Hi Everyone.
Between my husband and I, I'm the lucky vacation planner. We have a week towards the end of August to go away. We are in our early 40's, no kids, and live in Chicago. And after this last winter, we've been dreaming of some place warm. We've been imagining an island like Turks and Caicos...a beach that never ends...Or something relaxing and a bit zen. Our budget it $4000-4500 for airfare and hotel. Do you travelers have any suggestions?

You'll probably get a lot more response if you repost this on the Carribbean and/or the Mexico/Central America forums. There's not a lot of activity on this board but the people who frequent those boards should be able to help you.

Well, I disagree with that advice, as this is not a specific question but a request for ideas. I think this board, while not as frequented, is the right place for such a question, and the board will build an audience over time if people keep posting.

I think the Turks and Caicos is a great idea. I know that Tabernash2 was looking at a variety of beach locations for an upcoming trip and got a lot of good feedback. If you search for her name you'll find a lot of conversation about beach locations. I think they settled on St. Croix for the great snorkeling but I also like St. Lucia a lot. Also consider the Cayman Islands.

This is NOT an area specific question Iowa. That they mentioned T&C is only an example. Why would you tell them to confine themselves to the Caribbean and/or Mexico/Central America forums?

I've just responded on another thread about Ireland/Scotland which is area specific and on which you also advised changing forums. You can read my thinking there. Basically, work to make THIS sub-forum work, not to keep it from working.

xpi6tiva, it sounds like you want a beach vacation but perhaps are looking for something a bit different from the typical package vacation that most people take. Is that the case?

For example, a quick check for Aug.22, showed me you can fly Chicago to Toronto to Athens with a flight time of 14 hours and be in Athens, Greece the next morning at 9.30am for $1020 per person. From there you could take a short hop to any Greek island.

Here's one of my own favourite spots in Greece. http://www.haraki.eu/ For 75E/$104 per night you can stay in a seaside apartment here: http://www.harakimare.gr/en/haraki_rooms.php

Spend 5 nights there for $520 and then fly back to Athens on a morning flight, have a day and night in Athens (go see the Acropolis) and take the return flight to Chicago on the morning of the 29th.

Estimated total cost including airfare, hotels, food, drink, 3 day car rental to explore the island, and buy some souvenirs, I would put at under $5,000 with ease.

That is simply one idea of where you could go on that budget for a week. Post on the Caribbean forum and guess what suggestions you will get. Package vacations to the same old, same old places all American tourists go to. No imagination required.

I've been to the T&C by the way. Provodencialles was a great place for a getaway and somewhat 'zen like' when I first visited about 30 years ago. Today, just another package destination from the US.

NewbE, and yet again, you offer no help other than to whine at me.


I didn't suggest anywhere around the Med because August is a month when many Europeans are on vacation and often swarm to the beaches. Packs of people is NOT what comes to mind when I think of a relaxing, zen like, beach.

Also, for a short trip of only one week, I prefer trips that are closer to home. I hesitate to suggest someone spend 15-20 hours each way to only have 4-5 days of fun if they could spend about 8 each way and still have much the same experience (relaxing on a beach). Plus, the OP's post history shows an interest in the Caribbean, especially T&C, and also a budget concern. If someone gives a budget of $4-4.5k, I'd rather suggest somewhere closer to the $4k range because that's what I want when I ask for help. That puts airfare closer to $1,200 for two people rather than each. That gives them more budget room for a nicer lodging or better beach access, and also for additional nights.

As August is hurricane season, I also suggested Mexico as many areas of Mexico have fantastic beaches that might be a bit more protected from hurricanes. It's not somewhere I'm overly familiar with so I can't offer specific advice, but can only direct the poster to a forum that specializes in an area that I think might be a good fit for what they're looking for.

You have not made one suggestion in answer to the OP's question Iowa.

As for, " I prefer trips that are closer to home." What arrogance. What has what YOU prefer got to do with it? This is the OPs question, not YOUR question. The OP has stated no such preference.

I've offered the OP 4 suggestions. YOU have offered none.

Furthermore, "still have much the same experience" is nonsense. A week in Mexico is nothing like the same experience as a week in Greece, or the Cape Verde or anywhere else.

