Where to go to completely relax for a month?

[LB101]

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.

The places I've felt more relaxed have been:

Brazilian Northwest
Port Stephens, Australia
New Caledonia
Scottish Highlands

What about a road trip on the west coast of the US?

Or a week of r and r in the Maldives followed by a tour somewhere (maybe Sri Lanka?)

Another vote for Bali

Lake Bohinj in Slovenia - unlike Lake Bled not overrun with tourists, a quiet lake , the weather is usually warm / hot , and we go to relax and get away from a hectic like at home.
Beautiful scenery, swimming in the lake, lovely local restaurants, cycling and walking trails as well as more energetic stuff (canyoning, parascending, canoeing, mountain biking)

Accommodation could be in a hotel, guest house or rent a cottage at the far end of the lake -

Thanks everyone. So many great ideas. I’m going to start looking into them this week.

I would recommend a cottage and a hire car in Slovenia. It is a beautiful, green, tranquil place with plenty to do or nothing to do depending on what you need.

If you can bear the unpredictable weather, nothing restores the soul like a break in one of the national parks in the UK. The Lake District would be gorgeous, for example, or Dartmoor.

OP, if you need a heated pool in Northumberland summer, definitely avoid NZ in July/August. Yes, it's stunning (I live here and love it) .... buuut, it's ridiculously cold in most houses in winter (and that would include motels too) as central heating is rare, as is decent insulation. I have lived in lots of wintry places and NZ winter is my worst experience because they are just so ill prepared for it here. Also, if you're unlucky, it could rain a lot, so with shorter days and potentially limited sunshine, sightseeing outdoors with children when you have limited clothing/washing/drying options can be a drag. At that time of year, a Northern European summer holiday would be more pleasant.

I know you are right and you are giving very sensible advice. I did a ski season in Queenstown when I was 21 and had the best time, traveled round the South Island and then spent time with my relatives in Auckland. I remember all of us housemates in Queenstown being huddled round a gas fire and going to sleep in ALL our clothes as there was no heating. But I love NZ so much and it is so beautiful.... I would so love to go back but as it is so far away, it needs to be more than your standard two week hols. I feel like this is my chance to show my husband how wonderful it is.

So I was thinking of selling it as a few weeks skiing holiday in Queenstown/ Wanaka and the rest of the time traveling round, we would need to visit relatives briefly in Wellington and Auckland. The kids could learn to ski... they would have pure, fresh air which would be a welcome break from the polluted desert. We could afford better accommodation than last time I was there but how much is there to entertain kids other than skiing?

Re. the heated pool comment, on reflection , we have access to pools all year round so that’s definitely not a priority.

It’s been 18years since I was there though and I definitely wasn’t thinking about what would entertain kids at the time - bearing in mind I have a 3 year old, do you reckon I should let this idea go for now and focus on somewhere else?

LB101, yes a ski holiday could work, there will probably be stuff to do on a non-skiing day in Queenstown or around the area. I haven't been for years (in winter) though -hopefully someone who has will come along soon. Will the 3yo be a "just turned 3yo and hasn't learnt to listen/cooperate yet" or "an almost 4yo who is quite sensible for his age"? If the former, you might not be able to do much with them on a ski field or beyond, if the latter, then I'd totally go for it as an option. Check costs thoroughly, it does get pretty pricey, but then again, it sounds like a money is no object type holiday you're after.
I haven't lived in a hot desert climate for as long as you have, but the closest I've come to is a complete tree-less urban jungle w ridiculous work hours. What I found completely relaxing is actually the lake areas in Germany. Probably because I missed tall green trees, birdsong and stillness. There are lots of easy walks, cycling trails (bike shops where you can hire bikes of all kinds incl w child seat), forests, child friendly, heaps of interesting museums for DC (rail/cars/science/dolls) - depending on where you go you might need to drive for those, but that's also ok these days w GPS), lots of people speak English if you get stuck, less tourists than the rest of the continent. But the ultimate thing for me was being able to just sit on the terrace in a house in the woods, look over the still lake, glass of wine in hand, conversation w DH or a book, light long summer evening when it doesn't properly get dark until late. Our 3yo at the time was perfectly happy to play in the garden after a ride on a bike with us to the playground or a boat paddle in the lake. Bliss... I could go there now quite frankly! Sorry, this got long

Depends what your definition of relaxing is!!
Some would just want a beach hut, nice food and sitting reading
Some would want white water rafting, hiking and climbing in the alps
Other would want a luxury hotel in the south of France

Do you want to stay in the same place or to pack up and move every couple of days? (Some would find constantly packing up stressful)

Where abouts in Germany? Is it Bavaria? Is sounds amazing!!

There are heaps of lakes in Germany, so it's worth researching in terms of exact location (where will you fly to, which towns are close, what can you do with the kids on a rainy day etc) + your preferred surroundings (forests vs mountains, etc).

Yes, Bavaria is more commonly known for them, but I actually preferred Brandenburg. Bavaria is very beautiful of course and I would go there again, but in July/August, it will have more people as it's a much more popular destination in general.

You probably know this already, but if you do end up picking a lakeside holiday in Germany, remember that just shops are mostly closed on Sunday + make sure you pack anti mosquito stuff - it's nowhere near as bad as sandflies in the South Island, but the blighters do like still, fresh water

I’d split it. 3 weeks somewhere all inclusive relaxing then a week or 2 in Northumberland or Scottish highlands

With a month and decent funds, my dream would be to hire a big beautiful villa on a Greek island and have different friends come to visit.
Hire a car and explore, snorkel, swim, long seafood lunches in beachside tavernas.
That, to me, would be relaxing.

India- I did a great rail journey into the Himalayas, the most relaxed I’ve ever been. Customer service and hotels out there are truly 5 star when they say they are. We were treated amazingly. They love children and family is very much at the heart of India so a great place for kids to learn a lot (about culture/religion/geography... how lucky they are etc).

Taffeta that sounds amazing! Let’s go!

Taffeta, any islands that you recommend in Greece? I’m still no nearer to booking anything!!

We stayed somewhere near Port Douglas - called Thala Beach Lodge - on our honeymoon. It was the most amazing ‘away from it’ bit of holiday ever. I’m not sure how geared up to children it is - wasn’t our priority st the time - but I would definitely consider it.

Op - yes. North East coast of Corfu - around Agni/Ag Stefanos NE

Or North Kefalonia
Or Skiathos

We went to Kefalonia and Zakyntos. I felt reenergised when we came back; rented a car and explored the Islands, nice scenery in Kefalonia and the roads not very busy at the end of August. I think the first two weeks in August were very busy though.

What do you and your husband find relaxing? For me is the sea and the mountains and nice food. Lakes are also nice; Switzerland near the alps is also nice.

What do you and your husband truly enjoy?

Andalusia - a house in the mountains with a pool, swim and fish in a river, walk through national parks, day trips to the coast and Seville and Córdoba and tapas and wine!

Canada is also beautiful, British Columbia, Vancouver, the Rocky Mountains. You will have the beach and the mountains; the water doesn't get warm enough to swim for me but I went in August long time ago abfvweather was beautiful and the trip to the Rocky Mountains amazing.

Perhaps a bit far though

Do you do boats? What about a flotilla cruise holiday? Lots to do every day, a new skill for everyone, and a guaranteed change of scenery every night|?

It would have to be the Austrian lakes and mountains for me. Zell am See or the surrounding villages. Gorgeous scenery and hotels if you're on a decent budget.

queen that's exactly where I suggested! Stayed in a lovely village about 10 mins from Zell. Very relaxing