Where have you been?
November 2, 2015 12:28 PM Subscribe
...and where should I go?
Where could I go with these conditions?:
- Leaving from LA
- $1500 budget total
- 5-6 days including travel time
- safe area a priority
- good mix of options when it comes to activity, relaxation option, arts (museums etc), decent food
Suggestions please! :)
Where could I go with these conditions?:
- Leaving from LA
- $1500 budget total
- 5-6 days including travel time
- safe area a priority
- good mix of options when it comes to activity, relaxation option, arts (museums etc), decent food
Suggestions please! :)
Response by poster: I should have specified that I've already traveled in California pretty extensively, so beyond CA options would be awesome. Also I know other countries might be a stretch, but those would be great, too.
posted by sprezzy at 12:49 PM on November 2, 2015
posted by sprezzy at 12:49 PM on November 2, 2015
How about Victoria, British Columbia? Different country, same coast. Decent airport (no direct flights, plenty of one-stops). Looks like Airbnb options. Art. Kayaking and other water adventures.
posted by xaryts at 12:56 PM on November 2, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by xaryts at 12:56 PM on November 2, 2015 [2 favorites]
New Orleans.
posted by cabingirl at 1:03 PM on November 2, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by cabingirl at 1:03 PM on November 2, 2015 [3 favorites]
Seattle! I went last year and had an amazing time. I've commented on AskMe about what I did and saw, and would recommend all of it.
posted by capricorn at 1:09 PM on November 2, 2015
posted by capricorn at 1:09 PM on November 2, 2015
Why not Mexico? You should be able to fly into Cancun and then immediately head out to Isla Mujeres or Tulum. You can eat and sleep very cheaply in either place and, despite the problems in Mexico of late, the Riviera Maya and surrounding area remains quite safe.
posted by 256 at 1:12 PM on November 2, 2015
posted by 256 at 1:12 PM on November 2, 2015
Washington DC is pretty cool. There are a ton of free museums (well, you pay for them with your taxes, but there is no entrance fee :)) and a good mass transit system so you don't need a car to get around.
posted by elmay at 1:13 PM on November 2, 2015
posted by elmay at 1:13 PM on November 2, 2015
Follow-up questions: when are you going? What kind of weather do you want to experience/avoid? Do you want one "home base" or are you willing to "move" to another city for a few days?
Santa Fe is nice in that you can fly in and there is enough to spend 4-5 days in and around the city. New Mexico is lovely now, but it's getting colder. The trees that change color are mostly through their transitions, and there is snow in the mountains. But if you're planning on traveling later in the year, pack plenty of warm clothes, as Santa Fe will get chilly (freezing nights are forecasted for later this week).
Alternatively, Albuqeruqe is a significantly cheaper flight, and hotels are generally cheaper, too. You can also hop around the state for a pretty low price on Botique Air, but driving isn't that bad, either. You can cross the state any way you like in a long day.
I can plug New Mexico at length, but I'll keep it to highlights here - tons of tasty food (previously on the blue), lots of great parks (national monuments, parks, etc; state parks [commercial listing, handy for at-a-glance list; official state parks website]), a ton of museums, but the nightlife is a bit quiet (most touring groups skip New Mexico and go to neighboring states).
posted by filthy light thief at 1:25 PM on November 2, 2015 [2 favorites]
Santa Fe is nice in that you can fly in and there is enough to spend 4-5 days in and around the city. New Mexico is lovely now, but it's getting colder. The trees that change color are mostly through their transitions, and there is snow in the mountains. But if you're planning on traveling later in the year, pack plenty of warm clothes, as Santa Fe will get chilly (freezing nights are forecasted for later this week).
Alternatively, Albuqeruqe is a significantly cheaper flight, and hotels are generally cheaper, too. You can also hop around the state for a pretty low price on Botique Air, but driving isn't that bad, either. You can cross the state any way you like in a long day.
I can plug New Mexico at length, but I'll keep it to highlights here - tons of tasty food (previously on the blue), lots of great parks (national monuments, parks, etc; state parks [commercial listing, handy for at-a-glance list; official state parks website]), a ton of museums, but the nightlife is a bit quiet (most touring groups skip New Mexico and go to neighboring states).
posted by filthy light thief at 1:25 PM on November 2, 2015 [2 favorites]
Mexico City
posted by deathpanels at 1:53 PM on November 2, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by deathpanels at 1:53 PM on November 2, 2015 [4 favorites]
Seriously seconding New Orleans. Everyone should go there once. It's the closest (in my mind) you can get to visiting another country and not leave the U.S.