Unless of course all you day is stay in an all-inclusive hotel, never leave the grounds, totally unable to even point on a map to where you are. It's just a beach, a hotel, a bar and a restaurant.

<<<What arrogance. What has what YOU prefer got to do with it? This is the OPs question, not YOUR question. The OP has stated no such preference.>>>

Exactly, they've stated no preference. As I have no information to go on to think they would want something else, I usually suggest things that I think would be fun, nice, and fit what they're looking for. If the main (only) stated desire is to relax on a beach then I see no reason not to suggest somewhere closer to home so that they can spend more of their limited vacation time on the beach rather than getting to the beach.




<<<You have already caused a lengthy response by me that included detailed ideas for this OP to be deleted>>>

I caused nothing to be erased, that was the moderators. Yet again, I don't discourage use of this board, I simply direct people who are asking about specific areas to a board where I think they will get a lot more information. That's not discouraging use of this board, that's simply encouraging use of the location specific boards for location specific inquiries.

Oh boy... I'm sorry. I took a day off from the boards to work in my garden. I should have kept a closer eye on this.

Dulciusexasperis... Thank you so much for your response. How did you come up with something so cool so quickly? Funny enough, I'm Greek. Haven't been to back Greece in years and haven't had much desire since my father died. But I love the idea. Even though I've dreamt of the Med in August, I find everything is either closed or packed.

You pinned on the head what I was looking for though... something different. I was looking at T&C because of the incredible white sand beach and for the fact that I've never been to the caribbean. But I wanted to see if anyone had a different idea. Something I hadn't considered.

Starrs... Thank you. I'll make sure to look up the other post.

Iowa_redhead... I appreciate your sentiment. Long flights for brief trips has been what has prevented us from going to Thailand, Japan, Bali, etc... all places I want to see in this lifetime. And you're right about budget. I prefer to be under rather than over. My husband will be able to relax and enjoy himself more if we are under budget. Hence why we always travel off season. Hurricanes? They don't frighten me. 110 degree weather in Arizona? The hotter the better.

You're welcome.

I'm another one who wouldn't want to fly to Europe for just a week if the goal was relaxing and zen. That's too much flying for me but everyone has their preferences.

Not a beach and not warm but I loved Victoria BC and would enjoy spending a week there and exploring Vancouver Island. Again, not the T&C but moderate climate, and you feel like you've stepped into England.

I also want to kayak in the San Juans. They have a wine trip that would be pretty zen for me - but may be of no interest to another person.

A spa resort would be good. Maybe Enchantment in Sedona?
http://enchantmentresort.com/

Iowa_Redhead, you can't have it both ways. Either you accept the OP indicated no preference in which case the whole world is a possibility if within budget or you decide to suggest going to geographical boards and limit responses to those areas.

By your own admission, the OP did not indicate a preference therefore there is no justification for suggesting this is not the appropriate place to post.

Xpi6tiva has now indicated at least some interest in a European location which would not have been suggested if s/he had posted on the boards you suggested to post on.

Can you now accept that immediately, in the first response, suggesting moving to another forum based on assumptions as to what the OP is interested in or what you prefer is not the way to go?

You could have asked if the OP had preferences, you did not, you jumped to an immediate, 'go to....

Perhaps this is a good thread for you to give some thought to as to why posters should be advised to go to another forum before you know enough to make that suggestion on.

Xpi6tiva, I made 3 other suggestions but my response was cut because I took Iowa to task apparently to strongly.

Those other 3 suggestions were The Canary Islands, Cape Verde Islands and Portugal if you happened to be a fan of Port wine. Obviously, there are plenty of other possibilities as well within your budget.

Re August being closed or packed, I don't see where you are coming from with the closed but packed I can understand. However, packed is a relative term and depends a great deal on just where you go. If you go to one of the more popular tourist areas then yes it can be busy.

The example I gave on the island of Rhodes however is simply one of many villages in Greece where although they have tourism, it is not 'packed' by any means. If on the other hand you stayed in Rhodes Town or Lindos or Faliraki, they would indeed be packed. But the island although only an island has enough room for there to also be quieter places to stay.

The village I suggested is in fact packed on only one day of the week, Sunday. That is because it is a popular place for Greeks living in Rhodes Town, to go to for lunch on Sunday. So it's 'packed' for about 3 hours every Sunday in the summer and that's it.

