Where should we go?

April 9, 2009 7:54 AM

Help us put together a last minute get-away to Florida (or beyond?)...

We (husband and pregnant wife in NYC) need a quick trip away from it all. Big time.

We are looking to do a three-four day weekend next week and would love a quick trip to somewhere relaxing and warm. Ideally we don't want to spend a ton of money either.

I was thinking Florida because the flights look pretty cheap. any suggestions in the Sunshine state? Ideally we'd like a quiet beach with a couple decent places to eat. Don't care for trendy or the rowdy scenes.

We'll be most appreciative of all suggestions!

posted by avrobie to travel & transportation (8 comments total)

Southwest Florida is your ticket. Naples, etc. It's the land of the newly-wed and the nearly-dead. Beautiful beaches and nothing else going on.
posted by TheNewWazoo at 7:56 AM on April 9

I'd recommend sunny St. Augustine. Only an hour or so's drive from either the Jacksonville or Daytona airports, it's sunny, scenic, quiet and affordable, and has some good food to boot. I'd be happy to pontificate on its virtues further; MeMail me if you're interested.
posted by saladin at 8:30 AM on April 9

Longboat Key would fit the quiet requirement nicely I think.
posted by COD at 8:35 AM on April 9

I love Sanibel Island and Captiva. It's got gorgeous beaches, not too crowded now, and the shells you can find along the shoreline are incredible. I could spend hours on the beach just sifting through all the treasures. It's an island, so everything is nearby and it's quiet.
posted by HeyAllie at 8:53 AM on April 9

I second St. Augustine. There are some sweet bed-and-breakfasts there, also in Fernandina Beach, which is just north of Jacksonville. Wonderful places for a quiet get-away.
posted by lazydog at 11:30 AM on April 9

Jet Blue's got cheap flights out of JFK to Cancun. Hop on the Playa del Carmen bus at the airport and get off at Puerto Morelos. Take a cab to town, check in at Posada el Moro, relax on the beach, eat some fish, drink some margaritas and fly home refreshed!
posted by Floydd at 11:33 AM on April 9

My standard getaway suggestions in order of how appropriate they are for you:

1. JetBlue flies right from JFK to St. Maarten, cab over to the Grand Case Beach Club. Airfare about $1500 round-trip for the two of you (could be half that if you wait a week), hotel about $1000 for three nights — not sure if that's a ton of money for you or not. Great food in town and there's a terrific little private beach at the hotel but rent a tiny car for $50 a day so you can drive over to Anse Marcel and Pinel Island.

2. Fly to San Juan, ferry to Culebra. Amazing beaches, very quiet. I'd walk or bike around the tiny hilly island but your wife would probably prefer you rent a car.

3. Fly to Aguadilla on the west coast of Puerto Rico, rent a car and drive down the coast towards Rincón, find a place to stay in barrio Puntas; the beaches are wilder and more surfable than Culebra or the Leewards.

4. The Townhouse Hotel in South Beach is a great bargain for the location (between Collins and the beach, right between the Setai and the Shore Club) and the lobby and rooms are lovely but it can be boisterous at night, especially on the top floors under the rooftop bar.
posted by nicwolff at 12:02 PM on April 9 [2 favorites has favorites]

I'll third St. Augustine if you're looking for a quieter, more relaxing vacation. Check out the Old City website to look at hotels and bed and breakfasts, as well as attractions and tours (Horse carriage tours of the city are nice, as well as sailing tours along the coast/harbor. Since you mentioned beaches, there's also a list of those nearby as well.

The are a few pictures from a previous trip on mine on my Flickr page (linked in my profile). I've been meaning to post ones from a more recent trip (SO and I stayed in St Aug at the historic Casa Monica Hotel for Valentine's Day weekend), so perhaps I'll put those up tonight as well.
posted by XcentricOrbit at 12:26 PM on April 9 [1 favorite has favorites]