Can't Decide Where to Holiday for 10 Days in March. Help!

Saul Goodman on 13/11/2018 - 12:17

Just trying my luck to see if anyone has any recommendations…

My partner and I are going on our first trip away and have leave for 10 days in early March departing from Sydney. We're just struggling a little trying to decide where to actually go. I'm sure we're just over-thinking things but want to make it as enjoyable as possible. I think what's going on is we have different interests, I like culture and sight seeing. I recently did a solo trip in NZ North Island which was amazing and did all the hikes (Mt Cook etc). While my partner is more into the relaxing (beach resorts) / pampering / shopping side (replica brands) / less walking the better.

It's only 10 days so we don't want it to be an overly long flight. Nothing too expensive either. We have considered Hawaii but unless we can find some good deal packages, it might be a bit much. If it was longer, we would have done Europe or America.

Does anyone have any suggestions on locations? We could even do 2 countries if they are close together and have a short flight. In a perfect world we would have liked somewhere where we could hire a car because we do a lot of road trips together. There's all the usual places, Bali (wet season), Fiji (monsoon season), Singapore, Thailand. I like the idea of Cambodia / Vietnam, but my partner wouldn't want to spend the whole trip in those places.

Any recommendations on places we may not have considered? :)

Travel Holiday

Comments

  • pantsparty on 13/11/2018 - 12:25
    +2

    I was going to say Hawaii would be perfect - nature, hikes, shopping, resorts - would suit you both but it sounds like it may be too $$!

  • Gotham15 on 13/11/2018 - 12:26
    +2

    Phuket

  • dasher86 on 13/11/2018 - 12:29
    +1

    Just do Vietnam and hit up a resort.
    You can hire a driver for a day to do day trips.

  • geek001 on 13/11/2018 - 12:32
    +3

    Gold Coast. Nature walks in national parks in the hinterland, shopping and beaches. I know when people think of holidays, they immediately think overseas, but I have been to those countries you mentioned, Gold Coast is still pretty great, imho. March is a good time too, not too hot, not too cold.

    • [Deactivated] on 13/11/2018 - 12:48
      +1

      Then make your way up to Noosa then Hervey Bay to mix it up.

  • Tiredman on 13/11/2018 - 12:35
    +2

    Malaysia. Cultural melting pot, perfect beaches, amazing food and no language barriers.

  • Mistymoo on 13/11/2018 - 12:42
    +5

    Japan?

    • DarthAntz on 13/11/2018 - 18:14
      +1

      Hanami (cherry blossom season) usually hits in the last week of March. Keep a look out for jetstar deals. I recommend Kyuushu.

  • AustriaBargain on 13/11/2018 - 13:21
    +1

    Could go somewhere where there happens to be a huge festival or celebration or something going on.

  • yoonibear on 13/11/2018 - 14:01
    +1

    6 days in Japan and 4 days in a Bali (for the relax, resort, pampering)?
    6 days to give you a taste and if you love it, you can stay longer next time. 4 days in Bali to relax, cheap massages, cheap foods (I'm assuming, haven't been) before returning to Sydney for the daily grind

  • pegaxs on 13/11/2018 - 14:14
    +1

    I’m currently in Singapore… and unless you are cashed up, don’t bother with here. Good lord this place is expensive. It’s nice though. Lots to look at and see. So much packed into a small island. But for 10 days, better off going to Malaysia.

    • [Deactivated] on 13/11/2018 - 14:36
      +2

      Well that explains your delay in responding to all the recent automotive posts.

      unless you are cashed up

      Good to hear you are a cashed up tradie 😁

    • boomramada on 13/11/2018 - 15:57
      +1

      SG is expensive?? Chicken Rice is only $4, stop complaining.

      • pegaxs on 13/11/2018 - 17:26
        +1

        MRT is cheap too. And Milk Tea places. But outside that, I would not come here for shopping alone. Currency is about parity, but prices are not.

        It is a cool place to look around for a odays, but not 10. Most of the tourist places I have been to have been relatively uncrowded, so it's got that going for it, which is nice…. I guess!

        • boomramada on 14/11/2018 - 15:05
          +1

          True, not for 10 days, I usually visit SG for my Chicken rice stop over and HK for Yum Cha stop over.

      • dasher86 on 14/11/2018 - 09:29
        +1

        you need two to fill you up. plus it's more expensive than that these days..

