Sun Holiday (Not your average)

Suaimhneach · 07-03-2009 01:54PM #1

Hi,
So, looking for a sun holiday thats not Playa del Ingles. Thought I'd found the holy grail of holidays in the form of the Maldives but cant go on holidays until April, and thats when the rainy season starts there...

So, was thinking Egypt. But its just not nearly as exciting as the Maldives. All I can seem to find is there or Majorca etc. I've nothing against cheap sun holidays, I've done them for years, I just want something a bit different.

Anyone got any suggestions/ideas?

MrGee · 07-03-2009 02:22PM

Rainy season doesnt necessarily mean its gonna constantly rain, its very possible to have two weeks of straight sunshine, i was there in feb this year and last year and this years weather was perfect bar one half of a day, Last year we had a few days of cloud and one or two storms. But ive heard of people going around april and theve said the weather was great. Its pot lucky really

Berty · 07-03-2009 02:33PM

Well Im going to Phuket Island off Thailand and their rainy season starts in May so you would have time enough to get in there beforehand. Im going during their Songkran which is the Thai New Year.

You could consider Krabi Island and Koh Don Phi Phi and an option for you.

Check out my Signature Ticker. Im off Soon.

Like you I got sick of the Package holidays. Its not even cheap to get there anymore, nor is it cheap when you get there and you are looking at the same pasty faces you see at home and quite invariably you bump into some sh*t from work or one of your neighbours whom you never really talk to, end up having a few drinks with them and the gits keep calling to your house when you get home. :mad:

I also looked at the Maldives but the price just to get there was too much. I then checked out Air France from Shannon(nearest airport) through CDG and onto the Dominican Republic. Possibly my next point of call.

I also dont like bumping into people wearing the same clothes as me which you get on package holidays quite a lot.

Suaimhneach · 07-03-2009 03:41PM

Hey,

You get what I mean Berty... excatly! I dont want to go to Thailand for a holiday though, it just seems like something you're meant to do on a 3 month holiday/travelling trip. Though I do know one guy who goes all the time and loves it.

MrGee, I dont wanna risk spending that much money to end up potentially being rained on, for even half the holiday. Ive saved my ass off, and while a great holiday is not always guaranteed, the weather at the very least should be...

MrGee · 07-03-2009 03:51PM

ok fair point, what about dubai, i was there a few years ago and had a fantastic time, your 99% guaranteed sunshine all year round. Antigua was another place i went to and enjoyed, id imagine the weather there is good in april!

Berty · 07-03-2009 04:28PM

Get a Budget Travel Brochure and similar and mark on a world map all those places and then go someplace else.

Top Flight have some great ideas.

I recently went to Sorrento which is not your average because its hot and your still within mainland Europe. Spend a week here and then a week in Sicily.

ncmc · 09-03-2009 01:41PM

What about Cuba? Great combination of a sun holiday and amazing city break. Do a week in Varadero or one of the other beach resorts and then a few days in Havanna. It's one of the most amazing cities I have ever been in, great vibe and just totally unlike anywhere else you will visit. They have music in the soul and on every corner, you will have people playing music and dancing (and not in a hokey, tourist attracting kind of way). The beaches are amazing as well.

Ste.phen · 09-03-2009 01:50PM

Cuba sounds interesting alright...

Suaimhneach · 09-03-2009 05:17PM

I dunno, I heard there was a lot of beggers and that it was difficult to enjoy it as a result. Mixed bag!

ncmc · 09-03-2009 05:29PM

Jesjes wrote: »

I dunno, I heard there was a lot of beggers and that it was difficult to enjoy it as a result. Mixed bag!

I didn't find it was particularly bad for beggars, anyone that did ask for money was pretty polite and were ok when you said no, can't imagine it is worse than any other big city, and certainly a lot better than somewhere like San Francisco. The beggars certainly didn't prevent me from enjoying myself!

