Find me a relaxing getaway, QUICK!

April 3, 2008 8:02 AM

Stressed out. Haven't been on vacation for over a year. Need to get outta this town. Where can I bask in the sun on a budget without getting trapped on a resort?

I'm thinking somewhere in the $500-$600 range for flight + hotel, maybe 4 or 5 days. I think the all-inclusive thing is great, and there are plenty of great deals of TravelZoo, but I'm afraid to get stuck in the cozy confines of a cookie-cutter resort. I need the beaches, but I also want to taste local culture. Been looking at DR, Costa Rica and the like. Any good suggestions from a NYC boy who needs some serious unwind time?

posted by kmtiszen to travel & transportation (4 comments total)

Cabarete in the Dominican Republic is pretty nice. I stayed here several years ago and it was crazy cheap and a really good time. Windsurfing, scuba diving and mountain biking all within walking distance. There are all inclusive resorts nearby, if that's more your thing.
posted by electroboy at 9:01 AM on April 3, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

What about Puerto Rico? Flights to San Juan are cheap, can check out the old city, go caving at Camuy, kayak through the bioluminescent bays out east... If you end up needing a resort, there's always the Stellaris Marriott and Casino. I would highly recommend staying at Casa Candela in Old San Juan if you are on a budget. Pablo rents a run down room on the roof for super cheap. Rooms inside are in the $65 neighborhood. And the location and vibe can't be beat.

Don't forget lastminutetravel.com for ideas also.
posted by letahl at 10:38 AM on April 3, 2008

Puerto Rico is great, but try the west coast - JetBlue to Aguadilla and hit the surfer beaches between there and Rincón. Or, JetBlue now flies direct to St. Martin which has great beaches - can you find a cheap room there?
posted by nicwolff at 12:12 PM on April 3, 2008

I just had a great family vacation in Tulum, Mexico. It's a beautiful beach town south of Cancun with some fancy hotels but also a few hostels and some great restaurants that are cheap and feel authentically Mexican. There is also an incredible nature reserve and some Mayan ruins easily accessible by bus, taxi or rented car. Go quickly though because the resorts are closing in on the beach property. In a few years it won't be the same.
posted by easy_being_green at 3:47 PM on April 3, 2008