  • Peck on 13/11/2018 - 18:08
    +1

    Alaska, for quickie divorce. Potential time to divorce: 30 days

  • chumlee on 13/11/2018 - 18:18
    +3

    Bonnie Doon

    Experience the serenity for yourself

  • AusGP on 13/11/2018 - 22:12
    +1

    Look on Luxury Escapes - I think they have a Da Nang, Vietnam deal on but previously I went with a cheaper one to Hoi An (basically still fly into Da Nang) and it wad very cultural yet resort based

  • streetsmart on 14/11/2018 - 02:11
    +1

    Philippines, HK/Macau, Taiwan, Korea, Fiji

  • isthisreallife22 on 14/11/2018 - 02:23
    +1

    Some ideas:

    1. Japan - Tokyo, Mt Fuji, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima - that wouldn't be relaxing but if you time it for cherry blossoms it will be worth it!
    2. Singapore 2-3 days, Phuket or Krabi 6-7 days (maybe with a day in Bangkok)
    3. Malaysia 4 days, Phuket/Krabi 6 days
    4. Vietnam 4 days, Phuket/Krabi 5 days
    5. Whitsundays 5 days (relax), drive up to Cairns 5 days (waterfalls, national parks, lookouts, etc)
    6. Hawaii - 10 days is plenty, could even split that time over multiple islands (won't come cheap though)
    7. Maldives 6 days and Singapore 3 days
    8. NZ South Island - but March is peak season
    9. South Pacific cruise - though March can be wet
  • Saul Goodman on 14/11/2018 - 08:49

    Thanks everyone for all your replies and I'm still looking into everything. A lot of the places mentioned I personally really want to visit but for this trip the other interest isn't particularly there.

    So far we're possibly thinking;

    New Zealand - South Island but doing West Coast which I have not seen yet. Maybe a little too similar to Great Ocean Road though.
    Japan - Dates are 3-13th so maybe a little early for the Cherry Blossoms. Little worried that Google is telling me March is their wettest of all seasons though.
    Bali - Just because it's cheap but again worried about it being March and the weather.
    Thailand - Still looking into this one. Either Bangkok, Singapore or Kuala for the shopping and Phuket/Krabi for the beaches.
    Hawaii - If I can find any good sales.
    Whitsundays - If keeping local.
    China - Outside chance.

    • Peck on 14/11/2018 - 10:12
      +1

      Bangkok - culture and quality, good value accommodation, food etc.
      Side trip to Hua Hin for the beach fix. (But mainland beaches are not as good as Australian beaches)

    • isthisreallife22 on 14/11/2018 - 10:14
      +1

      Thanks everyone for all your replies

      No worries. Happy to be paid in Bitcoin if your username checks out :)

      Regards NZ west coast, 10 days is too many. But maybe Queenstown + Milford Sound + Wanaka + Aeroki Mt Cook + Lake Tekapo + Glaciers would be a fantastic 10 day trip.

  • Elision on 14/11/2018 - 12:40
    +1

    I've been to Thailand 4 times and thoroughly enjoy it. I love Bangkok for the shopping and food, Koh samui is my favourite area for beaches but it's expensive to get there (or long and tiring by bus/ferry) so Phuket/krabi are good choices. I also really love Chiang Mai, it's really cheap, has beautiful mountainous scenery and great food/markets etc.

    10 days is too many for Singapore imo, however you could do a combined Singapore/KL trip like I did, flights or a bus between the two areas are quite inexpensive. I think it was less than $100 return from Singapore to KL and back. I did not find it that expensive in Singapore, it won't be more expensive than NZ or AUS. Accomidation is similar in price/quality to Japan. Food can be had much cheaper than here from Hawker halls (which are AMAZING) and it costs Aussie prices to do the things like singapore zoo (do not miss.. its the best!) gardens by the bay etc. I found shopping to be of a similar price to Australia but there were some great sales around and a lot of nice styles not available in Aus. It's a beautiful place and I had a very lovely time for the 5 days I went there, would gladly go back again for a couple more just to eat myself to death :D

    KL is very very cheap and amazing 5 star hotels can be stayed at for extremely cheaply compared to here, the food is very cheap and delicious too. I did find there wasn't that much to do but eating and shopping and doing the main tourist things will easily eat up 4-5 days. Book a luxury hotel, relax at the pool and just wander about eating delicious food!

    Japan is by far my favourite place and contrary to what people say you can have an inexpensive holiday there as long as you don't want to do a lot of shopping for clothing/souvenirs etc. If you wanted to travel from Tokyo to Osaka/Kyoto area it will add a bit with the cost of train however. There's enough to do in either Tokyo or Kyoto/Osaka area to just choose one for 10 days. Most tourist attractions are quite inexpensive, especially temples. Food can be as cheap or expensive as you want, and it's all delicious! hotels/hostels are fairly affordable if you don't need something more than a small clean place with a bed. It rained a lot when I went there in November and it was annoying but didn't take away from how much I enjoyed myself. There's umbrellas all over the place :D

  • ego22 on 14/11/2018 - 20:46

    palawan, philippines. just go. thank me later.

    • isthisreallife22 on 14/11/2018 - 23:43

      Was als going to suggest Phillipines actually

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