Holiday of a lifetime ideas

[wildwestpioneer]

If you had two weeks and a reasonable amount to spend on a holiday, where would you go?

We have a big anniversary coming up in 2025 and I've decided to have a holiday of a lifetime, we're mid 50s, fit-ish and have a good budget to work with.

No cruises or winter sports. It'll be hotels all the way so no back packing either don't mind things like rain forest trekking or horse riding in America so it's not all about the sun and beach.

Well for me and spending ridiculous money would be Cancun Mexico and Xcaret hotel and the parks. Rain forest, zip wires, wildlife, caves, underground rivers, amphibious vehicles, Mexican culture and history. Huge amount of choice of things to do. If you stay in the hotel (there is an adults only hotel and a family hotel) you get food in the parks and admission I believe included in the price.

https://www.xcaret.com/en/cancun-theme-parks/#

Or white water rafting down the Colorado river on a Grand Canyon tour, camping under the stars. Then onto Las Vegas and San Fran.

South Korea or Japan are also on our list.

Yes to xcaret.
Seychelles
Maldives
Safari
Turks and Caicos Beaches resort
Costa Rica
Definitely go 5*

@wildwestpioneer Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands. Choose a small boat! We had 12 passengers so it’s a very personal experience. Add on the rainforest. We went to Sacha Lodge. Wonderful experience.

We also thought Japan was wonderful. We used trains and walked part of the Nakasendo trail for a morning. The temples, culture and experiences are so different to here it’s unforgettable. We had a cookery lesson and went to a Gaiko/Maiko dance show in Kyoto. We loved the gardens too. Companies like Audley have lots of choice regarding what you can do.

Im a huge fan of safaris too! And we have been to the Antarctic - but that’s another boat!

If you don't already have an idea yourself of what your dream holiday of a lifetime would involve, I'm not sure anyone here can help you.

My bucket list is

• Costa Rica - jungles, animals etc

• New Zealand - with a stop in Oz to visit friends

• Japan - so much I'd like to see there

• Kenya - safari

• Interrail across Europe - could not afford when young - but I'd want to stay in nice hotels and not hostels!

Japan

Safari and Seychelles

Sri Lanka and Maldives

Peru and Galapagos

What do you like? Different cultures, nature, physical activities, landscapes, cities, foodie?

I've just booked mine! But it wouldn't suit you, I don't think, as it's a cruise to Antarctica. Otherwise, I'd suggest Japan. It's absolutely fascinating and can be done in two weeks.

I just love Mauritius. I have been twice and it is so beautiful. The service you receive there is amazing.

Direct flight with Air Mauritius from London.

I am going to the Maldives next year but it has become so expensive. Whereas Mauritius is very affordable for a luxury holiday.

I recommend looking at Destination2 and Kenwood Travel for good deals

Yes of course we do @ProvisionsOnTheDock but it’s always lovely to hear other people’s ideas, there might be something in this thread we’d not considered

You cannot “do” Japan in 2 weeks but you can see some highlights.

@wildwestpioneer what are you interested in? We like wildlife and culture. We don’t like cruise ships and beaches. However expedition cruising is entirely different. We look for no more than 100 on the boat, expert naturalists, good fleet of zodiacs and an itinerary that suits us. We often top and tail by a few extra days seeing a bit of land! Before and after the Falklands/South Georgia/Antarctic we spent time in Argentina. Argentina is also a great destination. Extend a bit from 2 weeks if you can to make long haul truly special.

I’d not thought about Japan, I’ll have a look.

our ideas so far is a 3 centre American holiday - Las Vegas, New York and San Francisco

Safari in Africa on horseback, they also do these in Iceland and America

We also saw a 2 centre one where you spend time in the rain forest and then onto a beach holiday

Vietnam and Thailand are also on the list.

By the way I’m not suggesting you go to the Antarctic! It can be quite rough sailing on the Drake Passage. I’m just suggesting smaller expedition ships are very convivial with lots to see and can provide memorable holidays. I could not be static in one hotel for 2 weeks now! You might also like self drive in the USA or Canada. Again we’ve been to Great Bear Rainforest on a small boat. It’s utterly magical and you can add Vancouver Island very easily. We like whales and bears so it’s a no brainer and we like special encounters with wildlife!

