View Full Version : If money no object, your dream holiday
Where would you wish to have a holiday if money was not a consideration?
I have thought about this at different times and am finding that my dream vacation has changed. Now, my wish would be to visit the Arctic sometime. I found one tour of the Arctic in July and it is pricey.
Mine is and will always be Japan. We are going again for our 50th wedding anniversary. I want to see more of Tokyo, Takayama (my favorite little town), Kyoto, and some of the less visited areas. Will probably take another tour from Samurai Tours and combine it with more time in Tokyo or Kyoto.
Mine is and will always be Japan. We are going again for our 50th wedding anniversary. I want to see more of Tokyo, Takayama (my favorite little town), Kyoto, and some of the less visited areas. Will probably take another tour from Samurai Tours and combine it with more time in Tokyo or Kyoto.
How do you handle the language barrier? I found few who could speak English and my Japanese is zilch. When I got lost, a young couple from Hong Kong escorted me back to my hotel. Even the wait staff had severe language difficulty understanding the menus in English. I found that I deeply respected and admired those immigrants coming into a country that speaks and writes in English alone.
How do you handle the language barrier? I found few who could speak English and my Japanese is zilch. When I got lost, a young couple from Hong Kong escorted me back to my hotel. Even the wait staff had severe language difficulty understanding the menus in English. I found that I deeply respected and admired those immigrants coming into a country that speaks and writes in English alone.
My husband had a business trip to China once, and he had hired a native Chinese as a kind of cultural guide for him. She gave him cards with his hotel address on it and other places for him to give to cab drivers. He said he felt like when he was a little kid and his mother would safety pin notes to his shirt. He said it was difficult because he couldn't even tell the difference between the men's room and the ladies room. But he did LOVE China and he wants to take me there, someday.
As for my favorite trip: I would spend 3+ months in France in a language immersion program. It's been a real frustration for me that I took 5-6 years of French in school, and I can kind of read it with some comprehension, but speaking it--forget about it (or, as we from Joisey say: fuggedaboudit).
iris lilies
3-25-19, 7:16pm
I haveAlready completed that dream. We stayed in a Scottish baronial castle for $200 per night per head. We did it twice over a ten-year period. The other piece of my dream vacation was a canal trap on the English canals and we did that, we spent a week on the Shropshire Union canal driving a canal boat. I opened and closed the locks while DH drove the boat.
At this point in our lives I will only hire cars and a private driver to see the rest of the world. I’m not interested in the major cities of the world, I’m kind of done with big giant cities. I want to be driven around like an old fat rich American, which I am.
iris lilies
3-25-19, 7:17pm
Sweetana, that so VERY interesting that you love
japan. It is not high on my list, yet Kyoto and places like that interest me when I think about it.
Teacher Terry
3-25-19, 7:19pm
A year in Europe going everywhere I haven’t been yet. If we go again reality will mean it’s 2 weeks.
1 year in a fabulous Motorhome traveling the entire lower 48 states. And when in big cities staying in a fabulous hotel suite for 3 nights to break it up.
I'd like to eat at Diners DriveIns and Dives places as we work our way through the USA. (late breaky and early dinner).
Oh and while we're at it, hit every NASCAR Cup Race through the season with Club seats.
That shouldn't cost much over $15k/month.....right?
I'll echo what Teacher Terry said. My focus would be on small towns across Europe, plus Scandinavia and the UK. Lots of walking, including hiking the Black Forest.
Cruise ship all around the world
a whole month at a wellness spa/spiritual retreat on a beach like Bali or Fiji
iris lilies
3-26-19, 8:21am
At this point my dream bacationd are a series. I dont want to be gone for a year. They involve high end hotels, perfect weather in the 70’s farenheit, great architecture.
oh, and NO BOATS.
Until teleportation is a possibility, I'll take a day trip or two and an afternoon in my jungle hammock listening to the rain and reading an ebook.
ha, Jane - that's my issue too! If I could avoid all of the hassles of traveling I'd have lots of places I'd like to visit, but the getting there and back is such a drag.
