Vacation Ideas needed

[tonyj311]

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.

[cyrus buelton]

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.

[the_Journeyman]

St Croix.  Plenty to do if you want, plenty of beach or rainforest to relax in or on.

JM

[Slide Panda]

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.

[Bun-bun]

     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.

[banali]

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/

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.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/stj.html

Probably more than $1500 a pop for the week, but well worth it....

[Popeye the Sailor]

+1 on St. Thomas.

Seriously nice place.


You can rent yerself a bike there, too.

[cyrus buelton]

only downside I have with St Thomas is WAY TOO MANY CRUISE BOATS!!!

[Blackout]

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.

[duccarlos]

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/

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.

[Bun-bun]

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.

[herm]

go to St. John USVI.

stay here

[cyrus buelton]

+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.

[duccarlos]

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.

[Bun-bun]

I couldn't imagine vacationing there, it just is way too make the beast with two backsing busy.

Charlotte Amalie IS crowded


But Megans bay is Quite secluded.


And Sapphire beach is just freakin' gorgeous.