Hello,
I'm desparately looking for vacation ideas.
I'm flying out of NC (raleigh or Charlotte), and fares are great right now to the Caribbean. BUT, I am having a huge problem finding an adequate hotel.
Our first choice is Grand Bahama Island, cause it is the cheapest to fly there. Our hotel (Sheraton) is around $200 a night, which is fine. I'm still not set on the destination of Grand Bahama Island.

My question is: is there another island we should look at? I'm trying to stay around $1200 for 2 people, which would include flight and hotel. Is this budget even possible? I know I haven't even factored in the cost of food, but the flight and hotel is a gift from a family member, and I would prefer to stay in their budget range.

Obviously with a budget, I do not expect to stay in luxury, but I am looking for something clean, service friendly, and on a beach.

Thanks!
Debbie

Debbie, you have got yourself a challenge, BUT it can be done. Good that it doesn't include food, that would be a no go I think. Also, if you are willing to wait till high season is over, around April 15th, you'll find that your money will go a lot further. I'll post some websites that have all kinds of packages for you to browse through. Take a look at this page first, lots of stuff that might fit your budget if still available:

http://dir.travelzoo.com/Vacations.asp?intCategory=54

Look at this one, sounds like the Sheraton you were speaking about. That looks very nice. Thing is this time of year it's not warm, high 70's most of the time, so you need to go further south or wait a couple months for the Bahamas to warm up more:

http://cheapcaribbean.com/specialAva...y.jsp?pacID=88

http://www.11thhourvacations.com/

http://www.travelzoo.com/

I would suggest you register with Travelzoo for their specials that are sent out every Wednesday and if something looks good, book it right away, their best specials are gone in a hurry. They post unfilled vacations from all the travel agents, airlines, etc. at a discount. Also sign up for their NewsFlash email, stuff that just is released and very good prices.

http://www.travelzoo.com/newsflash/

http://www.vacations.net/

http://www.resortvacationstogo.com/?source=chome

http://www.1877femtrip.com/

http://www.cheapcaribbean.com/index.jsp

http://ww2.tntvacations.com/tntHome.jsp

http://www.discounttravelpackages.co...ngine=findwhat

If you can find a reasonable flight to St. Maartin, take the ferry to Anguilla ($30 round trip pp), there are some reasonable places to stay there among some very expensive places. The beaches there are among the best in the world. Here's a couple examples of inexpensive places to stay:

http://www.anguillagreathouse.com/
http://www.rendezvousbay.com/page3.html
http://www.ai/ferryboatinn/
http://www.news.ai/ref/bluewaters.html
http://www.la-sirena.com/

Even leaving from Charlotte it's going to be a challenge. Anyway, hope this helps and doesn't totally confuse you. Good luck and I hope you enjoy wherever you end up.

KarenM

Hi Karen,
Thanks for all the websites! I do get the Travelzoo emails, but I just was unsure of booking through some of those travel companies.
What companies have you booked thru?

Debbie

Call Liberty Travel or visit their website. I am planning on going to Aruba the last week of April and they quoted me a price of $911pp for hotel and air. The hotel was the Renaissance which is a fairly nice hotel too. If possible, travel after April 15th, rates go down considerably, it is considered "low season" I have booked with them before and have no problems. Expedia and Travelocty have pretty good vacations packages as well.

Have you considered Mexico? We went to Cozumel for our honeymoon and paid $1260 for the both of us and that included airfare and AI hotel out of Dallas on a Fun Jet package. Now, that was 5 years ago, but of all the destinations we've been to Mexico was the least expensive. That was also in July. The rates go down after April.

Try to get charter air if you can on whatever destination you choose. It will be the least expensive. If you go AI and eat solely at the resort, you can factor in a slightly higher price for a package and not worry about a food/drink budget. A good travel agent can do the research for you.