My favorite trip is to be hosted somewhere interesting and have my host introduce me to different cultural things, and then enjoy some special local meals. I wouldn't have to drive myself or cook or clean anything. Sounds more like a cruise but without the boat and water ??
Simplemind
3-26-19, 10:58am
IR, have always wanted to take a canal trip. I love those boats and have seen several on travel shows. Didn't know you could take one out on your own. Wow!!
We have really pulled out the stops on travel the past few years. We have to take my husbands limitations into consideration on how we do it but we have no idea how long we have to enjoy it so we have been going for it. Japan is on my list as well as getting back over to the UK and then hopping over to Europe. We also got a lightly used Minnie Winnie for trips closer to home so we can take the dogs and not need a house/dog sitter. Now that both parents are gone and the estate is settled I'm free to be gone as often and as long as we wish. Travel has been a life long goal that I have saved for. I wish I had the self esteem to have traveled alone in my younger years but I didn't. Glad to have a travel partner now even though he is somewhat limited physically.
6-8 weeks in Australia and New Zealand.
Teacher Terry
3-26-19, 12:22pm
Flying has really gotten to be a drag. I understand why people fly business or first class if they can afford it. We want to go to Ireland and Scotland next.
iris lilies
3-26-19, 12:26pm
IR, have always wanted to take a canal trip. I love those boats and have seen several on travel shows. Didn't know you could take one out on your own. Wow!!
We have really pulled out the stops on travel the past few years. We have to take my husbands limitations into consideration on how we do it but we have no idea how long we have to enjoy it so we have been going for it. Japan is on my list as well as getting back over to the UK and then hopping over to Europe. We also got a lightly used Minnie Winnie for trips closer to home so we can take the dogs and not need a house/dog sitter. Now that both parents are gone and the estate is settled I'm free to be gone as often and as long as we wish. Travel has been a life long goal that I have saved for. I wish I had the self esteem to have traveled alone in my younger years but I didn't. Glad to have a travel partner now even though he is somewhat limited physically.
Yes, there are many canal boat rental places in the UK. That was one trip I researched the hell out of, to identify the best canal. I wanted a blend of rural and town/village scenery. That canal trip was nice but
I would not do it again. The boats go very slowly and it is really an old people’s game with a few drinking crowds and families thrown in on the weekend. It was fun to tie up the boat, walk a half mile Or a mile into the town, buy provisions, see sights, go back to boat.
so that reminds me of another thing I want in my dream vacation: little research. For my last trip to Europe I researched only the hotel because I was picky about that, but everything else I just went with the flow. I stepped foot in the Czech Republic not knowing any of the language or the money, and that worked out just fine, I managed on the fly to use Czech currency. They also would have taken Euros, but not common there. Signs were in Emglish, Czech, and sometimes German.
Teacher Terry
3-26-19, 1:08pm
I spend a lot of time researching and booking hotels so that gets to be a drag. My husband is good about directions and exchanging the money,etc. So no decisions would be great.
frugal-one
3-26-19, 4:56pm
We started traveling extensively around age 42. We decided to do trips that were physically demanding or were difficult and/or took lots of time to get there (i.e. India, Asia, Africa, So America). We thought we would travel more extensively in the US when we were retired and could get senior discounts. This has worked out even better than I could have imagined. Many I know are now doing trips that they physically are not prepared for and suffer. This year I have 7 trips already planned and a number of day trips to think up. The only out of the country trip is to Belize in December. We will still travel out of country but have visited many that were on the bucket list.
If you research, you can find deals to the places you really want to visit!
Teacher Terry
3-26-19, 5:08pm
Some of the things we did in Europe 16 years ago we cannot do now. The younger the better to go there. This country is so much more accommodating. I get homesick after 2-4 weeks even with the dogs.
Simplemind
3-26-19, 5:40pm
TT, I'm with you. I always love leaving and I also love coming home. We are usually traveling right now but we got a new pup for Christmas and she is such a handful that I don't want to leave her for the usual dog/house sitter. We knew we were going to have to sit out some long distance travel for about a year - unless a hell of an opportunity dropped in our laps. I shop for travel like some women shop for shoes. I'm always looking.
