rice68

We have been awarded a trip. The destination is our choice. We have 7-9 days and an estimated budget of $6500 for travel, accommodations and excursions to spend. However, if we go above that a bit, we can absolutely pitch in from our pocket including spending money of course. The choices are endless and I have spent two days clicking on everything. We will never be able to take a trip at this expense again, so making a decision has been a little stressful. This forum seems to have good advice!

Here's the dilemma; we have not traveled a ton, so it's hard to pick. My husband has been virtually no where including any type of resort. (He says the best hotel he has been was in NYC or Motor City Casino! LOL) I have been to Puerto Rico and Hawaii so he doesn't want to choose there. I have had the pleasure of staying at the El Dorado and the Grand Wailea and loved both. We have been to Mexico City to stay with family and loved the culture, food, etc, but no where in Mexico other than various cities from Mexico City to San Miguel.

While I have done the resort thing, my husband has not. I would love to have him experience the luxury resort beach style vacation while also being able to easily walk out and escape into options for restaurants, quaint and trinket shopping and culture. He is not super active in terms of excursions like zip lining, or scuba or anything like that, but would be happy as a clam to bump between a resort that would offer entertainment, lounging around a fabulous pool and then other nights wander around and have a drink, listen to music, and explore. (two back surgeries, 6 knee surgeries and a hip replacement keeps him low key these days!) We are in our early 50's and like to meet people, he loves live music and definitely has a few drinks (and he loves to eat!). He says it's up to me to choose and plan the "trip of a lifetime" - eek the pressure!

I have narrowed down a lot of things, but I don't feel sold on any destination.
*We have decided we don't want to travel too far from home as to not take away from actual vacation time. We are traveling from CLE, OH. We are thinking about 6-7 hours would be good.
*Time of year doesn't matter - we are able to pick whenever we want. We were thinking Aprilish - but are open to any.
*Inclusive or not inclusive doesn't matter. Both have advantage and disadvantage. Maybe because he hasn't had inclusive it might be fun for him.
*Easy proximity to a town- that's probably the most important factor. While he wants resort, he may go stir crazy being trapped inside.
*Not too far from airport. Again, we don't want to arrive and travel another two hours to final destination, but 4 to 7 hours is good for flight time.
*A fabulous pool- again, he's never been to resort style pool and he would like that. He wishes to sit under a thatched umbrella and order a foofoo drink.
*A sweet looking suite! Can't just look like a same ol' same ol Holiday Inn look - something airy with a hammock, swim up, outdoor shower, something to make it feel out the ordinary - modern décor=yuk for both our tastes.
*Excursions; maybe a day trip island hop, snorkel, ruins, a sail - things like that, so a place convenient for some options but not necessarily needing daily activities.

Places I've looked at; Cabo - Resort at Pedregal, Ixtapa- Capella, Secrets Maroma, Costa Rica, St. Martin, from my research it seems Punta Cana is more staying on resorts, Jamaica, Playa del Carmen - eh, I can't find a resort that seems to fit, St. Lucia was recommend - who knows! I am all over the map!!

Any advice, insight, recommendations or suggestions, would be SO greatly appreciated! I can't wait to see the responses from experience travelers! Thank you so MUCH!

kja

Lucky you, rice68, and welcome to Fodor's!

You will probably get more responses if you post your question on the Mexico & Central America forum.

You might look at the Yucatan -- places (other than Cancun) along the Costa Maya.

rice68

Thank you!! I will post and start clicking Yucatan destinations as well!

Sassafrass

You could do a beach vacation at another time for way less money. You can even do a fairly cheap beach vacation right in the US. You could do a Caribbean cruise for a lot less money.

So, I know this is not what you are looking at. However, you have enough to money to cover it, you can take up to 9 days, and are willing to have a flight of up to 7 hours, I would seriously consider adding just a couple of hours more travel time and going to someplace that would be harder to do another time, money-wise.

I would go to someplace in Europe or someplace very interesting or exotic that could reasonably work in that time frame.

That amount of money and time could take you to Paris and Barcelona for a few days each.

It could give you a tour of Morocco for a week.

It would also give you a week in Hawaii, which would be fabulous!

Consider Iceland or Costa Rico.

It is also enough for a really nice cruise with a balcony suite. If you departed from Puerto Rico, you could go on a Southern Caribbean cruise and every day be on a different island or beach where you could snorkel, swim, sail, etc. Many places have day resorts that have gorgeous swim up pools, thatched umbrellas, restaurants, changing rooms, etc. A cruise like that sounds like something you and your DH would both enjoy - pretty much AI (except for drinks, and you could buy a package), with also different cultures on the islands, and entertainment and music on the ship. Look at vacationstogo.com for ideas about different ships.

Hope you find what is perfect for you!

NewbE

I wouldn't return to Hawaii since one of you has already been--I mean, I would love to go to Hawaii every year, don't get me wrong!--but I agree with Sassafrass' advice otherwise.

Before you commit to the beach resort, *really* think about a destination that would make your hearts beat faster.

Luxury, comfort, relaxation--these are wonderful goals, of course. But a trip that really excites you seems to fit the definition of Trip of a Lifetime a little better.

