Recommend me somewhere without poisonous snakes/ spiders

[Howmanysleepstilchristmas]

I’m trying to book a non European holiday. DH won’t go anywhere with poisonous snakes/ spiders. I want somewhere warm, and don’t fancy North America or a city based holiday. I want somewhere with plenty to see and do. I’m struggling to find anywhere. Can anyone suggest somewhere for me to look at please?

Japan! Stunning countryside, amazing variety. Loads and loads to do, from climbing holy mountains and exploring shrines and temples to feeding or bathing with monkeys. There are lakes, volcanoes, pilgrim and samurai trails through stunning countryside, onsen baths, medieval villages. And then there's the big cities with amazing galleries, theatre, shopping, castles, more temples (lots of temples and shrines!) markets and general people watching. Great street food, brilliant public transport, clean loos and drinking water everywhere, friendly, polite people. And no more expensive than UK.

New Zealand. No dangerous animals there and plenty to see, stunning scenery, nice beaches, friendly locals

Peru, Argentina, Brazil, Japan, Morocco, South Africa, Russia, the Arctic.

I’m amazed you cannot find anywhere you might like in the whole of North America! Plenty to see and do in Canada and the USA! Boston and Cape Cod are not known for snakes and spiders I believe. Are you maybe a bit short of imagination regarding the USA?

I’ve done numerous wildlife holidays and have seen a couple of snakes. I’ve seen a couple of large spiders in the rainforest and we have even had a scorpion in our tent in Zambia! However I’ve never seen any of these creatures outside wildlife activities. Where on earth did you think about going where these creatures would be prevalent and spoil a holiday? The mind boggles!

@bubblesbuddy no, I don’t think I’m short on imagination, I’d just like somewhere that feels culturally different, and the USA is so prevalent on TV, film etc I don’t feel like I’d get that there.
It’s not that they’d be “so prevalent” more that Dh wouldn’t relax with the possibility.
Your post didn’t really answer my question. Were you trying to, or did you just feel like being critical of a stranger on the internet?

No, the USA and Canada is not like that at all. It just seems odd you are writing off a whole continent as being unworthy of a visit because you seem to think its culture is film based. Obviously it is not. I feel that you have not really looked at what might be possible. That's all. I could suggest some wonderful places to go in North America for a bit of warmth and culture, and indeed I did, but I rather fear you have made up your mind based on spurious evidence.

I did answer your post. I suggested losts of destinations which are not known for their snakes and spiders, if you avoid the rainforest areas. I also suggested a type of holiday to avoid. I cannot think why you woud expect snakes and spiders to be prevalent in the countries you might visit. I have travelled extensively for 45 years and I have seen a couple of snakes and spiders in the wild when we were actively looking for animals in very wild places. They tend not to want to see you, though! Honestly it is an unfounded fear and you really will not come across them.

I know we wouldn’t come across them. Dh would be unable to relax though, which would make it a non-holiday. I’ve not been in a position to go on a long haul holiday before and don’t want to waste the chance going to the one place that doesn’t appeal to me even if you liked it. It obviously appealed to you enough for you to choose to travel there.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but aside from a few isolated islands, all warm places have snakes and spiders, this includes the US (I've seen rattlesnakes and black widow spiders there) I think he's using it as an excuse to not travel

He’s been bitten a couple of times, and is concerned about the dc. He wants to travel, but I need to come up with somewhere he feels is safe. Realistically I know there’s venomous creatures in most places, but I need somewhere they’re less prevalent. So Latin America, Thailand etc are out. Is Africa? Anywhere else? Do I just avoid rainforests (shame as that’d be my ideal!)? Are safari type places as bad? Vietnam? Was hoping for suggestions, but if not may end up in Europe (again).

I don’t think the us culture is film based, just widely portrayed there. I want to see things I haven’t seen on a screen.

Japan.

Africa has many, many venomous snakes.