So we have the new to us RV and we have one trip planned each month with the dogs. I enjoy camping and I love my pups but it will never replace getting out and seeing all the things I want to see.
It is killing me that I have a buy one/get one airfare coupon expiring at the end of April and I have no trip to use it on. Sigh...……………...
Teacher Terry
3-26-19, 6:50pm
Taking the RV is a totally different experience than staying in nice hotels and sightseeing without dogs. Last year when we took our month car trip we mostly stayed in motel 6’s because of the big dog. Not my favorite place to stay although mostly they were okay.
gimmethesimplelife
3-26-19, 7:14pm
Such a hard question....money in my life has always been an object. Let me think.....the thing is, I have a built in almost fear of expensive cities and places due to my life experiences. Case in point.....I would have a very hard time justifying to myself a visit to NYC when somewhere less expensive and culturally vibrant such as Minneapolis (just an example) is fairly easy to travel to. I would have a hard time justifying a trip to Rio with Brazil's currency currently so overvalued as opposed to visiting say Columbia, which is safer than it used to be (Medellin, the former cocaine cartel hub is now a bit of an international retirement mecca) and much less expensive but still has much to offer. My point is that due to my life experiences, I have a built in cost radar directing me towards that which is less expensive and therefore not only economically feasible but also economically "safer".
In the spirit of answering the question, though, there is one expensive place I would like to visit - Sydney, Australia. Very expensive is Sydney but also very interesting, gotta give it that. Add Singapore to the list, too, expensive and interesting. Rob
iris lilies
3-26-19, 7:42pm
Such a hard question....money in my life has always been an object. Let me think.....the thing is, I have a built in almost fear of expensive cities and places due to my life experiences. Case in point.....I would have a very hard time justifying to myself a visit to NYC when somewhere less expensive and culturally vibrant such as Minneapolis (just an example) is fairly easy to travel to. I would have a hard time justifying a trip to Rio with Brazil's currency currently so overvalued as opposed to visiting say Columbia, which is safer than it used to be (Medellin, the former cocaine cartel hub is now a bit of an international retirement mecca) and much less expensive but still has much to offer. My point is that due to my life experiences, I have a built in cost radar directing me towards that which is less expensive and therefore not only economically feasible but also economically "safer".
In the spirit of answering the question, though, there is one expensive place I would like to visit - Sydney, Australia. Very expensive is Sydney but also very interesting, gotta give it that. Add Singapore to the list, too, expensive and interesting. Rob
I’m not sure that a lot of people will agree with you that Singapore is interesting. We went there oh, I think 30 years ago and it was very clean and new and white bread then but it had remnants of Little India which was kind of ramshackle and interesting. But over all my impression of Singapore was that the big public gardens there was very pretty and we spent a lot of time there but otherwise it all was kind of meh. Later they tore down little India so even that bit of cultural interest is now gone.
Frugal -one that is exactly what we did and why. I would never have taken the "adventure" trip to India at my age now. The trips we took ended up pretty physically hard and that is not something we want to experience now. The countries we visited have changed and not for the better. But there are so many places in the US, Mexico and Canada we now want to visit.
iris lilies
3-26-19, 7:54pm
I spend a lot of time researching and booking hotels so that gets to be a drag. My husband is good about directions and exchanging the money,etc. So no decisions would be great.
Oh, that reminds me why a driver/guide is such a great thing: it saves DH and I arguing about which direction we should go and how we should get to wherever we’re going. I had completely forgotten until now how wonderful that was, when we hired a driver for 10 days in Romania. He made all the arrangements for hotels and etc.
My dream "trip" would be to find a cabin deep in the woods of the Northwest, with maybe a pond close by. The cabin would have a screened-in porch. I'd sit there at night....maybe sleep out there....and take in the sounds of the owls, the frogs and all the other night beings. Ahhhhh.......paradise.
