We are starting to think ahead to our 10th anniversary for next year. We want to take a kid free trip and budget is somewhat of an issue. We are on the east coast so the Caribbean seems like the likely top contender. But I am having a hard time narrowing down where to go!
We have already been to Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Rico. Hoping to keep budget to less than 5K Not really AI people Not huge into night life, but would like SOME stuff to do. Ideally we would be in a hotel/resort/rental that is walking distance to restaurants, shops, things to do. We don't need excursions, per say, just do not want to be stuck on a resort or at a place where we feel like we cannot really leave. Prefer local culture and would rather not go to some big AI in Jamaica or DR (the cheapest options I am seeing) where we are mostly going to just be on a resort property. Champagne taste on a Miller Life budget, lol.
I have been leaning towards the Bahamas or Curacao but am totally open too suggestions. I have been scouring the boards and the internet but all the suggestions I see are for things that are way beyond our price tag. Are there any options out there for us?
Are you set on a beach trip? I ask because I've been looking at doing Mexico City next summer and while flights might be more expensive from where you are (I'm in CO), accommodations are quite inexpensive through AirBnB. I've been told by people here and my DS2's teacher (who is from a town near Mexico City) that Uber/Lyft is absurdly cheap as well. So that may be a consideration if you're up for more of a city trip.
Another one I've explored is Costa Rica, again because accommodations there are inexpensive, though flights may be cost prohibitive.
Post by aliciabella on Aug 22, 2019 7:38:07 GMT -5
Turks and Caicos hands down. It is my favorite island. Almost all the resorts on Grace Bay are small, beautiful, and non-AI condos. It also is a culinary hub. The food is out of this world.
Turks and Caicos hands down. It is my favorite island. Almost all the resorts on Grace Bay are small, beautiful, and non-AI condos. It also is a culinary hub. The food is out of this world.
My second choice would be St. Martin.
Sounds like it will be a great trip regardless.
They both just seemed really $$$?
T&C was my first choice, but it did not seem like we could 1) afford it or 2) that there were tons of places to walk to? TELL ME I AM WRONG ON BOTH! lol.
isabel, I think so. I would also be open to Vegas (lol) which is pretty affordable since we do not gamble. We went a few years ago and just slept, swam and relaxed by the pool, ate good food and saw fun shows.
What about Bermuda? You can get a direct flight on Jet Blue for probably a reasonable amount.
any suggested hotels or resorts?
The only one I've stayed at was during a work conference, and it was the Fairmont Southampton. It was gorgeous. I just checked and you can get a room for right around $300 per night. There's a newer boutique hotel called The Royal Palms that looks really nice. That's around $250-275 per night.
What about Bermuda? You can get a direct flight on Jet Blue for probably a reasonable amount.
I was going to suggest Bermuda too. It's a cheap and fast flight from the east coast and it's beautiful! It depends on when your trip is though - it's not warm until the summer and it gets hurricanes in the fall. And Bermuda is not cheap...but it's really lovely!
I would recommend St. John or Costa Rica also. Bahamas is nice, though I'd go away from Nassau - we went to one of the outer islands (Guana Cay) a few years ago and it was awesome, though not busy and not much nightlife (there were 2 bars!). Marsh Harbor looked nice.
"Hello babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. On the outside, babies, you've got a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies-"God damn it, you've got to be kind.”
We love the British Virgin Islands, in particular Jost or Virgin Gorda.
If you go on the edge of season you should be able to rent a one bedroom villa for a reasonable price and then go from there. Lots of local cuisine and things to do.
Are you anywhere near JFK? We absolutely love Guadeloupe but Jet Blue is the only one who flies there from the NE and only out of JFK. Tickets are around $400 I think.
Guadeloupe is amazing and pretty cheap. We had a few fantastic splurge meals (still under $100) but mostly live on baked goods and cheese because it's a French island. The wine and rum are also very cheap! Most of our rentals were in the $100-$150 a night range but we stayed in an amazing 3 bedroom with friends that was still only $300 a night.
Are you anywhere near JFK? We absolutely love Guadeloupe but Jet Blue is the only one who flies there from the NE and only out of JFK. Tickets are around $400 I think.
Guadeloupe is amazing and pretty cheap. We had a few fantastic splurge meals (still under $100) but mostly live on baked goods and cheese because it's a French island. The wine and rum are also very cheap! Most of our rentals were in the $100-$150 a night range but we stayed in an amazing 3 bedroom with friends that was still only $300 a night.
Are you anywhere near JFK? We absolutely love Guadeloupe but Jet Blue is the only one who flies there from the NE and only out of JFK. Tickets are around $400 I think.
Guadeloupe is amazing and pretty cheap. We had a few fantastic splurge meals (still under $100) but mostly live on baked goods and cheese because it's a French island. The wine and rum are also very cheap! Most of our rentals were in the $100-$150 a night range but we stayed in an amazing 3 bedroom with friends that was still only $300 a night.
Boston. But I love this idea! Thank you!
