Where to Go to do nothing?
 

I want to go relax somewhere pretty preferably a beach in February. I am a 42 year old single mom who will have a week to myself starting Feb 13 through Feb 21. I would like to go somewhere where I can walk out onto the beach and just sit if I want and not move for 4 days but have the option if I feel like to go explore a town or city. I have been to San Francisco, New Orleans, a cruise, and Puerta Plata in the past 2 years. I was disappointed in Iberostar in Puerto Plata. I'm not sure if it was a recent hurricane or what but the beach was not pretty and the water was grey and very rough. I would like to go for 4 nights and leave from NY. My budget is approx $1800 hopefull a little less but could go up to $2000 for something really great. I was even looking into Capri so as you can see I'm all over the place and would like some suggestions. I've traveled alone in the past and enjoy it but as a woman traveling alone would also appreciate that you keep that in mind when making suggestions. I'm not a fearful traveler, but safety is always a thought! Thanks in advance.

I would suggest you pick a small B&B along California's Central Coast. The beaches are beautiful, the towns are small and you could always visit San Jose or Santa Barbara, depending on your location.I also recommend looking at beach towns in the Carolinas, but if you plan to travel in February it might be too cold to go there.

February is probably too cold for California's Central Coast, too, if you really want beach time. Because I live in L.A., I'd go to Hawaii, but that's probably too far for four days from the East Coast. How about somewhere in the southern Caribbean? Netherlands Antilles, Aruba?

Thanks, Julie and Jean. I had considered California, but I was planning on going there with my kids at some point so was looking for different. I thought of the Caribbean but I'm not sure if its too cool in some parts in February. Aruba was either priced too high or booked. I had looked into St. Maarten but was having trouble with flights. I appreciate your thoughts. I guess I wanted some magic place that I hadn't thought of, lol. I do appreciate the advice though. Thanks!

From New York, you want to go to the Caribbean. The problem is that you have a very small budget. I'd look at Mexico and see if any packages there would suit you. That's where the best deals are right now. Cancun generally has the most flights, but the beaches there are spotty. I'd look at Cozumel.

If you want to go to Puerto Rico, there are also some reasonably priced places right on the beach. Culebra has the nicest beaches, and it's a tranquil island once you arrive with cheap accommodations options if you don't mind something modest.

Thanks, Doug. I don't mind modest at all. I like to travel alone but when going someplace I'm not familiar with I just like to know that I'm safe and I mean personal safety when even in my room or walking around, not from petty thefts or things like that. I didn't think that $2000 was that low for one person in February. I actually went to Puerto Plata last Thanksgiving with my 3 kids and the trip with airfare was around $2800 to go to Iberostar. Do you think I should skip and wait till I can go a little higher?

You said you were planning a trip to California with your kids but California is a big state. San Diego might be perfect for your solo vacation. Feb is off season and there are some good deals to be had.
It could rain (the locals are praying for that) but the reality is that we're in a drought this year. While not hot and sunny the beaches are lovely in Feb imo. Cold at night though. But if you decided to drive out to the desert it's a perfect time.

BTW, even though you said you wanted a beach, the Southwest is very pretty in Feb.

You've planning a trip in the high season and will experience the highest prices of the year, but if you book a non-AI hotel on the beach, I think you can do it. A package is the route to go if you want to minimize costs in Mexico or the Caribbean.

Count on a minimum of $200 per night for accommodations and $600 to $700 for airfare. That doesn't leave much for meals and everything else if you really have to stick to that $1,800 budget. Now you might do better if you stay in a small, modest hotel, especially if you are willing to sleep in a non-beachfront location. That's why I suggest a package. But you pay a premium for traveling alone, so I think your budget is small but quite doable.

Thanks LSky and Doug. Lsky, I know that California has a lot. I should have been more specific. I went with my kids to San Francisco in February and want to go to Southern California next year. I was hoping to take enough time to do some driving and see different parts which is why I was sort of avoiding Cali for this trip.
Doug, I get why you're saying about the budget and a package. I will probably end up with an AI in the Caribbean but figured I'd see if there were any suggestions for something different. I was even thinking Texas beaches or the Gulf Coast but I'm finding flights to be quite pricey and also nothing non-stop. So thanks again for your advice. It is much appreciated.

You can fly nonstop from NYC to Houston and the drive down to South Padre Island, but it's still going to be pretty chilly in February.

If you plan your trip carefully, a single person can certainly go to a non-AI hotel much cheaper than an AI hotel unless you want to drink and eat to excess. You pay a huge premium to be at that all-inclusive, and someone traveling alone has to choose a pretty mediocre one to make the trip affordable.

Key West is nice for a single traveller and its not too big to explore, particularly if you do not have a long vacation.

Doug, San Padre Island was actually something I was looking at. Do you know how chilly though that it will be? As far as the AI, the appeal was more that there would be a cap on spending, not really the eating or drinking to excess. I did an AI in Dominican Republic and it was good because I had the kids with me, but the food was not great. Thanks again for the advice.
Coldplay, Key West was another I was looking at. I have to look again because I think I was having trouble with a room. It seemed that the placed I'd want to stay were either too expensive or booked. I will look again though. Thank you.