Mine would be 30+ days in France with the majority of time spent in Paris, and day trips to Switzerland and other places via train. A cooking class would be a nice bonus. I would go in spring or fall. I would fly first class. Probably rent an apt. with maybe a week in a posh hotel. On the way home, I would stop off in Hawaii (maybe Big Island since I haven't been there) for a week of snorkeling and R&R. Maybe one of those all-inclusive places with a floating river pool right outside your door. And lovely restaurants. One needs to allow recovery time for jet lag, right? :)
happystuff
3-28-19, 7:32am
If I had all the time and money necessary, I would like to walk the Camino de Santiago.
My dream "trip" would be to find a cabin deep in the woods of the Northwest, with maybe a pond close by. The cabin would have a screened-in porch. I'd sit there at night....maybe sleep out there....and take in the sounds of the owls, the frogs and all the other night beings. Ahhhhh.......paradise.
I have a ramshackle place in a wooded area. You could hang mosquito netting over what's left of the deck. There used to be a night creature out back that I swore was a pterodactyl--or maybe a sasquatch...
Never thought travel was worth the bother. I would just sleep in all day. On a pile of cash.
Never thought travel was worth the bother. I would just sleep in all day. On a pile of cash.
How boring that would be. I live to travel!
I have a ramshackle place in a wooded area. You could hang mosquito netting over what's left of the deck. There used to be a night creature out back that I swore was a pterodactyl--or maybe a sasquatch...
Lol Jane. I might just take you up on that some day!😊
ToomuchStuff
4-2-19, 11:40am
How boring that would be. I live to travel!
I asked Spartana about that a long time ago. How much of it is ones upbringing (we didn't travel much)? One of the last trips I remember as a kid, we checked into a hotel, because asthma/allergies, pretty much left me dead weight.
Now, with the internet, things I would like to see, most I could do virtually.
Teacher Terry
4-2-19, 12:00pm
No one I knew traveled as a kid except maybe to a resort up north for vacation. No one could afford it. My parents didn’t travel until we grew up and it’s the same with us. Looking on the internet is not the same as experiencing the sights, sounds, people, culture and food. Not even comparable.
Hard though that may be to believe, not all of us are eager travelers.
For me, the getting there part cancels out the promise of new sights, sounds, and cuisine. I'd just as soon skip the trip and have some restaurant delivery service hook me up with pho or something while I watch Italian TV.
DH had no desire to travel. He loved being home and doing things around home. For the first years of his career, he was flying back and forth across Canada and wanted no more of it. He was content with staying home so I traveled on my own or in a group tour activity. I heard or read about couples having an adventure exploring different cities or countries and trying different foods and wished that had been possible for me. I tried a cruise once, felt trapped and decided never again as I need to be able to walk away.
In balance, DH and I went camping and had many adventures trying new things at home and I loved that.
After my flight to Japan and, more recently, a 3-week bus trip to the southwest US, I am finally understanding DH's approach to the world. I loved the trips but the coming home was so wonderful. I have lost my desire for flights, layovers and waiting in line with other people. I am looking for another dog to complete my life's activities and will enjoy the many local area interests.
Different strokes for different folks really is true. Isn't it wonderful that we have the choice?
Teacher Terry
4-2-19, 6:09pm
Traveling gets to be more of a hassle as you age. Plus the airlines keep making the seats smaller so it’s more uncomfortable.
I traveled some--mostly flew--for work, before air travel really became an ordeal. I'm not afraid to fly, I just don't like anything about flying--the lines, the people, the waiting, the crowded, uncomfortable seats, the getting to and from airports... I don't mind car trips, as long as someone else is driving.
I like traveling near and far. I love leaving home and I love coming back even better. Have to give a shout out to my son who is our house and dog sitter. He loves to entertain and usually has a big party while we are gone. He knows the rules about things that go missing or get broken.... He also knows the neighbors would rat him out if he had offensive guests or things got too wild. So far so good. We come home to an immaculate house and a plate of fresh baked cookies every time. The dog always liked him best anyway.....
I traveled some--mostly flew--for work, before air travel really became an ordeal. I'm not afraid to fly, I just don't like anything about flying--the lines, the people, the waiting, the crowded, uncomfortable seats, the getting to and from airports... I don't mind car trips, as long as someone else is driving.
