40th Birthday Holiday Ideas

I don't know if I'm too late on this one... but we went to Madeira for a 4 day weekend this year and the scenery/hiking was absolutely stunning. Could have easily spent more time there. No beaches though if that's important.


The surprise holiday thing you mentioned sounds really cool. Are they more expensive than booking a normal holiday?

We've been to Madeira and also loved it.  Gorgeous place!

I think the surprise holidays are reasonably priced.  They are short, only 3, 4, or 5 nights.  I looked at my birthday but as it's during the summer holidays is was very pricey.  Pretty reasonable otherwise though.  This is the website.  srprs.me

We've done it!  We booked a very nice villa in Croatia in the mountains above Split.  Day trip distance to a couple of national parks, sea view, etc.  It might not be HOT but we booked a place with a heated pool.  We are very excited.  It's somewhere neither of us have been before.  Three year old is excited but she wants to go somewhere for her birthday now.   

Can recommend taking little ones away for their birthday - we did two nights in Paris for our 5 year old’s birthday. She wanted to see the Eiffel Tower (thank you, GoJetters). Cheap flights to Paris and two nights in an AirBnB cost nearly the same as a soft-play birthday party, especially when you consider all the trimmings (party bags, etc). We did very little other than wander around, go to parks, ride on carousels, etc. Our big expense was going all the way up the tower. It was wonderful.

Can recommend taking little ones away for their birthday - we did two nights in Paris for our 5 year old’s birthday. She wanted to see the Eiffel Tower (thank you, GoJetters). Cheap flights to Paris and two nights in an AirBnB cost nearly the same as a soft-play birthday party, especially when you consider all the trimmings (party bags, etc). We did very little other than wander around, go to parks, ride on carousels, etc. Our big expense was going all the way up the tower. It was wonderful.

I'm all for it!  Her birthday is April 1st which is Easter Sunday this year, so we have a 4 day weekend.  She's OBSESSED with pandas and I think we should go to Edinburgh to see the pandas at the zoo.  Trying to convince the husband.  He thinks it's a long way to go for pandas.   

And you are absolutely right.  It'll probably cost about the same as a party! 

I'm all for it!  Her birthday is April 1st which is Easter Sunday this year, so we have a 4 day weekend.  She's OBSESSED with pandas and I think we should go to Edinburgh to see the pandas at the zoo.  Trying to convince the husband.  He thinks it's a long way to go for pandas.   

And you are absolutely right.  It'll probably cost about the same as a party!

Ooo! Sounds fun! When my girls were babies I had a season pass to Edinburgh Zoo, we lived 10 minutes walk down the road. Let me know if you want any recommendations re the area! It’s a great zoo - very much on a hill so go with that in mind.

I'm all for it!  Her birthday is April 1st which is Easter Sunday this year, so we have a 4 day weekend.  She's OBSESSED with pandas and I think we should go to Edinburgh to see the pandas at the zoo.

Take me with you!!!

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 He thinks it's a long way to go for pandas.   

Closer than China! 

Closer than China! 

What's crazy is that she's been to China!  And Edinburgh!  We just didn't know that she was obsessed with pandas then.

The kid couldn't care less about princesses - she is all about the pandas.  I'm not complaining!!

There was the BBC video this week about the panda named Pupu that they are trying to build strength in for mating.  A panda named POO POO.  I thought her little head was going to explode from excitement.  She keeps asking to watch Pupu the panda.

Eatoomey, I am having a hard time convincing my husband because of weather.  He's so British when it comes to that!  There are pandas in France but they are hard to get to for a weekend.  Plus he thinks she would enjoy a party more.   

Take me with you!!!

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I'll take you instead of my husband!!!

Warning:  a three year old will also be in attendance.

We've done it!  We booked a very nice villa in Croatia in the mountains above Split.  Day trip distance to a couple of national parks, sea view, etc.  It might not be HOT but we booked a place with a heated pool.  We are very excited.  It's somewhere neither of us have been before.  Three year old is excited but she wants to go somewhere for her birthday now.   

A decision!  And reservation booked!  Well done!

Whwn is your daughter's birthday?  Is it far enough from your husband's to justify "time for a holiday!"?

A decision!  And reservation booked!  Well done!

Whwn is your daughter's birthday?  Is it far enough from your husband's to justify "time for a holiday!"?

Her birthday is April 1st (Easter Sunday).  I've scoured the internet the last few days and the cheapest I can get the 4 of us to Edinburgh for Easter weekend would be £700 (travel and hotel).  That's a LOT for a weekend.  May have to look at a random weekend as I think Easter is driving the price up a bit.

Or get some sun and go to Split or Dubrovnik, Croatia?

We've done it!  We booked a very nice villa in Croatia in the mountains above Split.

What do I win? 

Do I get to come with?!? 

What do I win? 

Do I get to come with?!? 

If you'll babysit, just say the word.  I will TOTALLY pay for your flight!   

If you'll babysit, just say the word.  I will TOTALLY pay for your flight!   

You'd get a 4-for-1 with my husband and parents since I think that overlaps with when my folks are visiting.

We've got our own excursion planned for the four of us in the Black Forest and Alsace. We'll wave over the Alps to you.

If you'll babysit, just say the word.  I will TOTALLY pay for your flight!   

When my friend's husband was unable to take time off work to go with her to visit her grandmother in Alaska, she invited me along to help her wrangle her then-4yo daughter and 9mo son.  (This is the same little girl that I nannied when she was an infant.)  I went, and it was awesome... Would recommend going on a holiday in this capacity.

You'd get a 4-for-1 with my husband and parents since I think that overlaps with when my folks are visiting.

We've got our own excursion planned for the four of us in the Black Forest and Alsace. We'll wave over the Alps to you.

Please eat a piece of Black Forest cake while in the Black Forest for me!