Just stay in the French Quarter. No car needed. Off season is good, too. The best food in the world without breaking the bank. You will not be disappointed.
posted by valkane at 1:57 PM on November 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
Just stay in the French Quarter. No car needed. Off season is good, too. The best food in the world without breaking the bank. You will not be disappointed.
posted by valkane at 1:57 PM on November 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
Mexico City is what I would do given those parameters. Amazing, world-class city and totally doable on that budget.
posted by drlith at 2:16 PM on November 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by drlith at 2:16 PM on November 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
New Mexico, AZ, Colorado, Utah: four corners region is spectacular and has the mix you're looking for
Honolulu?
posted by TravellingCari at 2:28 PM on November 2, 2015
Honolulu?
posted by TravellingCari at 2:28 PM on November 2, 2015
Costa Rica, Ecuador, Big Island (Hawaii), New Mexico, Portland, Vancouver, Victoria
posted by ageispolis at 3:07 PM on November 2, 2015
posted by ageispolis at 3:07 PM on November 2, 2015
Go to New Mexico! It is utterly gorgeous, and there is so much to see and do.
(These comments constructed from 100% recycled post-consumer material.)
posted by RedOrGreen at 3:16 PM on November 2, 2015
(These comments constructed from 100% recycled post-consumer material.)
posted by RedOrGreen at 3:16 PM on November 2, 2015
Response by poster: Answer to follow-up questions:
- I'm looking at end of early to mid-november-ish (but I didn't want to limit answers too much, just wanted to see what was out there!)
- Any climate is fine...originally I was thinking either somewhere very tropical or somewhere very cold (like Alaska or something) so there's pretty much a range
- For such a short amount of time I think I'd like to stick to one home base (unless something is very very close, good for a day trip from the home base)
posted by sprezzy at 3:22 PM on November 2, 2015
- I'm looking at end of early to mid-november-ish (but I didn't want to limit answers too much, just wanted to see what was out there!)
- Any climate is fine...originally I was thinking either somewhere very tropical or somewhere very cold (like Alaska or something) so there's pretty much a range
- For such a short amount of time I think I'd like to stick to one home base (unless something is very very close, good for a day trip from the home base)
posted by sprezzy at 3:22 PM on November 2, 2015
Alaska is breathtaking.
posted by SarahElizaP at 3:56 PM on November 2, 2015
posted by SarahElizaP at 3:56 PM on November 2, 2015
Kayak Explore and Google Flights are your friend.
Without knowing anything about you, where you've been, what you like doing, what "safe" means for you, if you have a passport, how important weather is, what "lifestyle you're accustomed to" in terms of hotels and meals and transport, etc. it's impossible to tell.
If I had $1500 to spend on a trip from Los Angeles for 5-6 days I'd be thinking Tokyo, but I stay in hostels, travel by bus, eat street food, almost never shop, and have no issues visiting during the low season. Your mileage will vary if you're looking for an all-inclusive resort and beautiful weather, over a holiday weekend.
posted by Sara C. at 4:13 PM on November 2, 2015
Without knowing anything about you, where you've been, what you like doing, what "safe" means for you, if you have a passport, how important weather is, what "lifestyle you're accustomed to" in terms of hotels and meals and transport, etc. it's impossible to tell.
If I had $1500 to spend on a trip from Los Angeles for 5-6 days I'd be thinking Tokyo, but I stay in hostels, travel by bus, eat street food, almost never shop, and have no issues visiting during the low season. Your mileage will vary if you're looking for an all-inclusive resort and beautiful weather, over a holiday weekend.
posted by Sara C. at 4:13 PM on November 2, 2015
Tokyo would definitely work, and I was going to recommend it, but you're spending a lot of time in the air and the jet lag will kill you both ways. But if you stayed in a capsule hotel then you could eat pretty well and still stay within budget.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 6:43 PM on November 2, 2015
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 6:43 PM on November 2, 2015
2nd for New Orleans: “America has only three cities: New York, San Francisco, and New Orleans.
Everywhere else is Cleveland.” T. Williams
we're going to Costa Rica in late November for 3 weeks--as this seems to be an el nino year the Pacific coast should be less 'green season' = fairly dry.
our airfare's cheap, going there+staying in hostels should match your budget. go to tripadvisor's Costa Rica board and get the direct bus schedules (to stay within budget.) the hostels ~$15/nt. you'll need to hire a guide to walk into Corcovado (where we're headed). The Corcovado ranger station is very basic.
Otherwise you can stay up closer to SJO airport~~ waterfalls, volcanoes and cloud forests, north of the airport. The Nicoya peninsula's west of SJO; a perfect place for a short holiday into the 40 shades of green that make up Costa Rica.
posted by Twist at 9:54 PM on November 2, 2015
Everywhere else is Cleveland.” T. Williams
we're going to Costa Rica in late November for 3 weeks--as this seems to be an el nino year the Pacific coast should be less 'green season' = fairly dry.
our airfare's cheap, going there+staying in hostels should match your budget. go to tripadvisor's Costa Rica board and get the direct bus schedules (to stay within budget.) the hostels ~$15/nt. you'll need to hire a guide to walk into Corcovado (where we're headed). The Corcovado ranger station is very basic.
Otherwise you can stay up closer to SJO airport~~ waterfalls, volcanoes and cloud forests, north of the airport. The Nicoya peninsula's west of SJO; a perfect place for a short holiday into the 40 shades of green that make up Costa Rica.
posted by Twist at 9:54 PM on November 2, 2015
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posted by Cool Papa Bell at 12:35 PM on November 2, 2015