Second honeymoon ideas?

December2012

We have a significant wedding anniversary soon (just before New Years) and we would love to get away by ourselves for maybe 4 or 5 days.

Our children will be minded at home but we don't want to spend days travelling, given that our window is so small and I'm sure prices are high)

We would love that honeymoon feel.

Any suggestions for locations or accommodations?

- romantic
- within 6 hours flight time
- special
- places that speak English with tourists preferred (just so it can be easy going)

I'm not sure if I should post this here or on travel?

We've been going to places with kids club for so long my inspiration for grown up holidays is gone!

fits

Pricey, but would certainly be nice! could combine with a few days in Istanbul

http://www.fourseasons.com/sharmelsheikh/

westernlass

Sorrento is very popular

December2012

westernlass wrote: »

Sorrento is very popular

Even in December / January?

StripedBoxers

I know you said within six hours flying time, but what about New York?

Maybe Paris or London? I've been to London several times and I just love it, but that's me personally I love city trips, you may not.

Is there a budget for the trip? I don't mean that in a nosy way but if there is a strict budget then it could rule out some places if they're expensive etc.

December2012

Emmmmmm, I know this sounds odd but again, I'm so used to pricing family package holidays I don't know what's normal for a couples break?

But I'd say we could probably afford €2000 or thereabouts?

cactusgal

Porto in Portugal is really lovely, cheap and only a 2 hour flight.

South of Spain is lovely as well (Andalucia region), I was there at Christmas before and it was really nice, winter but sunny with blue skies and perfect for walking around.

I wouldn't bother with a long flight if you've less than a week, but that's just me.

December2012

What I'd really like is a luxurious, grown up, romantic hotel so I'd love accommodation suggestions you have

byhookorbycrook

No need to go abroad. what about the Cliff House in Ardmore? Or Longueville House near Mallow? Ballynahinch in Co. Galway? Cahernane House in Killareny?

London would be my No 1. See a show and do the museums and art galleries, which are free to enter. Maybe stay outside London, which would be cheaper and get Tube in. Visit Tower of London, Camden Loch Market, Imperial War Museum

cactusgal

Hmmm the nicest hotels I've stayed at have been in Ireland (Brooklodge in Wicklow and Slieve Russell in Cavan), was staying in mid range accommodation when abroad ... maybe someone else will have suggestions for luxury overseas accommodation.

fits

December2012 wrote: »

Emmmmmm, I know this sounds odd but again, I'm so used to pricing family package holidays I don't know what's normal for a couples break?

But I'd say we could probably afford €2000 or thereabouts?

With that budget in January id just go to the canaries. Some lovely hotels out there. That's if you are looking for sun.

ted1

Iceland or one if the Scandinavian counties could be really romantic and nice at that time of year.

fits

byhookorbycrook wrote: »

No need to go abroad. what about the Cliff House in Ardmore? Or Longueville House near Mallow? Ballynahinch in Co. Galway? Cahernane House in Killareny?

Cliff house and ballynahinch are prohibitively expensive. They are mad!

deisemum

We went on a Mediterranean cruise for our 25th anniversary back in April, we enjoyed it so much we're going on another one next April and got it with everything from flights, cruise in a balcony cabin with unlimited drinks package, a night in Venice included for under €2000. The only extras are tips and excursions which we'll do locally.

I've seen some very good deals for December and January.

fits

ted1 wrote: »

Iceland or one if the Scandinavian counties could be really romantic and nice at that time of year.

March is better in Nordic countries. Too dark in January.

StripedBoxers

December2012 wrote: »

Emmmmmm, I know this sounds odd but again, I'm so used to pricing family package holidays I don't know what's normal for a couples break?

But I'd say we could probably afford €2000 or thereabouts?

Not odd at all.

Honestly it can be as expensive as you make it.

When my boyfriend and I went to London, we went in Feb, we paid around €300 for a decent hotel (just outside London) we were there for five nights (six nights), flights were less €200 for both of us return (including a bag each) and our only expenses after that was travel (trains, tubes, taxis), meals/drinks, tourist attractions, shopping, spending money etc.

All in all we did spend about €1200, however our trip was last minute and we didn't really have a plan for what we wanted to do, when we'd do it, our budget etc as a family member was sick so we had to go last minute, however you could plan it in advance and get offers, deals etc so you could save that way.

I absolutely love London, its one of my favourite places to visit, its such a fun, vibrant place, its expensive yes, but worth it.

There is so much to do there but costs add up quickly. One thing I would say to avoid is those tourist bus tours, they are honestly such a waste of time and money, they really are.

I'm just off to bed now but I can post again tomorrow about what we did, where we stayed, costs for each thing etc. so you'll have a rough idea of costs.

