Given $1000, where should I go?
February 11, 2011 10:34 PM Subscribe
I'm getting about $1000 from my tax return and I'd like to take a vacation from April 16-25. Where should I go?
I'd be leaving from Baltimore / Washington DC and have a passport, but am not tied to leaving the country. I've never been farther west than Vegas and have never been to New Orleans, so those are both ideas. I'm also considering Paris since I've never been to Europe. I've spent time in Israel and Mexico, so those are out.
Mountains > beaches
Cool weather > hot weather
Cities are good, if it can be balanced out with exploring non-cities. Would I have time for that?
I speak a little French and a little more Spanish. I'm a 29 year old female. I love great (cheap) food and drink. Museums are okay, but bookstores and cafes and parks are better. Farms and short hikes are also a plus.
Where should I go?
I'd be leaving from Baltimore / Washington DC and have a passport, but am not tied to leaving the country. I've never been farther west than Vegas and have never been to New Orleans, so those are both ideas. I'm also considering Paris since I've never been to Europe. I've spent time in Israel and Mexico, so those are out.
Mountains > beaches
Cool weather > hot weather
Cities are good, if it can be balanced out with exploring non-cities. Would I have time for that?
I speak a little French and a little more Spanish. I'm a 29 year old female. I love great (cheap) food and drink. Museums are okay, but bookstores and cafes and parks are better. Farms and short hikes are also a plus.
Where should I go?
Play with Kayak Explore. Once you find the best airfare options you can narrow it down.
posted by grapesaresour at 10:42 PM on February 11, 2011
posted by grapesaresour at 10:42 PM on February 11, 2011
Could you potentially shift that vacation to April 28-May 2? Because that's the first weekend of Jazzfest in New Orleans, so it might be a good time to visit. Hotels are expensive, though.
posted by cabingirl at 10:51 PM on February 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by cabingirl at 10:51 PM on February 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: I work in a public school and that week is our spring break, so I'm pretty tied to it.
posted by youcancallmeal at 10:55 PM on February 11, 2011
posted by youcancallmeal at 10:55 PM on February 11, 2011
Montreal.
posted by LobsterMitten at 11:03 PM on February 11, 2011
posted by LobsterMitten at 11:03 PM on February 11, 2011
Or, I mean - Paris! London! Brugge, Amsterdam! Stopover in Iceland! I don't know what the airfares are like these days - if you can do a big trip (ie leaving the continent), I say seize the day.
posted by LobsterMitten at 11:08 PM on February 11, 2011
posted by LobsterMitten at 11:08 PM on February 11, 2011
Response by poster: Oh, and I've been to Montreal and loved it. Eventually I'll go back, but not this trip.
posted by youcancallmeal at 11:09 PM on February 11, 2011
posted by youcancallmeal at 11:09 PM on February 11, 2011
Portland, Oregon ought to be nice. It averages 42-60F in April (I consider that cool; others consider that cold), and would provide nice access to nature and wilderness.
What's your budget for the airfare component of your trip?
posted by germdisco at 11:27 PM on February 11, 2011
What's your budget for the airfare component of your trip?
posted by germdisco at 11:27 PM on February 11, 2011
Response by poster: It depends. If I go someplace where I have friends that I can stay with, I can spend more on air + car rental + whatever.
posted by youcancallmeal at 11:33 PM on February 11, 2011
posted by youcancallmeal at 11:33 PM on February 11, 2011
Response by poster: Also: I was considering a road trip from SFO to SEA. Would mid-April be a good time for that?
posted by youcancallmeal at 11:34 PM on February 11, 2011
posted by youcancallmeal at 11:34 PM on February 11, 2011
Think big! Bank the g note, keep saving up, and go on a real trip next year.
posted by fairmettle at 2:16 AM on February 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by fairmettle at 2:16 AM on February 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
Fuck no do not go to Seattle in April. It's still dreary as hell. Seattle should only be visited in July, August, or September.
posted by Jacqueline at 4:53 AM on February 12, 2011
posted by Jacqueline at 4:53 AM on February 12, 2011
Like mountains, eh? You might be interested in Sedona, AZ. It's an absolutely beautiful area, and it will still be fairly cool there in April. There are countless wonderful hikes to take, and several really fun little quirky towns around there. Lots of hippies, too.
Not exactly as exciting as Paris, granted. I think of Sedona as a fantastic place for a relaxing, calming, outdoorsy vacation.
posted by meese at 6:19 AM on February 12, 2011
Not exactly as exciting as Paris, granted. I think of Sedona as a fantastic place for a relaxing, calming, outdoorsy vacation.
posted by meese at 6:19 AM on February 12, 2011
I forgot to mention that when I looked at Portland's climate on Wikipedia, it listed an average of 15 rainy days for April. Seattle's average April climate is 41-57F with 13 rainy days.
posted by germdisco at 8:25 AM on February 12, 2011
posted by germdisco at 8:25 AM on February 12, 2011
Buenos Aires! After flights, your dollars will go further and it seems like you'd love it there (or elsewhere in SA).
posted by turkeyphant at 10:09 AM on February 12, 2011
posted by turkeyphant at 10:09 AM on February 12, 2011
Mountains > beaches
Cool weather > hot weather
Cities are good, if it can be balanced out with exploring non-cities. Would I have time for that?
In Vancouver, you will get both mountains *and* beaches. The weather will definitely be cool; it may be pouring, or perhaps not. You can take ferries. You can rent a car and drive into the mountains you can see from the city, or you can just walk around Stanley Park.
posted by rtha at 10:23 AM on February 12, 2011
Cool weather > hot weather
Cities are good, if it can be balanced out with exploring non-cities. Would I have time for that?
In Vancouver, you will get both mountains *and* beaches. The weather will definitely be cool; it may be pouring, or perhaps not. You can take ferries. You can rent a car and drive into the mountains you can see from the city, or you can just walk around Stanley Park.
posted by rtha at 10:23 AM on February 12, 2011
I was considering a road trip from SFO to SEA. Would mid-April be a good time for that?
Yeah, except the SEA part. And, like, eight of the intervening hours. Posters upthread aren't kidding, last year July 5th was the first nice day of the year here.
Perhaps you meant SFO to LAX, or SFO to Vegas or Yosemite? Those sound nice.
posted by zvs at 6:56 PM on February 12, 2011
Yeah, except the SEA part. And, like, eight of the intervening hours. Posters upthread aren't kidding, last year July 5th was the first nice day of the year here.
Perhaps you meant SFO to LAX, or SFO to Vegas or Yosemite? Those sound nice.
posted by zvs at 6:56 PM on February 12, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by youcancallmeal at 10:39 PM on February 11, 2011