Yet another "Where to Vacation" thread

[dreamingat30fps]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Sorry, yes two kids. I am leaning resort because the kids, imho, will get bored just on a beach all week. By that I mean say we rent a villa in a small complex, I see them in Negril for example, it's just a beach, not much to do. There's decent looking bars and the like but the kids will be bored. At a resort, there's more to do but finding accommodations where we control the airflow and it is not centralised, is very difficult, as is non-buffet dining.

I realise i am being difficult but this is what I am facing and why a cottage with the cousins would work better but again, I am not winning this battle. Wife has gone through hell at work the past month so she is going to want a reward for it.

I don't get all the airflow, buffett stuff, is it a covid thing? Most all the resorts we have been to you are outside or in your room like 90% of the time. Even for shows the theater in many of them is outside.

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Oh keep in mind we have a great pool in our yard so novelty of water activity will wear off pretty fast.

Why are you even considering a beach vacation then? Why not go to the mountains or something?

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by dreamingat30fps

I don't get all the airflow, buffett stuff, is it a covid thing? Most all the resorts we have been to you are outside or in your room like 90% of the time. Even for shows the theater in many of them is outside.



Why are you even considering a beach vacation then? Why not go to the mountains or something?

I made both these points clear in the OP.

Wife.

[dreamingat30fps]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

I made both these points clear in the OP.

Wife.

Must have missed it. Oh well, good luck.

[Tommy-G]

Question, anyone have a resort in Florida South of Orlando and North of Homestead that they absolutely love?

[sygazelle]

Originally Posted by tdott

True, we already did Oahu in the past and wanted to try another island. But I think FL will get us some of the beach scenery without the flight hassle and added expense.

We'll definitely visit there some time, hopefully when things are a little less crazy.

I love Hawaii and being from California, it's an easy get from here. But at current prices and from where you live, I think your alternative plan is perfect.

[chassis]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Wife desperate to go somewhere this summer, I am 100% against the idea. Prices are insane, i'd just rent a local cottage but apparently if we don't get on a plane it is not a holiday. But whatever, I am not going to win this battle.

So our needs are weird 'cos the wife is still covid cautious (don't turn this into another covid thread, it is what it fucking is, nothing gonna change her mind).

- Ideally beachfront or close enough
- Ideally part of or next to a resort but not a deal breaker
- Accommodations for 4
- Accommodation must be stand alone, no apartments with shared aircon for example. Could feasibly do a villa that is attached but so long as we can open windows or have own air
- Must have outdoor eating options, we won't be doing large gathering buffet all inclusive breakfast for eg
- Open to a VRBO or Air B and B but has to be close enough to a safe city for outdoor restaurants
- Ideally a direct flight from Toronto
- Looking at July/August
- $10K CDN all in, tops, absolute tops, less if we can
- Did I mention this is a waste of money? FML.

Any suggestions appreciated.

Lodging availability is likely a challenge at this late stage. Hotels and shared aircon places will be easier to find accommodation compared to separate house/villa scenarios.

Does “direct flight” mean no rental car?

What are your short list places?

[chassis]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Any recommendations in Jamaica? Seeing some really ideal looking places in Negril but a right pain in the arse to get to, 2 hours from the dang airport.

What “places” are you considering in Jamaica? Aren’t these all-inclusive buffet style dining resorts?

[chassis]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Oh keep in mind we have a great pool in our yard so novelty of water activity will wear off pretty fast.

What is a list of things you want, activity-wise? Accommodation and dining needs are clear.

[RichF90M5C]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Oh I enjoy them too but we could rent a cottage for a week for about $2K if we split it with the wife's cousin. Swim, fish, fire etc, wonderful time. Or, spend 10K, hassle of flying and travelling with kids for basically the same experience as the cottage but salt water. It makes no fucking sense.

We do Maui on the way to Australia. Where do you stay in Clearwater? I keep thinking this may be an option. I just hate dealing with the US hidden fees and tipping culture, like just list the fucking ffs.

OT: That is a wonderful looking M3, jus wonderful.

If Clearwater is on your radar, look at one of the condos on Sand Key on VRBO. We’ve stayed in most of them over the years.

You’ll get a great deal, flights aren’t too expensive, and there’s plenty of dining/ entertainment options in and around Clearwater beach itself.

The good thing with SK is it’s far enough away from the noise, but a short walk or jump on the Jolly Trolley whenever you want some liveliness. Plus there are a couple of great hotels if you just want a lazy lunch/ cocktails.

The sunsets are pretty good there too.

[floridaorange]

^I have a friend who manages about 100 rentals in that area - let me know if you want the website info. Pass-a-Grille Beach is a hidden gym not to be missed.

Originally Posted by Tommy-G

Question, anyone have a resort in Florida South of Orlando and North of Homestead that they absolutely love?

The Breakers Palm Beach is always a favorite.

[ToddBlack88]

Have you thought about Turks and Caicos?

Fairly simple flight there, and lots of resort places and great beaches.

[sygazelle]

Originally Posted by tdott

We were going to do Maui, but prices are insane, nothing under $600/night and the fees are insane for airbnb, vrbo, vacation rentals etc.

