ok, so the wife and I just got a get out of jail free card for a week in February. We live in MN and want to go somewhere warm. We procrastinated too long on getting passports, so we need ideas for somewhere to go without one.
I was thinking about Puerto Rico or Key West. Relatively mellow, on the beach, good food, not too many kids running around. We want to keep it under $1500 a piece for air and hotel.
Who has taken a great trip that they would recommend? Any place you wouldnt suggest? Please post links or pics. If your suggestion wins, I will mail you a t-shirt from said vacation destination.
The wife and I got married in Key West back in November.
Great time was had, we were there a total of 12 days.
If you are looking for a lot of beaches, key west is not it.
There are really only 2 beaches on the island, but both very accessible.
PM me if you want more info.
St Croix. Plenty to do if you want, plenty of beach or rainforest to relax in or on.
JM
Quote from: the_Journeyman on January 09, 2009, 07:05:01 AM
St Croix. Plenty to do if you want, plenty of beach or rainforest to relax in or on.
JM
Don't forget the other US virgin islands Besides Croix.
And not for this trip, since it does mean a passport - but Costa Rica is damn fine.
Agreed, the USVI are absolutely gorgeous. Problem is that I'm not sure you can do air and hotel for a week for $3k. Also, food is expensive compared to mainland prices.
The FL keys are nice, but crowded in winter. Of course, all of FL is crowded in winter. We spent a week in Naples FL a few years back, and it definitely didn't suck. Warm, not as crowded as the keys, and not as many fogies as the east coast.
St. Thomas, USVI...no passport required
Stay at the Marriot Frenchman's Reef, great place, beautiful beach (Morningstar) with beachside bars and restaurants. Also great views of Charlotte Amalie and the harbor (spectacular at night).
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/sttfr-frenchmans-reef-and-morning-star-marriott-beach-resort/ (http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/sttfr-frenchmans-reef-and-morning-star-marriott-beach-resort/)
Grab a taxi and head over (literally) to Magen's Bay. A top 10 beach, swimming, snorkling, booze, food, etc. Look for Goldie, one of the independent taxi drivers, and for an extra $10 you'll get a tour of the island with comedic running commentary. He usually hangs at Havensight (cruise ship terminal and large shopping area). Keep your hands and feet in the vehicle !!
http://www.magensbayvi.com/ (http://www.magensbayvi.com/)
http://www.havensightmall.com/ (http://www.havensightmall.com/)
Take a taxi to Red Hook,and take the ferry over to St. Johns and explore the parks and beaches for the day.
http://www.usvi.net/usvi/ferry.htm#RHSJ (http://www.usvi.net/usvi/ferry.htm#RHSJ)
http://www.usvi.net/usvi/stj.html (http://www.usvi.net/usvi/stj.html)
Probably more than $1500 a pop for the week, but well worth it....
+1 on St. Thomas.
Seriously nice place.
You can rent yerself a bike there, too.
only downside I have with St Thomas is WAY TOO MANY CRUISE BOATS!!!
You don't want Key West if you want beaches. I went there a couple of summers ago, lots of parking lots, asphalt, broken glass...and when we did get into the water it was like being in elephant piss.
I'm biased towards PR. I wonder why...
Anyway, if you leave San Juan immediately, you should be able to find something relatively cheap. If you want that small island feel, but still accessible, I would go to Culebra, which is a smaller island off the main. Beautiful, almost deserted beaches.
http://www.culebra-island.com/ (http://www.culebra-island.com/)
You can take a ferry over for a nominal fee and it takes about an hour. Or take a mosquito plane and be there in 10 minutes.
Quote from: cyrus buelton on January 09, 2009, 08:50:26 AM
only downside I have with St Thomas is WAY TOO MANY CRUISE BOATS!!!
+1
That and $10 hamburgers.
If you decide on St. Thomas, Sapphire beach is a better area than Charlotte Amalie IMO. Also, look on some of the timeshare websites for rentals, they're cheaper than a straight hotel. It's a little late for this year, but you might get lucky.
Oh, and shopping in Charlotte Amalie is best done after noon, when the passengers are headed back to their cruise ships. Liquor is insanely cheap, and you can bring 5 liters back duty free.
Magens bay and Sapphire beach are gorgeous, as is Trunk bay on St. Johns.
go to St. John USVI.
stay here (http://maho.org/)
[thumbsup]
Quote from: Bun-bun on January 09, 2009, 09:37:30 AM
+1
That and $10 hamburgers.
If you decide on St. Thomas, Sapphire beach is a better area than Charlotte Amalie IMO. Also, look on some of the timeshare websites for rentals, they're cheaper than a straight hotel. It's a little late for this year, but you might get lucky.
Oh, and shopping in Charlotte Amalie is best done after noon, when the passengers are headed back to their cruise ships. Liquor is insanely cheap, and you can bring 5 liters back duty free.
