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Last Minute Urgent Advice for "my best beach vacation ever"

Last Minute Urgent Advice for "my best beach vacation ever"

Old Dec 9th, 2013, 10:10 PM
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Last Minute Urgent Advice for "my best beach vacation ever"

Need immediate help as I am trying to book a flight today.
40's (early) something couple wants to go someplace really warm in the Caribbean for Christmas. 80 degrees.
We don't want to spend more than $300 per night on a hotel.
We want adventure (snorkeling, sight seeing, boating, learning about the place we visit, etc)
We want crystal blue waters (none of this dark blue stormy Cabo San Lucas kind of sea).
We want sandy white beaches.

We want nightlife (not thump thump disco bars nor casinos) but just great beach bars where we can have a margarita and meet some fun fellow travelers or locals.

I keep reading Turks for the beaches and water (sounds glorious but maybe a bit too relaxing--relaxing is nice, but I can only look at the sand and water for a few hours without getting bored).

I then read St. Martin for nightlife, do they have the same kind of T and C beaches?

I don't feel like I want to go to the Cayman's or Bahama's because it seems so touristy, but hey, when in Rome, maybe I should shut up.

Playa sounds like a decent option because of the crystal blue waters--but I feel Mexico "ed" out. I have been to Puerto Vallarta and Cabo (while I liked the stuff to do in both towns--I hated the water). I want that Caribbean/Margaritaville style of vacation.

Puerto Rico sounds great for adventure and beauty, but it sounds more like a Cabo San Lucas kind of water/sea--deep dark blue, which is NOT what I want. I want to swim with the fishes. I want to look at some cool marine life up close in clear waters while I snorkel (but not shark bait Hawaii style).

I would love to take a surf lesson or pet a sting ray, go deep sea fishing, or take a catamaran out.

I don't know if I have given enough info, but if you can think of crystal blue waters, fun adventures, laid back great nightlife (Not Aruba clubs and Casino style) please know I would appreciate any advice.
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Old Dec 10th, 2013, 04:01 AM
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Grand Cayman offers just about everything on your wish list.

If snorkeling is high on your list of priorities you probably want to skip St. Martin - it's not noted for having very good snorkeling. Bahamas could be too cool at Christmas time so you are better off going further south.

For a great combination of turquoise waters, light golden sand beaches, snorkeling, deep sea fishing, sailing and plenty of the ubiquitous beach bars (for your night life) look at places in the British Virgin islands - perhaps Tortola, Virgin Gorda or Jost Van Dyke. The only thing lacking is swimming with sting rays.

Your biggest obstacle is finding someplace 9at this late date) that has rooms available in your price range.
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Old Dec 10th, 2013, 05:29 AM
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For Christmas your price range means very limited locations (if at all). I know you dint want Mexico, but the other coast you havent been to ticks your boxes. You can try Akumal, Playa
Del Carmen, etc. Water will be much more turquoise than other Mexican places you've been to.

You can try Dominican Republic based on budget, but no real snorkeling there.

Roatan Honduras might be a good fit too.

The place that comes closest to your wants is Virgin Islands, but probably either sold out by now or way over your budget.

The beaches of the flat islands are the ones you crave, blinding turquoise water and sift bright white sand. Caymans, and especially Turks and Caicos are what you're looking for, but they are expensive, way over your budget and probably already sold out at Christmas.

Travel zoo.com sometimes shows some last minute specials, you might just have to narrow down your choices just based on price and what's left.

Unless you wait until May and beyond, where you can get what you want at the price you want.

How's airfare? I'm seeing $700 if you don't stay through New Years (which is magical by the way) up to $2000 pp depending on island.
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Old Dec 10th, 2013, 05:38 AM
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The Caribbean side of Mexico has the clear blue water and white sand beaches and are perfectly swimmable unlike the Western side of Mexico. The Caribbean side is nothing like the Western side. We tend to go to that area about once per year as there is so many things to see and do. We've been to PV once and Cabo once. It's like been there, done, that.

There is great snorkeling in the area, but not directly in Playa. Go to Tulum, Akumel, The Sian Ka'an Biosphere, Puerto Moralos, or Maramo Beach. Xel-Ha eco park is a good option also.

5th Avenue in Playa has several streets blocked off for pedestrians. Tons of sidewalk bars, restuarants, entertainment and shopping. There are clubs and discos also.

For accomendations check out locogringo.com.

If you interested here's the link to our last Playa trip. You can tell that the beaches and water is by far superior to PV and Cabo as well as the snorkeling. All my other trips are listed on that site also.

https://kvrlvnphotogallery.shutterfly.com/pictures/2050


I have to agree getting something this late in the year for Christmas is going to be quite difficult and very, very expensive is you actually find something. Good Luck.
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Old Dec 10th, 2013, 05:53 AM
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I would check to see what is available and make a choice from that rather than have a big list of wants for this Christmas.
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Old Dec 10th, 2013, 07:08 AM
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Hi RoamsAround. I'm so glad you replied. I saw a post last night that you answered a couple of years ago for someone who was a complete goon when asking for help and even when responding to your response for more info. I was so hoping you were still around for info, you are clearly a caribbean guru, thanks so much for your advice!