Instead we are breaking it up into 3 trips and will still spend less than Maui.
5 Days in Clearwater, FL nice hotel on the beach. Under $300/night
3 Days in Key Largo, FL at a nice resort. Under $300/night
5 Days in Vegas. haven't decided where yet, there are lots of inexpensive options but we will probably stay at somewhere nice this time.
Will be mostly Hilton properties, we get a F&F discount.

We enjoy vacays and don't think it is a waste unless we feel like we are over paying and not getting any value.

You are in Florida so it's easy to get to Miami or Ft. Lauderdale. Have you ever been on a cruise? It's not for everybody, that's for sure. But, it can be a great travel bargain if you book it right.

[tdott]

Originally Posted by sygazelle

You are in Florida so it's easy to get to Miami or Ft. Lauderdale. Have you ever been on a cruise? It's not for everybody, that's for sure. But, it can be a great travel bargain if you book it right.

Yup definitely need to start cruising soon. Was staying away for a little while.

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by chassis

Lodging availability is likely a challenge at this late stage. Hotels and shared aircon places will be easier to find accommodation compared to separate house/villa scenarios.

Does “direct flight” mean no rental car?

What are your short list places?

Yep I understand that re. lodging, wife is incredibly indecisive and procrastinates to the last second without fail.

Open to a rental car, direct flight means no flight connection ideally.

Short list would be anywhere south as that is the easiest but ideally keep it under $10K CDN for the week. Even then i think it's stupid money.

Originally Posted by chassis

What “places” are you considering in Jamaica? Aren’t these all-inclusive buffet style dining resorts?

I found a place in Negril, split system aircon, attached villa type place. Eating areas are outdoors with a roof. Here's the issue though, to me these places make no sense because kids will get bored imho as it was not a resort. Then there's the night time, what do you do there? I ain't wandering around Negril in the fucking dark with a wife and two kids. This is why we end up in europe TBH.

Originally Posted by chassis

What is a list of things you want, activity-wise? Accommodation and dining needs are clear.

Just anything to keep kids occupied a few hours a day, tops.

Originally Posted by RichF90M5C

If Clearwater is on your radar, look at one of the condos on Sand Key on VRBO. We’ve stayed in most of them over the years.

You’ll get a great deal, flights aren’t too expensive, and there’s plenty of dining/ entertainment options in and around Clearwater beach itself.

I shall investigate!

Originally Posted by ToddBlack88

Have you thought about Turks and Caicos?

Fairly simple flight there, and lots of resort places and great beaches.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[HFW003]

Come back to the home county you fucker.

We don’t have Covid here, weather is just starting to cool a bit which is nice.

AFL season has just started.

Reacquaint yourself with the spiders and shit that will all kill you.

Doesn’t that sound great!

[Alfisti]

LOL you've got as much Covid as anybody!

But yeah, I gotta get home, this has been my longest stretch. Will be there over xmas for 3 to 4 weeks. Wife is half talking of moving there.

[Our03z4]

San Diego is what I would recommend. Not crowded and plenty to do. Perfect weather most of the time and beautiful, La Jolla would meet most of your requirements.

Most of the restaurants are either fully outside or have garage type doors open to it. Balboa Park alone is worth the trip. Prices are extremely reasonable compared to the rest of Cali and even better than quite a few places in the US.

If you rent a car it actually is a pretty chill area to drive in.

[dreamingat30fps]

Originally Posted by Our03z4

San Diego is what I would recommend. Not crowded and plenty to do. Perfect weather most of the time and beautiful, La Jolla would meet most of your requirements.

Most of the restaurants are either fully outside or have garage type doors open to it. Balboa Park alone is worth the trip. Prices are extremely reasonable compared to the rest of Cali and even better than quite a few places in the US.

If you rent a car it actually is a pretty chill area to drive in.

It's probably the only place in CA we enjoyed. I loved Balboa park and spent many days there and going to all the museums. The Coronado Hotel is beautiful (probably $$$ though) and has an amazing beach. However I'm not sure how the beach water is there, but in our experience through WA, OR and CA that shit is freezing year round. Dunno if OP needs to just be near the water or if he actually needs to get IN the water, but that may break one of his many rules.

[Alfisti]

Interesting, looking at photos it is the most similar place to back home i have ever seen.

We are used to the pacific, though to be fair further south. Water back home is pretty cold, i mean it's open fucking ocean right.

[bagekko]

Here's a suggestion way different, go to Iceland. Never heard anyone say they had a bad trip there, they have beaches but not warm tropical, direct flights from Toronto.

[Tommy-G]

Originally Posted by floridaorange

^I have a friend who manages about 100 rentals in that area - let me know if you want the website info. Pass-a-Grille Beach is a hidden gym not to be missed.






The Breakers Palm Beach is always a favorite.

Pass-a-grille is EXCELLENT, I thoroughly enjoy spending the day in Gulfport also.

I would do the Breakers but I fear I'll have a nose bleed after a few hours there from all the hoidey toideys.
We did drinks there when we went to West Palm and it is gorgeous