Holiday 2015

Ariadne that isn't sad at all. Sounds lovely and what a good excuse for having a holiday on the west coast of Ireland. We've looked at areas around Cape Cod on Google Earth and took the little man for a walk around. Even my husband was impressed. Our hotel on Martha's Vineyard overlooks a small lighthouse and beach. It looks so quiet and peaceful.

Rosiebee you will love Nantucket and Cape Cod, and Boston is lovely. Stand on the beach at Cape Cod, and wave, then, when you go to the west coast of Ireland, as we did, take another photo of yourself waving back; we did, how sad is that?

When you have 3 dogs as we do (springers), whatever you spend on a holiday for yourself can be doubled with kennels.
So, we are putting our (luxurious!) tin tent on a farm on Anglesey, as we have done for the last 8 years. The dogs are free to roam, it's peaceful and we go there as often as we can - most weekends if we're lucky, as it's not too far away.
More often than not we are the only people there.
It's bliss!

In May we're off to Boston for a few days, hopefully including some whale watching. We then pick up a car and drive down to Cape Cod for 6 days. I've always wanted to go to places like Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket and I can't believe we're actually going to to be staying in these lovely places. Back to Boston for a night before catching train to New York where we'll be for 5 nights. I seem to spend most of my time now on forums on Trip Adviser but that's all part of the holiday for me. If it's going to be a 'Big Trip' I love doing lots of research. DH is happy just to turn up at the airport, while I'll be there with my little book[s] of notes.

My God SueD you must be a logistical expert! I thought it was complicated booking flights, transport and hotels; your trip sounds like military manoeuvres lol
Seriously it sounds absolutely fabulous and I'm sure you and all your fellow 'swapees' will have a great time. Thanks for the help. I've booked the car hire and ferry now and two nights' accommodation in Auckland. We'll book further hotels as we go along.
Have a lovely holiday.

In March we travel to the Red Sea for a month to snorkel, can't wait.

In June, although I haven't booked yet we will be going on an activity holiday to Turkey mainly sailing.

We have just arrived back in mid December from a 3 month trip, love traveling and spending the kids inheritance.

Life an be short so have to make the most of it.

GrandmaKT - we have done both. The camp sites in NZ are of an excellent standard and the roads are mainly good. Motels are generally clean and reasonably priced and very often have cooking facilities. However last trip was mainly B & B and with one exception were excellent. Yes, a car is more comfortable and parking, petrol etc easier and cheaper. Hire cars are usually very well maintained. Shop around for prices - there are some good deals available.
Having said all that we are doing three house swaps this time in addition to spending time at our friends home in Christchurch and the odd few nights in Hotels and a rented cottage at Twizel. The first is in Omaha Beach - North of Auckland and not far from Warkworth; the second is in Blenheim a stones throw from the wineries and the third is a two house exchange involving a holiday home at Hampden and a home in Invercargill. The NZers are returning later in the year to us. One is coming in August when we shall be at our holiday home inIreland, the second is coming to Ireland in September (when we will return to our home in Somerset) and the third is over for the Rugby in October. Not sure what we shall do then but I'm sure we'll find something/somewhere!

When we went 6 or 7 years ago we hired a campervan. If we were able to repeat the trip for choice we would go with a car, preferably 4x4.

We'd thought there'd be places where we could pull off the road for lunch or maybe the odd overnight stop, but really there weren't, the van rather advertised our tourist status and there were several places with warning signs about break-ins to RVs, and a car is more comfortable and covers more ground. The main reason though is there's no problem with accommodation. We didn't realise this. Loads of B&Bs even in small hamlets. And campsites like Top Ten which are a very good standard. ( https://www.top10.co.nz ) with different levels of accommodation.

Have a wonderful trip. It's a fantastic country - and much bigger than you think!

SueD - Hope you have a great time! Any tips for a first-time visitor to New Zealand? I'm looking at motels compared to campervans - have you tried either/ both? Tegan and rubylady, we've had many happy budget holidays over the years. I only mentioned the cost because I am rather shocked at how much it is costing, but obviously there are lots of people out there who pay a lot for special holidays and I just wanted a bit of re-assurance

Two weeks today we will be winging our way to New Zealand. This will be our third trip. The last trip was two days after the second earthquake in Christchurch! We were planning on staying with a friend and although her house only suffered some very minor damage she was without water, electric, sewage etc. a quick change of plan ensued and we flew to Queenstown and eventually caught up with her about ten days later albeit not at her home.
This time she is flying to Auckland to meet up with us and joining us on most of our travels. Only two weeks in North Island and then South via trains and ferry. So looking forward to it.

