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Short warm weather family vacation in January or February

Short warm weather family vacation in January or February

Old Sep 24th, 2017, 11:05 AM
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Short warm weather family vacation in January or February

Hi! We are looking into taking a short warm weather family vacation in January or February. It will be me, my husband, and 1 year old daughter. We live in Chicago so we'd love to escape the cold weather and stay somewhere kid friendly for 3-4 days. We'd likely be renting a car wherever we'd go. We'd also love to stay under 4 hours on the plane if possible since it'll be short and we have a little one.

Any recommendations welcome especially on specific hotels! Thank you in advance!

Lori
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Old Sep 24th, 2017, 11:28 AM
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I'm sure that Florida would be happy to have tourists by then, or the Padre Islands along the Gulf of Mexico might be another choice https://www.sopadre.com/
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Old Sep 24th, 2017, 11:29 PM
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Very Southern Florida would be my choice ordinarily, but it isn't clear what post Irma conditions would be. Puerto Rico would be #2, but that's even worse.

The problem is that this is when the whole world (including me) wants to go to a warm place, thus minimum stay requirements.

Mexican Riviera? Baja? Costa Rica? I hope the four days don't include your travel days.

Slightly off the wall is a staycation. Find a hotel in the Miracle Mike with a great pool and spa and be a tourist in your own wonderful city. What you save on air fare buys a lot of hotel.
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Old Sep 25th, 2017, 06:29 AM
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San Diego - average high of 65 in January/February will feel plenty warm for anyone coming from Chicago.
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Old Sep 25th, 2017, 06:48 AM
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What about Hawaii?
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Old Sep 25th, 2017, 06:54 AM
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My vote would go to Palm Springs. There are numerous (surprisingly affordable) family-friendly hotels in the PS/Coachella Valley area, great day trips to Joshua Tree NP or the gondola/aerial tramway, or out to Route 66. Date milkshakes at Shield's date farm in Indio, great deli food at Sherman's in PS, lots of ultra-cool ring-a-ding mid-20th century architecture, antique shops and art galleries... fab. United and American nonstops from O'Hare, 4 hours or a bit less.
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Old Sep 25th, 2017, 07:01 AM
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Palm Springs will be warm during the day but a little chilly at night. You might even have snow at the higher elevations like Joshua Tree National Park.
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Old Sep 25th, 2017, 07:02 AM
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Also, really, what do you mean by warm? I agree, since you're coming from Chicago, Palm Springs will probably be warm to you. To me, it's "spring like" in January and February, not really "warm", but very pleasant.
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Old Sep 25th, 2017, 09:26 AM
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As long as you either avoid the Keys or research one of the northernmost keys very carefully, Florida will be fine, is basically fine now.

Where, exactly, depends on how warm you need it to be. With a one year old, I'd choose the Gulf side. Naples or south of there should be plenty warm enough. Sarasota might be (google average temps), but you could get a chillier day there in February--nothing like Chicago, of course
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Old Sep 25th, 2017, 09:29 AM
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San Diego
Maui. .any of the Hawaiian islands
Miami
Palm Springs
Tucson
Bermuda
Cabo

Have fun!
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Old Sep 25th, 2017, 09:40 AM
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<We'd also love to stay under 4 hours on the plane if possible>
Nixes Hawaii, unfortunately.
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Old Sep 25th, 2017, 10:39 AM
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Riviera Maya, maybe Isla Mujeres, airfare is fairly inexpensive, about $300 nonstop rt pp and flight under 4 hours from ORD.
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