Dull but Escapist Winter Sun Hotel/Resort Beach Holiday
Discussion
... I'll be travelling alone (awww) so by dull I mean I don't really want to be travelling, going on trips, hiring a car, having to interact with many hippy traveller-touristy types etc. Haven't been away for many years and never on my own so don't really know what I am doing ... 
Looking at going early to mid-January, whether that saves me money over a late-booking over Xmas New Year??! Could possibly budget up to £2k! Too much?
Requirements?
- 2-3 weeks
- Hot & Sunny
- Relaxed resort / hotel with pool, hawker/trader-free beach nearby, some local shops,
- chalet type resort appeals
- possibly full-board (I did say dull!!), half-board if local restaurants/amenities aren't too touristy.
- Well-equipped gym would be good
Options?
- if there is a half decent golf course nearby could be persuaded to take my clubs!
- Actually ... if there are some stunning local beauty spots I might even take the camera and venture out of the compound.
Ummm ... There will be more but brain disengaged at the moment
. Suggestions have been Gambia, Thailand, Bali.
Someone mentioned www.travelwithjules.co.uk on another thread so I'll give her a call this week.
Suggestions very very welcome ...
Looking at going early to mid-January, whether that saves me money over a late-booking over Xmas New Year??! Could possibly budget up to £2k! Too much?
Requirements?
- 2-3 weeks
- Hot & Sunny
- Relaxed resort / hotel with pool, hawker/trader-free beach nearby, some local shops,
- chalet type resort appeals
- possibly full-board (I did say dull!!), half-board if local restaurants/amenities aren't too touristy.
- Well-equipped gym would be good
Options?
- if there is a half decent golf course nearby could be persuaded to take my clubs!
- Actually ... if there are some stunning local beauty spots I might even take the camera and venture out of the compound.
Ummm ... There will be more but brain disengaged at the moment
. Suggestions have been Gambia, Thailand, Bali. Someone mentioned www.travelwithjules.co.uk on another thread so I'll give her a call this week.
Suggestions very very welcome ...
14 days wilderness trekking in the remote Jebel Sahro region of Morocco with 'Explore'.
Not a beach holiday, but a laugh nonetheless. Last year, Christmas lunch was an orange.
Later that day, one of our number declared "It's chicken tonight."
"How do you know that?"
"I can see it jumping about in that bag over there."
Not a beach holiday, but a laugh nonetheless. Last year, Christmas lunch was an orange.
Later that day, one of our number declared "It's chicken tonight."
"How do you know that?"
"I can see it jumping about in that bag over there."
Edited by Mobile Chicane on Sunday 11th December 23:41
Digger said:
Never been but for some reason there is something about Dubai that leaves me feeling quite empty. Otherwise you might be right.
I've lived here for four years and for all its many faults, it is a great place to chill out on the beach of a weekend. However, I don't work for the tourist board, so won't force the issue. Good luck!Digger said:
Can I ask where you stayed Muncher? Was it a package deal?
Catalonia Riviera Maya via Thomson. We stayed there last year and went back again this year because we couldn't find anything else which looked as good and offered the same value. http://www.thomson.co.uk/destinations/caribbean/me...
Trip Advisor here:
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g153510-...
Weather good, hotel staff excellent, food excellent with 8 restaurants. They appear to be doing a decent amount of refurb work while we were there (not too intrusive) so it should be even nicer by january.
Digger said:
MC ... Sounds like a challenge ...
Investigating ...
This is it:Investigating ...
http://www.explore.co.uk/holidays/details/jebel-sa...
A minimum of 4 hours walking a day (up hill and down dale so taxing), lots of healthy food, swimming available (in crystal clear rivers fed by meltwater from the High Atlas mountains), and no alcohol.
I lost shed-loads of weight and certainly came back happier and healthier. Staying in berber villages was a fascinating insight into a way of life that's very different from our own.
I'm going back this Christmas, though to a slightly different region.