We don't spend much on holiday because we don't eat or drink much; it isn't down to being tight [I hope] but we tend to eat very basic food and I hardly touch alcohol [which always seems to cost a lot when abroad anywhere]. We also try to use local public transport as much as possible because we get to meet the locals, and, if we do eat out try to find restaurants used by the locals as well. We take quite a lot of money with us when we go away but seem to return with a lot of it. If we get breakfast thrown in at our hotel that often lasts us till the evening as we don't usually eat breakfast. We're planning a trip to Australia at the moment but I think that will work out a lot more expensive than previous holidays.

GrandmaKT I spend £20 a night on my holiday. I know the landlady so special rates for friends, full apartment for me and my doggie, very comfortable, beach on the doorstep, shops, cafes, more friends, antique centres, all doggie friendly. Morecambe, you can't beat it!

grandmaKT your trip sounds like more than just a holiday. Yes its a lot of money but its an investment in a store of memories. You'll be spending money you would be anyway eg on food shopping etc. You only live once. Re paying for hols - I have a wee bank account which I pay into by dd each month. As its not in my main account I don't seem to miss it! Anyway this builds up and we either have a couple of wee hols or sometimes splurge (only after masses of time spent researching and hunting down the best bargains). One good thing about being older is that I m shameless about asking for reductions and or upgrades! However being British we mustn't talk about money!

Scooter that sounds perfect to me
Casa Mia for us and fingers crossed for a hot summer
If sun was guaranteed here I wouldn't bother with going abroad, just spend the holidays exploring the British Isles.
Don't like winter either but foreign holidays not an option

Got myself a wee 2berth Caravan late last summer,only got away twice,so looking forward to taking my "wee house"around the country and visiting various campsites,accompanied by my dog Zeta who also loves it.

I love to travel but OH won't fly which limits us somewhat and for various reasons travelling abroad isn't really for him so the holiday I hope we'll have when he retires in June will be on British soil most likely. I shall no doubt go to visit my son and his little family in Gibraltar once or twice and any other holiday abroad will depend on one of my daughters inviting me to join them if they have a holiday this year..
It does cut down the cost to stay with family but I did spend 3K 10yrs ago travelling in the USA with my brother and his wife. GrandmaKT your trip sounds lovely I'm sure you'll have some great times and memories from your trip..

Can I be totally un-cool and raise the ugly subject of money?
Our youngest son is in New Zealand at the moment and hubby and I have booked flights to visit him next month. We'll be there for three weeks and plan to travel around, either in a campervan or hire a car and stay in motels. Either way, it's going to cost about £8k by the time we're finished (flights, car hire, hotels, spending money....)
It's not that we can't afford it - luckily we can - I'm really looking forward to it and it's going to be a special time. It's just that we've never spent a lot of money on holidays. Do people really spend this much? There seem to be quite a lot of glamorous holidays mentioned on this thread. Anyone brave enough to tell me how much they are spending? Anyone want to re-assure me that it will be money well-spent? Thanks!

We're off on a barge trip in France in June. It looks fun but not exactly luxurious. It starts and finishes in Paris so I've booked us into lovely hotels (one grand hotel and one boutique) to bookend the trip. Have done ocean cruises and conventional river cruises before and fancied a change. Only 7 passengers as well as staff so expect this cruise to be a bit different. Should be fun. Just hope we get on with the other 5 passengers!

DH is prone to bouts of SAD. Took me years to persuade him to take a winter break to somewhere sunny. I'm a bit perturbed as this year's winter break isn't until the end of February which is rather too late. Hopefully planning for it will see him through. The weather having stayed good so late into the autumn and Christmas away with DD1 has already helped.

I am going to Canada to see its alluring features and to meet younger brother. He lives there with her wife. We have a plan to visit the banff Natinal Park, Naigara Falls, and all other well known attraction and than move toward the New York City. Seem to be an exciting journey and I am crazy for it.

Can you get up to Edinburgh again for our Burns lunch, Galen ? That might cheer you up. There is even less light though, which could be counter-productive.

I would prescribe a SAD lamp and a crate of champagne.

Hate this time of year!

Galen, I've had a few weeks of crying as well; kicked in again last night. Prior to that I haven't cried much at all for years [except, obviously when sad things have happened]. It's a funny old time of year, isn't it....

Awe galen so very sorry to hear you are suffering from SAD get yourself off to catch the sun. We only live once in this wonderful life. Heres a little sun just for you. X

Mm! (Thinks, have aload of Avios! Should I try to find a trip to the sun in lanzarotte?)
Definitely suffering from SAD at the moment!
Can't stop crying and no idea why?