Multi destination holidays

strawb_shortcake

Hi all,

My OH and I had been hoping to have a multi destination holiday for an upcoming special anniversary.

We had been planning on Indian ocean, then UAE for a few nights followed by a stop in Europe again for a few nights before flying home.

Having seen deals that incorporate Indian ocean and UAE coming in around £3k pp, we thought that adding one more short hop wouldn't be too much more.

We we're a bit wrong, and had a ballpark estimate of £10-15k, now I'm almost certain when it comes to it the cost is going to be the higher end. Apparently this is due to having to use multiple airlines and losing "loyalty pricing"

I was hoping to keep the holiday to around £10k in today's numbers. I don't think I can bring myself to pay £15k for a single holiday.

My OH isn't a massive fan of flying, and never flown long haul but had agreed to a 10 hr flight, then hopping back with much shorter flights max 4.5 hr flights which is the longest he's done so far. This is of benefit to him as he would like to be able to fly further afield without worry.

I wanted the tropical island experience, the Caribbean didn't quite scratch that itch.

I realise the cost is driven by our constraints, but just reaching out hoping someone may have some other ideas to see if I'm missing something to help control costs.

Alternatively, happy to have ideas thrown in on how you'd spend £10k on a fabulous holiday, I'm happy to consider other options. We can go any time of year

As this is a MSE site, we can afford a £10k holiday, we have the money in existing savings to go, but I also have a specific savings account to continue to save the £10k by the time we need it. Furthermore, we had a really cheap wedding, no honeymoon and this will be our first big treat to ourselves so really want something memorable. Spending £2k on Spain and saving the rest isn't going to cut it.

Thank you

Ms_Chocaholic

We've had some lovely holidays in the Maldives and I'd recommend it, you need to do your research thoroughly though if that's where you are thinking of going. What do you want from an island? There's many many options:

large v small island

do you want an island with a pool

do you want an island with a sea plane transfer or would you be happy to transfer by boat

AI/HB/B&B

do you want an island with a house reef that you can swim to from the shore as opposed to having to get a boat to/from the reef

do you want a "no shoes" island

I would suggest TripAdvisor to look at but the thing with the Maldives is that everyone who goes thinks it's marvellous so IMHO you don't really get the reviews you are looking for. It might be worth looking at the TA forums though as there's some really knowledgeable people on there who will suggest the best island(s) for you if you give them the answers to the above and your budget.

Just to add - a friend went to Mauritius after going to the Maldives, it was a much longer journey and they didn't enjoy it as much.

Ms_Chocaholic

In terms of multiple airlines - Emirates fly there daily from most airports in the UK and you usually change in Dubai (its usually around 6-7 hours to Dubai and then 4ish hours on to the Maldives and then your transfer to the island - sea plane is around 45 mins max). You can also fly BA, TUI direct and Qatar Airways changing in Doha.

I can imagine adding a few days in Europe on your way home will make the cost of flights really expensive especially when you can probably get an Easyjet flight to lots of Europe destinations for dirt cheap if you can go at any time. I'd save that for another time and not incorporate it into this special trip.

twopenny

Flying long haul if you don't like it can be improved by the airline you choose. Sri Lankan used to have a light buffet so you could get up and have a break. You'd need to check.

You could do Sri Lanka then a Maldivian island. I've seen that advertised. So a bit of tourist and a beautiful island. Sri lankan food is delicious and a lot of English is spoken. That would break the trip and the small plane flight is different from the boring big ones - or that might make it worse for him 😊.

The islands vary according to your taste for no news, no shoes to indulgence.

Look at this link on a tablet or computer and you'll see a lot of top questions on the right of the page that will give ideas

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowForum-g293953-i7445-Maldives.html

I'd advise against water bungalows as they are so crowded now.

There's a smaller firm based in UK which I know people have booked with successfully that can give you a price on your itinerary. RTC Travel. I haven't compared them to the big boys on price but it's small and personal.

I've done a lot of long haul but it's keeping the flight short and including an island. I'll have a think.

What are your interests?

strawb_shortcake

Thank you for your replies,

Maldives is the big draw, we're not posh in the slightest, so laid back and casual. I want that view, the calm and tranquility. We both love swimming in the sea, I've not got on with scuba diving in the past, but I'd take some lessons in our local pool beforehand, if it still doesn't work I'll stick to snorkeling. My husband enjoys scuba diving.

He would much prefer speedboat transfer, he's really not relishing sitting on a plane for 10 hours, though he did say if he was fine then somewhere like Canareef would be an adventure he'd like. I guess he's more about the journey and I'm about the destination.

I thought AI would be easier, but I'm not a massive drinker.

The shack on the beach in death in paradise has always appealed, walking out on to the beach into the sea sounds idyllic, so I think I'd prefer this to an OWV.

I don't think I'd like an island with seawalls, but appreciate their purpose and necessity.

House reef would be preferable.

We initially looked at Mauritius, but it just doesn't have the wow factor like The Seychelles or Maldives.

I have previously posted on the TA forums, and it's mostly been come back when you've narrowed down some islands, and I think I'd benefit from some non bias opinions.

I am leaning towards to accepting my husbands offer of just making it one or two stops, we'd looked at Dubai as it's close, but it's not somewhere I'd really wanted to go, Oman or Jordan on the other hand would be nice, but I guess that may add to the costs if not usual flight paths.

I thought it would be so much easier...

Emmia

I've done trips to multiple locations in Europe on the same trip ,and personally I find the unpacking and repacking each time you switch location a bit of a drag. (We're light packers too... Hand luggage only wherever possible)

Personally I'd do one destination, and stay there longer, rather than trying to do multiple places.

El_Torro

How are you looking at booking the flights? If it’s with a travel agent I can see the choices being limited. If it’s with each individual airline (which is what you should be doing) then I don’t see why adding a destination would cost you £10k more.

I’m doing my own country hopping holiday this summer in Asia, the 5 flights have cost me a total of £1,500.

Woodstok2000

Have you tried booking.com multicity flights for this? I wouldn't necessarily book with them, but we've used them in the past to find options for this type of trip.

For example, I just looked in April, flying to dubai for 4 days, then Maldives for 10 days, then to Madrid comes in at £1200 per person with hold bags on Emirates. Easyjet fly from Madrid, so maybe £150 each to get home. That leaves you £3k+ for accommodation....

strawb_shortcake

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81893525#Comment_81893525

We've spoken with 2 agents, 1 was outright it would be financial suicide - perhaps we should have worn our Sunday best. He also said that one way would be more expensive than a return flight

The other, said it could be done and came back with £10-15k.

I did do a very quick look at DIY and was getting around £11k, but this assumed £5k for accommodation in Maldives which seems tight.

Perhaps I need to revisit this idea, we've done minimal diy holidays and wasn't sure if a holiday of this nature may be better via an agent, I think they can get better offers for Maldives

strawb_shortcake

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81893544#Comment_81893544

Thanks I'll take a look

Neil49

We used Trailfinders for our long haul holiday with various stopovers and they organised flights within the same alliance to get the best prices. In our case it was Emirates and Quantas. We also got good deals on hotels through them as well.