My wife and I will be celebrating our 25th year in November and I would like to surprise my wife with a trip oversees. Our kids are in college and we are empty nesters. We are from Europe originally and have visited almost all countries in Europe.
I want a place where my wife hasn’t visited. IShe has not been to Asia, Latin America, Africa or Australia.
My plan is to use all of my points to upgrade us to business class. And spend money on an experience that we will not forget. Oh we are late 40’ies by the way. We married pretty young right after college.
That said, for November, anybody here who did an oversees trip that is not to Europe for an anniversary or another special event? If so can you please share what you liked about it? Thanks in advance for all recommendations.
Would you consider telling your wife now so she can help choose the place but tell her you’ll do the heavy lift of all the planning/scheduling - which can be a gift!?
You know your wife best of course, but I really, REALLY don’t like surprises like this - I would prefer to have some hand in the decisions.
What are your interests? Fiji is a great trip if you like beach and ocean settings. Or Bali. Or the Dominican Republic (just not Punta Cana ). Or Borneo. Or Thailand or Vietnam or Uzbekistan or Egypt for both great beaches and pyramids and such…All are incredible places, just depends on your preferences. Do you want beaches or nature or animals or history or a little of everything?
That time of year Australia and/or New Zealand are great. I would love to go back and do a road trip around New Zealand’s South Island (driving is pretty easy there). Or if it was early November when the South Island is still a bit cold and wet, I’d go to Sydney and the Blue Mountains, followed by New Zealand’s North Island (Auckland to Rotorua and maybe either Tongariro or Coromandel too).
Thanks for the suggestion. This is what I do for all of our trips but this time I want to really surprise her as I am the least surprising husband around probably. I ask her opinion even for gifts for her birthday This time, I will rely on my knowledge of her to surprise her big time
This is awesome. Thanks for all the recos. She likes animals yes that’s why South Africa safari suggestion will make the shortlist. We are not beach people but heard good things about Fiji. Will look into it for sure. We already did Egypt in our first year anniversary but we will do Egypt again with our kids one day. Not this time though My wife is into culture tourism and I am more laid back. This time though I will cater to her so will pick something that I believe she will like the most. Thanks again for recommendations.
Borneo is worth considering - they’ve got orangutans, pygmy elephants, pangolins, and all sorts of interesting things that you will see nowhere else on earth. Alternatively, Madagascar to see the lemurs could be fun.
We loved our safari but be sure to see when the rainy season is before planning. We will be going to the Galapagos in a few months. Trip can be tied with Machu Picchu. Feel free to PM if you want any details on these trips.
So many wonderful options and such a thoughtful thing to do! Congrats on your upcoming anniversary. Enjoy.
Perhaps mention that there is a Bucket List conversation on CC… maybe start a discussion to see what she’s yearning to see.
Years ago my husband wanted to surprise me by booking a trip to Europe, in a rented canal boat. My daughter wisely cautioned, “umm… you may want to run that by Mom first”. She was right, the idea of being just the two of us (not boaters) as crew was really scary.
Instead we opted to do a western Med Norwegian cruise, a sampler Europe trip - loved it! Six years later we did do a rented boat on Canal Du Midi, but it was with two other couples (3teeny bedroom/baths) who were familiar with boats etc. It was grand. But really glad to he did not surprise me with a 2-person adventure. (The surprise pearl earrings he selected were. quite nice. He was supposed to be just picking up our rings, getting quarter century overhauls - prong repair for me, resizing for him.)
For Latin America, I highly recommend checking out Explora. We did Patagonia almost 25 years ago for our honeymoon, and are heading to Atacama this summer. Those are the original lodges but they have several others now and do combo packages. I am now wishing we had planned on tacking on Machu Pichu since connecting through Lima was one of the options.
). Or Borneo. Or Thailand or Vietnam or Uzbekistan or Egypt for both great beaches and pyramids and such…All are incredible places, just depends on your preferences. Do you want beaches or nature or animals or history or a little of everything?
This time, I will rely on my knowledge of her to surprise her big time