1 week in early January - something special

[Bobcat14]

It's my 40th in January and I've booked the week off with DP to go away. I want to do something special without breaking the bank but just can't decide. So far I've narrowed it down to following themes:

1. somewhere I've never been that I've always wanted to - this would be Italy (maybe Rome?) or Scandinavia

2. Iceland to see Northern Lights. I went to Iceland 18 years ago for a few days and fell in love. I didn't get to see the Northern Lights though. Can I spend a whole week there? Or combine with something else...

3. Skiiing. I love the whole alpine experience - the snow, mountains, apres ski, hot tubs

Any suggestions?? What would be your ideal week away to celebrate a special birthday?

Hi bobcat,

I celebrated an early Jan birthday husky sledding in Finland close to the Russian border. We stayed with aki and suvi in their cabin. It was wonderful. Found them on responsible travel.com think they were called Routa travel.

Helsinki was delightful. Recommend Seahorse restaurant.

Lapland is quite magical - husky rides, reindeer rides, snowmobile etc, can see some wildlife like reindeer wondering on the roads. You can ski but its so cold you'ld need to be pretty hardy. Lots of saunas / spas there but the women are naked in them . We stayed in Santa Sport hotel which also has log cabins.

I've seen packages for a week to Iceland so guess you can go for a week.

Been a few places skiing but personally prefer Lapland but I am not a skier just a hot chocolate, cable car and swimming pool / spa person which may affect it. Very beuatiful. Hintertux was lovely and been to places in France.

Love Rome but not sure January is best month - December is good as have all Christmas decs but Jan think you'll have very average weather and no decorations. Still a nice place but more Spring onwards for me.

Iceland is pure magic and you can def spend a week there - you’ll be able to see almost all the country with a few nights in Reyjavik. One of my best friends is Icelandic so I visit her often. However January they get about 2 hours of daylight, just worth bearing in mind

Hi @Bobcat14,
It very much depends on your sense of adventure and budget. Here are my recommendations:

1. The Icehotel in Sweden - a magical place completely built of ice that melts back into the River Torn every April and rebuilt in a different style each October. Your room will be unique! The activities are amazing too!
2. Iceland - another magical place with walking, snowmobiling on glaciers, thunderous waterfalls, geysers, great nightlife, hiking, volcanoes, geo thermal spas, ice caves.... the list goes on!
3. Marrakech - luxurious spa treatments, vivid, coulourful, noisy souks, great architecture food and culture
4. A luxury ski holiday (helicopter transfer, heli skiing) in France, Switzerland or Austria (I can recommend a destination based on your skiing ability, type of accommodation and apres ski activity you'd like)
5. If you're looking for adventure, what a bout a week in Jordan - visit Petra, the 3000 year old wonder, Wadi Rum, the Dead Sea and traditional nomad experiences
6. You could do a city / beach break in Tel Aviv or Eilat in Israel - both surprisingly lively and sometines hedonistic
7. If you'd like a city break with a difference, I'd recommend Stockholm, Riga (Latvia), St Petersburg (extremely cold), Prague, Budapest - all of which have tremendous history, culture and night life
8. Something completely different could be a Danube luxury river cruise that stops in different cities every evening for different experiences
9. Dubai would give you a different taste of luxury

10. Mexico also is possible - warmth, ancient history, great snorkelling and culture. Best of luck! Chris