Magens bay and Sapphire beach are gorgeous, as is Trunk bay on St. Johns.
I unfortunately was there on a cruise boat for a friends wedding.
I couldn't imagine vacationing there, it just is way too make the beast with two backsing busy.
If you had a passport, I'd hope a flight to Tortola.
Talk about an island where there isn't much but a few places to eat and beautiful unpopulated beaches.
Keep in mind that some USVI don't have a large airport. You might need to fly into a larger island and then take a puddle jumper. This might add to the cost of the trip.
Quote from: cyrus buelton on January 09, 2009, 10:37:14 AM
I couldn't imagine vacationing there, it just is way too make the beast with two backsing busy.
Charlotte Amalie IS crowded
(https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3535/3183217310_ba2c426fe0.jpg)
But Megans bay is Quite secluded.
(https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3112/3182377615_f06271b4f3.jpg)
And Sapphire beach is just freakin' gorgeous.
(https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3413/3182378421_ddc547fe98.jpg)
Kiawah Island S.C. about 17 miles south of Charleston, South Carolina.
It is a private Island which you can actually drive on to.
I was there in '94 and it was still being developed.
No Fastfood or Commercial stores were going to be allowed .
Had a beautiful Hotel w, 3 outdoor swimming pools, Tennis courts .
At that time there were 3 Golf Courses designed by famous top notch Golf Course Architects but I know they have built more , like the famous Ocean Course which hosted one of the Rider Cup Matches between the US and Europe.
The Island is mostly left in it's natural habitat with Alligators , Deer and other wild animals.
The Island is the only one in the Atlantic that lays E and W to the Ocean and there are these great high Dunes with Sea Oats growing on them.
The beaches are wide from the water to the Dunes.
The Island is almost entirely flat and has an Asphalt bike path that runs pretty much the entire length of the 12 miles of the Island. Bikes are for rent.
Some very expensive beachfront homes and most of the other homes are built in small Cul -de -sacs . There are Restaurants , there's a Straw Market where native women make baskets by hand and there are other shops .
All this in 1994 so I'm certain there is more on the Island now.
The idea of the the Island is privacy with natural undisturbed beauty around nature.
A feeling of seclusion ...but downtown Charleston is just 30 to 45 minutes away if you feel the need to leave the Island.
Much less Commercialized than Hilton Head. Dolph :)
Quote from: DoubleEagle on January 09, 2009, 02:59:00 PM
Kiawah Island S.C. about 17 miles south of Charleston, South Carolina.
It is a private Island which you can actually drive on to.
I was there in '94 and it was still being developed.
No Fastfood or Commercial stores were going to be allowed .
Had a beautiful Hotel w, 3 outdoor swimming pools, Tennis courts .
At that time there were 3 Golf Courses designed by famous top notch Golf Course Architects but I know they have built more , like the famous Ocean Course which hosted one of the Rider Cup Matches between the US and Europe.
The Island is mostly left in it's natural habitat with Alligators , Deer and other wild animals.
The Island is the only one in the Atlantic that lays E and W to the Ocean and there are these great high Dunes with Sea Oats growing on them.
The beaches are wide from the water to the Dunes.
The Island is almost entirely flat and has an Asphalt bike path that runs pretty much the entire length of the 12 miles of the Island. Bikes are for rent.
Some very expensive beachfront homes and most of the other homes are built in small Cul -de -sacs . There are Restaurants , there's a Straw Market where native women make baskets by hand and there are other shops .
All this in 1994 so I'm certain there is more on the Island now.
The idea of the the Island is privacy with natural undisturbed beauty around nature.
A feeling of seclusion ...but downtown Charleston is just 30 to 45 minutes away if you feel the need to leave the Island.
Much less Commercialized than Hilton Head. Dolph :)
the contradictions in that description................
While the OP is from Minnesota, and just about anything will be warmer in February than that, I suggest that SC is nowhere near far enough south for any type of outdoor watersports, leaving aside the pastoral beauty of professional golf courses and beachfront homes. . .
why even leave the state just go up to lake of the woods, or up the north shore, do some skiing, ice fishing, snowmobiling, why would anybody want to go on a warm vacation and leave all the rest of us poor Minnesotans to freeze in the cold when theres plenty of vacation type things to do up here in the cold. [wheres the shivering smiely]
Quote from: tcspeedfreak on January 09, 2009, 03:19:45 PM
why even leave the state just go up to lake of the woods, or up the north shore, do some skiing, ice fishing, snowmobiling, why would anybody want to go on a warm vacation and leave all the rest of us poor Minnesotans to freeze in the cold when theres plenty of vacation type things to do up here in the cold. [wheres the shivering smiely]
There speaks a true devotee of the land of the wind chill factor.
Tell me, O denizen of the frozen north,
Where you live,
Do people know how to drive when there's no snow on the ground?
