I'm starting a new job in October, and now the clock is ticking on unexpected vacation time....where to go for 3 weeks, with all options open, a best friend in tow who's bad at reading maps, and a windfall budget. We're mid-40's, active single city women, like to eat well, be pampered, but love the great outdoors.

Doesn't have to be US-only -- literally, don't know where to start!

Take a small-group hiking or biking tour. I've done several through REI - they are fantastic. They have trips all over the world - check out reiadventures.com. They feed you SO well...and take you mainly to off-the-beaten-path, non-touristy places. And they carry your luggage from place to place. The groups are usually around 10 people (age range: late 20s to early 50s) and the guides are wonderful and fun and know English very well. The accomodations are nothing fancy, but I never minded since we spent most of our time out exploring. Highly, highly recommended!

Head out of the country for sure - especially given that block of time and budget.

Australia!!! Will not be any cheaper than now. 3 weeks is perfect. Took my 14 yr old son down in December and had a blast. Top of the line and once in a life time experience, 4-5K p/p. Took 12 flights leaving from Dallas. If i can help let me know.

I recommend Australia or New Zealand. The expensive part will be getting there, but the American dollar is worth almost two in New Zealand and about $1.60 in Australia.

Luce, I vote for Australia as well.

Port Douglas is a wonderful place to spend time, and it will be great in October. You can explore the Great Barrier Reef from there, as well as the oldest rainforest in the world: the Daintree.

If you like to be pampered, you can get a massage in town. I went to a place where I got a 3 hour package...a full body scrub and rinse with the vichy shower, a 1 hour massage, and a 1 hour facial. The price? $195 AUSTRALIAN DOLLARS. That translated into about $100 bucks USD at the time. Try finding a price like that here!

Sydney is also a wonderful place to explore. Check the fodor's Australian travel forum if you're interested...there's lots of good advice there. You can eat for very reasonable prices in Oz. I think the exchange rate was a bit better before, but it's still a deal. If you can get a good price on airfare, three weeks would be well spent there.

Have a good trip, wherever you go.

I've dreamt of going to Australia since I was a kid -- thanks for the push in that direction. If you do have other tips, advice on where to go and stay, much appreciated. Has anyone been to the Margaret River wine-growing region?

Before I switch over to the Australia forum -- thanks for the advice. My biggest question was whether 3 weeks was enough time!

Three weeks is plenty see quite a bit. Don't try to see the "whole" country in three weeks though...it's a big place. Stick with Sydney, Port Douglas, and maybe one or two other places.

Enjoy!

What a strange world we live in today.
Luce needs to take three weeks of vacation, and has a windfall of $ with which to take it.
On the other hand, Collette, another poster, worries about whether she should cancel her vacation plans because she may need that $ if her husband loses his job as they expect. might happen

Why not take a 2-3 week cruise to Europe or even a combination Far East/Australia cruise. There are plenty of other single people on cruises and you will definitely be pampered and well fed. Also the shore excurtions should satisfy your enthusiasm for the "great outdoors". I think Royal Caribbean is one of the best cruise lines but there are other good ones out there as well. Have fun!!