Welcome to Mumsnet's holiday forum. Discuss all international travel here, including both shorthaul and longhaul trips. Related topics: UK holidays & day trips, skiing, camping & campervans.
Welcome to Mumsnet's holiday forum. Discuss all international travel here, including both shorthaul and longhaul trips. Related topics: UK holidays & day trips, skiing, camping & campervans.
Holidays
I'm fed up of everything need heat last minute good value
cultmaskid · 28/12/2019 17:47
I need a house / apartment in a resort somewhere hot that you don't need vaccines for as I want to literally go if I can even on Tuesday
There's a 5 month old
A three year old who is wild and needs space
A 34 year old man who doesn't like resorts
Me a 27 year old who needs a rest
I would like
A pool and the beach
Flights that don't cost the earth
Somewhere we can hire a car because I don't want to use a transfer
Somewhere that has culture and isn't like a sort of holiday only area and nothing else as my husband won't tolerate it (he's a moan)
Have you got any recommendations?
Not Europe as it won't be warm enough
We are all totally exhausted and depressed so I think we should just go
I looked on the website on the beach at Mexico but it was about 6 grand to do it all inc (which I know the food is often not fab but we are so tired and it's easy)
I will look at all links as I am not sure of where to go what to do
I would be in paradise if we could do it for about 3 grand
QueenofLouisiana · 29/12/2019 01:35
Try Morocco. You’ll get AI for a week in a decent hotel for about £1800. Spend the extra on a private transfer. The hotel resorts run shuttle buses into Marrakesh- don’t even think about driving! Then your DH gets his culture and city break, you get a rest.
I flew back from there today and am already planning to go back- it’s been 22-27 degrees each day, cooler overnight. Flight is 3.5 hrs from London, no jabs or paperwork. Take euros as you can’t buy the currency here.
cultmaskid · 29/12/2019 03:30
I would never have even considered Morocco and it's closer then I was thinking
Thank you for that I will have a look into it
Is there any feeling of unrest there at the moment?
lovelyupnorth · 29/12/2019 09:04
Airbnb and flights to Barbados. We didn’t it in January for a family of 4 for £3k ish including hire car and food.
QueenofLouisiana · 29/12/2019 10:43
@cultmaskid no, no feeling of unrest. All very friendly and pleasant. Lots of police around, obviously very security conscious. Heavier levels of security at the airport than at Gatwick, but I tend to see that as a good thing!
Take insect repellent as I’ve come come with a couple of big bites.
Lifeaback · 29/12/2019 16:50
Second PP suggestion of Morocco- no worries about contending with long flight times or jetlag with young children. I visited Marrakesh last April and it’s incredible, with that budget you could easily get a nice hotel.
Things might have changed since I visited but there was definitely no feeling of unrest. One thing to consider though is make sure to cover up- I forgot my cardigan one day and got lots of unwanted attention from men which made me uncomfortable. It was my own fault though as it’s their culture and religious beliefs so part of visiting is to be respectful.
user1486131602 · 29/12/2019 17:01
Florida? Flights are cheap, food plentiful, loads of things to do or not!
All the major airlines have sales....go!
cultmaskid · 29/12/2019 21:30
I have to say I like the idea of Barbados but my husband said no. He's also said no to Morocco.. I can see why.
We don't live in a city and we are so worried about acts of terrorism. It's a very sad but true fear for us.
Florida. He has been looking at Miami actually
Didn't know there would be flight sales
I like that idea. Will have a look :-) I am happy to cook once I am there too as they have great fresh fruit and vegetables there
Thank you all
Mixingitall · 29/12/2019 21:40
Do you know why he doesn’t want to go to Barbados? The weather will be perfect, it’s very very safe, we drive around the entire island with a 3 and 6 year old and never once felt unsafe. The food was wonderful and the people are friendly, hospitable and warm. The service everywhere was great. I would recommend it. The flight was 8 hours and hurricanes always miss it.
If you fly in to Miami look at the Keys, I’ve stayed on Key Largo and Key West.
cultmaskid · 29/12/2019 21:53
@Mixingitall I think it might be because he doesn't want to go to a resort place, but I do. I think he's worried it will be an empty place. He also has phobias of me being really unwell which are to an extent justifiable I have nearly died a few times because of infections and he worries about infrastructure. He's depressed and he is hard to reason with at times. I would love to go.
I will look at those places you mentioned in Miami, thank you.
Ps my favorite holiday spot is probably Lisbon.. but it won't be warm.
We also had a brilliant holiday in Thailand years ago but the place has changed
A fantastic road trip down the west coast of America as well before we had our first baby but decent accommodation was really really expensive. We spent so much money because we love eating good food and we also drank a lot in fancy places which was fun before kids.
Miami is probably good as it will have the fresh food which is really important to us, they speak English (husband is pants at languages) it has American cars which will be novel for him to drive around in and it's spacious so we wouldn't be so worried about couping up the three year old.
Mixingitall · 30/12/2019 08:52
Okay I understand his concerns. I have no idea what the health provision is there.
Good luck with deciding.
