Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[MarkBevBen]

It's my 40th next year and are planning a nice holiday.

 

We like to go places that are nice and relaxing with nice beaches and sunshine (if we're not skiing that is ), a bit of pampering, maybe some golf, really great food.... ahhh

 

Don't mind whether it's short, medium or long haul, or all-inclusive or pay as you go.

 

We're really lucky to have been to some fab places already but would love to hear any suggestions

[Snowy]

Wales.

We had a fabulous holiday in Wales last February - glorious sunshine through the day, spent loads of time on the deserted beach at Harlech. Woke up to snow most mornings. Even got a tan! And we had a cosy cottage with a log fire. Bliss! Just a pity the weather can't be guarenteed

[Looney]

I can't offer any suggestions but am quite jealous of people planning lovely holidays away somewhere relaxing and different! My friend used to be a travel agent and went on some marvellous sounding breaks. Do you have any idea of roughly where in the world you fancy going, or is there anywhere you haven't been before and fancy trying?

[quickcluck]

We did Egypt in february a year or so ago..... was lovely, hot, lots of water sports, desert safari's that sort of thing..... we had a really brilliant time....

[Deb Dav]

What about Dubai - great beaches, shopping, golf courses and good food. Dubai is great for maybe four - five days and then maybe go onto somewhere else like Seychelles/Sri Lanka/Maldives/Mauritius - a two places holiday?

[moochoo]

We've been to the Dominican Republic twice. An amazing country with great history, lovely people and beautiful beaches. Definitely go all inclusive.

[craftyhunnypie]

Thailand .(Patong Phuket) Luxury! Lots of things to see & do - lovely herbal massage / relaxation spas.

Or Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt.

Basically go East in February!

 

Emma.x

[Lydia]

We quite often go away between February and March because that's the only time our diaries collide sufficiently to get a 2 week break. Anywhere in the Caribbean is nice at that time of year. Mexico was absolutely brilliant, we stayed around the Riviera Maya - 5 star, no kids allowed resort - bliss!

 

If you want really long haul, Australia is a good bet. February is a good time of year because the Christmas rush is over so the flights are slightly cheaper and the Australians are coming to the end of their big summer break (the kids go back to school in February) so there is more accommodadtion available. Last year we toured Tasmania in February which was heaven - so much to do and such much wildlife. We hired a car, booked a bit of accommodation for our arrival and a bit in between and then took pot luck on the rest. Definitely recommended!

 

One tip though - don't fly Cathay Pacific.....

[Cinnamon]

How about Tenerife & the surrounding islands?

They will be lovely & warm (I once got burnt there in December!), & I know they are big on the golf there

Avoid Playa de Las Americas,& go to the beautiful green top part of the Island instead.

[Chickendoodle]

Or why not try something completely different. We had a magical holiday in Tromso in Norway for my 40th where we went dog sledding (absolutely the best thing I have ever done) and saw the Northern Lights. It is above the Arctic Circle so the light is like sunrise or sunset but without the sun coming up - not sure when the sun comes back tho - it might be sometime in February.

[Chucky Mama]

My MIL really loved her time in Norway. She has just come back from a short break in Iceland and she said it was fantastic. Not sure about February though. Food not great though.

[Mollie333]

Tunisia is great! Its hot, great hotels, lot of English or Tunisian restaurants, water sports, boat rides, shopping, you can also go to the Sahara Desert for a few days and camp under the stars!

 

And of course, its cheaper as the currency isn't Euros.

 

One of the things i *loved* doing is going down into the Catacombs, there's only a restricted place for the public to go without supervision, but a lovely man, who worked there, took us deep into the Catacombs and showed us some bones.

 

Of course, the Tunisians rely on tips, since there work is bad for them, and will ask!

 

Also some people take a bottle of Whisky for them, as it is a muslim country, so many places only sell it for ridiculous amounts of money (buy it in England)

 

The transport and roads aren't great.. I must say. We went in a taxi with no seat belts, and huge tears in the seats, many were like this, and the driving! they don't have traffic lights, propper roads, and most are dangerous drivers.. And want to get you there and back fast! Some are OK though and will even wait around for you.

 

But, going to the real Tunisian markets is risky if your a bit squeamish.. This is where most people rely on to buy there meat.. They don't have many supermarkets which sell meat. Although no alive animals, Servel carts consist of dead animals.

 

I am very proud to say, i visited a egg producing chicken farm! 100's of leghorn based birds, not a brown egg in sight! they have not heard of caging chickens.

These birds live out all day and night, with trees to roost in. It was great, to feel at home. . They don't use caging in Tunisia, most people are self sufficient with rearing chickens for meat, or go to the market and buy them.

 

Goodluck.

[sadietoo]

We had a magical break in Venice in late February...in the snow... Also Lanzarote in a villa ( we booked through Villanza) is great and still very warm!

[Valkyrie]

Florida - just right weather-wise. Just after the cold season in December (although it can be very hot then - depends on where the wind comes from the Atlantic or the Gulf) and just before the rainy season and the storms in April. No mosquitoes at that time - or very few. Lots to do, lots to see and lots of lovely sandy beaches.

[MarkBevBen]

Thanks everyone for all your suggestions I guess we need to decide on whether to have a sun or snow type holiday!

 

We're really lucky in that we've been to lots of lovely fab places already. My husband Marki is from New Zealand so we go there regularly and are very fortunate to have been twice this year, once in March/April and again in August when we went to Fiji for a friends wedding and stopped off en-route.

