I need some ideas for a family Christmas vacation. We live in Florida. My kids are 14 and 9. I was thinking of somewhere where they might see snow, but don't know that we want to go skiing because we don't have all the jackets, clothes, etc. to go with. I'm just not sure. Then I thought about a cruise or all-inclusive resort. We are not wanting to go over around $4K. Any brilliant and exciting ideas anyone???

try looking for resorts in Vermont or Colorado (maybe Steamboat) for snow - most places will rent the snow gear if you need it. However, with ice skating, sledding, horseback riding (yes, even in winter), hot springs, snowshoeing, etc there are enough activities without strapping on skis.

Vermont is beautiful. Mt. Snow is a great place to stay.There is ice skating, sleigh rides and I think tubing. Asheville NC is a beautiful spot at Christmastime. I've stayed at The Grove Park Inn which is gorgeous at Christmas. I'm not sure what your interest is but they have a gingerbread house display, a spa, tennis and golf.

Are you thinking about THIS Christmas? Whoa, sister, you are way over the allotted time for getting anything for flying reasonable. The tickets I purchased in early October are now double what they cost me (my son wanted to bring a friend so I had to price our booked itinerary last wk).

Let's say you decide on a rental at Wintergreen or Bryce Resort at Bayse, both in Virginia. You could fly into DC for about $300 each, I think. Car rental would be $700 or so, maybe less. Don't know if you could find a chalet for $1100 per week and you'd still need lift tickets. And food. An all-inclusive ski resort? Don't know about that.

Your budget will be difficult. Maybe driving to VA would help (it's a 13 hr. trip) but just pray gas prices stay low. Regardless, that would save you the tkts. and the car rental.

There is usually snow in VA or WV by Christmas and if the slopes don't have snow then they make it. As for the needed clothes, if you're from Florida you can find lots of winter stuff at thrift stores. Your big purchase should be a down coat and longjohnns. You can layer everything else. My son bought a ski hat at the slope (they have really trendy ones).

I don't know about cruise prices. But I can tell you my Florida boys looooves snow. And we will be in VA for 4 days this Christmas before heading elsewhwere.

as tandoori girl says you are very last minute - so use this to your advantage. get the major fla sunday papers Today and study the travel section. at this point there should be amazing deals on last minute bookings for cruises and the caribbean. maybe for snow vacations too.
also, www.vacationstogo.com ,www.site59.com, www.travelzoo.com, and www.shermanstravel.com are good sites for you. i know there are slew of last minute booking sites, but i can't recall more of them - perhaps someone else can list more for you...

You don't want to go somewhere with snow without all the jackets and "stuff" that you will need to stay cozy warm.

The first year I outfitted my family of four with ski jackets, ski pants, gloves, socks, long underwear, turtlenecks and hats it cost over $2K and we weren't styling in high fashion, just good old Columbia gear.