Where should I go?

February 19, 2008 9:51 AM

I want to take a 4 day vacation somewhere, sometime soon, with my SO for under $1500. Where should we go?

So here's the deal. I just got a nice check for pain and suffering from a car accident about 2 years ago. Basically, I'm going to put all of it away, but have decided that after 2 years of pain, I'm going to go on a vacation with about a $1000-1500 worth of it. Unfortunately, I can't really take off more than a Friday and a Monday so the vacation is more like a 4 day weekend. This can be anytime before May, as my schedule gets crazy after that and I won't be wanting to take any time off of work.

Here's the deal. I live in DC and MY idea was to go to Disney World in Orlando because I've always wanted to go there. Now my boyfriend, who I'm taking along for the ride, is understandably less than stoked with this idea, though he says he'd love to go if that's what I really wanted to do. He suggested something like Key West.

Here's the problem: I need a destination that is somewhere within taxi/metro/shuttle bus range of the airport because I don't think that we can rent a car (being only 24). I'm not necessarily looking for anything romantic, in fact, I'd choose "fun" over romantic. Any suggestions?

posted by CAnneDC to Travel & Transportation (15 answers total)

Can you appease him with Cape Canaveral? Rockets!
posted by smackfu at 10:03 AM on February 19, 2008

Hey, if you want to go to Disney, I say go for it.

Looking at the calendar, the only chance for a longer weekend before May would be if you get Good Friday off. In that case, perhaps you could do Thursday-Monday?
posted by fings at 10:04 AM on February 19, 2008

I'm a guy and love going to Disney World! The first time I went as an adult was for my SO and was only doing it for her but lI eft really enjoying the time and wanting to go back.

My vote is for Disney!
posted by doorsfan at 10:07 AM on February 19, 2008

Your boyfriend is going to have more fun than he thinks. Disney all the way.
posted by nax at 10:37 AM on February 19, 2008

I'm bucking this trend and suggesting Key West. Rent a scooter for $100 and hit every bar on Duval St. Twice.
posted by cdmwebs at 10:44 AM on February 19, 2008

You can rent a car under 25. I've done it at least 5 times, but you have to pay additoinal. Check Enterprise, sometimes they have only $15 a day additional. Use priceline.com to book a rental.

Is it $1500 for the whole trip with your b/f? I once did a trip to Austria, Prague and Vienna (9 days) for $1300 (half of the expense was booze and food). This was just 3 years ago.

I'd do Key West, but I think flights down there are pricey. Orlando has cheap flights... for the short period of your trip, you need a quick direct flight. For flights, try sidestep.com
posted by sandmanwv at 10:50 AM on February 19, 2008

Response by poster: Oh good looks about Enterprise. It is really not as absurd as I was thinking of. This trip budget is going to have to cover both of us. I'm not really as concerned about the hotel accommodations as we're just going to sleep there and plan on putting most of the money towards entertainment (food +booze). 9 days to Europe sounds awesome, unfortunately I don't have 9 days :(

Thanks for these tips everyone!
posted by CAnneDC at 11:25 AM on February 19, 2008

I think sandmanwv was trying to say that if he can do 9 days on $1300 by himself, you and your boyfriend could do four days to Europe for less than $1500.

I would go somewhere warm. Flordia sounds nice, especially from up here in the frozen North. What about the Caribbean?
posted by Carillon at 12:25 PM on February 19, 2008

A friend of mine recently took a quick trip to Puerto Rico. They stayed a few days in Old San Juan then went out to that bay with the phosphorescent marine life. He raves about it.
posted by LarryC at 12:37 PM on February 19, 2008

Disney is heavily geared towards kids. Pleasure Island and most of Epcot excepted. I'd vote Key West.

If you really can't rent a car and flgihts to Key West are too pricey, you may be able to save some money by flying into Ft. Myers and taking the ferry down to the island.

Once in Key West a scooter will do you, or a pedal bike, for that matter. Set aside enough money for the boat tour to the Dry Tortugas for snorkeling.
posted by dzot at 12:43 PM on February 19, 2008

Or, if you have a passport, you can get a taste of Key West and more on a very cheap cruise.
posted by dzot at 12:51 PM on February 19, 2008

Vegas.
posted by rocket88 at 12:52 PM on February 19, 2008

I agree with rocket88. Vegas is tons of fun and two people for $1500 is doable, depending on where you stay and time of year.
posted by pointystick at 12:59 PM on February 19, 2008

I'm voting against Disney, and I only live about an hour and a half from Orlando. Disney, from the Michael Eisner days on, has become all about the mighty dollar to the point where they shove the people in as thick as they can pack them. Gone are the sweet horse-pulled trolleys on Main Street, and the monorail is more like the subway, with standing room only these days. A lot of that old-world charm is gone, and yes, the Disney parks are really geared towards children.

But if you like theme parks, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure have a lot more for adults to do, while still having that great theme-park feel to them. The Spiderman ride is simply the best simulator ride I have ever experienced (and I don't usually like simulators), and the Hulk is the best roller coaster. Also, for night-life, there is Universal's City Walk, complete with bars, restaurants and movie theaters.

Little-known tip: If you stay in one of the Universal hotels, you get to use your hotel key to go to the front of every ride line, and that is simply awesome. You can do so much more in a day when you don't have to spend most the time in the queue.

In addition, until the end of April Mardi Gras is going on at Universal, and it's a blast.
posted by misha at 2:33 PM on February 19, 2008

I absolutely second Misha. Mardi Gras is great and you can get some good rates using either the Entertainment book or AAA discounts at the on site hotels. I've stayed at all 3 and since they're all Loew's hotels they're a few steps up from the Holiday Inn-and definately the front of the line access is SO worth the nightly rate. Also in Orlando, if you go in March or later- Aquatica will be open-it's a new water park built by SeaWorld.

I think we need a meetup at Universal sometime!
posted by hollygoheavy at 12:31 PM on February 20, 2008