Where should I go on my vacation?

December 15, 2008 9:30 AM

I do NOT want to waste my vacation time again, please help me with a vacation idea for the last weeks of December (now till 1/5). Please help me find warm, relaxing, clean, affordable vacation destination. (More info inside)

I have almost 2 weeks off, and I wanted to go to Red Mountain Spa in Utah, but it looks like it'll be just as cold as the east coast, where I am. So I considered going on a cruise, but I learned that they charge a double rate if you're traveling alone. I tried arranging airfare and hotels, but can't decide where would be best this time of the year, especially since I haven't been able to make up my mind. If you have any suggestions, I'd appreciate it.

Below are some of restraints:
1. I am hoping to spend up to 2500 for a week to 2 weeks.
2. I would like to go somewhere warm, with some culture, and also for foodies.
3. I can go overseas but don't wanna have to deal with long or costly flights. (considered London, Rome, or Paris, but they'll be expensive and cold)
4. I also considered doing a road trip along southern states from Virginia(where I am), but logistics and arranging hotels, being in a car for most of the days doesn't seem too attractive.
5. I've considered the Bahamas, but I don't know too much about it. If I book a hotel through priceline, through name your price, and get a traveling book from a bookstore, are there enough 'stuff' to see and do?

I've read many previous postings, but they don't quite fit in with what I would like to do, or it's for warmer seasons.

If you have any suggestions, I'd appreciate it.

posted by icollectpurses to travel & transportation (14 comments total)

I know little about it, but I have it stuck in my head that the Mississippi Delta would be a nice region to spend some time eating and lounging and listening to the blues.
posted by jon1270 at 9:44 AM on December 15, 2008

JetBlue to St. Martin, stay on the French side in Marigot or Grand Case (good food!). Rent a mountain bike and you can explore the island and take a ferry to Anguilla or St. Barths.
posted by nicwolff at 10:16 AM on December 15, 2008

Puerto Rico - especially Vieques! It's cheap, warm, and fascinating. Any of the USVI are great, and beautiful, as well. You can easily jaunt over to the BVI, etc.
posted by sadiehawkinstein at 10:27 AM on December 15, 2008

What about a spa vacation in Arizona? It will be warmer there and there are lots of options. Plus, most hotels have really great specials right now.
posted by jrichards at 10:52 AM on December 15, 2008

I like to recommend New Orleans, since it's got great food and music and your tourist dollars would be very helpful. Should be reasonably warm, despite the freaky snowstorm last week. Be sure to check out Preservation Hall, where you can hear fantastic live music every night for $10 a pop.
posted by Quietgal at 10:54 AM on December 15, 2008

Regarding the cruise idea -- I think it's Carnival that only charges 1.5x the normal fare for a single passenger, but you don't want to do a cruise anyway if you're a foodie and you're looking for a foodie-type experience. The food's okay, and there's a ton of it, but I wasn't overly impressed. Even the "fine dining" is really just prettied up buffet food. The rest is literally a giant floating buffet.

However, I definitely want to go back to a couple of the port of calls I saw, specifically the Caymans and Cozumel.
posted by cgg at 10:56 AM on December 15, 2008

I know little about it, but I have it stuck in my head that the Mississippi Delta would be a nice region to spend some time eating and lounging and listening to the blues.

It isn't quite like the movie version. Think of it as rural Iowa with black people, casinos, and catfish. There is not blues playing at the juke joint every night down in the colorful swampy dirt road country. It's mostly sleepy towns with lots of fried food. Bigger towns, the ones with hotels, have places like Appleby's or Ruby Tuesday in place of many of the mom and pop greasy spoons. The juke joints where blues is playing on weekends are dirty and can tend to get dangerous and rowdy. Memphis has a sanitized, but safer, blues scene. One could easily stretch a Memphis and New Orleans trip into a week or two and see some of the Delta, plus throw in Natchez and Oxford for some more local color.
posted by Pollomacho at 10:59 AM on December 15, 2008

For what it's worth, I've been wanting to do a road trip in the South too -- my plan was for Savannah, Charleston, Atlanta and St. Petersburg, Florida. Thus far, I've only been to Atlanta and I really enjoyed it.
posted by faunafrailty at 1:18 PM on December 15, 2008

Googling "Great deals on cruises" was pretty fun. The cruise lines are way down on bookings, so you should find some good deals. You'll pay a premium for not having a roommate, but not double.

New Orleans is fantastic for food and music. For warmth, Caribbean and Virgin Islands.

I've had good luck using the budget travel sites to book a hotel with breakfast, then being on my own for dinners. The budget sites buy up blocks of rooms and get good pricing.
posted by theora55 at 3:16 PM on December 15, 2008

check out the texas hill country

great area, nobody goes there. may be


texas hill country

texas hill country wineries

wikipedia: texas hill country

texas wine trail

austin chronicle hill country guide
posted by knockoutking at 3:23 PM on December 15, 2008

great area, nobody goes there. may be a little cool for your taste but should be enough to do between the hill country, austin, san antonio, round rock and all the areas in between
posted by knockoutking at 3:24 PM on December 15, 2008

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Mexico.

Culture? Check.
Warm? Check.
Food? Check.

Also, it is closer than Europe and undervisited by Americans.
posted by clark at 6:19 PM on December 15, 2008

I recommend the Yucatan. Not sure what long/expensive flight means to you, but I expect that the flights are less than to Europe. You can fly into Cancun but then hurry the hell out to the Mayan ruins, to the coast south of Cancun and to Cozumel (but far away from the cruise ship port). The food is great and fairly cheap. I'd go tomorrow if I could.
posted by hawkeye at 6:27 PM on December 15, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Mexico! or Costa Rica (although not as vibrant a culture -- but extremely relaxing). MeMail me if you want more info -- was just there in Oct for two weeks. Rented a house by the beach, fell asleep to the waves every night, read many books and drank many fruity rum drinks. It was great.

I'd also vote for Hawaii. Warm, easy and lovely (if on Oahu, don't stay in Waikiki! Rent a house up on the coast, or go to a different island.)
posted by hapax_legomenon at 10:09 PM on December 15, 2008