Need ideas for a big Big BIG wedding anniversary

[Imdunfer]

I've got a year to plan the holiday of a lifetime to celebrate our Golden Wedding anniversary and I'm out of ideas.

Can you help? Feel free to ask questions, I don't want to shut anything down at the moment.

Budget minimum £10k. Time of year mid October.

The only unfulfilled holiday wishes I've got are the Gaudi architecture in Barcelona (but I would hate all the crowds), and the Venice Simplon Orient Express (but I've read it isn't worth the price).

Ideas please 🤗

The budget per person is limiting for world wide travel.

I’ve met people not entirely happy with the train through the Rockies either in terms of value for money.

I think money goes quite a long way in South Africa and you fly overnight which is a bonus. I’d probably look at Cape Town, Frranschoek and the Garden route. Self drive is easy enough and South African guest houses are design led and very good.

Or try India. There are various luxurious train journeys but not sure how much they cost.

Congratulations on your 50 years. Interested to know what you did for the other years? We’ve just celebrated 30 years in South America including a cruise around Antarctica

South Africa including a trip on Rovos Rail; billed as the World's most luxurious train. It's amazing. My husband and I did the 5 day trip from Pretoria to Victoria Falls last year. Fantastic trip!

Wildcard suggestion - Iceland?

I love, love, love long train trips. This looks perfection, visiting some of my favourite places in wonderful surroundings. I'm going to have to research this. Thank you.

I used to have ambitions of a chauffeured trip around Spain staying at some of the historic Paradors.

Looking at the route, I was mistaken it doesn't go to Granada, but it could easily be added on.

I too would love to stay in a Paradore. My other fantasy trip to Spain is to stay in the Estacion Canfranc spa hotel in the northern Pyrenees

https://www.canfranc.es/turismo_canfranc_pirineos.php?idRec=5

@Bjorkdidit Me too! I've always thought Canfranc was a very mysterious looking place. I first found out about it when I was researching the Camino Aragones and Canfranc is on that route. There is EU funding now for a train connection Canfranc - Zaragoza - Pau due to be completed in 2028, Get saving! My airport has direct flights to Pau, I must get planning myself now too.

Not so wildcard 😁 we're sailing for Iceland this year! It's our celebration for finally being well enough to get travel insurance after 3 years.

My parents loved the trans-Canada train journey from Toronto to Vancouver. Not sure if that is the same as the rocky mountain train already mentioned? They stopped in a couple of places on the way (Whistler/banff maybe) to make it a longer trip x

I second this..

costa rica?

I did this as a kid. Would not recommend. The Rockies bit is lovely but the prairies in the middle of the country are just... flat. And they go on for a really, really long time.

I would say either South Africa or Tanzania. But you’ll need more than 10k

What about South Africa and then rovos rail?

Our best holiday was three days in Mexico City staying at the Four Seasons, followed by five days at the Four Seasons Punta Mita. Culture, art and history, followed by paradise with whale watching, turtle releasing and hummingbirds everywhere.

It still feels like a dream I once had.

I've done the Orient Express (with my late mother) and yes it was lovely but was it worth the price to sleep in a high bunk bed and the loo is down the corridor? Then you've got to shell out for Venice once you arrive.

South Africa is very good value for money with amazing food especially in the wine regions.

These are fantastic suggestions everyone, thank you.

@Mirrorxxx Going to SA is doable for £10,000 if you don’t want a safari lodge.

Have you been to India? It’s absolutely beautiful, perfect time of year for Rajasthan, and for that sort of money you could do a decently high-end trip. Oberoi at Agra to see the Taj Mahal. Umaid Bawan in Jodphur (skip Jaipur) and seeing all the surrounding sites like the Merengah and Ambi Forts, and then a leopard safari (Sujan Jawai luxury camp) or tiger Safari at Rathambore.

100% this! Orient express was the most overrated thing I have ever ever done

@OhDear111 oh yes fine without safari and not business class

I was going to suggest this too- the golden triangle for your golden wedding anniversary

Disagree. It’s very affordable to do safari too! You just need to know how to do it. Lots of lots of places aren’t marketed to overseas tourists that are amazing and very reasonable.

But yes, no business class (though it’s always insanely expensive due to tax from the uk so can be more reasonable if you do business in part. I did that in December)

It’s a direct flight from uk. Depends how much op wants business but it pushes costs up.

Yes, South Africans get local rates and have insider knowledge but Expert Africa has a pretty good list of safari lodges but if op wants something swish, the money for a safari element isn’t there. Lots of South Africans self drive too and therefore the experience is a different one from general tourists who need to use safari lodge vehicles. Plus the best safari experiences are not around Cape Town so there’s extra flights. The best way to make SA work for the money is to avoid a safari element.

I’m South African and have to say I disagree!
Personally I wouldn’t go near Cape Town in October. I find the weather terrible and wouldn’t do many game experiences in the cape as I don’t think they are the best value.

But let’s just agree to disagree!