View Full Version : Help me find a vacation spot!
kmachate
09-02-2008, 10:49 AM
Eventually I'll post a poll, but first I need ideas!
I've been to Cancun 3 times, all to the same AI (21+) resort. (I know a few of you have been there as well, they recently changed the name..) I really like it there, but I want to try something new.
I actually prefer AI (American, not Euro) because it's cheaper overall. I'm not OVERLY picky when it comes to how fancy it is, I'm more picky about the atmosphere, friendliness of other people there.
My budget it SOMEWHAT flexible, but I'd say no more than 3k total (Flight, hotel, food, etc) for 6 night/7 day.
Here's the only real stipulations:
It has to be warm. Carribean, Mexico, South America, etc. I'd say Fiji, Tahiti too, but that would kill my budget and schedule.
I'd like somewhere that has enough activity on-site that if I wanted to stay put I wouldn't get bored, but also had other stuff in case I wanted to venture out. (No deserted islands..)
OK, so maybe I am a little picky ;)
Any ideas? I'm looking at Mid January, and planning on traveling by myself.
SP1966
09-02-2008, 10:53 AM
Northern Minnesota? Duluth maybe, the lake is beautiful all frozen over and all...
kmachate
09-02-2008, 10:54 AM
You missed the warm part? ;)
SP1966
09-02-2008, 10:54 AM
Yes, in Jaunuary I do very much miss the warm part! :mad:
kmachate
09-02-2008, 11:01 AM
Yes, in Jaunuary I do very much miss the warm part! :mad:
LOL!
I'm thinking maybe Hawaii now, as well. No AI's there, but I'm loooking at hotel/flight for 1500-1600..
Seriously.. Anybody have any suggestions?
DanVanVliet
09-02-2008, 11:02 AM
Jamaca They have lots of adult only resorts.
You might try Aruba (unless you're still mad at them :)). Been there 3 times, and even at the same Carlos & Charlie's where Natalie was abducted from :eek:
Average temp year round is 86*F. Gorgeous water, casinos, etc.. The food there sucks, but it's tolerable. All three times, I stayed at the Aruba Sonesta Resort, which I believe is now owned by Renaissance. It has a casino and shopping mall inside, and has a boat come in to the lobby every 20 minutes and it shuttles back and forth to their private island. Yes, the hotel has the only private island there. The island has 3 strips of beach, one of which is topless. It has its own bar and restaurant too, and waiters walk the little island to take/deliver orders. I always liked it.
SP1966
09-02-2008, 11:04 AM
LOL!
I'm thinking maybe Hawaii now, as well. No AI's there, but I'm loooking at hotel/flight for 1500-1600..
Seriously.. Anybody have any suggestions?
Been to Hawaii, didn't care for it, nice but meh...
Went on a Disney :( cruise last February and I loved Grand Cayman, but the best part was thier private island, damn I could spend a month laying around that beach!
Marius_Ursus
09-02-2008, 11:10 AM
Dak To, Vietnam
kmachate
09-02-2008, 11:17 AM
Aruba sounds nice. I will look into that one.
I have heard a lot of good things about Grand Cayman, but I think it is (Unless I'm mistaken) sort of geared towards the cruise ships. Not sure if there's enough non-cruise activity.
I'd say Viet Nam is a big NO. :P
kmachate
09-02-2008, 11:18 AM
Jamaca They have lots of adult only resorts.
Unfortunately I think I'm about 15 years too young for most of them...
Marius_Ursus
09-02-2008, 11:21 AM
I'd say Viet Nam is a big NO. :P
Why? It's cheap, warm, and has amazing food.
SP1966
09-02-2008, 11:22 AM
Why? It's cheap, warm, and has amazing food.
And the women love you long time...
kmachate
09-02-2008, 11:26 AM
And the women love you long time...
ROFL!
No, because I have zero desire to visit VN. (I don't like the food for starters ;) )
Marius_Ursus
09-02-2008, 11:29 AM
ROFL!
