Where to go on hols in Jan/Feb 2013?

sunnyday88

Hi all,

My OH earns a lot more than me (nearly double!) and wants to go on holiday in Jan/Feb next year to somewhere awesome like the Caribbean for 2 weeks. I'm worried about costs as the typical all inclusive for a middle of the range resort is £1500-ish. So far I only have £700 saved and with Xmas running out I'm a little worried I'll be short...

The OH is open to suggestions of other places to go, as long as we get some sun, and it's not stuffed with young families! I was thinking maybe South America as an option, but I've never planned a trip this big before and I have no clue :eek:

Anyone have suggestions for other destinations, good ways to keep holiday costs down or cheaper options for Caribbean??

Thanks so much! :j

Meadows

£700 for two of you Caribbean or South America - 2 weeks :eek: good luck, or is that just your holiday fund (even the :eek: doesn't give you much and what about spends, travel insurance, food etc.?).

Can/will he sub you if he wants a nice holiday?

I would have a look around sites like Last Minutes etc. or chat with travel agents to see what offers they might have.

zagfles

If you're just after some sun at that time of year, suggest you go somewhere like the Canaries. I really can't see the point in travelling half way round the world if you're just after an AI resort, which are pretty much the same whereever they are in the world.

jhe

zagfles wrote: »

If you're just after some sun at that time of year, suggest you go somewhere like the Canaries. I really can't see the point in travelling half way round the world if you're just after an AI resort, which are pretty much the same whereever they are in the world.

i agree the canaries can be sunny january february, but lanzarote has been windy compared to the other islands when i have been.
zagfles i am not meaning to start a debate on all inclusive but thats the choice i choose when i go on holiday and all inclusives vary a lot. i believe you get what you pay for usually, and not all people who go all inclusive vegetate round the pool all day

zagfles

jhe wrote: »

i agree the canaries can be sunny january february, but lanzarote has been windy compared to the other islands when i have been.
zagfles i am not meaning to start a debate on all inclusive but thats the choice i choose when i go on holiday and all inclusives vary a lot. i believe you get what you pay for usually, and not all people who go all inclusive vegetate round the pool all day

I'm not starting a debate on AI. My point was that if you're simply after a good AI resort, there is no need to travel half way round the world. The majority of the cost will be the cost of the flights.

If you want to experience South American culture, food, see Inca temples, see Machu Picchu etc, then that's a good reason to travel to South America.

If you're just after sun, sea and sand then there's no point spending a fortune in money and time travelling half way round the world when you can get exactly what you're after at a fraction of the cost and a 4 hour flight away.

Katiehound

I've just looked at the Thomson site- for ideas of their prices.

Cape Verde islands, 2 weeks, AI at 5T hotel is around £1000 pp late January flying out of Gatwick
Ave temps 18-23 degrees.

vegasvisitor

I agree to a point about the AI - it is well suited to those who will spend a lot of time at their hotel, be it on the beach, by the pool, doing sports and activities. It can also be well suited to people who get up and have a good breakfast and go out for the day and come back and enjoy AI evenings. Doesn't have to be inactive at all. And I agree it's very important to choose the right AI - because you get very basic ones (which maybe you only want to laze by the pool and eat and drink basics), or maybe you want a full programme of activities and quality food and drinks might be important enough to spend the extra.

Now onto the destination. I can totally understand why someone might go to the Caribbean instead of the Canaries. Depending on location you could get better weather. Canaries can be chilly in winter - although you may be lucky enough to get some nice warm sunshine. I've also felt a chilly breeze when in the Caribbean on a cruise, but I think it depends exactly where. Of course the beaches will be nicer too.

There's a much wider choice of All Inclusives in the Caribbean, and some very high end places as well. Canaries, in my opinion only have a few really nice hotels (Bahia Principe Costa Adeje in Tenerife being one I've been to and enjoyed).

I have looked up Cape Verde, but I hear it is quite breezy (someone told me it was a nice breeze to keep you cool in June time), so I'm a bit wary that it might not be as warm as expected.

Hope you find something suitable.

jetsetterjoe

If you haven't been, I strongly recommend Thailand - you'll shell out for flights, but once your there you can live relatively cheaply. I'd suggest doing some research into the southern islands to find one to suit (they're all quite different form one another and vary greatly in price for accommodation).

It's the land of smiles as they say

slinga

Qantas had an offer yesterday of 380 quid to Australia with a stopover in Dubai.
Seats probably all gone by now but may be worth a check.

angela_stone

what dates please?

signol

TAM (Brazilian airline) had a deal in the last few days for £289 to Rio - plus a short haul positioning flight.
http://www.holidaypirates.com/uk-ireland/openjaw-flights-sao-paulo-rio-de-janeiro-353-289
There are also a lot of other deals on that site.
signol