Safari followed by a few days on a nearby beach

I'd go for Costa Rica.

We've got a big anniversary coming up in a year or so and I've been thinking about that famous Canadian train route, across the country, can't remember what it's called.

Western Canada we did a few years ago and it was amazing. Flew to Calgary, Banff, Jasper, then flew to Vancouver Island and back via Vancouver. It was amazing. There’s the option of the Rocky Mountaineer train too.

One I want to do is Japan.

We went on a small cruise (50 people) up the Mekong Delta. We left from HCMC and finished in Siam Reap. Beautiful and cruising so close to the river bank you could almost reach out and touch. Plenty of stops and trips. Plus time in both HCMC and Siam Reap. We cycled part way between maybe breakfast and lunch, as much it as little as you liked. Small boat trips to see tiny little hamlets. Fantastic holiday.

Houseboats in Jaipur plus the golden triangle.

4wd expedition across Oman or via Al Ula in Saudi. The scenery is absolutely breath taking and it's a great opportunity to get a better understanding of the country and culture.

Canal boat through the wine regions of France and buy yourself a row of vines from your favourite vineyard.

Driving road trip in the USA

Personalised trip in Egypt, Cairo, the Nile, Luxor.

The modern version of the Silk Road. Camels, horses, trains and cars. Wonderful.

And something I saw in the Guardian travel a few weeks back. A little drive yourself super posh tuk tuk through part of Italy. Beautiful places to stay. Fabulous food and great fun.

Come back and let us know what you chose.

Costa Rica. We did a guided tour which let us see a lot in the 10 days we were there. This would be my top choice.
Alternatively, we have just done 12 days interrailling on 1st class tickets. We stayed in good hotels close to the stations. We were heading to Rome for a specific event so spent most of our time in Italy. It is such a relaxing way to travel, not having to get from airport to city centre is so nice. We ate some amazing food and saw beautiful scenery, especially in Switzerland. I would definitely do it again.

Dont bother - very over priced and unreliable. We went last year at cost of 4k for 2 days, first day spent on a coach as another train had broken down, rocky mountain gave us 250 cad in compensation. Friends drove the same route and had a much better experience

Loved Australia, Mexico, the Maldives, Thailand and Jamaica, got Bali, USA, Vietnam, Costa Rica, Cambodia and Sri Lanka on my list.

I think your USA idea sounds amazing, although I've read some bad things about Las Vegas on MN and tbh you could do some incredible activities with the other 2 destinations e.g. visit Californian wine Country, Yosemite, amazing spas/beaches in northern California, even Lake Tahoe, and then do the Hamptons or East Coast around NY.

My bucket list would be Canadian Rockies, Yellowstone, Argentina, Japan, New Zealand, Iceland/Norway. What a lovely problem to have OP. Can't wait to hear what itinerary you settle on.

@wildwestpioneer If you like Vegas: I don’t think that’s a holiday of a lifetime. It’s horrible. It is a gateway to some fab national parks though like Zion, Bryce Canyon and the Grand Canyon. Flying up to NY makes little sense. Do that separately. Or start at SF and drive south down Highway 1. I just would not pick off US cities with flights.

Also be very very careful about horseback holidays in Africa. We met a couple on honeymoon and he had fallen off. He was very very stiff! He said it was difficult to get a suitable horse for his intermediate skills. So unless you are expert riders, don’t do it. You won’t see many animals that way. Better to stay in a small bush camp (they can be luxurious) where the animal action is. The Okavango Delta and Moremi reserves are great options in Botswana. Night safaris and walking safaris are amazing in Zambia.

We have met loads of people who have done the Rocky Mountaineer. Most said it had limitations. Far better to drive. Canada also has many luxurious lodges.

New Zealand for two weeks is such a waste of flights. Definitely needs longer. Road trips eat up a lot of time driving. It’s more relaxing to cut down the driving and savour where you are. California plus NY and the Hamptons (Long Island) plus more driving is just too much. I would look at companies like Audley Travel for sensible suggestions. Unless you want to drive a lot and sit in airports a lot of course.

I’ve snow boarded in Canada and it was beautiful in the snow, I can only imagine what it’s like in the summer or autumn

We’re leaning towards Bangkok and island hopping in Thailand at the moment