 

It's a heck of a long way for sure, but well worth it when you get there

[MarkBevBen]

Wales.

We had a fabulous holiday in Wales last February - glorious sunshine through the day, spent loads of time on the deserted beach at Harlech. Woke up to snow most mornings. Even got a tan! And we had a cosy cottage with a log fire. Bliss! Just a pity the weather can't be guarenteed

 

 

Oh that sounds lovely Snowy - I've had many a trip to Wales over the years, but haven't been in a long while. I'm pretty sure Marki my husband has never been

[MarkBevBen]

"]I can't offer any suggestions but am quite jealous of people planning lovely holidays away somewhere relaxing and different! [/b] My friend used to be a travel agent and went on some marvellous sounding breaks. Do you have any idea of roughly where in the world you fancy going, or is there anywhere you haven't been before and fancy trying?

 

Awwww

 

Have got some ideas and you lovely folks have given me some food for thought xxx

[MarkBevBen]

We did Egypt in february a year or so ago..... was lovely, hot, lots of water sports, desert safari's that sort of thing..... we had a really brilliant time....

 

We went to Taba in Egypt back in 2004 and it was nice we enjoyed it

[MarkBevBen]

What about Dubai - great beaches, shopping, golf courses and good food. Dubai is great for maybe four - five days and then maybe go onto somewhere else like Seychelles/Sri Lanka/Maldives/Mauritius - a two places holiday?

 

 

Thanks DebDav!

 

We absolutely love Dubai - it's special for us because we got engaged there

 

Have been twice and I even suggested to Hubbly that we return in February as it'll be just right temperature wise and we'd also be able to goto the races as well

 

We've been to the Maldives and without sounding ungrateful we didn't really like it. Maybe Mauritius has more about it will have to do some research.

[MarkBevBen]

We've been to the Dominican Republic twice. An amazing country with great history, lovely people and beautiful beaches. Definitely go all inclusive.

 

 

Have never been to the Dominican - they were talking about it on our local radio the other day

[MarkBevBen]

Thailand .(Patong Phuket) Luxury! Lots of things to see & do - lovely herbal massage / relaxation spas.

Or Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt.

Basically go East in February!

 

Emma.x

 

 

Haven't been to Thailand before either - I like the sound of the luxury and massages etc though

 

Don't really fancy Sharm. We went to Taba a few years back and that was nice

[MarkBevBen]

We quite often go away between February and March because that's the only time our diaries collide sufficiently to get a 2 week break. Anywhere in the Caribbean is nice at that time of year. Mexico was absolutely brilliant, we stayed around the Riviera Maya - 5 star, no kids allowed resort - bliss!

 

If you want really long haul, Australia is a good bet. February is a good time of year because the Christmas rush is over so the flights are slightly cheaper and the Australians are coming to the end of their big summer break (the kids go back to school in February) so there is more accommodadtion available. Last year we toured Tasmania in February which was heaven - so much to do and such much wildlife. We hired a car, booked a bit of accommodation for our arrival and a bit in between and then took pot luck on the rest. Definitely recommended!

 

One tip though - don't fly Cathay Pacific.....

 

 

Yay, we went to Riviera Maya a few years back for Christmas and New Year and had a truly awesome time. Where did you stay? We were at the El Dorado Royale and enjoyed two weeks of eating, drinking, pampering and relaxtion. They really know how to do 'all inclusive' properly there, unlike the Maldives as we found out on our honeymoon.

 

Would love to return to Mexico

 

Your trip to Australia/Tasmania sounds fab Lydia. My husband Marki is from New Zealand so we go down that way regularly - have been very lucky to have been twice this year. We went in March/April and the weather was still gorgeous then. Then as our friends got married in Fiji, we returned in August and stopped off in NZ en-route. Even though it was winter there, it was still 16degrees in Auckland and we had a lovely day of blue sky and sunshine!

 

Yes their summer is just starting now ahhhhh just as we're heading for winter!

 

We nearly always fly Singapore Airlines and would thoroughly recommend them - their service is just the best and Changi airport is fabulous - a little tip, pack your swimming costume as there's a lovely roof top swimming pool, so nice and refreshing after an 11-hour flight In August we flew Air New Zealand via Hong Kong and they were good, but Singapore just has that edge for us

[MarkBevBen]

How about Tenerife & the surrounding islands?

They will be lovely & warm (I once got burnt there in December!), & I know they are big on the golf there

Avoid Playa de Las Americas,& go to the beautiful green top part of the Island instead.

 

 

Thanks Cinnamon, we went to Tenerife one year at Christmas to Costa Adeje and the weather was nice

[MarkBevBen]

Or why not try something completely different. We had a magical holiday in Tromso in Norway for my 40th where we went dog sledding (absolutely the best thing I have ever done) and saw the Northern Lights. It is above the Arctic Circle so the light is like sunrise or sunset but without the sun coming up - not sure when the sun comes back tho - it might be sometime in February.

 

 

That sounds really lovely Chickendoodle Guess we need to decide on whether to have a hot or cold holiday

[MarkBevBen]

My MIL really loved her time in Norway. She has just come back from a short break in Iceland and she said it was fantastic. Not sure about February though. Food not great though.

 

 

Thank you Norway does sound nice. I was lucky enough to go on an all expenses paid trip to Iceland a good few years back in March and it was like 'skiing' type weather - cold but sunny.