So we put off trying for a child last fall because dh wanted 'one last big vacation'. Note to all: we've never really had a FIRST big vacation, but whatever. We were going to take one this summer. But now we're on a super tight budget and dh still wants to pull this off. I want to go someplace warm and tropical. He's not into cruises. He prefers international, I don't care. Any suggestions? Anyone know of super great deals any place specific in the summer months? I'm not even sure where to start-being from the midwest, I would look at the Bahamas or Jamaica, but I think airfaire from CA would be pricey.
My parents took my sister and I to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. It was amazing! We stayed at a resort and did excursions outside the resort on certain days. If you want any info, PM me and I'll get it for you. Oh yeah- we went in July.
From the east coast I would whole heartedly suggest Bermuda. It's everything a tropical island should be: warm, tropical, they love Americans and speak the same language, and there's no visible poverty.(That's a big one. It's hard being on vacation and seeing the way some people live.) In that respect alone, it's light years ahead of the Bahamas. Another big plus is that airfare isn't big, since it's right off the US coast. If you do go, consider Elbow Beach. Or, look at Grotto Bay Beach; we stayed there and adored it. (Another little detail: if you're going to an island beach, take the food plan. Food gets incredibly expensive when it all has to be imported.) From the west coast: assuming that you're not going right away, how about Hawaii? (Give them a little time to clean up after the tsunami of course.)
OK, just for fun I priced out a week's vacation from LAX to Grotto Bay at the end of July at kayak.com (I forget just where in CA you are.)Here goes: Flight + Hotel package cost: $1,616per person Change flight Flight: 2 round trip tickets Leave Wed, Jul 27 AirTran Airways 58 Depart: 11:59pm Arrive: 7:19am Los Angeles, CA (LAX) Atlanta, GA (ATL) 1 stop | 4hr 20min | Economy | Boeing 737 | 70% on time | 1943 miles Change planes. Time between flights: 3hr 6min AirTran Airways 1815 Depart: 10:25am Arrive: 2:25pm Atlanta, GA (ATL) Bermuda/Hamilton, Bermuda (BDA) 3hr 0min | Economy | Boeing 737 | 1146 miles This is an overnight flight. Return Wed, Aug 3 AirTran Airways 1816 Depart: 2:40pm Arrive: 4:50pm Bermuda/Hamilton, Bermuda (BDA) Atlanta, GA (ATL) 1 stop | 3hr 10min | Economy | Boeing 737 | 1146 miles Change planes. Time between flights: 3hr 5min AirTran Airways 51 Depart: 7:55pm Arrive: 9:55pm Atlanta, GA (ATL) Los Angeles, CA (LAX) 5hr 0min | Economy | Boeing 737 | 1943 miles Total duration: 21hr 41min | Total miles: 6178 miles Hotel: 2 guests, 6 nights, 1 room Grotto Bay Beach Resort #11 Blue Hole Hill, Hamilton, Bermuda 0 2.3 Miles Southwest of L.F. Wade International Airport Check in: Thu, Jul 28, 2011 (1500) Check out: Wed, Aug 3, 2011 (1100) Guests: 2 Rooms: 1 Amenities Pool Pets OK Room service Restaurant Fitness room Smoke-free policy More amenities Room type selection Room description This room is included in the package cost Total: $3,232 ($1,616 per person) You're saving $443 Includes the following hotel charges: Service Fee: Resort Graruity - Mandatory $11 per person per day The meal plan would be extra of course. But that gives you a starting idea of what the prices would be.
