50th Treat - Nicer Problems to have :)

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Wise Netter's it's my 50th B'day in Nov. Lovely DH has proposed the opportunity for just the 2 of us to go somewhere or do something of my choosing for circa 1 week.

He surprised me with a trip to NY for 40th & had planned to do the same again as we loved it so much; however recent discussions with a friend about how NY has gone hugely downhill (in their opinion) has put us off a bit.

He suggested we could do a cruise on a Silver Seas type ship which we have vaguely discussed as 'a nice thing for when we are older' (😬) & I know I'm extremely lucky but at a bit of a loss as to what would be a really special treat so open to ideas please.

As additional background, we have 5 children, youngest is 15 with complex needs but eldest DS (24) has very kindly agreed to move back in & be around for all care needs & he is fully trained up on all aspects of care. The others are broadly sensible too although I have probably just doomed myself but I'm not too worried about them all coping without us

Thank you :)

Ooooohhh, Vienna or Prague at that time of year are really special

Or if you can’t get away
Le Manoir in Oxfordshire is special of a night!

You didn't say what time of year but one of my current wishlist is topped with Iceland.

What about a couple of days in Miami then a road trip down the Florida Keys?

@AllMyGoodUserNamesAreAlreadyTaken We went a bit further and longer for my 50th.

For one week in November you would miss hurricanes in the Caribbean. I’d get to the BVIs. Or South Africa. Garden Route or Cape Town and wine region. Kenya safari is possible too but might be wet!

Also have a look at Noble Caledonia for a wide variety of expedition, small ship and river cruising. Some great destinations that are special. I’d like the Mississippi River cruise!

A river European cruise?

@AllMyGoodUserNamesAreAlreadyTaken Are you wanting ideas for November? Obviously more difficult for Europe.

Thank you all for suggestions so far! I shall enjoy research over a cuppa.

Great idea @Maybeicanhelpyou re Le Manoir if DD decides to be a pickle & we aren't comfortable being so far away; I realise that it gets booked up very ahead of time & unlikely to have last min availability but you never know

Ideally wanting to be away for last week Nov/beginning of Dec. I don't mind too much about weather (although not loving torrential rain!)
When we went to NY we arrived in snow, v cold for 2 days & left on 5th day in blue skies & 20 degrees!!

@AllMyGoodUserNamesAreAlreadyTaken thats my birthday weekend too! For my 30th we did Toronto and niagra falls, absolutely freezing but awesome, That was pre kids tho!

My birthday is also that time of year and, to be blunt, it's a shit time of year for a holiday, because everywhere in the northern hemisphere is getting rather cold, rainy and dark!

Having said that, NYC or any big city with lots of indoor attractions is fine in any season. Are there lots of things you didn't see last time or that have opened since and that you want to see? What is it that you loved about the city? Yes, there is the weed issue now (although tbh I didn't notice it being pervasive the last time we were there a year ago), and there is also a big homelessness issue as a result of migrants being bussed to the city from the US border with Mexico. As a tourist though I'm not sure that would particularly impact on you.

Alternatives - Washington DC or what about Paris or Rome? You may have already been or perhaps have no interest, but there is plenty to keep you busy for a week. The weather in Paris will be similar to London, so maybe not particularly enticing, but Rome will be a bit warmer/lighter and it won't be heaving with tourists so you could really enjoy the sites that are heaving between Easter and October.

We've booked a Galapagos cruise for my 50th. Can't wait!

Word of warning re Rome - we went at that time of year and it snowed! First snow they’d had in years, the locals were beyond excited. Us not so much.

Can be cold in Washington in late November. South Africa via an overnight flight works well and good weather.

Marrakesh would be quite warm then and although it’s a marmite kinda place I found it fascinating and very safe.

Oman would be nice at that time of year too.

I think a Silverseas/Oceania level of cruise would be lovely.

I have been to Mauritius and to Dubai in November and had lovely weather and good holidays. Mauritius was for a week
and Dubai for five nights.

We went to Rome the first weekend of December for my 40th. It just rained a bit.

I’m considering northern India for my 50th (I’m also November) but I suppose it would need more than a week.

@MinnieMountain North India , depending what you want to see, always takes more than a week. It’s 8 hours to Delhi and I think you would just scratch the surface in a week. The golden triangle is possible in a week but not much else.

Come to SA and do a safari for a few days. Then head for CT and do some wine tasting and eat some amazing food. And you have a good chance of seeing the whales.

End of November is a good time as its warm weather and peak season won't quite have started yet.

@AllMyGoodUserNamesAreAlreadyTaken Silversea are expensive. Also slightly limited destinations in November. A few cheaper options in Greece but still several £ thousand each. So how much is DH spending? Most November cruises are southern hemisphere with huge price tag. Otherwise it’s mostly Greece or Spain to Miami. So what is DH likely to spend? £3000 or £15,000 pp? It’s very different to Matakesh for a few days.

Thank you everyone. All suggestions are appreciated & definitely a number of destinations/types of break that appeal!

@LipstickLil we tried to cram in a lot in NY - Empire State, Central Park, Broadway show, 9/11 memorial, Grand Central, Times Sq, Statue of Liberty, Tiffany, Macy's, Saks, lengthy walks, riding the subway, ice rink outside Rockafeller Centre. Didn't have time to do Chrysler building or Meat Packing District, the Highline etc.
I think one of the reasons it was so magical was the time of year - we arrived on Thanksgiving & it was all so Christmassy & exciting.

@TizerorFizz thats a very good question! I didn't pin him down on £££ - I think I was so bowled over & surprised that I just didn't think about that 😂 Probably helpful to discuss numbers before I get thoroughly carried away! 😬

@AllMyGoodUserNamesAreAlreadyTaken I would do that! You have limited options on a cruise in Europe in November on a luxury type of ship. For that money I would definitely consider South Africa. Or a city holiday and a luxury hotel. Miami has those and good weather. Depends what you want out of this holiday.

@AllMyGoodUserNamesAreAlreadyTaken right - so it sounds like you've hit a lot of the main sights already. There are others, of course, and there are things that have opened since your last visit (Hudson Yards, The Vessel, One World Trade). I guess you're not museum people as I don't see The Met, MoMA, the American Museum of Natural History, the Guggenheim, The Cloisters, The Frick (which is reopening in late 2024 after an extensive, multi-year refurb), or the Tenement Museum on your list. Are those things you're interested in? I appreciate not everyone is.

One thing I'd say about 'going back' to a place you've loved is that it's rarely as good as you remember - even if you enjoy it a second time. Any time I've absolutely LOVED a place and dreamed about going back, if I've done so it's never been as magical the second time.

Cape Town, the Cape penisula and the wine lands. No jet lag, great scenery, lovely food and wine and good weather in November.