bereft of holiday ideas

I said not caribbean ?

st barts is nice though. not much to do.

Tjere are no cities worth a mention in Belize - although lots of luxury jungle lodges.

I third or fourth the Brazil recomendation - we went this year late Jan early Feb and it was fab. If you timed it right you could be in Rio for Carnival. We left the day it started but did manage to go to see live carnival bands at the top of Sugar Loaf the night before and it was amazing.

The beaches are great as well.

This travel agency are highly recommended https://www.dehouche.com/ (we used their slightly cheaper cousin http://anteater-travel.com/ )

I have a question and you can tell me to feck off if it's too rude (not that you need permission). Is it that right now what you need is luxury, total relaxation, and you would consider less luxurious accommodation another time, or would you really discount ever visiting a whole country/area because the hotels weren't up to scratch? Just because for me the location is usually is as important as the hotel itself although I know we have very different criteria, and maybe if I got used to the luxury I wouldn't want to go without - I'm used to slumming it and Couples in Jamaica was luxury to me but I don't think it would be to you?

I am genuinely interested and not having a go at all.

Zanzibar - Zanzibar Serena Inn

Why don't you go to the moon? I hear it's very accessible by stick ?

(I would be looking at Brazil I think, in your shoes...depends how hot you mean by hot, though).

i d never discount anything. i ve stayed in accomodation from ex prisons in the old czechoslovakia to really fantastic hotels. if i wanted to go somewhere badly enough i d stay in a tent, or on the ground, and have.

Actually I would go to Rajasthan. It'll definitely be hot in November. I think parts of it get very cold in February (didn't really understand your post- are you looking for two holidays or one long one?) but parts are perfect.

How about Singapore?

Kuala Lumpur and then a Malaysian island?

Los Cabos, Mexico (although not sure about city aspect).

http://www.itcclassics.co.uk/Hotels/Mexico/Los-Cabos/OneAndOnly-Palmilla.aspx

Vietnam?

https://www.inspiringtravel.co.uk

I fancy rajasthan actually. we looked at it about 18 months ago. i m looking for two holidays.

We went to wakaya a couple of years ago had the whole island to ourselves, and Nobu popped in to train their chef. no city, but you have to pass through a few to get there. www.wakaya.com

its awesome as hotels go, and the food, and the diving....

Oberoi Triangle route - The experience here was superb.

Also I know you said not Morrocco, but Kasbah Tamadot is well worth a visit (Atlas Mountain resort)

Isnt tamadot owned by branson? i looked at that earlier on in the year. besides morocco isnt warm in nov or feb - i ve been in nov and the mountains are cold. i fancy one of the newly conversted riads though, there are some cool ones on mr & mrs smith

rach - that looks great, but sadly theres no way i can go to fiji without going to NZ due to madams family, and i d rather avoid it ?

Branson does indeed own the retreat - he bought it after his Mother went there & said to him he must buy it.

Le Taha private island near Bora Bora is amazing - only other place to get an over the water bungalow than the Maldives but sooooo much nicer but lacking an city vibe unless you would consider a twin centre with LA or the like??

The Nam Hai in Hoi An sprung to my mind too - it looks lovely! The beach is nice, you can get a whole new wardrobe of clothes made at the same time as Hoi An is swamped with tailors. It's not city, but you could tack on a few days in Ho Chi Minh City, too, maybe?

I would definitely chime in on the Rajasthan recommendation - no beach but amazing cities and culture. You could stay at the Lake Palace in Udaipur, which I imagine would definitely fit into the "luxury hotels of the world" category. We had dinner there, didn't stay unfortunately but it looked amazing.

If you do go to Rajasthan, you should definitely go to Jaisalmer on the edge of the Thar desert if you can - we went on a very long train journey out there but I believe you can fly.

How about Zanzibar?

Admittedly it does not have a big city however it depens on if you are looking for proper city or just something to do as a break from the beach if this would siut you...

Also someone mentioned Hawaii, would that not suit you or is it too far away? there you can find proper luxury and cities... I stayed at the www.Halekulani.com and at the Mandarin oriental and they were fabulous.

Renaissance Harbour View is gorgeous in Hong Kong. Hong Kong will be hot and there is loads to do

The next hot luxury destination on my list is oman. It's still largely undiscovered by the great travelling public, which is probably what appeals to me the most. Despite that, it is serviced with excellent hotels. Fox in socks will be better able to advise on hotels, although I usually use CV travel because they are ace. I like these: https://www.cvvillas.com/

https://www.cvvillas.com/

and this appeals to the hippy in me: https://www.cvvillas.com/

Http://www.sixsenses.com/Six-Senses-Hideaway-Zighy-Bay/

Was just going to recommend Zighy bay as well - you even get the option of paragliding in! We haven't been yet but are due to go there in December (we're based in Dubai) - I'm having I hate Dubai day -so wouldn't recommend it for a holiday at the mo - but most days I would. There are other Emirates near by - Fujeirah - being one - which are apparently beautiful and well worth an explore - although I haven't made it far out of the city.

We went to the Shangri-la in muscat recently - it was okay - but not as luxurious as I was expecting.

You must go to the Indian Ocean resorts the other sde of the UAE or have you been to Hatta or the Emirates resort?

Lou, I lived in Oman when I was a kid and whilst I cant remember much about it, the old man keeps telling me to go. i do fancyt he chedi, but what puts me off is that it seems to be in the middle of nowhere. i dont like places where youre effectively forced to eat at the hotel all the time and want to see local stuff.

island retreats per se don't really get me going either. i get bored lying on a beach for more than 3 days and i want some action ?

thanks to everyone for the ideas.

Waah! lou, the wahiba sands doesnt have a liquor licence ??

What did you not like about Dubai? So I can get a jist of what you don't want?

Chedi is a 15 min drive into Muscat .

I'm pretty sure that when fox and mr fox were out there they got out and about plenty (they're not really 'eating in the hotel every night and not going anywhere' types) so I'm sure she's your girl if you want some ideas of best locations. Muscat sounds pretty cosmopolitan, so I'm sure there's plenty to do. (And yes, the chedi looks rather good, doesn't it).

Thtas interesting. maybe she ll see this.

jmp, i dont like the fact that its pretty lacking in culture, a nd everywhere seems to be a building site - at least it was when i was last there. i want exotic, and i want dirty dancing girls[/s] culture.

Oman looks amazing. Please go, just so I can live vicariously through you.

I know you said no Goa, but what about Kerala (if thats how you spell it) in India? We've been researching a trip there recently and I keep getting sidetracked with really nice hotels (although I think you prefer a more 'modern' luxury than me, so I could be barking up the wrong tree).

Lots to see/do in India as well.

I m not keen on goa or kerala really. nice laid back atmosphere, but i want something a bit more iyswim. my preference is to go back to thailand, but madam wont have it, she wants to go somewhere new.

If its causing you so much bother, why not leave it up to Madam?Or will that leave you with a NZ based option.....

Mauritius?

Hmmm, i'm not sure youll get tits in Oman, not even in muscat. have you thought about buenos aires? There's a home hotel there (9along with all your ususal 4 seasons etc) and a cracking nightlife.

cant do that - too much of a control freak ?

plus, she s more relaxed about hotels than i am. she ll put up with poor service whereas i wont.