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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

'Once in a lifetime' trips?

116 replies

TubeLover · 08/02/2024 08:31

Have any of you been on any trips you would consider 'once in a lifetime' trips?

I'd like to take my DH somewhere we will likely never be able to (afford to) go again for his 30th in 2025 and I'm looking for some ideas.

Places that we considered 'big' trips that we've already been (aware this is subjective, and these arent once in a lifetime for many people), are New York and Toronto/Niagara Falls

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Original poster
TubeLover · 08/02/2024 08:31

Budget is about 6k and its just the two of us

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ohthehokey · 08/02/2024 08:32

Kenya Safari - spent five days on safari then went to the beach for five days. Most memorable holiday I've ever had.

SleepingStandingUp · 08/02/2024 08:34

Id probably do Sri Lanka tour and stay so a tour around and then some days at a beach location to chill.

Or similar in Africa with a safari?

Or Tokyo and that kind of area?

TheChosenTwo · 08/02/2024 08:34

3 weeks in Japan, one day we’ll go!

WatchOutMissMarpleIsAbout · 08/02/2024 08:35

I see your Niagara & raise you to Iguazu. Most spectacular sight I’ve ever been to and I’ve been to a few.

Original poster
TubeLover · 08/02/2024 08:36

Thanks @ohthehokey, that's perhaps a better word for it - I want it to be memorable! Safari sounds great, did you feel safe enough?

Also thanks PPs for Tokyo suggestion, this is somewhere I've been looking into as think he would love it. I could only get 2 weeks off though so not sure it's enough!

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WatchOutMissMarpleIsAbout · 08/02/2024 08:37

WatchOutMissMarpleIsAbout · 08/02/2024 08:35

I see your Niagara & raise you to Iguazu. Most spectacular sight I’ve ever been to and I’ve been to a few.

Forgot to add we are doing Capetown and safari next year.

Been to Australia, Canada, US far east including China. Brazil Mexico Cuba Guatemala. Still Iguazu is for me so spectacular.

idontlikealdi · 08/02/2024 08:39

Re you tied to a particular time of year and can you avoid school holidays?

Original poster
TubeLover · 08/02/2024 08:39

@WatchOutMissMarpleIsAbout anywhere in US you'd recommend? I am also considering Australia but again, annual leave might not be enough!

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TheBirdintheCave · 08/02/2024 08:39

TubeLover · 08/02/2024 08:36

Thanks @ohthehokey, that's perhaps a better word for it - I want it to be memorable! Safari sounds great, did you feel safe enough?

Also thanks PPs for Tokyo suggestion, this is somewhere I've been looking into as think he would love it. I could only get 2 weeks off though so not sure it's enough!

We did a two week loop of Honshu (seeing about 10 different places) for our honeymoon so, if you plan carefully, two weeks can definitely be enough time to see a chunk of Japan.

Oh and we spent £5k total.

Best times to go to Japan are May/June and September/October.

sophi1995 · 08/02/2024 08:40

I second a Kenyan safari followed by a beach resort somewhere like Diani Beach, very doable on 6k, we went on much less! South Africa is a great place for a road trip also.

I think my favourite holiday has been island hopping in Philippines. El Nido is so beautiful, Apo Island you can walk into the sea and immediately be surrounded by sea turtles in waist deep water!

Original poster
TubeLover · 08/02/2024 08:40

@idontlikealdi no, can go anytime! His bday is early Nov but don't think he will be fussed about when we go.

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Original poster
TubeLover · 08/02/2024 08:42

@sophi1995 your Philippines holiday sounds wonderful!

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Letsrunabath · 08/02/2024 08:42

I’ve traveled extensively so have had many different experiences. Waking up to the sounds and smells on a safari will stay with you for life.

Original poster
TubeLover · 08/02/2024 08:43

Safari is a popular choice! Which countries would you recommend for safaris?

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WatchOutMissMarpleIsAbout · 08/02/2024 08:43

Have driven through 11 of the southern US states and that was really fascinating. Been to California (years ago so can’t really remember) Washington DC was interesting as well. Florida again can’t remember.
Thailand was great actually as well.

Canada - the rockies is very memorable! We drove from Calgary to Vancouver stopping off at lots of places on the way.

idontlikealdi · 08/02/2024 08:47

We loved Hawaii, did a week in Maui, a week on Oahu and a 3 night stop in SF. I wouldn't bother with SF again, but would go back to Hawaii. It is a looooooong way though!

