h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Ok, here's the deal. I got paid off by Britsh Airways a while back, and as part of the redundancy package I get a free ticket to anywhere on their main network. In business class, natch. The problem is, I'm now a student, and I can't really afford to go on holiday. I have family in Canada, who I'd visit as a last resort (don't ask), but other than that, I've no idea where to go.

I don't want to go to Europe, cos it's a waste of business class tickets (I want a *bed*, goddamit!), so where can I go, probably on my own cos it's a freebie, and somewhere which is cheap and worth visiting for around 5 days. Not New York, Chicago, SE Asia, or Dubai (cos I've been there already).

Any thoughts?

Cape Town.

It's dirt cheap to accommodate yourself there (backpacker hostels are rife), everything is dirt cheap because of the collapsed exchange rate, and its ing brill-yunt!

RF

houston texas ..see the astrodome and the space centre.
I can also recommend mexico, or if feeling adventurous Peru.

Yeah, I've heard Capetown is pretty good, the only problem is I pretty much have to go in June, which is the middle of winter there, and I want to go somewhere which is more than *slightly* warmer than the Scottish summer.

Don't really fancy Houston. Some of my pals became cabin crew, and when they go there they don't like it much. Don't really fancy going to the States much at the mo, to be honest.

New Zealand?

Dirt cheap for a student - cracking vistas thrown into the bargain.

B

Given all your restrictions...

Have you considered Israel? Near*, hot, cheap, historical, worth visiting, er...that's it!

RF

* -ish!

BA don't fly direct to NZ, it's to OZ then Qantas, so can't do that. Also, don't really have the time.

As for Israel, weeeeeeeeeellllllll, f**k no! Although the shops are pretty quiet these days

But thanks for the careful consideration RF.

How about Oz?? I got no idea if its cheap or what, but seems good and its always gotta be warmer than Scotland!

I think the key phrase from post 1 is "5 days".

Who goes to Oz or NZ for 5 days?

RF

OK, how about Nairobi?

Cheap, warm (Africa!), safari parks, stuff...

RF

Or even one hour further on the same flight, Dar es Salaam. In five days you could do a mini safari and go to Zanzibar - beach and interesting historical town.

Otherwise SE Asia might be good.

sprout

Brazil is hot in June! Try somewhere like Sao Paulo instead of Rio, it's a beautiful city with more than enough to do for 5 days and loads of cheap hotels as well.