Where ever you decide to go writealiving, I hope you have a splendid time. It's a wonderful dilemma :)

Lol, thanks LSky, not that my life is perfect, but it is one of the nicer dilemmas to have!!

I am an expert at doing nothing on the beach solo for cheap
;-) But my suggestions probably won't work for you since you're in NY and I'm in Seattle. Puerto Vallarta or Cabo San Lucas in Mexico, and Waikiki on Oahu are my most favorite spots.

I just got back last night from 10 days in Waikiki for less than $1800 (and that included *everything* airfare, hotel, airport transportation, local transportation, food, drinks, and even a bit of tacky souvenier shopping).

I disagree with Doug about "packages" being the best value for Mexico. When you travel solo they never work out in my experience because they are always based on double-occupancy. Or at least that's what I've found planningsolo trips (19 times to PV, 2 to Cabo/LaPaz, 4 to Honolulu).

I do agree that AI is not the best value for a single person.

4 days is such a short time is part of the problem. I think the budget is OK, it's just that you spend the major part of the budget on airfare, so the longer you can stay the lower the per day amount is (my $300 plane ticket to Hawaii for 10 days, only averaged $30 per day toward that fare, if how I look at it).

How about the Caribbean coast of Mexico. The weather will be beautiful there in February, maybe Playa del Carmen? Or even Cancun?

Suze, I actually have a week free but was going for 4 days because of money. If I could get a place for that amount, I'd go longer. I've wanted to go to Hawaii forever but didn't think I could afford it. That to me would be worth a long long flight if I could swing it with my budget. If you don't mind, I'd love to know how you did it with obviously the exception of the plane fare. Thanks.

I stayed at the Waikiki Sand Villa for $67.50 per night and found to be a very solid budget hotel (also popular with Japanese tour groups). For that price I had a nice room with 2 beds, a view of the Ala Wai canal, undercounter frig, coffeemaker, inroom safe, lanai with 2 chairs and table. The hotel provided ice machine on every-other floor, a hospitality room with 6 free computers, coin-op laundry and a large sunny pool area with hot tub. The location is a ways back in from the beach (like a 5-10 mins walk) but near the canal, grocery store, bakery, along Kuhio Avenue.

I mostly ate at the various food courts around town, from Food Pantry grocery store, the ABC Stores or casual 'plate lunch' style local places. My typical meals were between $4.25 to $7.95 for breakfast, $5 for a ready-made salad, tropical fruit, or noodles for lunch, and from $5.50 to $12.95 each for dinners, that I'd eat picnic style or take back to my room and dine on the lanai. I made my own cocktails or bought bottles of wine, except for a few evenings when I treated myself to drinks at one of the popular beachfront places to hear music and watch sunset.

Once I went out for a nice restaurant dinner, and once for a great breakfast buffet. But mostly (especially being solo) besides saving money was more comfortable with this casual style of eating.

I didn't rent a car and got around on foot or on The Bus (excellent system). I did mostly free activities, you can find hula shows, hawaiian music, farmers markets, lots of things like that. But there's also Iolani Place, Bishop Museum, hiking DiamondHead, snorkeling Hanuama Bay, tour of Doris Duke's ShangriLa that are low cost activities.

There's details of my trip over on the Honolulu Trip Advisor forum under my author name there 'suze2you'.

If you want to know about Puerto Vallarta I've been there many many times. In PV I spend less on a hotel ($45/night) but actually spend more at bars and restaurants because there's so many fun casual options.

I'm happy to tell any details about any of my trips, methods, and ideas. Love to talk (solo/budget) travel! all the best, suze

Thanks so much Suze! Sounds like my kind of travel. I don't mind a more modest room or casual dining like you did. I actually prefer it and then a nice dinner here or there especially in a place like Hawaii. Do you have a suggestion as to which one I should do? I'm going to look up your trip report. Thanks so much!

Sorry I'm not sure I follow the question... Do you mean which would I pick between Puerto Vallarta or Oahu? Both places are fabulous. Can be reasonable. And are comfortable solo. I think Hawaii's slightly "easier" of a trip (because you don't have to deal with foreign language, money, etc.).

At Trip Advisor there's a private email function, if you are signed up over there too, feel free to PM me.

Here's my two hotels, to give an idea what you're getting into in that price range -lol!
www.waikikisandvillahotel.com
www.hotelposadaderoger.com

South Padre Island has temps averaging in the mid-50s to low-70s in February. Realize those are average temperatures, so you could see actual temperatures in the 40s or 50s during the day if it's really cold.

I humbly disagree with suze that it's virtually impossible right now to go to Hawaii from NYC in February for $1,800 for a week (or even for four days). Airfares alone will come to at least $800 that month, and that's if you buy the airfare right now. It's just completely unrealistic to think you could get by during the high season on that kind of a budget for a full week. I think the best you could hope for would be $1,500 for airfare plus hotel, not including anything else. If you want to spend that much money, then go for it. It will be a lovely trip. But bear in mind the real costs.

