Where would you go/ what would you if you could go anywhere for 4-6 weeks? We have a 3 and 7 year old too. Thanks I’m advance for any ideas.

OP posts:
BarbaraofSevillle · 07/04/2018 11:55

I'm assuming you have a decent budget if you've been working hard in the Middle East for years?

Nice all inclusive with kids club, pools etc. Perhaps Canaries, so would be hot but not too hot?

Somewhere like Princessa Yaiza Playa Blanca Lanzarote. Also lots to do on the island so if he feels like doing something after a couple of weeks there's watersports, volcano park, beach, waterparks, zoo, arty stuff, caves, boat trips, markets, inland traditional towns etc

ItsLikeRainOnYourWeddingDay · 07/04/2018 12:57

New Zealand. The pace of life is brilliant. Small towns, breathtaking scenery.

annandale · 07/04/2018 13:01

Northumberland. I'd hire a cottage on a site with a pool (should get a good deal for that length of time) and just enjoy the countryside, the coast,the walking and some day trips to Newcastle etc.

SmilingButClueless · 07/04/2018 13:06

Port Douglas or somewhere else in that part of Australia should be decent weather at that time of year and there’s quite a lot for children to do from what I remember.

Blueroses99 · 07/04/2018 13:12

Sri Lanka. It’s so laid back you can’t help but relax (Ayurvedic treatments help!) There is a lot to do and if you’re prepared to travel around the country you can have time in the mountains (tea plantations), ancient cultural sites, wildlife/safari, interesting towns and cities and beautiful beaches - easily tailored to the interests of your family.

MoralBeryl · 07/04/2018 13:13

Island hopping in Hawaii. It’s incredible.

Original poster
LB101 · 07/04/2018 13:45

Thanks I will have a look. Yes, we have a decent enough budget and happy to splash out a bit as getting so long off work is probably a one off.

OP posts:
Original poster
LB101 · 07/04/2018 13:54

Fab ideas everyone. Thank you. New Zealand sounds lovely...I traveled round when I was 20 but my husband has never been. Im now thinking of getting a camper van and touring the country but maybe not ideal with two young kids?!

A house in Northumberland also sounds good for the soul...and a spell in England could do us all good. how likely is it to get a heated pool? Me and the kids have become complete wimps with cold water since being abroad.

MoralBeryl, is island hopping in Hawaii easy with kids? What is the distance between islands like?

Thanks again - keep the ideas coming if anyone has any more.

OP posts:
Ofthread · 07/04/2018 13:56

Iceland

MoralBeryl · 07/04/2018 14:01

We flew between islands. About 30 minutes per flight. Very easy to navigate as the airports are absolutely tiny.

You can spend a good long time on Maui or Big Island with plenty to do (swimming with dolphins, driving up volcanos, helicopters over active lava, amazing beaches, hundreds of waterfalls to swim in etc. etc.).

I wouldn’t recommend Oahu unless you particularly want to do Pearl Harbour (which is fab). It’s pretty tacky. Unlike the other unspoiled islands.

LynetteScavo · 07/04/2018 15:42

How about the Alps? Nice mountain views and fresh air.

annandale · 07/04/2018 19:43

You sound as if a UK holiday would be a special penance Grin so I think you're probably right to head towards New Zealand or Hawaii. But yes, heated pools are definitely available in Northumberland! What you might struggle to find is something really luxurious still available for the whole time period now. And it would be rubbish to be somewhere you didn't like.

Original poster
LB101 · 08/04/2018 05:31

Sorry annandale, I definitely didn’t mean to imply that holidaying in the uk would be a penance! I love the UK and miss living there so just meant that a good dose of normality, away from the crazy excessiveness of where we live would be a welcome break.

OP posts:
Justwanttoweeinpeace · 08/04/2018 05:42

We've just spent a few weeks travelling around Indonesia with our 5yr old, it's been fantastic.

Depending on what you want to do, you can have a great holiday for not crazy money.

Justwanttoweeinpeace · 08/04/2018 05:48

Pressed post too soon.

It sounds like Hawaii but it's cheaper and the flights are about an hour between islands.

Jakarta is a bit full on but Bali is lovely, as is Flores, raja ampat, the Gilis (meno and air, not trevangen which is a bit party central), wildlife in Borneo and Sulawesi, volcanos, hundreds of miles of unspoilt beaches, jungle, you name it.

The people are fantastic with kids (like Thailand but without that underlying feeling that there's another scam around the corner). Also our son only eats tomato pasta and it's been readily available every where, he's been treated like a little prince. Grin

BendyBusBuggy · 08/04/2018 05:57

Depends on so much

Flower riviera in Italy? Not too hot and humid for the kids but still warm and lots to do

Belize is amazing but maybe too hot for the little ones

BendyBusBuggy · 08/04/2018 05:58

Chile?

Nakedavenger74 · 08/04/2018 06:21

Wouldn't recommend NZ in a camper van in July if you just want to relax. It's winter for a start and the South Island will be very cold. Stunning but cold. Also camper van travelling holidays are never relaxing as it constant packing up and looking for the next campsite (and in NZ where the next supermarket might be!)

Caribbean? Me and FH spent an amazing 2 weeks on Grenada and Guadaloupe. Just chilling on beaches, fresh fish, cocktails, gentle lapping waves .... hardly a soul around

sashh · 08/04/2018 06:28

Argentina / Uruguay. Salto in Uruguay has hot springs, the water parks costs about £1 - 2 and you have a selection of pools all different temperatures, and include pools for children.

trip101.com/article/best-things-to-do-in-salto-uruguay

Mendoza (Argentina) for wine, the town is flat but surrounded by hills/mountains if you want to go hiking or climbing (maybe not with young children).

You can live on steak and chips for a month (but do try a Parilla) and children are welcome.

MargaretRiver · 08/04/2018 06:32

A resort outside Ubud, inland in Bali (i love Kamandalu or Wapa di Ume)

Plus some time by the beach on the island (I recommend Ayana, if finances allow)

AutoFilled · 08/04/2018 06:33

With NZ I would prefer just a car and stay in motels. But July is middle of winter.

DisturblinglyOrangeScrambleEgg · 08/04/2018 07:28

Go somewhere green.

I live in hot places (not Middle East), and the relaxation I feel when I get off a plane, and it's slightly cool, and there's grass and trees filling half my view is immense.

For that reason, I'd choose New Zealand (or the UK) over somewhere like Malaysia - rainforests are beautiful and green, but I think that for a full break, it needs to be somewhere a little cooler, and the steamy green of a rainforest doesn't do that.

Having said that, I spent a blissful week in a log cabin in Costa Rica (which is as close to the perfect temperature that a place can be I think) at the edge of a rainforest once - on a hammock/hottub/have a snack cycle.

mrsnec · 08/04/2018 07:41

My parents did the camper van thing for 6 weeks around the Scandinavian countries. Right up to the Arctic circle and doing all the cities and the fjords as well. I have never been to that part of the world but it's definitely on my wishlist and always looks lovely in the summer when you see it on tv.

Tiredemma · 08/04/2018 07:59

I see someone has already mentioned the Alps. I've spent some of the most recent summers in both the French and Austrian Alps and it's impossible to not feel relaxed and recharge there.

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