SJaneS48 · 30/12/2019 09:45
Miami sounds a good bet but don’t stay on Ocean Drive. It’s really loud and lively at night - great if you’ve gone as an adult to have a fun time but otherwise pretty horrendous, it is a party town! There’s a lot of Art Deco architecture and interesting art related places (but possibly not of huge interest to DC!). You can do a day out on a hover boat on the Everglades to go and see alligators. With DC, I’d be tempted to stay somewhere in the Keys rather than Miami itself, they are a bit of a drive though from Miami so be aware of that.
lovelyupnorth · 30/12/2019 10:02
@cultmaskid
Don’t quite get the empty place Barbados is ace good infrastructure loads of fantastic food and plenty to do. And safe.
Miami wouldn’t float my boat. Been to the us loads hate the honey glaze and other shit food also don’t end up in the wrong part of town.
Anyway enjoy what ever you choose. We’re off to Ghana for a couple of weeks.
cultmaskid · 30/12/2019 11:00
@lovelyupnorth I would love to go to Ghana.
Belize is my dream for now but as I said mental health of husband not great, we don't have thousands like we used to and I have scared the shit out of my husband having sepsis a few times plus some kidney issues which needed hospitalisation - all of this happened from my first pregnancy and although I'm fine now he really does have some elements of ptsd and is very emotional about it
Not the man who ran through the jungle with me care free 5 years ago
MyOtherProfile · 30/12/2019 11:04
Sounds to me like he is making excuses. Not sure you will get him anywhere. Morocco has so many advantages and is very peaceful but he won't even consider that so I'm not sure any other suggestions will work.
cultmaskid · 30/12/2019 11:15
@MyOtherProfile that's a helpful comment, thank you for that. Really constructive when I am trying to help my depressed husband without bullying him and working with our small budget. In sickness and in health, for richer or poorer and that..
SJaneS48 · 30/12/2019 11:16
That’s a little bleak @MyOtherProfile! It’s a big world out there and I’m sure they’ll find something they all feel happy with. I think most of us have a few prejudices that don’t bear a close look. I’m not sure I’d have gone for Morocco either - not from a safety point of view but the average temp in Marrakech in Jan is 18 degrees (not swimming weather), old Marrakech is hard work with small DC dodging the donkeys and mopeds in alleyways that don’t appear on maps (I’ve done it) and the AI resorts on the outskirts just feel like you could be anywhere bar the odd tagine in the buffet and belly dancing classes (which are Egyptian anyway).
Branleuse · 30/12/2019 11:22
If you are desperate for a rest, surely your husband can compromise?
Somewhere like northern tenerife is very non touristy compared to the south.
We stayed on a banana plantation in Garachico a few years back in february and it was bliss. Its 27 degrees there at the moment . Id go back in a heartbeat.
UptightFunk · 30/12/2019 11:23
I feel like this but I've tried a holiday with one and it's never a rest. Just make sure you don't blow a load of money on holiday with great expectations of relaxing when you'll just be chasing the kids, maybe jet lagged and maybe putting up with a moping husband!
lovelyupnorth · 30/12/2019 11:25
@cultmaskid
Like I say enjoy wherever you go that’s the main thing. Hope DH has a good one.
Can’t wait for Ghana - but agree hospital care there slightly more challenging.
UptightFunk · 30/12/2019 11:25
Sorry, and as for actual advice. Obviously depends on budget but Dubai, Mauritius, Maldives, Canaries etc at this time of year.
My personal choice would be somewhere with the least jet lag but I love Florida so that would probably win.
MyOtherProfile · 30/12/2019 11:27
I'm being realistic. I think if OP wants to get her husband to go away she needs to find out if he truly is willing or if he will put up objections to every suggestion.
Branleuse · 30/12/2019 11:37
I wouldnt take small kids to marrakech but there are lovely parts of morrocco. I wouldn't say its a beach holiday though. Its definitely an experience
cultmaskid · 30/12/2019 11:41
@MyOtherProfile if we had finances like we used to we would just go straight to Asia for 2 weeks book a good hotel and move around from there to different places. Husband would do activities that suited him, toddler could do a little bit of kids club and I would have the baby. Other parts of the day spent together. It's financially the way we are restricted compared to the past and it's an adjustment. It's related to me being sick and family issues with some finances being taken from us (another story and I have shared it but under a different user name) he would go far away and to interesting places it's not that. It's our budget and his mental health v my existing health and the kids. So it's not an easy choice hence me asking for some pointers. I think to be realistic we should go skiing and then do a summer holiday that is closer and cheaper say in May or June. I know where you're coming from but it stung a bit like that. My husband never let me down when I was sick and now that he is struggling it's not the time to be bullish and force him somewhere. We are a team and we work through our problems together.
@UptightFunk this is the issue that is bothering my husband the most. He doesn't want to chase our three year old. We want our old style but suitable with kids and that isn't a reality on a tight budget. I appreciate this post because it resonates with me.
Maybe next year when our finances have recovered we can do another blow your mind away trip. Kids change the dynamic.
MyOtherProfile · 30/12/2019 12:24
I'm not talking about being bullish and forcing though. I'm talking about recognising that he just may not be realistically up for going anywhere and you need to find that out first.
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