Holidays for 'special occasions' - how do you decide where to go?

theoretica

I don't normally suggest opening yourself up to advertising, but why not walk into a travel agent and ask for ideas that are interesting, outdoorsy, warmer than a fjord cruise (though you might like this in summer) and not as energetic as climbing a mountain. Its part of their job to sell you something!

BitterAndTwisted

One of those luxury hotels on Santorini with a view of the caldera.

Or a boutique hotel in Montacino. Tuscany.

gettingtheresometime

Mrs_Soup wrote: »

Unless he is actively against going somewhere would he not be happy just to go along with what you would like to do?
mgdavid's idea is a good one- safari is pretty outdoorsy and so long as you don't have to climb the mountain (I'm sure it looks great from the bottom) then you could have a lovely holiday. Prices could be variable depending on the degree of luxury you go for.

elsien wrote: »

Mothers 70th, Norway, northern lights and dog sledding.
My 50th - travelling round Cuba to see it before the changes really kick in. ( couldn't afford the galapagos! )

One of you must have somewhere you've always wanted to go, surely?

I know I'm making him out to be a right misery - he isn't really, his attitude is that if there's somewhere that he would like to go then he would say / go there regardless but I'm guessing there isn't (well apart from Kili!)

I did think of a safari but I know someone who booked a year before they were going and then it got bumped because of the political situation.

I do want to see the Northern Lights, and have also suggested a train trip across Canada, going to the Grand Canyon or Cape Verde - of course you mention these as the sort of things I was thinking of and then its 'where I want to go' and that's why it tends to get a little heated to say the least.

I know the best thing to do now is to back off and drop the subject but by doing that I know it will get left and we'll end up going nowhere......

74jax

In our case if I want to go somewhere and oh doesn't I'll go without without him and he the same with me.

For our honeymoon we decided by me saying to him surprise me, and boy did he do good. Could you maybe do that? Give him it as a surprise?

Every so often we say places we'dlike to go, we always have somewhere in the pipeline for a couple of months time . But we both love holidays so it's easier for us I guess.

silvercar

Why not give him 3 options and say he has to choose one?

For significant birthdays and anniversaries recently we have done:

Weekend in Barcelona, a week in the Maldives, 2 weeks in California (including Grand Canyon).

gettingtheresometime

74jax wrote: »

In our case if I want to go somewhere and oh doesn't I'll go without without him and he the same with me.

For our honeymoon we decided by me saying to him surprise me, and boy did he do good. Could you maybe do that? Give him it as a surprise?

Every so often we say places we'dlike to go, we always have somewhere in the pipeline for a couple of months time . But we both love holidays so it's easier for us I guess.

Normally I'm the same - don't want to see a play, ok I'll go on my own - and I guess he is as well (he's done things that I've had no interest in doing and it hasn't bothered me) but I guess a holiday to celebrate a milestone anniversary is not the time to do a Shirley Valentine!

Asking him to surprise me is no good either - for example with jewellery he will buy whatever I want (within reason!) but he wouldn't surprise with jewellery - I have to be there to ensure I like it - and it was just as well on one occasion.

I think the way forward is to drop it - at least for now !

Shineyhappy

What about a cruise around Norway? You get plenty of the great outdoors but also a luxury hotel? You can go from Harwich so no faffing at airports either

Gloomendoom

gettingtheresometime wrote: »

So if you were planning a holiday for a special occasion how did you choose where to go?

For my parent's 40th they rented a couple of adjacent houses in the south of France for a fortnight over Christmas and New Year and invited their children and grandchildren.

Bogof_Babe

You mention the idea of a rail journey, albeit more exotic than I'm about to suggest...

For our 40th anni last month we went on a train 'round trip'. First Class wherever it was available. We went from home to London, London to Scotland (Stirling), Stirling to Mallaig in the West Highlands (spectacular scenery, even if the train was a bit basic), then did the whole thing in reverse. Five nights away and a long train journey every day - our idea of bliss as we love trains and anything to do with the rail system.

It took some booking, both the trains and the hotels, but I'm pretty adept at making bookings nowadays, so I did it all and he just had to come along. I even packed his case!

Of course we were extremely lucky with the weather, so it might not be a go-er if you want guaranteed sunshine.

LilElvis

For my 40th my husband surprised me with a trip to Zambia to the Victoria Falls (we were in South Africa on holiday, so it was a surprise side trip).

If you're thinking safari then Kenya is probably the cheapest option. Flights to South Africa will set you back around £600-£700 per person and the good safari camps cost hundreds per night. Bear in mind that the middle of our winter is African high summer and is extremely/uncomfortably hot.