Just say "NO!" to staycations...
December 18, 2009 10:43 AM
Vacation Challenge: 5 days in mid Feburary. Two adults, 1 kid. Seeking warmth, ocean, beach, fun. $1800 budget. Starting in Denver. What would you do?
The Corrocios of Denver are planning a 5 day getaway in February. I don't want to break the bank, but it would be nice to get somewhere warm, beachy, relaxing. The kid (aka "Squid") would love to go to Disneyland, but not sure it fits our budget.
Do you have a great spot to recommend?
The Corrocios of Denver are planning a 5 day getaway in February. I don't want to break the bank, but it would be nice to get somewhere warm, beachy, relaxing. The kid (aka "Squid") would love to go to Disneyland, but not sure it fits our budget.
Do you have a great spot to recommend?
In budgeting, have you considered the Disney promotion that allows you to get a free park ticket for a day if you volunteer?
Otherwise, how about a 3 or 4 night cruise from LA or San Diego? They start around $220 per person.
posted by The Potate at 11:10 AM on December 18, 2009
Otherwise, how about a 3 or 4 night cruise from LA or San Diego? They start around $220 per person.
posted by The Potate at 11:10 AM on December 18, 2009
Wherever you go, try to rent a condo/apartment instead of staying in a hotel.
posted by Madamina at 11:56 AM on December 18, 2009
posted by Madamina at 11:56 AM on December 18, 2009
$1800 -- maybe amend to $2500 - including airfare
posted by ecorrocio at 12:07 PM on December 18, 2009
posted by ecorrocio at 12:07 PM on December 18, 2009
Not beachy, but Hyatt Lost Pines Resort just outside of Austin is a very nice family vacation place. Drive to Austin or fly and rent a car so you can see some of Austin and eat some of the local (cheaper than the hotel food) fare, like the famous barbecue joints in the area.
They have lots of family activities, including a kids' activity program so mom and dad can have some mom and dad time. There are lots of things to do that are included, like a playground, fitness center, water park (sometimes heated in winter), disc golf, bikes for checkout, games and sports equipment, organized activities like kids crafts, Pictionary and smores by the outside fire pit at night. And of course there are plenty of extras you can indulge in like adults and kids spas, fitness classes, horseback riding, whitewater adventures, and (duh) golf.
I'm not connected to it in any way. Just an enthusiastic customer. Went there in October and are going back for their New Year's Eve Package. Every one of my family of six, down to the six year old, thinks the place is "awesome."
They have a third night free special right about the time you plan to travel. So, not the beach, but they do have a sand "beach" with volleyball court right by the family hot tub in their water park. Maybe that's enough sand?
posted by cross_impact at 12:38 PM on December 18, 2009
They have lots of family activities, including a kids' activity program so mom and dad can have some mom and dad time. There are lots of things to do that are included, like a playground, fitness center, water park (sometimes heated in winter), disc golf, bikes for checkout, games and sports equipment, organized activities like kids crafts, Pictionary and smores by the outside fire pit at night. And of course there are plenty of extras you can indulge in like adults and kids spas, fitness classes, horseback riding, whitewater adventures, and (duh) golf.
I'm not connected to it in any way. Just an enthusiastic customer. Went there in October and are going back for their New Year's Eve Package. Every one of my family of six, down to the six year old, thinks the place is "awesome."
They have a third night free special right about the time you plan to travel. So, not the beach, but they do have a sand "beach" with volleyball court right by the family hot tub in their water park. Maybe that's enough sand?
posted by cross_impact at 12:38 PM on December 18, 2009
I must warn you that in February, Los Angeles/Orange County/Disneyland weather is likely to be pleasant but not beachy. Highs in the sixties unless there's an unusual heat wave. You might be wearing a t-shirt, but probably not a swimsuit, and the ocean water is too cold for swimming without a wetsuit at that time of year (west coast water comes down from Alaska and doesn't warm up until mid-summer).
I would suggest flying to Miami/Ft. Lauderdale ($250-$350 per person in mid-Feb.)* and either taking a Caribbean cruise (5 night cruises in Feb. out of Miami or Tampa run about $300 per person, including food but not shore excursions, which you can do independently to save money and have a less pre-packaged experience)* or driving down to the Florida Keys, depending on how independent you like to be on vacation and how much driving your child would be OK with.