Resort Atlantis on Paradise Island in the Bahamas. 8)
Depending on how aggressive you approach it, you can get passports in very short notice.
St Thomas is a good choice. It offers a balance of both a commercial, hustle-&-bustle tourist stop along with secluded beaches. Plus it's probably the most "exotic" locale you may get without use of a passport (save for maybe PR). If you want more of a (relatively) quiet, secluded getaway, I'd consider the other islands. Relatively because they, too, suffer the occasional cruise ship tourist infestations.
Key West is nice but forget about finding beaches. Alternatively you could daytrip over to the other Keys for the beach needs, and if you're a diver, stay in the underwater hotel on one of them for a truly unique experience.
And to broaden the horizons, you may consider Hawaii. Although a little more distance to fly, there's plenty of nonstops out of the inventor and king of the layover called Chicago O'Hare.
Quote from: cyrus buelton on January 09, 2009, 10:37:14 AM
If you had a passport, I'd hope a flight to Tortola.
Talk about an island where there isn't much but a few places to eat and beautiful unpopulated beaches.
I second Tortola. No visit is complete without a stop at Pusser's! [thumbsup]
St Vincent also fits the bill. Very laid back and simple. And very *cough*
green*cough*.
For serious uppity-ness: Mustique. Hand them your credit card upon landing and run an open tab during your entire visit. Say hey to Mick and the Stones.
Quote from: Bun-bun on January 09, 2009, 08:43:41 PM
There speaks a true devotee of the land of the wind chill factor.
Tell me, O denizen of the frozen north,
Where you live,
Do people know how to drive when there's no snow on the ground?
people dont know how to drive up here period snow on the ground you better just watch out. :o
Quote from: trouble on January 09, 2009, 09:26:44 PM
Resort Atlantis on Paradise Island in the Bahamas. 8)
Requires passport.
Make sure that if you go to St. Thomas to stay within the tourist area. Friends of mine that lived there were saying that it's not as safe as it used to be. Goes opposite for PR. Be careful in San Juan.
First, get passports anyway so you have them for next time!
And here is a suggestion sort of out of left field and maybe not so exotic. I haven't been there for years but my sister just spent a week in San Diego, rented a car and had a great time. Went whale watching, to the zoo (sounds corny but she really enjoyed it) plus there are lots of other things to do and see there. Not sure if you need a passport these days to visit Mexico but it's close. Maybe someone from San Diego can chime in and give the San Diego idea a yay or nay.
I hear there is Trouble in San Diego :P
San Diego is a nice place for a vacation, but this time of year I doubt they will be hanging out at the beach (which it sounds like they want to do). It'll probably be in the 60's most of the time.
South Carolina isn't much fun in February.
It isn't that warm.
If you have ever watch Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations, he went to PR and almost immediately left San Juan after having a Pina Colada in a tourist trap. Once you're out of San Juan, you get to see the "real" PR. Do not go to Ponce.
Quote from: duccarlos on January 12, 2009, 12:45:44 PM
Once you're out of San Juan, you get to see the "real" PR.
Is random gun fire in the streets still common? or just on major holidays?
;D
Just new year's. But there's enough random fire in Columbus if you know where to look.
Lake of the Woods for some ice fishing huh? My inlaws just sold their place in Baudette a few months ago.
Looks like the trip is off for now. The wife is going to a conference in Florida so I may tag along and order room service. We are thinking we will get the passports and focus on a cool trip for our 5 year anniversary this summer. I think I hear Italy calling.
Quote from: Stu Pedasso on January 13, 2009, 03:24:26 PM
Lake of the Woods for some ice fishing huh? My inlaws just sold their place in Baudette a few months ago.
Looks like the trip is off for now. The wife is going to a conference in Florida so I may tag along and order room service. We are thinking we will get the passports and focus on a cool trip for our 5 year anniversary this summer. I think I hear Italy calling.
Where in FL..Orlando, Ft. Lauderdale??
Quote from: Stu Pedasso on January 13, 2009, 03:24:26 PM
Lake of the Woods for some ice fishing huh? My inlaws just sold their place in Baudette a few months ago.
Looks like the trip is off for now. The wife is going to a conference in Florida so I may tag along and order room service. We are thinking we will get the passports and focus on a cool trip for our 5 year anniversary this summer. I think I hear Italy calling.
How're you and TC enjoying the current windchills? Saw on TWC that y'all are breakin' records. up there.
Quote from: Stu Pedasso on January 13, 2009, 03:24:26 PM
<snip>
We are thinking we will get the passports and focus on a cool trip for our 5 year anniversary this summer. I think I hear Italy calling.
Now you're talkin'... 8)
We're going to Italy over Spring Break in March, and will be booking our tickets very soon. We have friends who are living near Bologna, and we're going to visit them for a week.
I have heard rumors that motorcycles are manufactured near Bologna. ;D And there's this town nearby called Maranello where they build cars... [evil]