Looking for suggestions on a trip for hubby and I to go on without kids!! Been 13 years since we've gone away alone! Not sure we are interested in an all inclusive unless it's a remarkable resort. Not too sure about dates yet but we want to start saving towards a goal.
Maybe something exotic? Somewhere we can do over 7 or 8 days that we wouldn't take younger kids.

Japan!

We were thinking Japan at the end of April for the cherry blossom festival but is a week enough time to fly and explore?

End of April may be too late! Best times to view cherry blossoms are from about March 28 to Apr 4. Also if looking for a place to stay I found an incredible deal in Shin-Osaka.-- the equivalent of a self-contained bachelor suite w/air conditioning, free TV , and pockets WiFi for $249 CAD for one week. The equivalent in a hotel would cost $100 -$150/night.Flights to Japan are currently on sale. Check out Chris Maiden YYC Deals.

Our current Tokyo trip is 10 days including the flying. So far we are having a blast. You could use more time but if your staying in one city it's not too bad. Will have to come back for sure.

Really!? It's doable in 10 days?! I'd like to visit Tokyo and some countryside

First and last days are write offs but we have been exploring a lot. Plus we did 1 night in hakone. But it does lead to lots of longer days.

We did Japan in 8 nights total. Way too much to see for that time but still an amazing adventure to give us a taste of where we want to go back to!
Highlights were: Roppongi area of Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Miyajima.
If you want more relaxing and closer to home than Costa Rica is amazing for a mix of relaxing and adventuring! Monte Verde and Arenal Volcano are must sees!
Enjoy!!!

Adam If you are going to Japan for just 7 -14 days, a better option would be to find one accommodation to use as a base, use JR pass or Suica card and commute -- saves time and you are more relaxed and refreshed. Also concentrate on seeing only sites/exhibits within close proximity to your accommodation.

We did the JR pass but stayed in different hostels in different cities so we didn't have to worry about a long commute home after each day. The bullet train makes travel quite fast

Spain or Portugal? Ireland and Scotland?

Scotland or Ireland would be nice but again is a week including flights enough time?

Probably only enough for 1. One day travel each way then 6 days in the country.

Yes, definitely enough for 1 of those two

Which do you suggest?

Whichever one you find a deal to- preferably direct. Both are great!

Haha ok and what's the best time of year to travel there? Least rain

I like spring. July August are a little busy. I would personally think in terms of where would be too expensive to take the whole family- that's why Europe would be a great choice. With a direct, overnight flight it's totally still worth it.

St Lucia

Some awesome deals in Portugal. My wife and I did a month there last year; spectacular! Amazing scenery, awesome food, great people, and inexpensive we got air and 23 nights in a one berm apartment in Albufiera (on the Algarve) plus transfers from Lisbon for $1600pp, taxes in. We only spent a week there, toured around and stayed in Posadas (google it, fantastic inns) would definitely go back

I'd ask yourself several questions. Where have you always dreamed of visiting? How many hours away from your kids do you want to be if, God forbid, you needed to get home quicklY? Do you want to take a beach vacation? Visit historical or cultural sites? Are you into a lot of activites/adventures? It's only one week, so I personally wouldn't want to take a 10 or 12 hour flight each way. Want excites you? Do you imagine yourself in a cafe in Paris? Zip lining in Costa Rica? Relaxing on a cruise ship? Snorkelling in the Caribbean? Think about YOU! Sometimes as mothers of small children we forget who we are, and our own dreams. Have fun!

We'll we've been throughout the Carribean, California, Florida and Maui. I'd love to go to Europe but 12 hr+ flight kinda deters me. Costa Rica looks enticing, Peru, Brazil.....but again I look at time. I've dreamt about Japan but such a long trip

Europe is only about a 9 hour flight back. A little less to get there because of jet streams. Get a night flight and just sleep. Then you wake up in a different world. So awesome

Just got back from Tahiti on a Paul Gauguin cruise, most amazing sites and staff, if you want to spoil yourselves check it out

We went backpacking in Costa Rica!

Did you stay at hostels? Or hotels

Hostels. They ranged in price from $20-50 usd/night and were private room, private bathroom and included Gallo Pinto breakfast.

We also took the bus everywhere. It was a budget trip but Costa Rica is not cheap like Mexico or Thailand. Depends on what you're looking for. There are some awesome tree house hotels you can stay in in CR.

Be careful if you drive in Costa Rica especially after dark. Not a lot of street lights and crazy drivers lol

Cuba

Not totally interested in Cuba to be honest

Bora Bora is absolutely unreal. Exotic, romantic, isolated. Mostly couples travel there...few families.

Bora Bora is definitely a bucket list destination. Maybe I'll look into it. It's not somewhere I would bring kids to

What would you like? Sun and beach, history, land or sea

Haha I want it all! Seriously I want to explore culture, sun, sand and sea, jungle and history

Jamaica!

I'd like to cruise to Jamaica

I'm taking a small group on a 7 nights Mediterranean cruise next July. Price is very reasonable for the cruise. $3300 Canadian for 2, this includes cruise, all meals, drink package, internet, tips and a $300 USD on board credit. Airfare is extra. We sail July 14th from Rome to Barcelona. Sonia, all adults in my group, no kids.

Amsterdam!

We were just talking about this

We went in 2015. Loved it! We stayed at NH City Centre Amsterdam. Walking distance to everything!

We took a 3 month old there and around Europe. Lots of work but lots of fun too. Quick flights to anywhere in Europe from there too

Anywhere they do wine tours, like Bordeaux, France or Tuscany, Italy. Wine is always better when enjoyed without the company of our children.

Definitely agree

Paris!

Thought of it but Paris is my daughter's dream. I would feel so guilty

Thanks for the suggestions. I think we are leaning towards places like Bali, Tahiti or Vietnam.. ......costa Rica, Nicaragua or Kauai

Brazil

We want to do Carnival one of these days!

Can you go longer than a week? Go check out SE Asia for a real adventure. Vietnam is one of my favourite countries but if you can fit a side trip to Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia too, it’s really worth the trip.