Beautifullyt

Hello there. I am a 29 year old female looking to travel for my 30th birthday next year.

I'd love to go somewhere tropical.

I am pretty laid back, i'd like some place with beautiful scenery and relaxtion and of course beaches. As well as having the option to go out and explore/hike since i love the outdoors.

I enjoy nightlife and live music but not so much the clubbing scene.

When i am relaxing I would like to be surrounded by nice digs . So I don't want anything run down but nothing super luxurious either.

Great food is also a plus.

I'm not sure what else i am missing. This is really my first time planning a trip. Any suggestions would be wonderful.

Thank you

Aderonke

HEY GIRL

Im going through the same thing. I just turned 29 last month and planning for a group out of country trip as well. So far I have looked into both South Africa and Spain. And so far Spain has been the talk of the town. Everyone's experience there has been memorable. Where exactly, I have not yet figured out.

Hopefully this post can help me with ideas as well. Thanks for posting

sparkchaser

Two weeks in Spain: one in Madrid and one in Barcelona. Rent an apartment in each city instead of staying in a hotel.

sparkchaser

Ooops. I missed where you said tropical. Sorry.

Thailand or Cambodia.

Beautifullyt

Man I'd love to go to Thailand! Is it expensive? I heard it was. Ill check out Spain as well though. Love the suggestions. I may end up going solo, are these places ok for that?

sparkchaser

Thailand is cheap cheap, cheap.

Both places are fine for solo travelers.

suze

My personal suggestion is Mexico. It's a huge, diverse, beautiful country. That has everything you are asking for. I've traveled there solo more than a dozen times without issue (disclaimer I usually to do Puerto Vallarta and just stay in that one place).

I have many friends who adore Thailand. Some go on the cheap, some go high-end luxury. I know a few people who liked it enough they lived there 3-6 months at a time.

Improviser

Beautifullyt, do you not think it might help you get suggestions if you gave a budget total and the amount of time you want to go for?

There is no point in my suggesting the Seychelles if your budget would not allow you to go there. The more relevant information you provide the more relevant responses you will get. Otherwise all you get is places other people like without any regard for what you can afford.

Beautifullyt

As I said any suggestions would be wonderful. It will help expand my traveling knowledge of places I may like to visit. Either next year or further into the future. I'm looking 5-7 days and I honestly don't know about budget but lets say $3000

sparkchaser

$3000 can get you 5-7 days in a decent all-inclusive resort. What city will you be flying out of?

schmerl

Where do you live? What time of year are you traveling? This can affect both budget and climate.

thursdaysd

"As I said any suggestions would be wonderful."

I suggest a lot of reading.

Start here: http://www.fodors.com/community/trav...collection.cfm

Then go on to the MANY TRs on the other boards here, plus your library and local bookstore (I spend quite a bit of time with a cup of coffee and guide books at Barnes and Noble when I'm researching a trip). You might look for Rough Guides' "First Time" series, and used copies of Lonely Planet's "Read this First" series. Try the glossy guidebooks first, you don't need to worry about logistics until you've decided where to go.

Improviser

Well, your $3000 might get you a week in the Seychelles if you live in Bombay or Nairobi. Of course you haven't said where you live so who knows where $3k could ge you.

Improviser

Re reading, you can limit yourself to places you see on a map of the tropics.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropics

Beautifullyt

Thanks for all the replies. Sorry I've been MIA. I'd either be flying out of San Jose or San Francisco CA. Thank you thursdaysd for the reading suggestions! The time of year isn't set since it will depend on the off season of where I decide to go.