Exotic (But Short) Holiday Suggestions Please

[simon.r]

Myself and my OH both turn 50 next year and we've decided to treat ourselves to an exotic holiday rather than go down the party / presents route.

We're not widely traveled (beach holidays in Europe, city breaks etc are all we've done) so there's plenty of options, with our very initial thoughts being a lazy week on an island in the Indian Ocean or a week in Tokyo. We'll be restricted to a week, so realistically it has to be a one location holiday. Budget is absolute maximum of £2k each, including spending money etc.

Thoughts?

 

[rich p]

Is it worth wasting a long haul flight on a week?

 

[zizou]

Tokyo is great but it is about 12 hours travel time and 9 hours of time difference so that could potentially eat into your week. IMO it would be worth that inconvenience but just something to think of.

Indian Ocean... Mauritius is fantastic. That is not to say the likes of the Maldives are any less fantastic just that Mauritius has a bit more variety to it. You can do all the relaxing, lazy stuff but also some sightseeing and there is also some really great cycling too.

In terms of 'unforgettable experience' then i'd recommend Jerusalem it is unlike anything else in the world - i've been lucky to travel widely over the years but nothing really comes close to there (and the area around it). I'm not even religious either!

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

Do a cruise out of Southampton, get to see a few places

 

[vernon]

Do a cruise out of Southampton, get to see a few places

It will be only a few places when you've only got a week to play with.

 

[vernon]

Is it worth wasting a long haul flight on a week?

It is worth wasting £2000 each on a week?

 

[rich p]

It is worth wasting £2000 each on a week?

Each!
Nope, but then I regard my cheap as chips touring holidays with mrs rp as exotic so it's different strokes for ... blah blah......
A long haul flight involves sleep deprivation and recovery time so a week would be too short for me but, I agree, too expensive too.

 

[hobo]

Bangkok.

 

[rich p]

...and I used too many 'too's' in the above post too.

 

[TheDoctor]

Japan is an expensive place to get to, and to be in. Frankly, I reckon you'd struggle to do it on £2k, plus a 12 hour flight in economy is no way to start a special trip. Or end one, for that matter.
Ever seen a volcano? Going to Sicily by train is doable for a week, and there's loads of stuff to see and do, including going up Etna. Similarly, Sorrento is close to Pompeii, Herculaneum and Vesuvius.
Corsica is well worth the trip - Eurostar to Lille, cross-platform change for a TGV to Marseilles, then an overnight ferry.
Heading off in another direction - Iceland is deeply impressive, and hopefully not as murderously expensive as it was when we went. I nearly wept at paying £6 for a pint, and that was 13 years ago.
Glaciers, waterfalls, hot springs, Northern Lights and it's only a 3 hour flight away.

 

[slowmotion]

Morocco. Not hard to get to and exotic as well.

Yes, Corsica's great, as the Doctor just suggested.

 

[simon.r]

It is worth wasting £2000 each on a week?

It depends how you define 'waste' doesn't it? Many people would consider spending £2k on a bike a waste. We're in the fortunate position of being able to spend that amount as a one-off ('though it doesn't have to be that much - less would be better) .

We'd both rather go somewhere for a month but we can't.

 

[Andy_R]

speedcat to france...pedal around for a week...speedcat back....you won't regret it...take tents if you want to, otherwise stay in auberges (sic)

 

[simon.r]

Do a cruise out of Southampton, get to see a few places

Not something I'm keen on the thought of, but I'd look into it in more detail were in not for the fact that my OH is dead set against the idea. Thanks for the suggestion tho'.

 

[simon.r]

speedcat to france...pedal around for a week...speedcat back....you won't regret it...take tents if you want to, otherwise stay in auberges (sic)

Sorry, should have said, but OH is only a very occasional cyclist, so a cycling based holiday isn't on the cards