writealiving

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.

JulieSteal

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.

Jean

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?

writealiving

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!

doug_stallings

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.

writealiving

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?

LSky

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.

doug_stallings

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.

writealiving

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.

doug_stallings

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.

coldplay

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

writealiving

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.

LSky

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

writealiving

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

suze

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).

suze

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?

writealiving

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.

suze

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

writealiving

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!

suze

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