I've delayed my trip until very end of Jan into Feb. I've been emailed these suggested destinations. Anyone been and have any comments on their stay there? Thanks.
Copy and Paste . . . sorry bit of a faff to edit on an iPad! Prices if anyone is wondering are for 2 sharing 14 days inclusive of flights. My price will be significantly higher once adjusted for a single person!!
Caribbean
25 Jan St Lucia – Smugglers Cove, all inclusive from £1913
29 Jan St Lucia – Morgan Bay Beach, all inclusive from £2025
25 Jan St Lucia – St Lucian by Rex, BB from £1900
25 Jan Antigua – Hawksbill by Rex, all inclusive from £1900
29 Jan Antigua & Barbados (Jolly Beach Antigua 6 nights, Discovery Bay Barbados 7 nights) from £2046
31 Jan St Kitts - Marriott, half board from £2022
25 Jan Grenada - Granadian by Rex, all inclusive from £1859
29 Jan Dominican Republic - Melia Caribe Tropical at Punta Cana, all inclusive from £1963
26 Jan Tobago – Coco Reef Hotel & Spa BB from £1527
Asia
25 Jan Thailand – Koh Samui – Silavalie BB from £1622
26 Jan Thailand – Sheraton Krabi Beach BB from £1885
25 Jan Thailand – Samui – Bandara Resort and Spa BB from £1467
31 Jan Thailand – Hua Hin island – Evason BB from £1351
29 Jan Bali – Mercure Resort Samu BB from £1504
30 Jan Bali – Club Bali Mirage all inclusive from £1509
30 Jan Indonesia – Gili Island – Vila Ombak Hotel from £1475
30 Jan Indonesia – Keraton Jimbaran BB from £1475
Copy and Paste . . . sorry bit of a faff to edit on an iPad! Prices if anyone is wondering are for 2 sharing 14 days inclusive of flights. My price will be significantly higher once adjusted for a single person!!
Caribbean
25 Jan St Lucia – Smugglers Cove, all inclusive from £1913
29 Jan St Lucia – Morgan Bay Beach, all inclusive from £2025
25 Jan St Lucia – St Lucian by Rex, BB from £1900
25 Jan Antigua – Hawksbill by Rex, all inclusive from £1900
29 Jan Antigua & Barbados (Jolly Beach Antigua 6 nights, Discovery Bay Barbados 7 nights) from £2046
31 Jan St Kitts - Marriott, half board from £2022
25 Jan Grenada - Granadian by Rex, all inclusive from £1859
29 Jan Dominican Republic - Melia Caribe Tropical at Punta Cana, all inclusive from £1963
26 Jan Tobago – Coco Reef Hotel & Spa BB from £1527
Asia
25 Jan Thailand – Koh Samui – Silavalie BB from £1622
26 Jan Thailand – Sheraton Krabi Beach BB from £1885
25 Jan Thailand – Samui – Bandara Resort and Spa BB from £1467
31 Jan Thailand – Hua Hin island – Evason BB from £1351
29 Jan Bali – Mercure Resort Samu BB from £1504
30 Jan Bali – Club Bali Mirage all inclusive from £1509
30 Jan Indonesia – Gili Island – Vila Ombak Hotel from £1475
30 Jan Indonesia – Keraton Jimbaran BB from £1475
Kerala, Southern India. You can get some idea off the Kuoni website - airport is Trivandrum. very cheap when you get there, very hot. Some of the more exclusive hotels like the Taj have their own bit of beach. Having said that, the hawkers we encountered are very friendly, their wares are very cheap and a simple no will send them on their way. plenty of cheap tuk-tuks to explore - just pick one and tell him to take you for a tour - they will happily take you to a local woodyard to see working elephants or to deserted beaches. Up in the hills, you need the power of a taxi - they're a bit less trustworthy. Pop up to the Neyyar Dam, crocodile sanctuary (ha!) and local tea plantations, spice gardens. It's fab. We went twice in January. Very friendly people whicjh is more than can be said about some African destinations.
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