Best 'sunny' place for a Family Christmas Vacation?
 

Where would you recommend to be during the Christmas holiday that's sunny with beaches, great food & good on any budget?

Coming from Texas! Was in San Diego & L.A. last year & loved it but it sure was expensive! Any more suggestions?

One of the Mexican beaches. Hawaii is the only state in the US that can guarantee warm weather at Christmas and the caribbean is expensive over the holidays. The exchange rate makes Mexico a better deal.

How about Miami or Ft Lauderdale.

I've got it, I dont know if it fits for any budget but Australia! Xmas is often one of the hottest days of the year in Sydney. Closer to home would be San Diego?

Thank you for the suggestions: I kind of like the Mexico idea due to being closer to home & easier on the budget. Also, will be flying with 2 kids (7 yr old & about a 1 yr old). Where do you suggest in Mexico? I think of Cozumel or Cancun, etc. SUGGESTION?

I believe southern FL is warmer than southern CA in December. I'd head for the beaches of Lauderdale or south on the east coast, or Ft. Myers/Sanibel on south on the west coast.

I personally wouldn't take a one year old to Mexico because of the potential for "La Tourista". It's hard enough on an adult's system and I'd be concerned with a 1 yr old.... I'm not even sure they can take the same preventative meds that adults are able to (and even those aren't foolproof). My husband decided the buffet at the upscale Princess (Acapulco) was safe--nope. He was one miserable hombre! I was afraid even to brush my teeth with anything but bottled water, and when our supply ran out and the hotel didn't replenish it the last day, we had a new taste treat--Colgate and burgundy, yum. I'd stick with FL or the Caribbean until the kids are older.

Thanks OliveOyl. I'll take your advice. I'm looking into the Florida area & really like Naples. However, I've discovered a wonderful resort (a little pricy) but very nice called Longbow Beach Club out of Sarasota that also offers a Kid's Klub. I'm looking into that but will take other suggestions!

Excuse me.... that was Longboat Key Club (www.longboatkeyclub.com) ... my bad!

Aruba... I was there for Christmas once and it was amazing.

South Florida can be iffy during Christmas. My sis said they froze last year and two or three years ago we ended up in a cold snap in Key West.

Florida is very iffy during that time of year. We used to go every Thanksgiving and sometimes it was nice (upper 70's lower 80's and sun), sometimes it wasn't that great (rain, and 60's). It's taking a big chance that time of year. Unless you went way south... Key West I heard is wonderful for Christmas.

Longboat Key Club is beautiful--that entire area is! I live about an hour away from that and generally that time of year we have the weather you are looking for. There is the chance of the rogue cold front, but Dec is usually OK.

I <i>love</i> Naples myself and the weather is more a surefire thing there than here. Longboat Key Club is pretty expensive so if you are looking in that price range, you might also find something around Naples that suits your needs. There is at least one hotel directly on the water, (Edgewater) but the two best high end, Registry and Ritz, both are separated from their beaches by a boardwalk through mangroves. Great dining and shopping in Naples. I've been known to hit it for just the day and drive home again! :)

Just a bit further north in Bonita Springs, Hyatt has a resort, Hyatt Regency Coconut Point that I love. My husband is a Hyatt GM...need to make that disclaimer, but I have no intention of promoting their hotel--it's just that it is a terrific hotel and in an area that has more promise of warm weather. They've got several very nice pools and the only drawback that some might see is that their beach is a private island, which is reached vai the hotel water taxi. It's about 10 minutes across Estero Bay and a pretty and fun ride in itself--if you're in luck you'll spot both dolphins and manatee on your way out. The water there is very calm every time we've been, which would be great for your 1 year old. That hotel will be less expensive than the Ritz or Registry.

I haven't been to Marco, but understand the Marriott there is OK and beaches nice. You've got lots to choose from!

The Longboat Key Club is great and offers many amenities. But there are many truly nice places on Longboat Key as it's a pretty upscale island. The Colony is another great place to stay on the island and there are also many condos and homes that are available to rent.

Restaurants include top of the line places such as Euphemia Haye and the Hayloft for dessert and coffee; Pattigeorge, the Poseidon, Drydock, Mar-Vista, so that most price ranges are covered.

There's a truly great Marine Aquarium there that I would recommend as our kids have always loved it and now our grands love it to Mote Marine at the lower end of Longboat Key.

The beaches are truly like talcum powder and the surf is generally easy unlike the Atlantic.

Once in awhile you can get a cold front in December but it generally happens in January. I have a home there so if you have any questions I'd be happy to answer.

WOW! I don't know what to choose ... so many choices. Everything sounds great! I do realize that Longboat Key Club is quite pricy .... pretty rough on my budget but could possibly manage. I have wanted to go to Naples before ... understand that they have a great 'seashell' beach &amp; like said: great dining &amp; shopping. However, also like the resort idea: we really want to do nothing more than just relax, eat great food, exercise &amp; maybe take in some massages. One of the things I did like about Longboat Key Club was that they offered a KID'S KLUB which would be a great break from the 7 yr old for a 1 or 2 days &amp; allow us to relax somewhat more. I will have to find out if the Hyatt Resort offers anything similar.

As far as Aruba ... would love to go but I feel like it would be very expensive! Thanks Tammi!

Thank you everybody for your wonderful suggestions!

Hyatt Coconut Point has a Camp Hyatt but the minimum age is 3. They have a spa as well.

Here's a link to their website: http://coconutpoint.hyatt.com/property/index.jhtml

Thanks again OliveOyl ... I'm going to check it out!

How about a Christmas cruise to Mexico? It can be quite inexpensive depending on the location of your cabin. That way you could have it all, good weather, safe food and environment, hopefully, and see a bit of Mexico.

I will second, third, fourth, and fifth OO's suggestion for the Hyatt Bonita Springs! While I haven't had the pleasure of staying there yet, I did have brunch a while back and checked out the hotel. It has to be up there as one of Hyatt's nicest.

We were in the general area you are talking about last Christmas. Actually, my husband and I go somewhere on the gulf side of Florida every year over Christmas (no kids). We stayed on Siesta Key...did a day trip to Longboat Key, area is very nice as is nearby St. Armand's Circle for shopping, al fresco dining. Marco Island, further south, is nice but secluded. There is more to do in the first-mentioned area being so close to Sarasota. Of course, Naples isn't all that far drive from Marco for a day trip, either. Oh, and the weather....we're from the Northeast, so warm to us is anything over 50 to 60 in the winter ;), so I guess warm is relative depending on who you're talking to. On most trips to the gulf side of FL, we have had a couple days of great/very warm weather, some with cooler....when I've got an ocean view of the gulf and palm trees out my window, I'm not at work, but staying on the beach and can still get outdoors, you won't hear me complaining much.