Yes another quick getaway!
June 7, 2013 7:54 AM Subscribe
We are hoping to get out of the Midwest from 3-7 July. Where should we go?
I have +60K frequent flier miles with United that I need to use and my boyfriend and I thought a quick getaway during 4 of July week would be perfect! Can you recommend a few places?
We are looking for:
Beach
Cool activities/excursions (we like art, historical landmarks, museums, tours, festivals, outdoorsy things..etc)
Good food
Cheap!
Would be nice to see fireworks show on 4 Jul.
We aren't looking for a major city. And with the amount of points I have, I have to stick to East Coast and the South, so no California (or Carribbean) dreamin' for me.
Sorry I know there are and looked through loads of "where should I go on vacation" threads, but please direct me if I missed a good one.
I have +60K frequent flier miles with United that I need to use and my boyfriend and I thought a quick getaway during 4 of July week would be perfect! Can you recommend a few places?
We are looking for:
Beach
Cool activities/excursions (we like art, historical landmarks, museums, tours, festivals, outdoorsy things..etc)
Good food
Cheap!
Would be nice to see fireworks show on 4 Jul.
We aren't looking for a major city. And with the amount of points I have, I have to stick to East Coast and the South, so no California (or Carribbean) dreamin' for me.
Sorry I know there are and looked through loads of "where should I go on vacation" threads, but please direct me if I missed a good one.
To help you manage expectations, you should probably identify a bunch of places you'd like to go, since space for people using frequent flier miles is extremely limited, especially around holidays.
posted by carmicha at 8:21 AM on June 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by carmicha at 8:21 AM on June 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
Was gonna suggest the Outer Banks for good food, history, quiet and of course beaches. I still stand by that but Charleston also rocks.
posted by tigerjade at 8:22 AM on June 7, 2013
posted by tigerjade at 8:22 AM on June 7, 2013
Charleston is awesome (I live here), but if you want to stay in the city, it's pretty expensive ($200 min a night hotel). It's hot as hell too, especially coming from Chicago.
posted by sandmanwv at 8:26 AM on June 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by sandmanwv at 8:26 AM on June 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
Portland, Maine. The beach is small and the water, um, bracing, but you can walk there from the city. The fireworks show is viewed from the Eastern Prom.
posted by seemoreglass at 8:27 AM on June 7, 2013
posted by seemoreglass at 8:27 AM on June 7, 2013
Jekyll Island is our getaway of choice - beautiful, not very crowded and very reasonable. Awesome community, and everything is bike-accessible. We've always rented houses for a week/long weekend with these folks, and can strongly recommend them.
posted by jbickers at 8:27 AM on June 7, 2013
posted by jbickers at 8:27 AM on June 7, 2013
FYI, United would be 37,500 pts for a flight if you came back on Sunday to Charleston (but you can fly back first class on Sunday!)
posted by sandmanwv at 8:28 AM on June 7, 2013
posted by sandmanwv at 8:28 AM on June 7, 2013
What about (in price order) greater Cape Cod or Provincetown or Block Island or Narragansett?
Just know that 4th of July weekend is going to be peak of the summer peak season, so that's potentially an issue.
posted by DarlingBri at 8:29 AM on June 7, 2013
Just know that 4th of July weekend is going to be peak of the summer peak season, so that's potentially an issue.
posted by DarlingBri at 8:29 AM on June 7, 2013
Myrtle Beach, SC might be an option if Charleston is too impacted.
Savannah or St. Augustine (fly into Jacksonville) are also similar.
I'm agreeing, you may encounter blackout dates (not to be a bummer.)
Ft. Lauderdale/West Palm/Miami has tons of hotel rooms, has a beach and you can do all kinds of things in South Florida.
Tampa, Ft. Myers, St. Petersburg or Naples if you're looking more sedate.
Be flexible and have United do the work!
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 8:52 AM on June 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
Savannah or St. Augustine (fly into Jacksonville) are also similar.
I'm agreeing, you may encounter blackout dates (not to be a bummer.)
Ft. Lauderdale/West Palm/Miami has tons of hotel rooms, has a beach and you can do all kinds of things in South Florida.
Tampa, Ft. Myers, St. Petersburg or Naples if you're looking more sedate.
Be flexible and have United do the work!
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 8:52 AM on June 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
I have +60K frequent flier miles with United that I need to use
If you have trouble getting seats for 4th of July weekend, know that any activity on your account will extend the expiration of your miles for another year and a half. My favorite way to get activity is to buy something cheap (or something I need) through the airline's online shopping portal. You can also donate as few as 500 miles, register a credit card and go out to eat, or redeem a handful of miles for a magazine subscription to keep the whole lot from expiring.
posted by payoto at 9:51 AM on June 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
If you have trouble getting seats for 4th of July weekend, know that any activity on your account will extend the expiration of your miles for another year and a half. My favorite way to get activity is to buy something cheap (or something I need) through the airline's online shopping portal. You can also donate as few as 500 miles, register a credit card and go out to eat, or redeem a handful of miles for a magazine subscription to keep the whole lot from expiring.
posted by payoto at 9:51 AM on June 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
Newport, RI.
Acommodations in town may be a little pricey that time of year, but you will be able to walk everywhere. It's a tiny city, very densely packed, with something interesting to see and do every time you turn around. Rent one of the moped-trikes to see Fort Adams and Ocean Drive, which is about as far as you'll ever need to travel... if you stay at a hotel, they'll sometimes have shuttles (and the city trolley-bus goes there if not) to Sachuest Beach and Third Beach in Middletown, which are a little nicer and less crowded than Easton's Beach downtown.
(Avoid motel or middlebrow hotel chains - they're way out in the industrial part of Middletown or next to the sewer treatment plant.)
posted by Slap*Happy at 12:47 PM on June 7, 2013
Acommodations in town may be a little pricey that time of year, but you will be able to walk everywhere. It's a tiny city, very densely packed, with something interesting to see and do every time you turn around. Rent one of the moped-trikes to see Fort Adams and Ocean Drive, which is about as far as you'll ever need to travel... if you stay at a hotel, they'll sometimes have shuttles (and the city trolley-bus goes there if not) to Sachuest Beach and Third Beach in Middletown, which are a little nicer and less crowded than Easton's Beach downtown.
(Avoid motel or middlebrow hotel chains - they're way out in the industrial part of Middletown or next to the sewer treatment plant.)
posted by Slap*Happy at 12:47 PM on June 7, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
Savannah is a similar option, dunno what fireworks they're having.
Love both of them.
posted by Ghostride The Whip at 8:13 AM on June 7, 2013