Snakes and spiders are in forest, desert environments. Basically anywhere warm ( asia, south America, north America africa, middle east, australia etc)

Sounds like you want a cruise or a city break

If you don't mind me asking, how has he been bitten a couple of times as just being bitten even once seems very unfortunate? Virtually all places will have some form of poisonous snake or an unpleasant spider, a quick Google of all of the above will show you that, hotter countries even more so and that's really just life! Totally agree that they don't tend to come looking for you but the reality is any hotel with grounds or a non urban environment might (and only just might) contain a nasty. But let's put this in perspective, so very well might somewhere in the UK. My DD and I came across an adder 2 weeks ago on a dog walk in Kent. I know irrational fears in adults are hard to deal with - my DD usually looks up places we're going in advance & will go on about tsunami's or being eaten alive by crocodiles and I can tell her she's being daft & is going as she is 11. I do think that maybe this is something your DH does need to speak to someone professionally about. It's a a great big wonderful world out there - his views may shape & narrow your DCs perspectives which I'm sure neither of you would want and will certainly mean you yourself won't experience things you want to see. Get yourself out there, a life lived in fear and all that!

Yes I agree SJane. I think you need to delve a bit deeper into what is really happening with DH and his fears. What bit him? I agree these creatures are around but you would not expect to see them as holiday makers.

We have done lots of safari and wildlife holidays. We have seen snakes in the rainforest, in a wildlife park in Kenya, in a Lodge in Kenya (hasty evacuation of guests) and one in San Diego on our way to the lighthouse! We had a scorpion in our room in Zambia and have seen huge spiders in the rainforest. We have been to many wildlife areas and not seen snakes or spiders but obviously they live there! I think some places won’t be great for DH but you really can have a great holiday in areas where you won’t see a snake or a spider and they just won’t be around near you.

You would probably like Cape Town and The Garden Route. Virginia and the Blue Ridge Mountains are great (just been). California coast. Look at anywhere in South America minus rainforest, and possibly Dubai etc if you are less bothered about culture. The flashy hotels don’t tend to have snakes and spiders. Do try and put his fears to one side and enjoy life!

Never been on one but maybe a cruise, won't be snakes on board and you can get guided excursions out - he could stay on board for ones that are too scary for him.

I have only once seen a snake and been in fair bit of rainforest, insects are everywhere but snakes are not. On a guided tour guide will deal with snakes and with spider bites as long as you get prompt medical attention if needed its fine. Only had a nasty bite once.

Insects in a warm climate are very hard to avoid. Snakes are actually hard to find even in a rainforest and the chances of both finding one and it attacking you assuming you don't poke it as so slim. We always take a guide in rainforest and they pretty much guarantee your safety. He might feel safer if you book escorted tours and it might ease him in, maybe not straight to rainforest though but knowing there is a local there who can deal with things might help.

In a lot of countries depends where you go. In say Cape Town we went out to see penguins at Boulders Bay and no snakes or spiders. Or in Australia went to Great Barrier Reef and again no snakes or spiders.

No recommendations but just a suggestion for googling purposes. Search venomous instead of poisonous. Although it seems to be a very common misunderstanding, poisonous is something we ingest, so unless you eating the snakes and spiders there is little risk there (there are in fact poisonous snakes). However in this case you are looking at venomous.

I'm also a little curious as to how your husband has been but multiple times?

This is a map of venomous animals by country though you have to work out what countries in green are. In South America its Chile, in Africa Madagascar, most of Caribbean seems green. The risk though is so low. Is there anywhere he, you or kids want to go and rough budget and kids ages? Quite a few colder places on there but you can still have great holidays and never seen a snake or spider in the snow. I think his issue is fear though.

brilliantmaps.com/venomous-animals/

I suggested the Arctic! I realise it’s not longhaul or hot but it’s snake and spider free and absolutely wonderful! Ditto Alaska!

Azores might work - warm in summer, no snakes, dolphins / whales and watersports.

Does it really have to be long haul?

NZ. South America is full of beasties. As is Russia.

Ireland would be safest, thanks to St Patrick.
I managed to go to India and never saw a snake, but your dh doesn’t sound too lucky if he has already been bitten (I’m guessing he grew up somewhere other than uk)

We've travelled to a lot of tropical countries and have barely seen a spider or snake in the wild, even in the Australian outback! We were lucky enough to see a snake once but that was in a jungle in Thailand. I have a dreadful spider phobia but it has never stopped me travelling to tropical climes.