So interesting... I HATE long car trips. Like a kid .... "are we there yet?" I feel confined, trapped and bored most of the time. At times I am also car sick. I really don't enjoy flying either but it beats the alternative IMO. The getting to the place is just that getting there.... almost always it is worth the effort though!!!! I can't imagine not being able to travel. It gives a person an adventure to look forward to IMO.
I used to love work travel when I was younger. Now I mostly view it as a hassle. But as others have mentioned, I love "being somewhere else". I've also realized that traveling first class (hey, we're talking money no object, right?) is a whole different ballgame. I've only done it with points or when it was an extra $30 or whatever, but wow, what a difference in the experience.
Teacher Terry
4-2-19, 11:24pm
I have done it twice on the cheap. I understand why people with money fly first class.
So interesting... I HATE long car trips. Like a kid .... "are we there yet?" I feel confined, trapped and bored most of the time. At times I am also car sick. I really don't enjoy flying either but it beats the alternative IMO. The getting to the place is just that getting there.... almost always it is worth the effort though!!!! I can't imagine not being able to travel. It gives a person an adventure to look forward to IMO.
We have pretty scenery around here; if I were on a road trip across Nebraska, I might have a different take on it. Also, the company matters--and stopping along the way for additional adventures.
For longer trips, if money were no object, I could take a private plane, I guess.
One of those European River Cruises -or - White sand beaches - lazy afternoons reading, watching the waves, digging my heals in the warm sand. No phones, no news, simply relaxing.
Heaven.
One of those European River Cruises -or - White sand beaches - lazy afternoons reading, watching the waves, digging my heals in the warm sand. No phones, no news, simply relaxing.
Heaven.
Could you do this on a pretty beach near home?
Could you do this on a pretty beach near home?
My SIL is from Southern CA, they go to the beach. In the Pacific Northwest we go to the coast. :-(
How boring that would be. I live to travel!
That falls under the category of to each his own. Personally, I can’t think of anything I want to stand next to so badly that I want to be shipped like a parcel somewhere where they consider tourists to be at best a necessary evil.
Teacher Terry
4-10-19, 2:26pm
L, I hope your wife doesn’t like to travel or goes without you. What do you intend to do in retirement?
L, I hope your wife doesn’t like to travel or goes without you. What do you intend to do in retirement?
Especially since we moved to Vermont, DH wants to go NO WHERE. Whenever I ask him, "Want to go to X, Y, or Z?" he'll look at me and ask, "Why??" He doesn't even like going into Burlington.
OTOH, I don't feel I got around enough last year, because I was still feeling my way around my new lifestyle. But next year, I do want to get out, and I recognize that I'll have to chum up with my friends and family there. My once-realtor, now-friend is a spitfire and she is ALWAYS doing something so I'll just try to get myself invited!
Yet, I think DH has a point. If you can be happy just where you are and don't feel the need to chase rainbows, you are luckier than most.
Not everyone wants to travel, and certainly not everyone is so easily bored.
It doesn't seem that complicated.
I hate the travelling part, especially if it involves flying commercially, lines, carting around luggage, security searches, and all that.
I don't mind boats at all, if they are either a) ferries or b) small. No giant commercial cruise ships have any appeal for me at all.
I like *being* in new places. But not for a day or two - I like to spend weeks, learning a bit of culture/language, and chatting with people.
So, my dream, other than just staying here, which is very nice, would be to simply wander the world, spending 2-12 weeks in each spot that interested me, but without dealing with the point-to-point travel logistics, unless the travel was "cool" (Orient Express, ferries in interesting places, that sort of stuff.).
Money isn't really even the problem - I am in a relationship with a 110 pound Bloodhound, and he's not really a good travel companion to most destinations.
Not everyone wants to travel, and certainly not everyone is so easily bored.
It doesn't seem that complicated.
To my mind, there’s nothing that Paris or Tokyo has to offer that compares to my backyard hammock. I don’t seem to have any trouble keeping myself amused.
"I hate the travelling part, especially if it involves flying commercially, lines, carting around luggage, security searches, and all that.
I don't mind boats at all, if they are either a) ferries or b) small. No giant commercial cruise ships have any appeal for me at all.
