yellowrose477

My husband and I will be celebrating our 25th anniv. in December. We want to take a trip for a week in the first part of January. I have looked at Costa Rica, Hawaii, Mexico, but believe that the Bahamas might be the most economical for us right now. My husband is interested in history and I'm sure would like to take a tour of Nassau. I would like to relax at a pool and a beach. I have many questions - I have heard that the weather can be kind of iffy in January, is this correct? Also wonder if the big resorts are the way to go, or trying to find our own little vacation place to rent. Have thought about a couple of nights on New Providence and then moving someplace like Eleuthera. Any ideas would be welcomed and I will answer any questions you may have. Thanks a lot.

virginia

have not been to bahamas since i was little so can't help with lodging but here's the weather history for nassau: http://www.wunderground.com/history/...tename=Bahamas
upper 70's is not really beach weather for me, plus the water won't be very warm for swimming or snorkeling.
i do have a gf who went with her sister to http://www.capesantamaria.com/
they had a wonderful time in late nov.

there are great flights from msp (i've surmised you're from minnesota) to cancun on delta for $482 and northwest goes non-stop for $687. i'd head south to the playa del carman area. ruins for the history buff and all sorts of things to do. lodging in all price ranges from mega ai to 4 room boutique hotels to beach cabanas to condos & villas.
it will help us to advise you if you could give us your budget for everything but airfare.

yellowrose477

Hi - Thanks for you reply. I hate to say why I'm not completely sold on Mexico because that is where I really thought it would be great to go. I go to reading on trip advisor about how many people get sick when they go there. I had terrible food poisoning when I was in Taiwan and that's all I could think about! I would love to see the Mayan ruins and swim in one of the cenotes (?) I think that's what they are called. I am just chicken of becoming sick. It sounded like almost everybody that went there got ill! Patti

JeanH

Although I'm not a real frequent visitor to Mexico, I've been at least half a dozen times, and have never gotten sick. I drink bottled water, even brush with teeth with it. I don't eat at buffets. I do eat at small, local places.

Wash your hands often, and carry hand sanitizer.

Others will tell you not to eat street food, and they're probably right, but, there is some really good food to be had there.

I agree that the Bahamas might be too cold in January.

ejcrowe

For a combo of economics and history, I would suggest flying to San Juan, Puerto Rico. Many cities have nonstops into SJU (the airport code) and from there you can split your time between Vieques, an island known for its reasonable prices, gorgeous beaches, and lack of crowds, and a few days in old San Juan, where your history buff of a husband should be able to wander to his heart's desire. You can either ferry over to Vieques (the less expensive option) or you can take a quick puddle jumper airplane (faster but more expensive).

Consider the rental of one of the Bravos by the Sea Villa Rentals (I don't have the website but it's a collection of three villas that are water front but not beachfront) or perhaps the lovely & slightly funky Hacienda Tamarindo b&B (www.haciendatamarindo.com). in Old San Juan, staying two nights at El Convento at the beginning or end of your vacation, or one night on each end, would be a good way of getting the best of both worlds. www.elconvento.com

ejcrowe

Ummm, my opening gambit should read, "For a combo of economy and history." not economics. Sorry!

yellowrose477

Thanks for you information. Now we are looking into Hawaii also. A lot to think about when you want to go someplace warm in the cold winter! Patti

ishkribbl

I would second the great suggestion of Puerto Rico (and I am a former history teacher who knows your husband will be enthralled strolling through Old San Juan and visiting the forts). We visited another Puerto Rican island, Culebra, and loved it there. It will be plenty warm with warm water in January. I love the out islands of the Bahamas but for what you say you want and the time of year you want to go, PR would be hard to beat. We found Culebra to be far more economical than the Bahamas where we have been 10 times- the lodging and the food were very, very reasonable to downright cheap.
As for Mexico- I also have visited Playa del Carmen and Isla Mujeres and think you would have a great trip to Mexico as well - the ruins at Tulum are wonderful. We took the advice of a travel book the first time and subsequent times and never got sick- chew up chewable Pepto twice a day for 2 weeks before your trip, during your trip and a week to two weeks after your return, drink bottled water (even for brushing your teeth as the former poster advised), be careful of ice cubes, and squeeze lime juice over fruits and vegetables in places you deem safe (it kills some bacteria, I understand). The food in that area of Mexico is great- especially the seafood.
Either PR or Mexico would be a great trip for you.

Knowing

Some may argue that Hawaii is not an economical choice and the history is a different type, but Hawaii is fun. If you are unfamiliar with it, it's a great place to explore. I would decide on an island and bring it to the attention of people on the USA board for further help. If your goal is to be in the water or on it, you can't go wrong.

virginia

i think people were ill from the water not food. drink bottled water, ask if the ice cubes in drinks are from purified water - they are almost everywhere except small bars, use bottled to brush your teeth and don't sing in the shower. we stayed 2 weeks and we were all fine. when we went to the funky little places we drank cervezas.
otoh hawaii sounds wonderful. i've never been.

ishkribbl

Yellowrose,
I spent Christmas holidays on Kauai a few years ago - not my first trip to Hawaii- and found the water cold and the surf rough. After the extremely long flights getting there we swore we would leave Hawaii to those who lived west of the Mississippi and would always head for the Caribbean where it was closer for us and the water could be counted on to be warm and calmer (although we have certainly encounted choppy days there as well, before someone jumps on that comment). Just my two cents worth....