Where should we go?

[RITS]

We go on vacation every August to escape Ramadan (not being able to drink water in this heat is ridiculous!) but have no idea where we should go this year. Last year we went to Koh Samui (Thailand) and DH would love to go back but I think that there are too many places in the world to go to the same place twice.

We love snorkeling, kayaking, and "beachy" vacations but I'll be 6 months pregnant and am pretty sure I'm not going to want to do this. I'd also like to stay away from the UK, France, Germany, and Italy.

Right now we're thinking a 7-day Norwegian fjords cruise (Copenhagen, Oslo, Stavanger, Bergen, Geiranger, Alesund, Copenhagen) but I haven't done any research so I don't know if that's even a good time to go. The cutoff for cruising is 24 weeks and I'll be in the middle of my 22nd week so that should be ok as long as I have no issues.

Any other ideas? What are some places that you've enjoyed and would be easy to do while pregnant? I'd like to stay under a 7 hour flight from Dubai.

[wise_rita]

Why can't you drink water during Ramadan?

A Scandinavian tour would be awesome in early August. I would consider Croatia since it'll shave a little bit of flight time compared to western Europe, and it sounds like a stunning place. How far a flight is Cyprus? That would be a beachy, relaxing destination.

[RITS]

Since it's a Muslim country, you can't eat, drink, chew gum, smoke, or anything else that has to do with putting anything in your mouth while in public during daylight hours. Not fun.

I will definitely look into Croatia as well... I forgot that was on my places to go list.

The more I think about cruising Norway, the more I think I'd really like to do this. Let me know if you have recs for any of the ports as well. I can't remember which city you lived in.

[wise_rita]

Wow, for such a multicultural place as Dubai that surprises me that. It's not Saudi Arabia, KWIM?

GilliC has done a fjord cruise, I do believe. I have seen a shamefully small amount of Norway so I am no help to you!

[RITS]

I know! It's so Western here and yet they still make everyone not eat or drink. So note: don't visit Dubai during Ramadan.

Hopefully Gilli will find this post!

[Wanderista]

I can throw in two cents about this. First of all, I haven't been to Norway but Copenhagen is one of my favorite cities in Europe. That cruise definitely sounds like a great idea.

As far as Croatia goes ... also really fantastic. I've been in both the summer and the winter with the SO. Last summer, we toured most of the coast and I went to Montenegro with a friend as well. I can definitely give advice about the area.

Honestly, as much as I love Croatia, I might suggest waiting until you aren't pregnant, particularly if you want to go to Dubrovnik. It's a gorgeous city, think of Venice but without the canals and LOTS of stairs. You would probably be fine if you decided to do a cruise of the region. There are many of those. Also, you would probably be fine while visiting some of the Dalmatian islands or Istria to the north, but honestly I would wait and take your kid(s) sometime. Remember also that August is high season on Croatia's coast and a lot of stuff has booked up or is booking up as we speak.

Croatia is a fantastic destination for people with children. There's lots of wonderful fun for kids at places like Bol (a beach town), a savanna-like zoo on Brijuni, and Croatia as a whole is very child-friendly. There's virtually no crime. The beaches are mostly pebbly but that's really not a big deal if you have flip-flops. The water is also really fantastic for swimming. If you avoid a couple of places that are known for partying (Hvar and Novalja), the rest of the country is pretty chill, not much wild behavior.

Basically as someone who loves Croatia, I'd say to go to Scandinavia this summer and plan for Croatia in the future.

[Deleted]

Why can't YOU drink? You mean if you drank water in public people would give you the stink eye? No exception for westerners? This is really bizarre. I didn't know you couldn't drink during Ramadan.

I second Croatia. All the people I know who've been there say it took their breath away. My dad went to a Norwegian cruise last year ( I am pretty sure it was during the summer because he said the sun was out most of the time) and he loved it.

[oneslybookworm]

I thought if you were pregnant or ill, you weren't supposed to follow the fast for Ramadan. You should be a shoe-in for an exception!

I'd suggest Scandanavia as well. DH and I absolutely LOVE Norway, we've been a few times and it's absolutely fabulous. Gorgeous landscapes, and plenty to see and do. Never been on a cruise there, but I'm sure it would be great!

[RITS]

As for Ramadan, I could drink water being pregnant but I'm fairly sure I have to have proof. lol. And if you do eat or drink in public, you get a fine. Stink-eye I could live with! We don't have to fast, we just can't rub it in the faces of people who do, I suppose. So nothing in public. Western or not. No exceptions.

Croatia sounds amazing! Wanderista, thanks for all the info... I think I will wait until after baby is born to visit. It's nice to know it's child friendly and thanks for the warning about the stairs.

Onesly, have you been to any of the cities I listed? Any recs? LOB, glad to know your dad liked the cruise... the more I think about it, the more I think this is what we'll end up doing.