Or, for something a little closer to home: my dad always ADORED Puerta Vallarta Mexico. I'm not sure where they stayed (and mom simply won't remember if I called later and asked here) but here are some prices at a Marriot: Special Offer, BOOK Now & SAVE!! ! 10% OFF in SPA !! Details Flight + Hotel package cost: $631per person Flight: 2 round trip tickets Leave Wed, Jul 27 US Airways 122 Depart: 7:45am Arrive: 9:17am Los Angeles, CA (LAX) Phoenix, AZ (PHX) 1 stop | 1hr 32min | Economy | Airbus A319 | 80% on time | 370 miles Change planes. Time between flights: 1hr 13min US Airways 362 Depart: 10:30am Arrive: 3:11pm Phoenix, AZ (PHX) Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (PVR) 2hr 41min | Economy | Boeing 737 | 974 miles Return Wed, Aug 3 US Airways 2965 operated by US AIRWAYS EXPRESS-MESA AIRLINES Depart: 5:55pm Arrive: 6:28pm Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (PVR) Phoenix, AZ (PHX) 1 stop | 2hr 33min | Economy | Canadair 900 | 974 miles Change planes. Time between flights: 1hr 32min US Airways 35 Depart: 8:00pm Arrive: 9:23pm Phoenix, AZ (PHX) Los Angeles, CA (LAX) 1hr 23min | Economy | Airbus A321 | 50% on time | 370 miles Total duration: 10hr 54min | Total miles: 2688 miles Change hotel Hotel: 2 guests, 7 nights, 1 room Marriott CasaMagna Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa Av. Paseo de La Marina No 455, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico 48300 0.3 Miles Southeast of Gustavo Diaz Ordaz Intl Airport More hotel details Check in: Wed, Jul 27, 2011 (1600) Check out: Wed, Aug 3, 2011 (1200) Guests: 2 Rooms: 1 Amenities Pool Pets OK Room service Restaurant Fitness room Smoke-free policy More amenities Room type selection Room description This room is included in the package cost Total: $1,261 ($631 per person) Garden View Room 453 Sq.Ft - 2 double beds or 1 king bed Special Offer, BOOK Now & SAVE!! ! 10% OFF in SPA !! Offer rules and details Show all rates Flight + Hotel package cost: $631 per person ($1,261 Total)
I'm in love with Ixtapa Zihuatanejo Mexico. It has beautiful beaches, fun places to go and it's not to busy and crowded. It is also affordable. We stayed at Las Brisas and we loved it. It was not that expensive and we felt we were in a resort. http://www.brisashotelonline.com/ixtapa I'm not sure what your budget is and what are your travel dates but here's an idea of packages available. http://www.expedia.com/pub/agent.dll?qscr=cmsh&itty=&itid=&itdx=&ecid=
Try bookit.com. We planned an awesome and affordable vacation for our family of 4 to Riviera Maya a few years ag through them.
Costa Rica. We went there on our honeymoon and had a great time. So much to do and we def made sure we were at the beach everyday so I could sit and relax.
Speaking as a school teacher on a very limited budget, your recent trip to Disney World would count at my big trip. But then, my vacations are usually taking the nieces to a nearby state park for a couple of days. If I were to pick a place for a once in a lifetime trip, I would say Ireland.
Christy~I hope to make it to Ireland one day. Jem~we're going to London, Paris, and Rome for 11 days in July. Not tropical in any respect. But we went through goaheadtours.com. They do have some tropical destinations. And most everything is paid for: flight, transportation throughout the trip, hotel.
These are wonderful suggestions! I'm going to look at them with dh when he gets up. Thank you guys so much-starting points are much appreciated. Christy-Disney would have been a big trip for me, too, but we shared a room with my brother, were frozen out of our skulls all day, had 2 hour lines everywhere we went and dh hates amusement parks. My parents paid for the whole trip, luckily, so we weren't out any money. But it was not the dream vacation it should have been, sadly.
Greece is really quite amazing, but it is pricey to fly over there, and with the weak dollar, expenses can add up. If you can, I would look into it.
How about Cabo San Lucas? We go there every few years because we have a friend with a condo, but it's a pretty amazing place!
I know you said your hubby isn't into cruises-has he ever been on one? Everyone is different, but I love crusing. Right now prices are good. Once you pay the initial amount, everything is included. You do NOT have to purchase anything else at all, if you don't want to. There are cruises leaving out of Houston that go to the Caribbean, so the air fare shouldn't be too bad.