No, because I have zero desire to visit VN. (I don't like the food for starters ;) )
Oh, never mind Vietnam, then. Do you like any southern Asian food?
Thailand is lovely, too...except there's a little too much political unrest right now.
What do you think of staying in one of those tree houses in Kenya on the Masai reservation? I've always wanted to do that.
Are you trying to keep it to the western hemisphere? If so, Paraguay and Uruguay are both not too crowded, pretty cheap, and beautiful.
SP1966
09-02-2008, 11:31 AM
Oh, never mind Vietnam, then. Do you like any southern Asian food?
Thailand is lovely, too...except there's a little too much political unrest right now.
Patia beach Thailand! The Playboy Club... body to body massage... just sayin...
Aruba sounds nice. I will look into that one.
I have heard a lot of good things about Grand Cayman, but I think it is (Unless I'm mistaken) sort of geared towards the cruise ships. Not sure if there's enough non-cruise activity.
Well, cruise ships stop in Aruba too. In fact, one night while partying at Carlos & Charlie's, the place was pretty full. Suddenly, what seemed like a never ending line of people, kept piling through the door. It had to be a couple hundred people. But actually, the place rocks....and the additional people kind of helped make it wilder. You haven't lived until you've had a bib tied around your neck while a partying wait staff squirts tequila in your mouth from several feet away :). They also have 3' long beer glasses, and you can keep the glass. Just keep in mind that you won't be invisible when you leave, while carrying a 3' long beer glass and stumbling down the street back toward your hotel. Just sayin'........
kmachate
09-02-2008, 11:59 AM
Well, cruise ships stop in Aruba too. In fact, one night while partying at Carlos & Charlie's, the place was pretty full. Suddenly, what seemed like a never ending line of people, kept piling through the door. It had to be a couple hundred people. But actually, the place rocks....and the additional people kind of helped make it wilder. You haven't lived until you've had a bib tied around your neck while a partying wait staff squirts tequila in your mouth from several feet away :). They also have 3' long beer glasses, and you can keep the glass. Just keep in mind that you won't be invisible when you leave, while carrying a 3' long beer glass and stumbling down the street back toward your hotel. Just sayin'........
Sounds a lot like Senor Frogs in Nassau. :)
Looks like it's a little outside my budget ths time.. Normally I have 6 months to plan for a trip, this time it's only 3.
TulsaCoker
09-02-2008, 12:19 PM
The US Virgin Islands (St. Thomas) and Mexico (Puerto Vallarta) are two that come to mind. Been to both and for your budget both will work. Also Cancun or Cabo in Mexico.
jtroster
09-02-2008, 12:19 PM
St. Martin as long as you stay on the French side. We've been there 3 times are are going again this December. Its has great food, shopping, beaches and SCUBA diving.
The US Virgin Islands (St. Thomas)....
And to add to that, I regret not having taken the ferry over to St. John. I like St. Thomas, but....
DanVanVliet
09-02-2008, 12:30 PM
ST Thomas and ST Martine are both cool but the interior's are not nice at all.
rpaul11
09-02-2008, 12:31 PM
My aunt and cousin LOVE costa rica. Not sure where exactly they go there, but they say it's pretty inexpensive.
My aunt and cousin LOVE costa rica. Not sure where exactly they go there, but they say it's pretty inexpensive.
They must have a few bucks, because Costa Rica isn't cheap. I almost went there about 5yrs ago, and I was looking at staying at some "authentic" huts that were on piers over the water. No A/C...and over $200 per night (with big discount). I guess you pay for "authenticity" :).
But...I know a guy who just got back from CR a few months ago, and he loved it.
rpaul11
09-02-2008, 12:37 PM
They must have a few bucks, because Costa Rica isn't cheap. I almost went there about 5yrs ago, and I was looking at staying at some "authentic" huts that were on piers over the water. No A/C...and over $200 per night (with big discount). I guess you pay for "authenticity" :).
But...I know a guy who just got back from CR a few months ago, and he loved it.
actually, they don't....hmmmmm...now I gotta know where they are staying.
