Where would you go on vacation?

[lkamenko]

Next year in September there will be a 25th anniversary of our wedding. I want to do something grand to celebrate, not just a boring dinner and movie date

I would like us to go on vacation. We will need to bring kids along - no family to babysit them. So it should be some place romantic, but also kids friendly. No longer then a week, and not too exotic - I want to keep it in the budget if possible.

I know I still have plenty of time to plan it, but I like to dream and I don't want to work today

So what would be your suggestions?

[MissMusic]

Congrats to you guys, how awesome that you've been married so long!

Hmmm Hawaii might be too exotic? What about New Orleans, the coastal Carolinas, Asheville, NC--or Biltmore Estates!

Alaska might be awesome! They have cruises or you can huff it.

Grand Tetons?

OH OH! Martha's Vineyard (MA)

St Thomas or one of those islands.


Something cost effective that will give your kids something to do but also give you & hubby some time together is a cruise! We've done a lot of cruising, and its good food, nice places, and entertainment for everyone. Sept might even be considered off-season so rates are better. You can pick your cruise length, so if you do Eastern Carribbean for 4 days you can choose to stay 2 or 3 days before/after in New Orleans (or where ever).

[bliz1712]

I 2nd Hawaii, but I know it can be expensive.

One of my favorite trips so far is Negril Jamaica. The weather was awesome and it could be very romantic to walk the beaches. Just make sure you stay at a resort on the 7 mile beach. There are some that are really close and you won't get to walk the beach. We stayed in Ochos Rios with another couple and it was terrible weather and we had such a small beach that was secluded that you couldn't walk it, plus there was a ton of seaweed on it.

What about something like Lake Tahoe? My parents have been there several times and I bet a lakeside cabin or resort would be very pretty.

I was also going to suggest a cruise, but I think you guys have done them before if i remember correctly.

[pinkluna]

What about an all-inclusive beach resort? Playa del Carmen is beautiful and lots of good deals pop up often. (although risky with Sept. being the height of hurricane season)

Personally I would want to go to Europe! We've used Gate 1 travel before and they have awesome travel packages and the guides are wonderful. We haven't been with kids but I think it would be great since everything is taken care of for you (flight, hotel, itinerary, transportation).

[somethingcleverer]

I would go back to Aruba. H and I can't wait to go back with the kids.

Myrtle beach or Hilton head also seem nice but I've never been there.

We also have friends that really like Gatlinburg Tennessee.

[summergirl1211]

I would also suggest somewhere in the Caribbean since you're so close already. Or Lake Tahoe is somewhere I'd love to go.

What about the East Coast (Boston, Vermont, Maine, etc.)? It would be a really pretty trip up the coast and probably perfect timing to see the leaves change!

[somethingcleverer]

This post is making me want to pick up and go to all the places listed.

[lkamenko]

Thank you, girls, awesome suggestions.

pinkluna, yes, I would love to go to Europe, and I even looked in to the gate1 site! The problem is the escorted tours have age limit of 8 years, so we can not bring Veronica. And not escorted trips to Europe could be really not easy with kids and very expensive.

MissMusic, I love Hawaii, but it is such a long flight from us - we are in Miami.

bliz1712, I am going to look up Jamaica. Did you stay in all inclusive? Is there something else to do besides beaches - we live on the beach so would like to have something different on vacation like hiking in the mountains and visiting historical places.

I was also thinking Utah-Arizona-New Mexico - never been to this part of the country...

[bantyrooster]

I would look into all inclusive resorts, which most likely means out of the country, once you add up food and drinks at an in US place (unless you rent a house and cook the whole tme) they are actually pretty reasonable. We also live Jamaica and lots of the resorts have little house like options.

If you really want to stay in the US I would probably do the Florida keys or a cruise.

[bantyrooster]

I forgot you are in Florida! Look at beaches resorts. They are the family version of sandals. They have tons of activities! Jamaica has lots of history. We golfed, water sports, the falls, rain forest.

[origamimommy]

This post made me look at gate1 and holy crap those are cheap European vacations! I want to take one like tomorrow!

[pinkluna]

Jun 8, 2015 15:50:35 GMT -5 origamimommy said:

This post made me look at gate1 and holy crap those are cheap European vacations! I want to take one like tomorrow!

origamimommy, do it! We've been to Italy and Ireland with them and I have nothing but good things to say. It takes the stress out of planning, and the itineraries are great. 

