You better book that ish. Treat yourself. If you don’t I’ll hate you forever.
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I haven’t read all suggestions but I would.go here:
https://www.hotelxcaret.com/en/
So many activities tied to the hotel, it is a coose your own adventure in an all inclusive!
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I had wanted to go to Europe for my 40th and be in Paris but Covid ruined that. (We went a year later)
I also looked at a trans-Atlantic cruise on Cunard in the Grills.
But oh yeah, Covid.
So in the end, we rounded up a pile of crazies and did this insane scavenger hunt around WDW. (That was wild)
The question is, what do YOU want. I planned my 40th because I HATE surprises and didn’t want someone else to plan it.
I’m in my “not doing it unless I’m going to enjoy it” era with a few select exceptions.
Lol
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There you go! That’s it! Your energy is unmistakable. You have to
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So I was PUMPED, and I had to call in some changes for a cruise client this morning, so I asked if they had any more details about the itinerary. it’s 4 days in port, 5 days at sea (one of which is scenic cruising)
Honestly, if I’m going to New Zealand for 10 days, I want to spend those 10 days in New Zealand, if that makes sense. I can (and love to!) spend days at sea without flying across the globe, ya know? I looked at some comparable Royal Caribbean cruises and they are similar. LOTS of days at sea. Which to an extent I like because you are forced to chill. But not for more than 50% of the trip.
It IS a very exciting itinerary but ultimately I’m not sure it’s worth the huge hassle of the flight and scheduling issues for only 4 days in NZ.
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So I have tried to get my head around a vacation here many, many times. But it’s like the level of complexity of WDW, but en espanol. I get overwhelmed and quit LOL. But I’ve said that when we are in the teenage DS stage, I will wrap my head around it and we will go. It seems really amazing.
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THIS. New Zealand deserves long car rides to explore the beautiful country, NOT some wild cruise itinerary.
How else will you get fergburgers in Queenstown multiple days in a row AND visit the Irish pub down by the water???
And go to Peter Alexander multiple times while you sort out how many pairs of awesome PJs you HAVE TO BRING HOME.
The Sofitel in Queenstown was great in 2009 when I was there. I’ve recommended it ever since and anyone who’s stayed there has also raved.
But you need 2-3 weeks down there and combine NZ with Australia!!!
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I hear that. I may have had the same problem. It does seem to have something for everyone!
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This is our ongoing problem. DH can’t really get two weeks off at any time that the kids can. Can’t take two consecutive weeks in summer or at Christmas. Would have to get some sort of special permission from the scheduling committee. It’s why we ended up leaving for Japan on a Friday and coming back on a Tuesday. Doing the same w Hawaii.
Have you been to Ireland? DH has a work meeting in Galway so I’m tagging along. So far:
Arrive 5 am (ugh), check in at Shelbourne in Dublin
Dublin exploring
Dinner at Patrick Gilbaud or Glovers Alley
Night at Shelbourne
Am transfer to Galway for conference
Kai for dinner for me, or somewhere else
Conference hotel
DH conferencing, Aran islands for me? Connemare?
Need a dinner spot for just me
Conference hotel
DH conferencing til 1p, so I need an am tour or something
Transfer to Adare Manor or Park Hotel Kenmare or Dromoland… Suggestions welcome! Want somewherr beautiful but also well located to the wild Atlantic/West coast.
2 Days/3n touring the area… Cliffs of moher, burden, Killarney, ring of Kerry. Not sure if we should drive or get a driver.
Flight out of Dublin at 1145a
This has been a fun surprise trip to have and plan!
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Went to Ireland after college. Several weeks, took public transport and stayed in B&B’s booked the night ahead through the Tourist Information centers. Probably a completely different system nowadays.
I remember
Kissing the Blarney Stone
Galway
Cork
Ring of Kerry
Dublin
Book of Kells
Trains
In no particular order. Enjoy.
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This is a big milestone birthday, and I can see you picture a big memorable milestone family trip… however, between the concerns you have over DD’s ability to handle anything too out of pocket just yet and DH’s limitations for time off I think maybe you could just adjust your timelines a bit.
You have big plans for a handful of awesome trips, right? And DD has plenty of milestones coming down the pipe, plus there are anniversaries and whatnot too, right? What if you maybe took this milestone for yourself, and had a big memorable you trip (with your friends, or with DH and not DD… either way, in your own terms and not something you were sort of corralled into) and start planning the big memorable milestone family trip for the next one, like when DD is 10 or something?
That way you don’t have to sacrifice a fabulous celebration of you that is very much warranted this year just because the timing didn’t work out, and you also get the satisfaction of knowing you’ll have that other trip coming up at a more opportune time for everyone.
I’m coming at this from the perspective of someone who had the big 40th trip they’d wanted and talked about for years all planned out… 3.5 weeks in Europe, flights booked, tours planned, everything settled… for a July 21st, 2020 departure. The reality ended up being 2 friends joined me on the pontoon at my parents’ house. We had a nice day, and at the time just being able to be with friends was a joy, but it’s still a little painful to think of how I’ll never get that day back to do over. It feels silly, but I don’t want you to have regrets like that because you went along with things, or because you decided to be sensible.
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Yes.
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Excellent points. Thank you.
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@jcgoblue did you end up going to peru?
I think she’s down there right now. Her Internet is extremely spotty.
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SO. It’s been a bit. Long, boring, 20 reservations booked and cancelled story short, we have PLANS, PPL!!! I’m so excited 
Who: me, mom, my bro + gf, kiddos AND my high school bff and her DH and kiddos who are very similar in age to mine!!
Oct 22 fly down late pm
Night at Helios
Oct 23 VIP tour of Epic
Night at helios
Oct 24 transfer to wdw! I booked 29 things but ultimately ended up renting a bajillion points for a GRAND VILLA at BLT… theme park view!!! I mean, two story windows on the 14th floor facing the castle. Same price as the 2 br at the poly booked direct. Will sleep our whole crew!!
This day we may spend time at DS, EP for f&w or strollin around MK since we are walking distance!!! Mostly taking it easy. Fireworks from the villa of course, maybe with.some takeout from springs to include gideons cake.
Oct 25 - morning likely at EP, then start VIP tour in afternoon and end at HEA… where we will meet up with our friends who are ALSO on a VIP tour that day, but with a different guide and staying elsewhere… these are the ones i did the adults only trip with in Nov and my first VIP tour in 2023.
Oct 26 - the actual day of birth! Resting and brunch, maybe homecomin? Then MNSSHP to ring it in right!
Oct 27 - AK? With lunch/dinner at Tiffins or Sanaa. This honestly depends on when my brother’s flight will leave. Ours is out at 530p.
My 3 day visit in March solidified why i love wdw and love staying onsite, and they FINALLY released epic stuff, so here we are!! Thank you all for your ideas and input. Will anyone be in orlando at that time?!
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Have also decided to theme the party “Party like it’s 1993!” Which was a great year because my brother was born and Jurassic Park existed and being 8 was awesome.
Idea is embodying your inner child but this time you have an amex
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Sounds incredible!
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We leave WDW on the 17th 
Some are in Orlando arriving 10 and 11 to help @Julianne_fki celebrate a birthday.
It seems nearly everyone has an October birthday.
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Looks like an incredible trip! Check the Liners in the World thread - I’m pretty sure there are others coming end of October.
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