40th Birthday Celebration
 

Hello Travelers!!

I am turning 40 and looking for a warm destination for my birthday in FEB. I would like to go somewhere new. I have been to Europe, the Middle East, and the Caribbean. I am interested in partying/dancing a bit, beaching it, and seeing some historical interesting sites/hiking/monuments and/or rainforests. We were considering Belize, Costa Rica, and Australia (although that is a little far!!). Budget is about 3 to 5K for 2, to include airfare and lodging. So I suppose some city, with the ability to get out on excursions or adventures. This tentative agenda might be much for 5 days, but I would like to really enjoy my 40th somewhere beautiful and new. It might be me and my sister or 3-5 women. No cruises and I might want to stay away from the all inclusive. I would like a real adventure! Thank you in advance!!

I assume you are traveling from someplace in the US - if so to go someplace "warm" in February you'll want to go someplace south of the Tropic of Cancer and north of the Tropic of Capricorn..

Now, I doubt you could get much of a "vacation for 2" in Australia for your 43K to $5K budget - airfare will eat up most if not all of that. It's also a 20 to 24 hour flight from the US each way so doing a 5 day trip there makes no sense. Same with any destination in the south seas, Asia or the Indian Ocean. Since you ruled out the Caribbean that means you are pretty much limited to Mexico, Central America and parts of South America,

You don't say when in February you are traveling but have you considered going to Brazil for Carnival (In 2016 February 5 through 9) - lots of partying and dancing there.

Thank you for the message! Traveling from Chicago and days are 16 to 21 FEB. I thought of Carnival, but the dates are out if sync. Thank you for pointing out missing details. I'm trying to plan this trip and I am getting frustrated....lol

Cozumel, Mexico. Wonderful island, easy and inexpensive from Chicago. Many, many wonderful restaurants, good nightlife, the reef for adventure. Look at Hotel B. Sounds like the right place for you. I will be there for my birthday in February....in fact, I go every year!

Happy Birthday!

In addition....if you have 3-5 ladies, you might like your own condo. Look at Nah Ha in Cozumel. Amazing ocean front location. 3 bedrooms. The best snorkeling right in front of the condo. You can hire a cook to come cook a very special birthday dinner just for you....or celebrate at Bucannos At Night. It would be wonderful!

Puerto Vallarta, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, Isla Mujeres, Cancun, or Cabo San Lucas... Mexico

Belize could work. I don't think of Costa Rica for partying and dancing. I would not fly all the way to Australia with only 5 days.

Ever considered Bali? You can get great accommodation with your budget, you can party, lots of dining options, beach activities, lots of shopping (from cheap to super expensive, from clothing to knick-knacks to furniture), and after you've exhausted yourself from all of those, you can recharge by getting some pampering treatments such as massages, mani-pedi with Balinese nail art, and creambaths (I recommend the last one, it's an Indonesian scalp massage that is to-die-for!).

I suggest book a villa in Seminyak (just Google it, there are endless options), you will be within walking distance to all the restaurants and shops. I stayed at Villa Mutiara last October. We got your own gated villa with a private swimming (swimming, not dipping!) pool for about USD150 per night. If you stay more than 3 days, they offer 25% discount (I think).