As a kid I had a great time on cruises, and it's very low stress for parents too, but you have to be willing to be packed in with a lot of other tourists. Be sure to check out the reviews of each particular ship (including kids' program), as the ships in any cruise line's fleet will vary quite a bit in its age and comfort. It looks like Celebrity and Royal Caribbean both have pretty cheap cruises on offer - I'd stay away from Carnival, which tends to be full of rowdy, noisy spring breaker types.
If driving down to the FL Keys, it can be pleasant to stop in several different islands, which have quite different feels to them. The upper Keys (Key Largo, Islamorada, etc.) tend to be pretty full of resorts and have kind of a party vibe, the middle Keys are the quietest, and the Lower Keys (Key West etc.) have more interesting, lively local culture - Key West is a charming town, though that particular island is short on beaches. You could also make a side-trip to the Everglades on the way there or back.
*prices courtesy of Kayak.com
posted by unsub at 1:19 PM on December 18, 2009
I would suggest flying to Miami/Ft. Lauderdale ($250-$350 per person in mid-Feb.)* and either taking a Caribbean cruise (5 night cruises in Feb. out of Miami or Tampa run about $300 per person, including food but not shore excursions, which you can do independently to save money and have a less pre-packaged experience)* or driving down to the Florida Keys, depending on how independent you like to be on vacation and how much driving your child would be OK with.
As a kid I had a great time on cruises, and it's very low stress for parents too, but you have to be willing to be packed in with a lot of other tourists. Be sure to check out the reviews of each particular ship (including kids' program), as the ships in any cruise line's fleet will vary quite a bit in its age and comfort. It looks like Celebrity and Royal Caribbean both have pretty cheap cruises on offer - I'd stay away from Carnival, which tends to be full of rowdy, noisy spring breaker types.
If driving down to the FL Keys, it can be pleasant to stop in several different islands, which have quite different feels to them. The upper Keys (Key Largo, Islamorada, etc.) tend to be pretty full of resorts and have kind of a party vibe, the middle Keys are the quietest, and the Lower Keys (Key West etc.) have more interesting, lively local culture - Key West is a charming town, though that particular island is short on beaches. You could also make a side-trip to the Everglades on the way there or back.
*prices courtesy of Kayak.com
posted by unsub at 1:19 PM on December 18, 2009
Seconding a cruise. I always thought I was one of those "wouldn't be caught dead on a cruise" people, but then my mom got me and the 3 kids a $400 pp Eastern Caribbean cruise on Norwegian (port in NYC) as a present, and it was very nice.
The kids made friends, did some activities, it felt very safe, the food was decent but not stellar, the atmosphere was calming, it took us to visit places we'd never before been, we got to go to gorgeous beaches in the Bahamas, Miami, and the Caribbean.
What I liked best about it as a parent was that I didn't really have to be on babysitting duty at any point. The kids were safe, we were able to relax together (or the kids kept happily busy), I didn't have to deal with feeding them, etc.
posted by dzaz at 2:45 AM on December 19, 2009
The kids made friends, did some activities, it felt very safe, the food was decent but not stellar, the atmosphere was calming, it took us to visit places we'd never before been, we got to go to gorgeous beaches in the Bahamas, Miami, and the Caribbean.
What I liked best about it as a parent was that I didn't really have to be on babysitting duty at any point. The kids were safe, we were able to relax together (or the kids kept happily busy), I didn't have to deal with feeding them, etc.
posted by dzaz at 2:45 AM on December 19, 2009
A 5-day stay at a four-star hotel in Cancun, flights for the three of you and hotel included, came to about $1900 on Expedia - no meals though. It'd be beachy, easy with a kid, and there's certainly enough to do in/around Cancun. You'd need passports, though.
There were similar prices (maybe $200-$300 more total) for stays on Isla Mujeres.
posted by mdonley at 5:52 AM on December 19, 2009
There were similar prices (maybe $200-$300 more total) for stays on Isla Mujeres.
posted by mdonley at 5:52 AM on December 19, 2009
Your budget will go a lot further if your willing to go someplace a little off the beaten path in Central America or the Caribbean. There are many many places you could go, but the first one that comes to mind is San Juan del Sur in Nicaragua -- beaches are spectacular, it's a big enough city that your not really to far away from anything and you will be very impressed with what you can do for $100 a day. Not sure what the air connections are like from Denver to Managua, but it's really not as far away as you think.
posted by dyslexictraveler at 3:36 PM on December 19, 2009
posted by dyslexictraveler at 3:36 PM on December 19, 2009
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posted by scody at 11:09 AM on December 18, 2009