Regarding long haul flights. I doubt anyone prefers to take a long haul flight but at the same time I think it has a lot to do with how you look at it.

I tend to look at it like people taking an overnight train to avoid having to pay for a hotel. I'm able to get some sleep on the plane and do not suffer too badly from jet lag. If I can leave N. America on a Friday evening and be in my destination by noon the next day, where's the problem? It's no worse than a night in a lousy hotel.

What's more, all you lose is a night, not a day. On the return you depart and arrive back home on the same day.

I always recall some Brit tourists I met on Rhodes who would complain about a flight of 4-5 hours as being a 'long haul' flight. It's all in what you get used to.

If on the other hand you have never been to the Caribbean then there are some destinations I would suggest over others.

First, eliminate all the most popular destinations and especially any 'all-inclusive' places. Those will not get you 'different' or 'zen like'.

You could look at Concordia Eco-Resort on St. John, USVI for example. It is certainly different from the typical beach package holiday.

Find a flight to St. Thomas, taxi to Red Hook, ferry to St. John, taxi to Concordia. http://www.concordiaeco-resort.com/

But bear in mind, that August is NOT the best season for the Caribbean. It is in fact their low season which is good for prices but it is low season for a reason. It is hurricane season. http://travelwithkids.about.com/od/f...redictions.htm

Personally, I would save the Caribbean for a winter break. Then I would up the budget and charter a skippered yacht for a week in the British Virgin Islands. http://www.sunsail.com/skippered-charter
Or you could pay my way and I will skipper for you. I'm qualified. ;-)

Thank you, Starrs! I've been to the Enchantment in AZ and loved it! Victoria BC is on our list.

Dulciusexasperis...Again, thank you for your suggestions. My memories of Greece were of when I was a teenager. Shops summer hours were cut to the morning and sometimes in the evening, if the shop keeper felt like going back to work. I remember beaches being jam packed too. Anyway, as much as I know I'll want to go back to Greece eventually... I'm just not desiring it right now.

Portugal sounds wonderful! I'll look into flights and hotels to see if it fits our budget. I'll also look into the Canary Islands and Cape Verde Islands... haven't considered them before and am not all that familiar.

Shops still close for siesta between noon and three usually xpi6tiva. But then re-open usually till 8pm. In busier tourist areas many don't close at all any more.

The Canaries vary considerably from one island to another both in how busy they are and in Geography.

The Cape Verde are an 'up and coming' new tourist destination. Still time to get in before the hordes discover them. Like the T&C were 30 years ago.

starrs is right. We looked in the Caribbean for a vacation spot in late May. We settled on St Croix, at the Buccaneer Resort. It looks wonderful for us, and I'll report on it when we return. (Staying within US territory makes it easier for us this trip.)

We had considered Turks & Caicos, but didn't want a desert island. St Croix is green.

I know nothing about the Caribbean in August, though.

Have you been to Hawaii?

We loved Portugal. We stayed 5 nights in Lisbon in October. LOVED the Avenida Palace hotel.

@tabernash2
We have not been to Hawaii. It's certainly been on the list too. Just seems like a "rent a car, drive around" vacation. Can't say it's super relaxing when we're getting in the car every day.

St. Croix looks great! Can't wait to hear about it. Have a wonderful time.

No, Hawaii is not like that!

You do need a car, but you don't need to drive anyplace if you're staying at the right resort/hotel, located by the beach or whatever you're interested in. We love it there.

Hawaii and Caribbean sound awesome but did you try South East Asian countries? I LOVE Phuket in Thailand, Bali in Indonesia and so much more! Airfare might be more expensive, but hotels, transportation etc are so MUCH cheaper there, i bet you can get a personal driver and rental car for a week or so + planned itinerary for like $1000 (includes attractions entrance fee and sometimes meals).

Tabernash... Can you recommend any specific resorts in Hawaii?

Pink... I have looked at Thailand and Bali. Both on my bucket lists. Flights are super pricey...And it would take forever to get there. I'll look at it again.

I've also looked a little in central america but not sure it will provide the vacation I am seeking. I must admit, I'm a bit all over the place. My husband keeps lowering our budget so I guess it's going to come down to the nicest choice for the least amount of money.