I have to go to work, but I am going to look into your BVI advice when I get home. Hopefully you will still be awake to answer a few questions. What time do you stop checking these forums (central time) tonight?

Blamona, thanks for your advice. Yes, I may, as you guys have suggested just get priced out of hotels this time of year and have to go to the east coast of Mexico. I have no desire to do the Bahamas, the Dominican or Jamaica. I hate the idea of staying on property in Jamaica or the DR and am not interested in going someplace where if I go off property, someone is trying to rob me or I have to see extreme poverty (I'm too sensitive and would probably break down and cry on my vacation) ;-). I thought about Honduras, but I have read a few articles about the crime there this week, so I don't want to be on vacation and be worried. Yes, you are right, I think the beaches and water at the Caymans and Turks and Caicos are exactly what I want, but as you mentioned, I may not be able to swing the price. It's so wild, $300 a night does not sound cheap to me (and I'm not a cheap person), but I also don't need to be staying at a Ritz (although I wouldn't sneeze at it ;-). Airfares are surprisingly good--Im looking at about $700. We would be home before New Years.

KVR, your information will be invaluable! Thank you for taking the time to write that all out. I have a feeling after I do another scan tonight when I get home from work, I am going to be priced out of anything I want in the Caribbean and have to hit up your email and go Eastern Mexico for the holidays. I was hesitating a bit on that because we are taking the kids on vacation for spring break (they are with the grandparents this Christmas) and I was thinking I would do Playa for them--beaches, snorkeling, water adventure, etc...maybe I just switch it and do eastern Mexico for Christmas and take the kids to the Caribbean for spring break.

And Odin--you must be a man, thanks for the practical advice. If I had half a brain, I would have done this before last night, but the plans for the kids didn't come to fruition until last minute. ;-)

If anyone else knows of any deals (I already checked Travelzoo and Groupon) please feel free to let me know. And of course any advice you are willing to throw out there for us, would be more than appreciated.

Much Love!
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Old Dec 10th, 2013, 08:01 AM
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I'm going to have to agree with Odin - finding availability at this late date for Christmas is going to be a challenge at any price, let alone 4300/night. Your best bet is to pick a destination or two then concentrate on finding accommodations that are in your price range. Sorry to burst your bubble but $300/night is not a generous budget for the Caribbean even in off-season - for Christmas week it's going be quite a challenge.

Your other obstacle is going to be finding an airfare (to a destination) you can afford that has available seats for the dates you might want to travel. Lastly, many resorts/hotels have minimum stay requirements for the period between Christmas & New years so that too is going to affect your budget and limit your choices.

Do take a closer look at Playa del Carmen - you'll fly in/out of Cancun which usually has relatively low airfares and there are an abundance of reasonably priced resorts and hotels in the area that might be in your price range and that still have availability.

Be prepared to make a considerable number of concessions on your "wish list" - at this late date finding flights and rooms should be your main priority.

Good luck in your search.
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Old Dec 10th, 2013, 08:06 AM
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You have the wrong impression of Jamaica. You really don't have to stay on property. You do have to use common sense, as you would in any Caribbean Island. No one is out to rob you. There is some extreme poverty, but that's also true in much of the Caribbean.

One of my favorite spots in the world is Negril, Jamaica.I've been going there since 1982. It has one of the best beaches in the Caribbean, lots of nightlife, and some wonderful small boutique hotels both on the beach and on the famous West End Cliffs.

I'd make some personal recommendations, but at this point you need to research and see what if anything is available for Christmas at the destinations you're interested in.

You can check out properties in Negril on Negrilonestop.com, if Jamaica is of interest.
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Old Dec 10th, 2013, 10:01 AM
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margaritavillebound, thanks. I'll be happy to help you if you decide on the Playa area.

The last several years we have gone somewhere in the Caribbean the first week of December, when prices are much lower. The last 2 years we got caught up in weather delays and the ineffeciency of American Airlines, which is about the only carrier we can use to Mexico/Caribbean, so decided this year we would head domestic and fly with Southwest, who has a much better service record than AA. So going back to Vegas this year. Haven't been in 5 years, so a few things have seemed to change some. We are looking at the Puerto Moralos area for next May.
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Old Dec 11th, 2013, 05:05 AM
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I just saw an offer from Jolly Beach Resort in Antigua, which is offering rooms over the Christmas holidays for $195 per night (per person) for all-inclusive. Kids are $66 each extra. That might fit your budget. While this hotel is pretty middling, the beach itself is magnificent. My only advice: If you are interested, get the best room you can afford. The lowest-priced rooms are not good at all. I'm not sure what's being offered for these prices, but it's good for Christmas.
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Old Dec 12th, 2013, 10:24 AM
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I was coming to post and suggest Negril Jamaica. I don't think your generalizations apply there.

That said, I do think you get more for your money in Mexico. And the Caribbean coast is nothing like Puerto Vallarta or Cabo.
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