Zaph

If you're only going away for 4 or 5 days, you really don't want to be wasting a lot of your time flying for up to 6 hours. I'd suggest somewhere closer in one of the major cities. Paris accommodation is always pretty expensive for decent hotels, but it's probably the most obvious choice. However I'd be more inclined to go to either Rome or Madrid. Loads to do and see in both, and being a little further south the weather might be a bit better. If you wanted somewhere a bit more exotic, you can fly direct to Istanbul in about 4.5 hours. Budapest is a beautiful city, and I've heard the same about Vienna, but central European winters are very cold. Sorrento was mentioned and the whole area is beautiful, but I'm not sure how many hotels would be open there at that time of the year.

solerina

I would definitely choose somewhere warm, so at that time of year I would pick Lanzarote.
Otherwise a city break in New York....you cant go wrong (except the weather at that time of year)

jlm29

StripedBoxers wrote: »

Not odd at all.

Honestly it can be as expensive as you make it.

When my boyfriend and I went to London, we went in Feb, we paid around €300 for a decent hotel (just outside London) we were there for five nights (six nights), flights were less €200 for both of us return (including a bag each) and our only expenses after that was travel (trains, tubes, taxis), meals/drinks, tourist attractions, shopping, spending money etc.

All in all we did spend about €1200, however our trip was last minute and we didn't really have a plan for what we wanted to do, when we'd do it, our budget etc as a family member was sick so we had to go last minute, however you could plan it in advance and get offers, deals etc so you could save that way.

I absolutely love London, its one of my favourite places to visit, its such a fun, vibrant place, its expensive yes, but worth it.

There is so much to do there but costs add up quickly. One thing I would say to avoid is those tourist bus tours, they are honestly such a waste of time and money, they really are.

I'm just off to bed now but I can post again tomorrow about what we did, where we stayed, costs for each thing etc. so you'll have a rough idea of costs.

Sterling exchange rates are shocking at the moment though. Makes any uk travel a bit on the expensive side!

dark crystal

Ryanair do very reasonably priced flights to Palermo in Sicily and accommodation there is surprisingly cheap, even for five star hotels. It looks like a beautiful city, you could stay coastal and you are still very near all the historical sights too.

Or perhaps Venice, for the whole romantic aspect? Again, you can get there pretty reasonably, but the accommodation may be slightly more expensive. Still, you're going during low season, so everything would be cheaper at that time of year anyway.

JustAThought

Half of Europe will be frozen cold or under snow at thst time of year.

Simething like a fancy Swiss spa resort - big indoor pools, spas & fab cake & food with skiing as an option if there was snow .

Personally I'd love to visit somewhere wild & beautiful like Iceland ( blue lagoon spa, exploding volcanoes,general mad visual weirdness) but it might be totally too cold in Jan.

Id also love to stay in the ice hotel - there are a few - you could tie in with husky dog sleighing or reindeer hearding & a fee nights in a chalet with catered meals, outdoor hottubs under the stars etc.

What are you both into ? Outdoorsy holidays? Shopping type holidays? Museums? Or a theme like to visit a city & shop & explore & have fancy meals out every night & stay in a good but not outrageous hotel?

Paris hotels are outrageously expensive and will dissappoint - but there are some amazing appartments in airBnb for Paris - you could indulge yourself utterly ; spend a thousand on somewhere incredible & then " do" the city in style - boat trip, foilles bergeres, museums, visit chateau - or take two days & go to the Loire & have a proper tour of a winery & a michelin star type meal....

I have to say Las Vegas would really tempt me - not the tacky gambling side but for hotels some of which are supposed to be amazing & the incredible shows ( cirque du soleil, tigers, & cabaret or music) the food woukd be great & nit break the bank, its in a desert so it would be lovely & hot ( check my facts thiu) pool & a soak in the sun, not to mention a helicopter trip to the grand canyon & a picnic at the edge of it ... Or white raft down it .... And all with american size portions, great customer service, a smile & huge luxury rooms - for a 5 or 6 hours flight - life could be a lot worse

cactusgal

JustAThought wrote: »

I have to say Las Vegas would really tempt me - not the tacky gambling side but for hotels some of which are supposed to be amazing & the incredible shows ( cirque du soleil, tigers, & cabaret or music) the food woukd be great & nit break the bank, its in a desert so it would be lovely & hot ( check my facts thiu) pool & a soak in the sun, not to mention a helicopter trip to the grand canyon & a picnic at the edge of it ... Or white raft down it .... And all with american size portions, great customer service, a smile & huge luxury rooms - for a 5 or 6 hours flight - life could be a lot worse

Swiss spa hotel idea sounds amazing, I know I'd love that.
Vegas is much more then a 5-6 hr flight tho. It's nearly 7 hrs to New York, and Vegas would be a couple of more hours.