I like *being* in new places. But not for a day or two - I like to spend weeks, learning a bit of culture/language, and chatting with people."
I would enjoy about six months per location, probably, if only I didn't have to get there. Along with the traveling, I also hate the itinerary checkoff aspect--the "If it's Tuesday it must be Belgium" part. Reminds me of a forced march.
Like LDAHL, I regularly amuse myself for hours--I'm not hard to entertain--and if I'm boring myself, I can always take a nap. This is nothing new: I've been this way all my life.
I do like the journey part of traveling. Even on commercial airlines. I feel that being up there 36,000 ft high confined to a little seat and a view of the clouds below, I'm in suspended animation for a little while. I can do whatever I want without being driven to something else, and often that thing I want is just to sit and be. For some reason I find it very hard to reach that state on terra firma.
I also love road trips--getting to the next spot of interest is merely icing on the cake.
And boats and ferries are awesome.
Especially since we moved to Vermont, DH wants to go NO WHERE. Whenever I ask him, "Want to go to X, Y, or Z?" he'll look at me and ask, "Why??"
Yet, I think DH has a point. If you can be happy just where you are and don't feel the need to chase rainbows, you are luckier than most.
This is my DH exactly. Luckily, I did a good amount of traveling before we met and quite a bit more with him while he was wooing me, including a 30-day trip to Europe early in our courtship. So for the most part I am okay with staying home most of the time now. And we do have lots of nice places within a 1-2 hr. drive that I enjoy visiting. I would still like to go back to Paris one more time - I loved that city. And a week in Hawaii would be good too. But I would be okay doing those trips with a friend, it doesn't have to be DH.
But I hate the flying aspect of travel, though. I remember when it wasn't such a hassle and am glad I traveled then.
I like the journey, and the being there part. My husband does not however, and I get tired of him being aggravated about the getting there part. Airports are so so awful for him, car trips mostly ok. So I don't ask so much, and am planning on doing more solo trips, or trips with family members once retired.
Simplemind
4-10-19, 5:23pm
I told DH when we got married that I wanted to travel and I had a special account for it. He enjoys the trips but not the deciding and planning. I love the deciding and planning but would hate to go alone so it is a win/win. His stroke left us with some challenges as to the mode of transportation and how much we can do in each day but we head out for adventure whenever we can. We have so loved exploring and learning the history of the East Coast.
frugal-one
4-10-19, 5:26pm
That falls under the category of to each his own. Personally, I can’t think of anything I want to stand next to so badly that I want to be shipped like a parcel somewhere where they consider tourists to be at best a necessary evil.
You, obviously, are not traveling the way that soars your heart! Currently, we are into bird watching and being in different locals to see different varieties of birds and wildlife. Of course, I find out what else is in the area and we check it all out. You have not found your nirvana!!!
Teacher Terry
4-10-19, 6:18pm
My dad wasn’t big on traveling telling my mom he had seen Europe (WW2). He did travel with her in the states until he got to sick. Luckily my husband likes to travel. I wouldn’t want to go alone. Now some places I have no interest in going like Asia.
My dad wasn’t big on traveling telling my mom he had seen Europe (WW2).
My grandfather on Europe: "Last time I was there, I didn't need a passport..."
Teacher Terry
4-10-19, 7:00pm
Funny Bae.
Hmm.. seems that the military ruins people for travel. The #1 reason I've never been camping is because DH, who served in the Marines, said that he did enough camping to last a lifetime and he has no desire for more.
Teacher Terry
4-10-19, 10:31pm
My ex was in the marines and he likes to travel. I don’t understand people that don’t enjoy it. Does not compute:))
This is more like "If respect for other people's property rights were no object" but my dream holiday would be to take a light pack and leave home on foot, no plan, just exploring cross country in any direction that struck my fancy, until I got tired of camping and came home.
happystuff
4-11-19, 7:20am
This is more like "If respect for other people's property rights were no object" but my dream holiday would be to take a light pack and leave home on foot, no plan, just exploring cross country in any direction that struck my fancy, until I got tired of camping and came home.
A walkabout! I would enjoy doing that too.
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