Recommend me a holiday for for £1k

[4Lmike]

Me and the girlfriend are trying to plan our summer holiday but don't really know where to go. Our budget is around £1000 each in total and we will have about 2 weeks away in mid July. We're not really into the whole 'go and stay in a big resort full of english people and sit by the pool everyday' thing, so it has to be somewhere a bit 'different'. We don't mind going for cheap accomodation if the location/surrounds/things to do make up for it.

A couple of places we have in mind are:-
-Kenya (or somewhere else in Africa?)
-South America (Peru/Bolivia etc) but this will probably go over budget unless someone knows something I dont?
-somewhere in eastern Europe like Romania. Anyone been round these here parts?

All suggestions and advice welcome.

Cheers
Mike

[DonkeyApple]

Long haul is going to bugger your budget.

Take the Tiv over to Bilboa and drive around northern Spain staying at Paradors. Very nice part of the world, good wine and food, very few pikies.

[andygo]

DonkeyApple said:

Long haul is going to bugger your budget.

Take the Tiv over to Bilboa and drive around northern Spain staying at Paradors. Very nice part of the world, good wine and food, very few pikies.

Been there, done that. Very nice.

You could also go off the beaten track and find some amazing quirky places in fantastic setting. They are often very cheap and rustic, but always sparkly clean.

Try it!

[TimmyWimmyWoo]

Disappear around Europe in the car for 2 weeks, do some camping, take the time to see the sights and do some nice roads. Then park at some nice vineyards and do lots of wine tasting…

[richyb]

Me and the wife just went to west coast USA for 10 days and it cost us about £2100 in total. Flew to San Fran drove up the coast to Seattle. combination of hotels and cabins. Redwood National Park, Mt Rainier and St Helens, Oregon Dunes, whale watching along the coast. Absolutely awesome trip and I'd highly recommend it.

[BigAlinEmbra]

July might be cheap for South America as it's mid winter down there, you could probably pick up flights to BA for around £5-600 each, but you'd be looking at another couple of hundred quid or so each for food and digs.

What about flying out to Eastern Europe somewhere and getting a Eurail ticket and wandering back that way?
Something that's taken my fancy from time to time, as I'm in the same boat not liking "sitting about holidays".

Last year my hols were 3 weeks going from Hanoi, doing the length of Vietnam, across Cambodia into Thailand, and 4 weeks going from Lima in Peru down to Santiago in Chile then across to Mendoza and Buenos Aires.

Heading to NZ for the Rugby World Cup this year, and India/Sri Lanka or Tibet/Nepal are probably next on my list.
Maybe a bit above your budget though?
You'd be amazed at what a month or two off the booze could do for the holiday fund though!

[4Lmike]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'm not sure the missus will want to travel around for 2 weeks in the TVR so I think I'll have to count that one out...although she may be up for doing a little road trip in a camper van. I might look into doing that around eastern europe.

As for Thailand and NZ, we did those not long ago so would like somewhere different, and North America isn't really what we're looking for at the moment.

I saw some flights to Kenya for about £550. Does anyone know how much we could expect to pay for accom and excursions etc?

[andrew311]

TBH Kenya is full of AI resorts and if you want to Safari the cost will go up. I'd would get a euro rail ticket and explore Europe. I've wanted to do this again for ages now but the exchange rate has put me off the last couple of years. You'll be able to have a very nice holiday with the money you'd have otherwise blown on longhaul flights.

I'd say you could maybe get to Kenya for about £1000-£1500 but would be a resort type hotel leaving you a bit for excursions.

Someone previosuly mentioned going to the West Coast of the US and having a driving holiday for £2100 all in. That's mighty impressive, I did the same but for 3 weeks and cost more like 6k.

[BigAlinEmbra]

4Lmike said:

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'm not sure the missus will want to travel around for 2 weeks in the TVR so I think I'll have to count that one out...although she may be up for doing a little road trip in a camper van. I might look into doing that around eastern europe.

As for Thailand and NZ, we did those not long ago so would like somewhere different, and North America isn't really what we're looking for at the moment.

I saw some flights to Kenya for about £550. Does anyone know how much we could expect to pay for accom and excursions etc?

If you're keen on Kenya, then this deal might interest you.
http://www.travelzoo.com/uk/holidays/africa-middle...

I know you're not into the beach thing, but you could use it as a base and head out to more interesting places?
If you're planning on £550 flights, then an extra 13 notes for some accom and grub can't be sniffed at?

[4Lmike]

Thanks, sounds like a reasonable deal. Ill have a look at it later (have to sign up to see it apparently)

[BigAlinEmbra]

Monarch.co.uk has a great Kenya holiday, departing on 27 June for £562.50 per person.

The price includes flights from London Gatwick to Mombasa, 20kg checked baggage and seven nights' accommodation at the Diani Sea Lodge on an all-inclusive basis.

Transfers are extra and can be added for £20 per person, return.

The Diani Sea Lodge is a relaxed 3-star hotel on the white-sand Diani Beach, on the Mombasa coast. All of the double rooms have twin beds, terraces and air conditioning. On-site facilities include a swimming pool, table tennis tables, beach volleyball and mini golf. The all-inclusive package covers all meals, including a buffet/partially served dinner, all drinks served from 11am-12am, a weekly barbeque and evening entertainment with live music and culture shows.

Kenya's white-sand beaches, nature reserves, safaris and a sunny climate have made the East African country a popular destination in recent years. Diani Beach is located south of Mombasa, the country's major port and home to the popular Old Town and the Portuguese Fort Jesus.

Please note that the hotel is undergoing renovation work on some of its rooms, although the resort is doing its utmost to limit any disturbance.

Book by 9 May.


There you go!

[4Lmike]

Thanks, I am going to do my own research too at some point I promise!

With regards to that package I won't be able to do that particular one, my holiday time with work is booked from 13th to 26th July, but I really appreciate you looking for me!