Just my two cents Enjoy, whatever you decide!

rice68

I fully agree! I woke up thinking, I still need to explore. My loving dear will not go on a cruise!! That was my first suggestion to him because it covers pretty much everything and would be easy to choose fabulous destinations in great accommodations. He is afraid of being sea sick, he says he watched the Titanic and no way is he getting on a boat-silly, but actual conversation. I think I'll start with your suggestions of Barcelona and Morocco for my continued research! Thank you for commenting

rice68

Thank you NewbE- who knew a dream vacation would create so much need to be obsessed with googling!

Sassafrass

NewbE, you are right. I forgot the OP had been to Hawaii.

This is not a recommendation for any of them, just for more ideas of possibilities for 7-9 days, look at some of the vacation packages and tours on Travelzoo.com and Costco.

To relax, yet still see things, consider the Amalfi Coast in May or very early June. You don't want to be there during the most touristy season. You could see Pompeii, Capri, Paestum, etc. You could stay four days in Rome and four days on the AC, or the whole time on the AC. Google images of the AC and Positano!

rice68

On it!

NewbE

rice68, for the travel obsessed, all the googlng and planning is the fun part!

Sassafrass

Re-read your OP.
Re-thinking the AC because of the physical issues. Not sure how low key things need to be for your DH. I think it could be done, but you would have to plan very carefully to avoid much walking up and down steps.

That comes back to how great a cruise could be for someone with those issues. Not to belabor the point too much, and kind of in jest, but has your DH seen any movies about airplane accidents or fires in high rises? After a number of cruises, I have never actually met anyone who had sea sickness, though some people do take precautions. We never have and neither has anyone with us.

Now that you are thinking about the possibility of going further afield, perhaps Europe, post your dilemma in the Europe forum. You will surely get some fantastic suggestions.

Sassafrass

NewbE, so right! We even do it for each other.

rice68

Wowsa...Amalfi Coast and Positano are absolutely stunning and I am in love with the Google images! I did see a resort that promoted limited stairs! ha! Travel time is 17ish hours, but definitely doable in that budget...if I could sell it to the better half, I would already be booking! I'm still looking around, but you people were absolutely right to steer me to seeking a better destination! (He still says no cruise, but I may be able to chip away at his resistance)

Tabernash2

How easily can you get from Ohio to the Amalfi Coast? Two or three flights? Then a train or car?

We loved Lisbon, and want to go back to see the beachs of the Algarve region. Portugal is very affordable, they speak English for the most part, and we felt it was a very young, welcoming culture. Flying to Lisbon, I'd stay there a few nights, as it's a charming city. Then take the train south.

Sassafrass

Great idea from Tabernash2.
Rice68, if you can find a place you would love that requires less travel, that would be good.
Don't forget to post on the Europe forum and you will get lots more ideas.

suze

I think Cabo San Lucas ticks the most of your boxes.

There is no town to explore in Punta Cana.

I would have never come up with Europe from what you requested.

Tabernash2

I suggest Portugal, because the OP said,
"... The destination is our choice. We have 7-9 days and an estimated budget of $6500 for travel, accommodations and excursions to spend. However, if we go above that a bit, we can absolutely pitch in from our pocket including spending money of course. ... We will never be able to take a trip at this expense again, ..."

rice68

The flight is Ohio to Toronto, Toronto is Istanbul, Istanbul to Naples and then a 1 1/2 or 2 hour trip from there by train or car or whatever.

Portugal would be about 11 1/2 hours by plane and then roughly an hour and a half to Algarve.

His simple request: See turquoise water...lololol Ahhh, the necessary research for such a simple statement.

I love these suggestions!

Tabernash2

I haven't checked air plans, which is why I asked about departing from your hometown. There should be good flights to Lisbon from Toronto, which has a very nice, busy airport. If it makes any sense at all, look at TAP airlines, the Portuguese airline which is in the Star Alliance. It was really nice.

I'd definitely stay in Lisbon for a few nights, not immediately jumping on a train. Look at the Avenida Palace Hotel.
IF this makes any sense.

I have no sense of the travel involved for you, except that it was very easy for us to get from Denver to Lisbon a few years ago. And I guess I'd sacrifice 11.5 hours of transit, to get to an awesome place, if I could be there about 9 or 10 days.

There are nice beach resorts in Portugal. I missed the request for "turquoise water", and don't know about that at the Algarve, except it looks like exceptionally clear water.

What are you thinking now?

suze is right about Mexico, if that's interesting to you. She knows all the deets. I think that's where I'd like to go, for a girls' trip this winter.

rice68

I think I will have a difficult time actually selling the trip to Amalfi unless it's possible for us to extend the travel time for sure. The Lisbon flights are much easier to manage in terms of convincing as another option. The flight option isn't that bad - we would only have one layover in Philly. You are quite on target with the suggestion in terms of explorability and coastal atmosphere.

I have been reading lots of Suze posts on various other topics and Mexico still sparks an interest and I keep coming back to researching options there. I was just reading up some things on Puerto Vallarta and also suggestions of Negril that Suze posted too - but I don't know if those trips are wowza...Cabo fits the bill, but is affordable to go without such a fantastic opportunity. The struggle is real! lolololol