Gran Hermano · 09-03-2009 06:00PM

The jineteros or beggars in Cuba are no way near as bad as those in San Fran.
You can easily get rid of them by politely telling them you are not interested.
I amused myself by speaking to those in Habana Vieja in Irish,
they soon left me alone. Cuba is the safest of all the countries in the region
for tourists - they government needs tourists and their dollars!

I agree with MrGee on rain in the tropics, it soon clears off and can
help kill the heat/humidity. It's part of what's involved in going to the tropics.
It sure wouldn't pit me off the Maldives at that time - you don't
notice the rain when your diving/snorkelling!

Suaimhneach · 09-03-2009 08:02PM

Yeah, it's either gonna be the likes of Cuba or else Egypt, but neither of them seem to quite top the Tropics. Also, we cant tell if we're looking in the wrong places or if its just disgustingly expensive to get to Cuba...!

Gran Hermano · 09-03-2009 08:55PM

April in Cuba is a good time to visit, no fear of hurricanes and you don't
have the humidity of the high summer months. Try and get a package via
UK as the charter flights will help save on the costs. Otherwise you're
looking at going via France, Spain or Cancun and a specialist package
will cost €2k+ each. Double check to see if there are any new charter
flights direct from Dublin, I know there wasn't a couple of years back.
Twohigs and Tropical Places are two Irish operators I'd check.
Sunway.ie also list Cuba - for some reason it's only under honeymoons.

Maldives: Again via UK will be your best bet - you'll end up flying via
LHR or Frankfurt anyhow if you go with Emirates. Thomas Cook operates
charter flights direct from Manchester and Gatwick, this is a long flight
but saves you at least 2 stopovers/transfers each way. Mark's Travel in
UK often has specials on long haul including Maldives. Again you'll need
to budget €2-3k per person if you don't get a special offer and book via
an Irish tour operator.

Suaimhneach · 09-03-2009 09:54PM

We were originally looking at Marks travel (a thread on boards.ie alerted himself to the existance of the Maldives in the first place), but again because of the weather we've kinda struck it off our list.

We're looking at Sharm El Sheikh, was considering the Radisson SAS as friends stayed there and liked it but reviews on Tripadvisor put us RIGHT off...

We're still looking online but some of the websites are extremely frustrating!!

johnfás · 09-03-2009 09:57PM

How about a quiet Greek island? Skiathos or somewhere? It is quite nice, albeit very small... it is about 10 bus stops wide!

Pythia · 14-03-2009 05:18PM

Jesjes wrote: »

We were originally looking at Marks travel (a thread on boards.ie alerted himself to the existance of the Maldives in the first place), but again because of the weather we've kinda struck it off our list.

We're looking at Sharm El Sheikh, was considering the Radisson SAS as friends stayed there and liked it but reviews on Tripadvisor put us RIGHT off...

We're still looking online but some of the websites are extremely frustrating!!

I'd recommend the Hyatt Regency in Sharm. We loved it. It will be nice and hot there in April. You can do some lovely trips to places like Petra, Cairo or Luxor by flight if you want some culture. Food is yummy in Na'ama Bay centre too, as well as in some of the hotels.

Larianne · 14-03-2009 05:20PM

Goza, a small island beside Malta is meant to be beautiful.

gowayouttadat · 15-03-2009 02:07PM

South Africa.

12 hour flight but no jet lag due to the lack of time difference. Fantastic spot. Cheap when you get there. Unreal experience.

Suaimhneach · 20-03-2009 09:08PM

We've gone from looking at the Maldives to Egypt to Greek Islands.
I cant find anywhere on Zante that I want to stay, the reviews are so mixed.
This is surprisingly frustrating.
I want somewhere like the Maldives - beautiful, scum-free, ensured good quality food/service. I dont mind paying a decent price. Bah!

Gran Hermano · 20-03-2009 09:14PM

Jesjes wrote: »

We've gone from looking at the Maldives to Egypt to Greek Islands.
I cant find anywhere on Zante that I want to stay, the reviews are so mixed.
This is surprisingly frustrating.
I want somewhere like the Maldives - beautiful, scum-free, ensured good quality food/service. I dont mind paying a decent price. Bah!