November is the perfect time for Oman. Would recommend both of these

Luxury 5-Star Muscat Beach Hotel & Resort in Oman | The Chedi Muscat (ghmhotels.com)

Luxury 5 Star Resort in Muscat | Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah

You can go out for a couple of nights to the Wahiba, and if budget allows take a short flight down to Salalah

Luxury 5-Star Muscat Beach Hotel & Resort in Oman | The Chedi Muscat

Among the hotels and resorts in Oman, The Chedi Muscat offers one of the best experiences of Arabic hospitality in a lavish beach resort. Get inspired here!

https://www.ghmhotels.com/en/muscat/

Mitherations · 08/02/2024 08:54

If you're interested in the US and you're comfortable with driving you could fly into San Francisco and have a couple of days there, and then drive down the coastal highway and fly out of LA. It's a memorable trip for sure.

With two weeks, Australia could be a stretch as the jeglag will whip you when you land but if you're keen you could do a week in Sydney and surrounds, Blue Mountains, vineyards, beaches, then fly up to Darwin and check out the Port Douglas area for a different vibe.

India would definitely be memorable, how about Rajasthan then a week in Kerala?

Vancouver city for a couple of nights, then ferry over to the island, heaps of walking trails, absolutely gorgeous, super friendly people, then maybe a train through the Rockies?

The worlds' your oyster!

Original poster
TubeLover · 08/02/2024 08:57

Oh these all sound marvellous @Mitherations !

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mondaytosunday · 08/02/2024 08:59

My husband was on sabbatical and we spent a month in Australia with our two kids (both under 4, not great but it was a one time sabbatical). It was fabulous.

TheChosenTwo · 08/02/2024 09:00

Same @TubeLover my work don’t like approving leave of over 2 weeks! Japan is a long way to go for just 2 weeks although people do, I’d just like to have a bit of time to settle in places for a few days before upping and moving on to the next and the dc would like to go to different places meaning when we looked we would be dotted all over the map!
Maybe in a couple of years…

GruffalosGirl · 08/02/2024 09:02

We did two weeks travelling around Borneo. Seeing baby orangutans playing with their mums in the trees above us in Danum valley rainforest was magical. We even met the planet earth team as they were filming there. We then spent a few nights at a turtle breeding sanctuary on lankayan island.

I've been to lots of other places that people consider holidays of a lifetime, but Borneo was without doubt my favourite experience.

Citygirlrurallife · 08/02/2024 09:03

TubeLover · 08/02/2024 08:36

Thanks @ohthehokey, that's perhaps a better word for it - I want it to be memorable! Safari sounds great, did you feel safe enough?

Also thanks PPs for Tokyo suggestion, this is somewhere I've been looking into as think he would love it. I could only get 2 weeks off though so not sure it's enough!

We did 2 weeks in Japan in 2019 (with 2 kids in tow) and it was AMAZING. We really packed it in and the “normal” tourist route of Tokyo-Miyajima-Kyoto-KoyaSan-Hakone

seriously once in a lifetime although we all loved it so much we’re saving to go again one day and hit more off the beaten path

there are just so many versions of Japanese culture, the food is amazing, people are so friendly, you can go from crazy Uber-tech-futuristic land to the deepest spirituality I’ve ever encountered

squashyhat · 08/02/2024 09:04

Sri Lanka tour with add-on in the Maldives, Argentina including Buenos Aires, Mendoza and the Iguazu Falls, India Golden Triangle tour, Goa, Japan tour, road trip Vegas, Flagstaff, Grand Canyon, San Francisco, road trip San Francisco to Seattle, road/rail trip New Orleans to Chicago following the Blues trail stopping in Nashville, Memphis etc

The last one was the best holiday I have ever had but echoing pps Japan is amazing and I'll be going back.

ohthehokey · 08/02/2024 09:04

TubeLover · 08/02/2024 08:36

Thanks @ohthehokey, that's perhaps a better word for it - I want it to be memorable! Safari sounds great, did you feel safe enough?

Also thanks PPs for Tokyo suggestion, this is somewhere I've been looking into as think he would love it. I could only get 2 weeks off though so not sure it's enough!

Yes we felt very safe - we went on an organised trip with Somak holidays staying in several different locations (it was ten years ago)