Christmas Vacation Ideas

[EddieWalker]

I'm thinking about getting away to some place tropical for the Christmas Holiday. Probably the week after Christmas, to include New Years. I've been seeing a girl who is also very excited about this idea, and we've been trying to come up with where we want to go. We both want a warm beach location with a fance pool and nice rooms. Touristy type things would be a bonus, but mostly we just want to be in a place that is very relaxing.

My passport expired in May of this year and I'm gonna work on getting it renewed. I might not have enough time for this, so that will be an important consideration. Florida, Hawaii and the US Virgin Islands come to mind for domestic locations.

All inclusive resorts for adults are my favorite. I'm not sure about a cruise, but we've talked about that too.

We'll be flying out of DFW in the Dallas area.

Europe is an option too, but only if I can get my passport in time.

Where have you been that you would recomend?

Where do you want to go? and why?

What site do you go to for travel deals?

Thank you,
Eddie

 

[brin]

Eddie.......Try Travelzoo.....see link below ...they have many deals and I just posted the one but you can sign up for their newsletter...There is also a way to get an expedited passport renewal for a little extra $$$$

$145 -- Jamaica: New All-Inclusive 'Secrets' Resort, 50% Off
Montego Bay Hotels: $145 -- Jamaica: New All-Inclusive ?Secrets? Resort, 50% Off | Travelzoo
Source: BookIt.com

 

[Wayne County Hose]

If you can afford it, Hawaii is unforgettable. I stayed 2 weeks in Waikiki. It was beyond beautiful. The surf will also be up on the north shore. I didn't know it but it is only up certain times of the year. You can also take a 4 wheeler tour of where they made Jurassic park. And there's Pearl Harbor too. The 5 bucks for the guided tour of the U.S.S. Missouri is worth every penny and more.

 

[mjarrels]

I'll be swimming in the South China Sea this December and January. Departing December 8 for the Philippines. Airline tickets arn't cheap. Best part, my inlaws are 9000 miles away.

mark

 

[/pine]

It is a little late for making Christmas reservations for a lot of places...

Take a look at Sandals All Inclusive Caribbean Resorts & Vacation Packages

everything is included...meals, drinks (unlimited) and activities... etc. et.al...and no tipping...*everything* is included

 

[EddieWalker]

Thanks for the links and tips. She's a new girlfriend and we just started talking about the holidays last night. While it's last minute, it's also scary that with new relationships, they sometimes end all of a sudden too. We're going to the Ozarks next weekend and that might be a good indication of how well we get along, or not. LOL

I realy need to get my passport taken care of. I looked online and it's all done through the mail. That kind of scares me because I can make a mistake and end up not getting it done in time. I think I'm going to go to the Post Office on Monday and seeing what they say in person, and going from there.

Eddie

 

[DaveOmak]

Eddie, I'm glad to hear you are NOT thinking about
Carn-e-val cruises

 

[dcyrilc]

I've always wanted to see Australia... and it'll be summer down there.

Of course, you're not as cold and wet as we are this time of year.

 

[hr3]

Eddie,, Here in Maine we just go to the post office,, they take the pic and in a week you have a new one,, "passport that is"...

 

[phiferpharm]

It may not take you as long on your passport as you think if you do it expedited. It helps you are renewing and not going from scratch. I'm going back to Jamaica on a cruise that also stops in Key West the second week of December. I did the Jamaica thing about four years ago and had a good time, so the Missus asked to do it again. Key West is a kinda fun place to go to the dock at sundown and watch the goings on. Anyway, good luck and hope you found a good 'un.

 

[mjarrels]

Key West is sort of fun, Visited sights. I happened to walk into the wrong bar. GAYS everywhere. Not my kind of place.

mark

 

[forgeblast]

St. Lucia was a great trip, folks were very nice and the island was really something.
all inclusive is the way to go.
friends of ours came back from the new place in the bahamas (atlantas?) they loved it, but there were a lot of kids there.

 

[Andy in Gap]

Check out Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Tons of beautiful beaches and all inclusive resorts. My wife and I vacationed there a couple of years ago and will go back. We mostly laid on the beach all day, but there are plenty of attractions in the area if you want to see some other things. Couple hour flight from Texas and you'll be there. Really great pricing too, I often use travelocity.com but any of the major travel sites will get you a great deal.

 

[dcyrilc]

I did the Jamaica thing about four years ago and had a good time, so the Missus asked to do it again.

I never cared for Jamaca. Reminded me of a whole country of used car salesmen. Everyone tried to tell you they had the best deal at whatever they were trying to sell. After we went down Dunn River Falls, we even had one guy follow my wife for about a mile telling her she should give him her shoes because she would just throw them away after we get home. He just wouldn't get the message to leave us alone.

On the other hand, Grand Cayman was fantastic.:thumbsup:

 

[westbrooklawn]

Eddie - Your comments brought a smile to my face... I had started dating a woman in August (couple years ago), and had already reserved a cruise with a group of friends for the following February... I was going even if I didn't have someone to go with me. I invited her to go after we had dated for a couple months. Well, long story short, about 6 weeks before the cruise, I had decided that the relationship wasn't what I wanted... we still went on the cruise and had a good time, but went our separate ways right after. I hope your situation works out better!

To your original question... I would look at St. Johns USVI. Fly to St. Thomas and take the ferry to St. Johns. Much more laid back and less "touristy" than St. Thomas... beautiful beaches (Cinnamon Bay my favorite)... great local restaurants and bars in Cruz bay... and ice cold $1 longnecks at "Woody's" during Happy Hour (local hangout of Kenny Chesney when he is at his vacation home on the island). Not sure if you could find an all inclusive there, but for a laid back relaxing warm spot, I don't think you could beat it.

If all inclusive is a high priority, I would go with someone's earlier recommendation of Playa del Carmen, but you would need to get your passport.

 

[NSBound]

Hi Eddie, long time no speak! Check out Bermuda. It is a very beautiful island, not too far away, gorgeous soft sand beaches and great for relaxing. You can go upscale of course, but there's lots of smaller hotels and B & B type places too. It's considered "off-season" until the first of March.
Bermuda Vacations, Hotels, Packages, Resorts, Tourism & Travel Guide

 

[Sigarms]

Keeping in local, think it would be hard to go wrong with Key West.

I happened to walk into the wrong bar. GAYS everywhere.

Happened to me one time. Kind of a strange feeling when you walk in and feel that something just isn't right, and then it hits you...

 

[irvingj]

Hey, Eddie. Nice to hear from you again.

I'm going to be paying close attention to this thread-- I've NEVER been to someplace warm in the winter. Maybe now wife & I can think about that...

In the middle of January in NH, "warm" becomes an interesting concept. "Beach"?:laughing:

I'll be checking out those links- thanks, guys!

 

[txdon]

The winter get-away we enjoyed the most was a western Caribbean cruise that docked at Roatan Honduras (snorkeling or zip lines). With a cruise everything is inclusive except shore excursions. I liked a exploring the different islands countries every day and the boat supplied the nightly entertainment.

While Jamaica is a beautiful Island, I just did not feel safe there. If you go to an all inclusive place there don't leave the guarded areas.

Hawaii is another excellent place to explore, just don't leave valuables in your car.

 

[HiddenHollow]

Eddie, I would stay out of Mexico. It's not a very safe place right now. It may get better in the future(doubtful). I have never been to any of those places that everyone has mentioned, but they all sound good. Have fun wherever you go.