Let me know if you want more info. We've been three times and the only reason we're not going this winter is that I needed to use Southwest points.
Are you anywhere near JFK? We absolutely love Guadeloupe but Jet Blue is the only one who flies there from the NE and only out of JFK. Tickets are around $400 I think.
Guadeloupe is amazing and pretty cheap. We had a few fantastic splurge meals (still under $100) but mostly live on baked goods and cheese because it's a French island. The wine and rum are also very cheap! Most of our rentals were in the $100-$150 a night range but we stayed in an amazing 3 bedroom with friends that was still only $300 a night.
Boston. But I love this idea! Thank you!
We did Guadeloupe last year and loved it. We rented a car and explored both of the main islands. Went to quite a few beaches, ate a ton of local food. Traffic was pretty terrible going from one island to the other, but otherwise not bad. If you do pick this I can offer other advice.
I've known several people who have gone to Bogota, Columbia, and found it to be really wonderful and inexpensive. A friend here in Baltimore recently flew there for cheap, not sure where you are on the east coast but it seems like it's not hard or expensive to get to from here?
I loved Costa Rica, too. I think you could do it for under 5k easily. We spent 10 days there and spent around 3k, not including flights or some of our hotel (we used points) but I think flights were only around $400 each so you could definitely find hotels for 7 nights that fit within the budget. I wouldn't call Costa Rican accommodations cheap but they aren't outrageous either. There is a wide variety of stuff to do so you could probably fit just about any budget (nice restaurants are available, and also restaurants where you can get a huge plate of local food for $6).
My choice is St Martin. It's half French and Dutch so you get an international feeling at Caribbean prices. The beaches are gorgeous. The food can be cheap lolos (outdoor bbq) to fancy French and everything in between. I've been there 3 times, most recently after the hurricane. I found cheap air fare the last time I went and paid $260.00 per person. So getting there cheap can be done. I had one layover for 2 hours in Miami but it was easy and awesome. As for places to stay. There are hotels to vrbos. I've stayed in beautiful apartments that were $160 a night to the last one that was $70 not beach front because I didn't care. I know the island well now. If you end up going I do have one recommendation for a catamaran tour. It was one of the best days I've ever spent on the island. I felt like a rockstar.
Post by litskispeciality on Aug 22, 2019 9:35:38 GMT -5
I know a few people who've rented houses on USVI, although I think that's more expensive. I have friends who've done St. Barth's (sp?) but I think the hurricanes may have really ruined the island and they're still rebuilding
My brother liked Costa Rica, said it's some of the freshest fruit he's ever eaten.
Post by goldengirlz on Aug 22, 2019 9:53:13 GMT -5
Go to Colombia. You can fly to Cartagena on JetBlue and stay in an awesome hotel in the Old City for much less than what you’d pay for a large American chain in the Caribbean.
I love to hire a villa / apartment here. Lots of them come with a cook who will either buy food and cook it for you or will tell you where to buy food and cook it for you. And they will teach you what to eat if you want too. To me, you get the best of both worlds there - you get food at home not cooked by you, but you can also go out for meals and you also have an awesome local guide!
For walking, Negril is best. Either on the Cliffs (Rockhouse is amazing but there are also cheaper options) or the Beach (Crystal Water is my favourite villa place).
I really love Portland but you would probably need to hire a car there. It's more off the beaten track but is in my opinion, the most beautiful part of the country. Beaches. Waterfalls. Marina. Where the new Bond is being filmed!!
Post by CheeringCharm on Aug 22, 2019 10:08:46 GMT -5
We were in Curacao last November and we thought it was wonderful!
It's a very small island and easily drivable. Lots of small beautiful beaches and great little restaurants with delicious food. And pretty cheap compared to other islands! This was our favorite beach:
If you want to be somewhere walkable, I'd do Grand Cayman and stay on Seven Mile Beach. We stayed at the Regal Beach Club next to the Marriott and it was within walking distance to lots of nice restaurants.
Turks and Caicos is also really nice. It's hard to beat Grace Bay Beach. But you do need a car.
I love to hire a villa / apartment here. Lots of them come with a cook who will either buy food and cook it for you or will tell you where to buy food and cook it for you. And they will teach you what to eat if you want too. To me, you get the best of both worlds there - you get food at home not cooked by you, but you can also go out for meals and you also have an awesome local guide!
For walking, Negril is best. Either on the Cliffs (Rockhouse is amazing but there are also cheaper options) or the Beach (Crystal Water is my favourite villa place).
I really love Portland but you would probably need to hire a car there. It's more off the beaten track but is in my opinion, the most beautiful part of the country. Beaches. Waterfalls. Marina. Where the new Bond is being filmed!!
I was going to suggest Negril too! Seven mile is the best beach I've been to anywhere in the Caribbean. We did stay at an AI--Couples Swept Away, which we loved--but we went off the resort quite a bit too. It was just nice to have a home base with no thinking required.
Next time we'll probably do what jamaicam suggests and get a villa and a cook. We were in Negril in March and afterwards my BF said he will pick it over Mexico or the DR always in the future.