Just book the maldives, it delivers all your above requirements.
Twohigs mailed out some good specials this week, check their site. Have a look at Yucatan in Mexico on their list.

Suaimhneach · 20-03-2009 09:25PM

Yeah, I would, but what if it p*sses rain on me the whole time I'm there. Dont wanna risk it and dont wanna wait until August for the sun to start shining there again!

I'm annoying myself more than anyone! Well, possibly my poor OH isnt having an easy time of it.

testicle · 22-03-2009 11:43AM

Try Sharm el-Sheikh. It's Egypt, but it's not like the rest of it...

Suaimhneach · 22-03-2009 01:07PM

That's where we were considering but its hard to pick somewhere. I have to stop reading reviews cuz they put me off nearly every holiday!

Pythia · 22-03-2009 01:21PM

Jesjes wrote: »

That's where we were considering but its hard to pick somewhere. I have to stop reading reviews cuz they put me off nearly every holiday!

I recommended the Hyatt Regency earlier. It's one of the best ones. I think the Hilton is the other very nice one. To be honest, I'm sure all the 5 stars are lovely there.

Suaimhneach · 22-03-2009 01:38PM

Just had a look at Hyatt Regency in Sharm el Sheikh. Wow. Absolutely wow. But its 1.2k each, as apposed to max 800ish each! Does look beautiful though. The Hilton is just within range possibly.

IR · 28-03-2009 01:13PM

Hi There,

Funnily have had more or less the same experience, as want to go somewhere nice and a bit luxurious, but having lots of trouble, as whenever I pick anywhere I get put off when I read all the reviews, have been looking at all the same places... Also feel a bit lazy booking a package holiday, as if I am missing out on an amazing DIY deal booking flights and hotel seperately!!

Last year was invited to a wedding in Greece in Kephalonia, we booked through this really nice site called exclusive escapes, they have some amazing places, and come in at your budget...lovely villas and boutique hotels.

We are thinking of re-booking with them and going to one of the villas in Turkey, but in the back of my mind I keep thinking that I should be going somehwhere further afield for the price (about €750) when you factor in the Ireland to UK flight....

if you've found somewhere nice to book in the meantime let me know will you

Thanks

tinkerbell · 29-03-2009 08:47AM

Jesjes wrote: »

I want somewhere like the Maldives - beautiful, scum-free, ensured good quality food/service. I dont mind paying a decent price. Bah!

How about Santorini?

lucky-colm · 29-03-2009 11:21AM

hi all

just to add my two best holidays me and the missus went to las vegas 2yrs ago in sept stayed in the mgm for one week it was brilliant if you are not into gambling 3nights would be enough. hoover damn ,grand canyon and some great shopping to keep the missus happy the casinos themselves are great to see without ever gambling, and lovely weather 30c+. the downside to this is the lenght of travel time and the price

last year me and the missus again 7 day royal carribeann cruise of the carribeann really relaxing the ships are really huge with loads to do. sea sickness dosn't even come into it, we sailed through a caterogy 1 hurricane didn't notice a shake on the ship until the card dealer said it, i went outside to confirm couldn't believe the smoothness of the ship, the islands were beautifull plenty of sun about 30c+ again the downside is the travel time and the price.

went on a few package holidays with the kids i really don't like them but the plus side of it is short travel time and the kids love them.

this year were hoping to go on an alaskan cruise, same things goin against it with long travel times and price.

GigaByte · 29-03-2009 11:48AM

Pythia wrote: »

I recommended the Hyatt Regency earlier. It's one of the best ones. I think the Hilton is the other very nice one. To be honest, I'm sure all the 5 stars are lovely there.

I stayed there when I went over on a diving holiday and have to say the hotel was beautiful, not only that it has its own dive centre and reef!

Suaimhneach · 29-03-2009 12:00PM

We booked a week in Zakynthos, Argassi, Greece. Got a v.nice hotel... hopefully!! Thank you all so much for your recommendations.

Sun Holiday (Not your average)

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