Travel advice for relaxing trip in first week of January, 2024
November 20, 2022 11:02 AM Subscribe
Solo female disorganized traveler leaving from Canada!
Due to poor planning of my vacation days this year, I find myself with two weeks off for the holidays and no vacation planned! I'll be spending Christmas with my family, but would be free from around December 28 to January 8 to go on a vacation and I'm looking for suggestions on somewhere I could fly to from Montreal, QC Canada for that time period and would reliably have a good time and not get too stressed out by logistical challenges (ie: I don't want to have to fly with many connections, don't have time to get a visa, can't go somewhere that books up years in advance, etc) .
Looking for suggestions of resorts, yoga/meditation retreats, outdoor adventures, group tours, etc! Note, I'm white, female in my mid 30s, like spending time alone but wouldn't mind a group tour if I get my own room. I've had a stressful year and I'm looking to rest, explore and reset my mind.
- I want to go somewhere hot. Since I only have around 10 days of travel, I probably don't want to be flying any further than Europe.
- I speak French fluently and a bit of Spanish. Never been to France and would love to go
- I don't mind staying in hostels if I can have a private room. I don't mind traveling on the cheap as long as I'm safe.
- I am friendly and smily, but I'm pretty shy around strangers and have bad social anxiety, so will most likely spend my time alone unless someone makes a big effort to talk to me.
- I love South America and have been to Colombia and would love to go back. I am hesitant due to the last minute nature of this trip, but if anyone knows of group tours that would have availability this late in the game, feel free to send along.
- When traveling, I like a slower pace where I can walk around cities and explore, see the culture, go at my own pace, because I often experience emotional overwhelm due to all the new experiences. I don't like resort culture or places filled with tacky rich people (no offence), but because this is so last minute and I'm looking for a relaxing experience I'm pretty much open to anything.
- I love hiking and outdoor adventures, often feel severe claustrophobia in big cities
Due to poor planning of my vacation days this year, I find myself with two weeks off for the holidays and no vacation planned! I'll be spending Christmas with my family, but would be free from around December 28 to January 8 to go on a vacation and I'm looking for suggestions on somewhere I could fly to from Montreal, QC Canada for that time period and would reliably have a good time and not get too stressed out by logistical challenges (ie: I don't want to have to fly with many connections, don't have time to get a visa, can't go somewhere that books up years in advance, etc) .
Looking for suggestions of resorts, yoga/meditation retreats, outdoor adventures, group tours, etc! Note, I'm white, female in my mid 30s, like spending time alone but wouldn't mind a group tour if I get my own room. I've had a stressful year and I'm looking to rest, explore and reset my mind.
- I want to go somewhere hot. Since I only have around 10 days of travel, I probably don't want to be flying any further than Europe.
- I speak French fluently and a bit of Spanish. Never been to France and would love to go
- I don't mind staying in hostels if I can have a private room. I don't mind traveling on the cheap as long as I'm safe.
- I am friendly and smily, but I'm pretty shy around strangers and have bad social anxiety, so will most likely spend my time alone unless someone makes a big effort to talk to me.
- I love South America and have been to Colombia and would love to go back. I am hesitant due to the last minute nature of this trip, but if anyone knows of group tours that would have availability this late in the game, feel free to send along.
- When traveling, I like a slower pace where I can walk around cities and explore, see the culture, go at my own pace, because I often experience emotional overwhelm due to all the new experiences. I don't like resort culture or places filled with tacky rich people (no offence), but because this is so last minute and I'm looking for a relaxing experience I'm pretty much open to anything.
- I love hiking and outdoor adventures, often feel severe claustrophobia in big cities
Maybe Costa Rica? There are reasonably-priced direct flights out of Montreal on AirTransat and slightly more expensive ones on Air Canada. Lots of options for hiking, rain forest, and beach.
posted by rpfields at 11:11 AM on November 20, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by rpfields at 11:11 AM on November 20, 2022 [3 favorites]
Cuba is the obvious answer. You won't be short of other Candians!
posted by DarlingBri at 11:19 AM on November 20, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by DarlingBri at 11:19 AM on November 20, 2022 [1 favorite]
Cuba.
posted by miles1972 at 2:38 PM on November 20, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by miles1972 at 2:38 PM on November 20, 2022 [1 favorite]
How about French and tropical, like Martinique or Guadeloupe? Air France goes non-stop from Montreal to Guadeloupe.
Or, if you want to go all the way to France, how about Corsica?
Sorry, no specific recommendations.
posted by mareli at 3:22 PM on November 20, 2022
Or, if you want to go all the way to France, how about Corsica?
Sorry, no specific recommendations.
posted by mareli at 3:22 PM on November 20, 2022
I want to go somewhere hot.
This basically rules out anywhere in Europe, unless you go for somewhere like the Canaries or Madeira, and even then it will be more warm than actually hot. (Low 20s °C). Even the south of France is likely to be "mild" (10-15°C, maybe?) rather than warm and can feel colder as there is not always decent heating available.
posted by scorbet at 6:28 AM on November 21, 2022
This basically rules out anywhere in Europe, unless you go for somewhere like the Canaries or Madeira, and even then it will be more warm than actually hot. (Low 20s °C). Even the south of France is likely to be "mild" (10-15°C, maybe?) rather than warm and can feel colder as there is not always decent heating available.
posted by scorbet at 6:28 AM on November 21, 2022
This Belize sporty resort island on the Great Barrier Reef is fun, easy and all inclusive. Not super luxurious, but great activities, beautiful area, and your time block is the good weather window.
posted by bluesky78987 at 8:20 AM on November 21, 2022
posted by bluesky78987 at 8:20 AM on November 21, 2022
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by winterportage at 11:04 AM on November 20, 2022 [1 favorite]