Empty nest trip!

[AnSionnachGlic]

Our last of 4 children will be off to college next September ( hopefully!) so looking for recommendations for special holiday for just myself and dh. Plan to go September/October and would prefer sun! Have been to St.Lucia, Barbados, Mauritius, Florida over the last few years...with kids....so looking for somewhere different/special as we are back to travelling as a couple!

Istanbul and Antalya could be a good trip for that budget?

I have been to turkey / Istanbul and loved it thanks

also been to California but it’s a big place and I’m sure much more to discover - will take a look at flights

I don’t think your budget would touch the sides in California, sorry. The US is really expensive - partly price hikes after Covid, especially hotel rates, and partly a pretty rubbish exchange rate.

You’re probably right as once there food etc will be £££

sri Lanka? Any tips on that?

Hope OP doesn’t mind this chat

Right you crafty fox, Dia dhuit!

Some suggestions which I did and loved. You will get plenty more and some of the above sound fab too.

Fly to Verona and have a couple of days at Lake Garda. The train from Verona goes to Peschiera which is buzzing and gorgeous and is not too far from Sirmione which is also fab. Obviously have a wander around Verona although the major attractions are the Roman amphiteatre which, if you time it right might have a brilliant concert on, and Juliet's house of Romeo fame.

From Verona get to Padua (Padova) by train. It is a charming town/small city of St. Anthony fame, a university town so buzzing with activity and has so much to see and do. Accommodation is relatively inexpensive. From Padua the train goes direct to Venice central station in 30 minutes and the sight when you exit the train station on to the Grand Canal is something you will never forget.

From Padua as a base go to Bologna, and Ravenna. All fab.

I did all that in 8 days and had plenty of time to enjoy it all. Oh and train tickets in Italy are dirt cheap too for the distances travelled. Can be booked ahead, I use the Trainline app as it compares all operators and finds the cheapest/or most convenient times and fares.

I did a similar trip in Andalucia (avoiding the Costas). If you want to know about that let me know. I'm taking up too much space on the thread as it is!

Havalona..dia is mhuire dhuit!! That trip around Italy sounds v interesting but it seems full on. I think I'd like to have more relaxation/chilling out. I actually hadn't thought about a rail trip...might be worth checking out. As I said our budget is flexible ( this time) so don't mind paying extra for some pampering!

We did a fun rail trip down through Vietnam which was fun and recommended. The weather would be nice in Feb.

I'd like to hear about your Andalucia trip @Havalona !!
If The OP doesn't mind?