MalibuDebi1972
09-02-2008, 12:50 PM
Eventually I'll post a poll, but first I need ideas!
I've been to Cancun 3 times, all to the same AI (21+) resort. (I know a few of you have been there as well, they recently changed the name..) I really like it there, but I want to try something new.
I actually prefer AI (American, not Euro) because it's cheaper overall. I'm not OVERLY picky when it comes to how fancy it is, I'm more picky about the atmosphere, friendliness of other people there.
My budget it SOMEWHAT flexible, but I'd say no more than 3k total (Flight, hotel, food, etc) for 6 night/7 day.
Here's the only real stipulations:
It has to be warm. Carribean, Mexico, South America, etc. I'd say Fiji, Tahiti too, but that would kill my budget and schedule.
I'd like somewhere that has enough activity on-site that if I wanted to stay put I wouldn't get bored, but also had other stuff in case I wanted to venture out. (No deserted islands..)
OK, so maybe I am a little picky ;)
Any ideas? I'm looking at Mid January, and planning on traveling by myself.
I need a vacation...Where are we going? I'll start to pack now :p
farsscf
09-02-2008, 12:57 PM
http://www.superclubs.com/brand_hedonism/
TulsaCoker
09-02-2008, 01:15 PM
And to add to that, I regret not having taken the ferry over to St. John. I like St. Thomas, but....
Agree, I took the ferry over and spent the day on St. John. Expensive to stay the night but excellent beaches and snorkling.
Fifty+
09-02-2008, 01:21 PM
Eventually I'll post a poll, but first I need ideas!
I've been to Cancun 3 times, all to the same AI (21+) resort. (I know a few of you have been there as well, they recently changed the name..) I really like it there, but I want to try something new.
I actually prefer AI (American, not Euro) because it's cheaper overall. I'm not OVERLY picky when it comes to how fancy it is, I'm more picky about the atmosphere, friendliness of other people there.
My budget it SOMEWHAT flexible, but I'd say no more than 3k total (Flight, hotel, food, etc) for 6 night/7 day.
Here's the only real stipulations:
It has to be warm. Carribean, Mexico, South America, etc. I'd say Fiji, Tahiti too, but that would kill my budget and schedule.
I'd like somewhere that has enough activity on-site that if I wanted to stay put I wouldn't get bored, but also had other stuff in case I wanted to venture out. (No deserted islands..)
OK, so maybe I am a little picky ;)
Any ideas? I'm looking at Mid January, and planning on traveling by myself.
Costa Rica. Great people, sun, activities, low cost air fare and hotels, and it can be very peaceful.
http://www.caneelbay.com/
St John U.S.V.I lived there for 6 months and worked at caneel bay the people are incredible and the atmosphere is pure heaven on earth!!!!
eomrat
09-02-2008, 02:12 PM
Have a look at Belize. Great value. If you are interested in SCUBA, it is hard to beat ( at least close by). Snorkling is excellent also. If you are so inclined they have guided tours of the rain forest. If not, it is a great place to do very little also. For a totally relaxed experience you may sample some of the local agriculture. Just sayin..
kmachate
09-02-2008, 08:47 PM
http://www.superclubs.com/brand_hedonism/
I looked into Hedo, but I think (based on reviews from several sites) I would be the youngest one there....
tomdana
09-02-2008, 09:02 PM
If you want to buy the new gym equipment and have vacation this is a great deal. Ixtapa is beautiful and there are a bunch of all inclusives.
On the other side is Zihuatanejo is a quaint fishing village where travel is mostly by water taxi. I loved Zihuatanejo. The catamaran Picante is a party like no other :D
wubby
09-04-2008, 09:58 AM
I looked into Hedo, but I think (based on reviews from several sites) I would be the youngest one there....
You would be far from the youngest one there. H2 has a sightly older crowd, but at H3 you would be right about the average age. You would not be disappointed. Beware, if you go, you will never want to go anywhere else again.
We took a family trip to Aruba this year also - I was very disappointed and do not intend to go back.