[cookiesandwine]

Jun 8, 2015 16:06:40 GMT -5 pinkluna said:

Jun 8, 2015 15:50:35 GMT -5 origamimommy said:

This post made me look at gate1 and holy crap those are cheap European vacations! I want to take one like tomorrow!

origamimommy, do it! We've been to Italy and Ireland with them and I have nothing but good things to say. It takes the stress out of planning, and the itineraries are great. 

OMFG I CAN'T STOP LOOKING AT THEIR WEBSITE!

[bliz1712]

lkamenko, if you want to do attractions, then you won't want to stay in Negril. It's a long drive to any of the locations for stuff to do. When we stayed in Ochios Rios it was closer, or you could look at Montego Bay. They just won't have the beach, but if you're used to that then it should be fine. There is a zip lining place we did and there are falls that are really popular to visit. We didn't do the falls. Most of the resorts are all inclusive. We also did a shopping excursion and a white water rafting, which really wasn't as white water as it was advertised to be. We stayed at the Baha Priincipe and there were a ton of pools for kids.

Maybe look into Costa Rica. We went there Feb 2014 and it was nice. We did an awesome zip lining tour where you zip lined, horse back riding, a water slide (which was featured on the travel channel as #2 in the world), and visited natural springs from the volcano. We also did a local guided tour on a river and fed crocodiles and saw the monkeys and lots of local stuff. We also stayed in an all inclusive there.

Otherwise in Playa Del Carmen there are some ruins that you can go visit. I would honestly stay away from Mexico based on our experience when we were there for my work vacation. We are also going to Dominican Republic in February. We went there in February with our friends and we did a dune buggy excursion that we also got to see cigars and coffee made locally and a cave that you could dive into the water.  We didn't do it but there was a cultural or local excursion that you could do.  We also did a zip lining one. It has been the best zip lining by far, but it was very exhausting since you had to walk to and from each station.

[lkamenko]

Jun 8, 2015 16:39:06 GMT -5 cookiesandwine said:

Jun 8, 2015 16:06:40 GMT -5 pinkluna said:

origamimommy, do it! We've been to Italy and Ireland with them and I have nothing but good things to say. It takes the stress out of planning, and the itineraries are great. 

OMFG I CAN'T STOP LOOKING AT THEIR WEBSITE!

Yes, this is addicting
When Veronica is 8 I want to go to china with them.
Some of the tours cost less then ticket alone... We went with them to Costa Rica ( me and my son) and it was great.

[xanthepants]

I know you do the beach since you live in Fl already. My suggestions would be the following. Peurto Rico is amazing. The best of a semi European feeling country without nearly the expense. Beautiful beaches, beautiful historical older San Juan to visit and tour, the rain forests, the lumenescent bays to kayak, wonderful cuisine. Just super cool. Otherwise with kids, I'd hit the Grand Canyon and Arizona if you've never been. It is so polar opposite of the beaches. The desert is amazing and the canyon is breathtaking. You could stay at a cool ranch, do a ride or helicopter down into the canyon with a boat tour along the river with the kids. There is the Native American glass walkout that is super cool and a great learning opportnity. The Hoover Dam isn't too far away to split the trip or spend a day at as well. We've done Vegas/Grand Canyon/Hoover all wrapped into a trip and it didn't break the bank. I cried looking out into the canyon - seriously that incredible if you've never been.

[mrsrek10]

I would go Key hopping. I love the Florida Keys and you could drive there.

I am so ready for a vacation!

[paddyb]

Congrats on 25 years! (I don't have any additional suggestions).

[MissMusic]

Gate1 is now bookmarked. Time to scratch some stuff off the bucket list...

[britbratjf]

Jun 8, 2015 17:06:04 GMT -5 xanthepants said:

I know you do the beach since you live in Fl already. My suggestions would be the following. Peurto Rico is amazing. The best of a semi European feeling country without nearly the expense. Beautiful beaches, beautiful historical older San Juan to visit and tour, the rain forests, the lumenescent bays to kayak, wonderful cuisine. Just super cool. Otherwise with kids, I'd hit the Grand Canyon and Arizona if you've never been. It is so polar opposite of the beaches. The desert is amazing and the canyon is breathtaking. You could stay at a cool ranch, do a ride or helicopter down into the canyon with a boat tour along the river with the kids. There is the Native American glass walkout that is super cool and a great learning opportnity. The Hoover Dam isn't too far away to split the trip or spend a day at as well. We've done Vegas/Grand Canyon/Hoover all wrapped into a trip and it didn't break the bank. I cried looking out into the canyon - seriously that incredible if you've never been.