But I do think that since you live in NYC area you could swing something in the Caribbean for that kind of price if you follow the general thrust of suze's advice on how to keep costs down. That is quite possible and would allow you to spend a quiet, albeit frugal week in a warm place in the middle of high season.

If you can find a reasonable flight to Cancun, you can then take a ferry to Isla Mujeres. The beaches are fabulous and the island is safe and easy to explore. We love it!

<But bear in mind the real costs.>

<It's just completely unrealistic to think you could get by during the high season on that kind of a budget for a full week>

Well I just DID it, for 10 days, for under $1800. Granted not from NY but from Seattle & this person said they understand of course about the airfare being higher from back east.

Want to see my receipts, Doug?

I appreciate everyone's advice and Suze, I don't think that Doug was calling you a liar, I think he was looking at the cost difference of flights from NYC as opposed to Seattle. I've been looking and they've all been connecting not just once but at least twice and even then they've been pretty high, so while I believe you did it, I'm not sure it will work out for me in February.
AJ, I've been looking at Cancun and have been having similar problems with flights. Usually non-stop from NYC is pretty reasonable, but I'm getting only connecting so far. I think as it gets closer more flights will open up so we'll see. Thank you so much everyone. I'm still looking and I'll let you know what I end up doing.

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Or course I understand that flights from New York are longer and more expensive. And that the trip's I planned & took this year (Cabo in Feb and Waikiki in Nov) each for under $1000 air/hotel/transfers wouldn't work in February for you from NYC.

Although you were disappointed in that one particular resort in the Domican Republic, it does seem like finding a Caribbean island would be easiest for a warm & sunny do-nothing beach trip at that time of year.

wow i shouldn't type before having my coffee!
Of course
trips
Dominican Republic
:-)

How do you feel about Jamaica? That's my next up trip but I'm going to meet a group of friends. Have never been there solo.

Hey Suze, I've been looking at all the Caribbean trips and it must be a bad booking time because non stop flights are bringing packages up to $2000, no matter what island I pick. I'm going to wait a week or so and try again as flights are added. When I started looking a week or so ago, I was finding Caribbean AI's with flight for about $1300, so I'll wait it out. Thanks for your help. Jamaica is one I'd love to go to, but for some reason no matter when I try to book, I can never find a non-stop as part of a package. I'll keep trying.

What about going to Bermuda? You could even cruise there right out of NYC. Or go to Puerto Rico or wherever else Jet Blue flies direct. (I'm a skier so I don't know much about going to the Caribbean, sorry). Just skip South Padre-it's where kids go to get drunk during Spring Break!

For 2K what about a long weekend in Miami?

Unfortunately, there are no cruises to Bermuda in February. But if you want to go to a place that can be as cold as South Padre, Bermuda might actually not be a bad cheap choice from NYC in February. You can fly on JetBlue for cheap, and all the hotels are at their rock-bottom because it's the depth of the low season. Bermuda isn't a cheap destination, but if you get a self-catering accommodation, I think you could do four days there for your budget. It would be similar to what Suze experienced in Hawaii (and prices for food are actually fairly comparable).

A long weekend in Miami is probably doable as well, or you could save money and go to a place like Fort Meyers.

I think it depends how warm you're hoping to find it. If you really want suntanning, lay on the beach doing nothing weather, I think you need to be further south, than anyplace mainland US or Bermuda. One of the Caribbean islands or keep looking for a Cancun/Yucatan Mexico package.

Look in (Arthur Frommers) Budget Travel Magazine. They always have a feature '40 Top Picks' showing packaged travel deals, some usually islands/Mexico. Watch for the dreaded 'single supplement' in the pricing though.

Two suggestions on opposite coasts of Florida. On the east coast, 70 miles from Orlando airport is Melbourne Beach. A quiet beach community with local restaurants. Very pleasant spot away from the crowds. The hotels are Doubletree, Hilton, and Holiday Inn Crown Plaza listed by my preference.

On the west coast is Indian Rocks Beach, between Clearwater and St. Petersburg. Several restaurants in walking distance of the Holiday Inn. You can easily spend a week at Indian Rocks and not get in a car.

Thanks again everyone. I started looking towards Florida, specifically Marco Island. I was worried about the weather. Yes, I want suntanning all week. I priced Bermuda a few times and between the flights and hotels was getting very high prices. And now, I am going to look at Indian Rocks Beach. My family lived in Sarasota years ago and I remember it being beautiful. I'm just not sure February will be beach weather. Thanks again though everyone. Your suggestions are all being looked into and very much appreciated.

I don't think February is beach weather in Florida, not suntanning type weather anyways. You need to go further south imho.

DH and I took our son and his friend to Playa Del Carment for an inexpensive spring break two years ago. We stayed at Luna Blue, a modest, budget minded hotel a couple blocks from the beach with inexpensive restaurants nearby. I learned of it through it's many good reviews on Tripadvisor. Stop by the front desk each morning for a beach club pass(good for a free chair at the beach) and a beach towel. http://www.lunabluehotel.com/

That would be Playa Del Carmen!