Where to go on holiday for a milestone birthday

[snowgirl1]

In a couple of years, I have a milestone birthday and I'd like to go somewhere special on holiday. I'm really looking for either somewhere with special scenery that I'll never forget, or a special experience, or a really cool place to stay. Any suggestions on where I could go?? Want to plan ahead (and save up!). My birthday is in April, but I'd be happy to go at anytime of the year.

I'm planning on going to the Puy Du Fou for my 40th.

Original plan was Norwegian cruise but budget won't stretch.

We just went for a week at the Meridien in the Ile des Pins, New Caledonia and OMG , I never thought water could have so many shades of blue. Swimming with turtles and manta rays. lovely and sweet people.
I am a seasoned traveller. but these islands! My eyes are still so full of them! This is something I will never forget. Even the kids didn't want to leave despite the lack of wifi and they are teenagers!

Hi Snowgirl1, Creating a perfect milestone trip depends on your interests, how long you want to go for, the number of people in your group, the time of year as well as your budget.

I learned that, if it's planned well, you'll remember the experiences vividly for many years and it'll always bring a smile to your face.
Without knowing what you like, off the top of my head, here are 10 suggestions to get you thinking:

1. A tour of Japan and South Korea (or even North Korea!)
2. A luxury Antarctic cruise
3. Rainforests and deserted beaches in Madagascar
4. Luxury safari with tree top hotels, hot air balloon trips followed by 7 days in Zanzibar on pristine beaches
5. A luxury train trip across the Old Silk Road
6. Experience eagles and nomads in Mongolia
7. A luxury volcano, geyser and snowmobile safari in Iceland
8. A wine lovers holiday in California, Italy or Argentina
9. Rajasthan and Reefs - Palaces and tigers in India followed by a week in the Maldives

10. The uncharted jungles of Borneo and a deserted beach on Bali and so many more....... I could write this list all evening! Hope that helps - let me know what you're really passionate about and what you'd like to do and I'll give you a few more ideas!

DH booked a surprise long weekend to Florence for my 60th last December.. It was just wonderful..but maybe that isnt what you were thinking of? , but we flew first class from London City and stayed in the Hotel Lungarno (I've never stayed anywhere as posh) ..

Unforgettable

Ooh, some fab ideas. Thank you.

RonniePasas, I've been to South Africa a few times - and backpacked from Kenya down to SA after Uni, so agree SA is amazing - but fancy somewhere different.

Science, I love France had have been there for holiday for several times since DD was little...so probably want to go somewhere different.

KingIrving, Ile de Pins sounds gorgeous. Swimming with turtles sounds fantastic.

Christravelwizard

1. Interestingly, a friend has also suggested Japan.
2. Antartic cruise wouldn't have been something I'd have thought of, but I want something different!
3. Madagascar is on my list - but maybe similar-ish to Africa??
4. I've done quite a lot of game viewing and have been to Zanzibar - great suggestion, but somewhere new would my choice.
5. Old Silk Road train trip doesn't immediately grab me, but it has made me think I need to look into what I'd see on a trip like that.
6. The eagles sound good, but my impression of Mongolia is that it's flat (is it high steppe?) and not particularly scenic - I do love beautiful, natural scenery.
7. Iceland is also on my list and has been for a long time.
8. I'm not a wine expert, so a wine holiday would be nice if it was a small part of a a bigger trip (have spent a very enjoyable few days in the Stellenbosch area). Argentina sounds interesting...I have wanted to go to Brazil and the Iguzu falls for a long time - I was put off slightly by the same friends who recommended Japan who went to Brazil and were very 'meh' about it (although they didn't go to the Iguzu falls). Maybe I should think about Argentina.
9. I've been to parts of the Rajasthan - but didn't do any wildlife and tigers sounds amazing.

10. Borneo sounds good, but have been to Malaysian mainland(?) rainforest (Taman Negara) so would be nice to do something a bit different.

So many great ideas.

Duration of trip - probably 2 weeks (or shorter). I'd love to go for 3 weeks, but unlikely to get that long off work.

Size of party, me, DH and (unless it's a long weekend) DD who will be 9/10.

Time of year - if DD came, it would need to be school holidays so summer or Easter.

Laska, lucky you that your DH booked you a surprise trip! Sounds fab, but I've been to Florence - didn't get to stay in the Lungarno though!

Oh, there are so many fabulous places to go it's so difficult to pick one.

Ok, so what about the Marquises Islands, they are next on my list and I have been told they are unique and better than Bora Bora

Contact a travel agent.smh....

Cambodia?
Would advise against April as it will be hot as Hades, but December, January, February are great months to go, but avoid Chinese New Year as Cambodia is becoming increasingly popular with Chinese tourists.

snowgirl1, are you me? I also have a milestone birthday in a couple of years, and would like to go somewhere special on holiday. My birthday is also in April, but I'd be happy to go at any time of the year.

Watching with interest!

Yucatan? À mix of playa del Carmen, Tulum, chichen iza, Isla de las mujeres ? Avoid riviera maya, see vegetation makes swimming impossible.

I'm celebrating twice! I wanted to go somewhere warm for my actual milestone birthday in November,so going to Dubai.Then going to Vietnam and Cambodia in March and apart from usual sights,we will be cruising down the Mekong.

Japan. Japan. Japan

So different, so beautiful..., you could also ski

Canada -Travel through the Rockies then a cruise to Alaska. Stunning scenery.

@mymomsbetterthanyomom

Mumsnet was conceived in early 2000 when JustineMumsnet embarked on a disastrous family holiday. Her idea was to create a website where parents could swap advice about not just holidays but all the other stuff parents talk about.

smh

Iceland has stunning scenery.
Bolivia is fantastic as somewhere not mentioned yet. Incredible scenery.
Really want to go to Japan.

Naimibia. Absolutely incredible. Drive from the capital, Windhoek, through the Kalahari south to Fish River Canyon; onto Luderitz where you can visit a really interesting ghost town; up to Sossuvlei to climb the biggest sand dunes in the world; Walvis Bay/Swakopmund where you can actually sea kayak with thousands of seals who love to play and want belly rubs; then finish it off with a drive-your-own safari in Etosha National Park. Actually, also stop by Waterberg on your way back to Windhoek.

*Namibia

OKhitmewithit what time of year would you suggest going to Japan?

It’s best not to go to Japan in August when it’s unbearably hot and depending on whether you like the cold, in January / Early Feb. But any other time in The four out of Japan’s five seasons a year is fine.

Lovely thread, I too have a milestone birthday not too far off!

PS What's smh??

South Pacific islands

Canada --- Eastern and/or Western

Hawaiian islands maybe including San Francisco/Los Angeles/Vancouver

Maldives & Singapore

Australia and/or New Zealand

It would be great if you could get longer by working out dates incl weekends or you regular days off per week (going fri night arriving back Sunday night)

Thanks christravelwizard

TokyoSushi smh is txt for 'shaking my head' - usually used when someone's done something stupid.

I have a milestone birthday April 2020 and have been pondering this for a little while now. I would definitely wNt to be away for the actual day. April seems like a decent time of year for many parts of the world.

My options have come down to:

• Hawaii but via Tokyo rather than west coast USA
• Orlando / DisneyWorld
• Australia and Cook Islands
• Bora Bora
• Maldives

I’d go in late Feb and try and get skiing in the north and sightseeing in the south, but it will be chilly.

If that doesn’t appeal April/may is beautiful