Since you live in FL this would be a great option. Or a dude ranch in Wyoming or Montana (always wanted to do one!!). What about maybe an Alaskan cruise? It'd be a long flight but I've heard they are gorgeous. On the flip side, European cruise could be fun.

[sarasansh]

Lots of great suggestions here! As far as all inclusives go, Dreams is a family friendly all-inclusive that's basically the same thing as Beaches. We stayed at one in Riviera Maya in Mexico and it was great--not too pricey, good food options, nice pool, and Mexico is nice because you can go off resort without safety concerns. We didn't end up doing anything off-resort but we weren't far from zip lining and that sort of thing.

[starfishy]

Okay, I'll be different. The flights might be a bit long but the Canadian Rockies were awesome. That was our honeymoon, so yea romantic BUT can't wait to go back and do family things.

[samelly]

What kind of vacation are you looking for - beach, adventure, cities? Do you want an international trip or something closer to home?

I have gone with my daughter to both Hawaii(Maui) and Costa Rica (multiple locations) and we had a great time doing each. They were both very kid friendly and I like being able to get some adventure and see wildlife on vacations while also having some time to relax. My daughter really fell in love with the beach and water in Hawaii - we did Costa Rica this year for something different but she still got lots of beach and pool time.

I also agree with starfishy that the Canadians Rockies are awesome. I live just an hour outside them. I also love the US parks in the Rockies and area - Yellowstone, Glacier National park etc. The negative side to the Rockies is you usually end up spending a lot of time in the car. The drives are fantastic but kids don't care about scenic drives - but if you plan it right, it should be okay.  September is my favourite time for the Rockies because it's past peak season but the weather is (usually) still nice.

[cbear]

Jun 8, 2015 16:39:06 GMT -5 cookiesandwine said:

Jun 8, 2015 16:06:40 GMT -5 pinkluna said:

origamimommy, do it! We've been to Italy and Ireland with them and I have nothing but good things to say. It takes the stress out of planning, and the itineraries are great. 

OMFG I CAN'T STOP LOOKING AT THEIR WEBSITE!

Haha me either!! J12 g2g in Ireland anyone?!?!?

[britbratjf]

Jun 9, 2015 13:24:39 GMT -5 cbear said:

Jun 8, 2015 16:39:06 GMT -5 cookiesandwine said:

OMFG I CAN'T STOP LOOKING AT THEIR WEBSITE!

Haha me either!! J12 g2g in Ireland anyone?!?!?

OMG I love Ireland. Went a few years ago and would love to go back.

[lkamenko]

Oh, Ireland sounds great. Romantic, not too exotic and I presume will be friendly to kids? I am going to look up the independent tours that we can take Veronica on.
Thank you for all your suggestions - they all sound so tempting! I love the idea of going to the Rocky mountain but my DH is not very outdoorsy, I think he would prefer city trip. If we were able to go without kids I would book a trip to Rio de Janeiro - always wanted to visit that place...

[pinkluna]

Jun 9, 2015 14:32:43 GMT -5 lkamenko said:

Oh, Ireland sounds great. Romantic, not too exotic and I presume will be friendly to kids? I am going to look up the independent tours that we can take Veronica on.
Thank you for all your suggestions - they all sound so tempting! I love the idea of going to the Rocky mountain but my DH is not very outdoorsy, I think he would prefer city trip. If we were able to go without kids I would book a trip to Rio de Janeiro - always wanted to visit that place...

The Irish are the friendliest people I've encountered in my travels and there's lots of sightseeing to do with breathtaking views.  The castle tours could be fun for the kids.  The night life is great (pubs often have live music), though it may be hard to enjoy with children depending on the age restrictions they have.   If you decide to go, I would highly recommend booking the Irish folklore candlelit dinner at The Brazen Head in Dublin. It's Ireland's oldest pub!