Please help with our 10th anniversary
 

I'd like to surprise my wife with a 3-night weekend to celebrate our 10th anniversary in early May.

Willing to fly from St. Louis, but don't want to spend too much of our trip in transit (but I realize STL isn't good for nonstops anymore). I'm looking for B&Bs or lavish resorts that offer spa options for her, nice restaurants and a little sight-seeing.

We visited Savannah on our 5th and loved it, so I was thinking of Charleston, SC this time. Other thoughts are Sedona, AZ or Atlantis in Bahamas..... never been to any of those places. Or I'm open to a recommendation for a relaxing, romantic weekend.

I personnally would LOVE the Bahamas. I live is Washington State so I would welcome sunshine and warm temps.

I cannot recommend a resort or hotel because I've never been.... but the Bahamas would be my choice for location.

Oops. I just realized that Atlantis is a resort & hotel. Yup. Definately. I would pick that one:))

Santa Fe
La Jolla (San Diego)
Carmel

3 day trip...Vegas Baby!

Either Post Ranch Inn or Ventana Inn in Big Sur, CA.

I'd love Vegas but then I like to gamble. Sedona is another fabulous choice. Is 3 nights enough to go to Big Sur - seems a long flight to SFO and then a long drive down and back from Big Sur. I'd try to figure out where the shortest, most convenient flights are so I could maximize my vacation time.

My thought on Big Sur was not to go through SFO. OP could take, for example, UA direct to Monterey with 1-stop change in DEN from STL. Takes less than 5.5 hrs.

If it were me, I'd be in Napa. Wine, food, Spas....ahhh
:)

I loved our long weekend in Charleston. Of course I loved our long weekend in Santa Fe too.
In May I'd choose Charleston. Be sure to take one of the carriage tours.

If you liked Savannah, you'll LOVE Charleston! Can you get a direct flight? If so, that's a great choice. If I were you, I'd determine your destination based on ease and speed of travel. 3 days isn't that long and can eat up all the fun time :/ I love Las Vegas, too, but it's more fun if you like to gamble.

Hotel Del in San Diego/Coronado is lovely or La Costa Resort & Spa..
Las Vegas staying at the Wynn or Bellagio..
Cabo at the Palmilla..
Sedona, Enchantment Resort
Santa Barbara, San Ysidro Ranch
Anywhere in Napa..
I love that you want to surprise your wife!

If my husband were doing that for me, I'd opt for Sedona. It's a complete change of scenery and probably less kids running around than Atlantis Resort (if romantic is what you are looking for.) Enchantment Resort in Sedona is a top of the line spa. If that's more than you want to spend there are plenty of other options, most of which have gorgeous views. Personally, I thought Savannah and Charleston were similar. Arizona might be a good change of pace. I also agree with Las Vegas, as long as you can afford to stay somewhere really nice (my favorite is Bellagio). Get a fountain-view room and book spa services there at the hotel. The pools at Bellagio are amazing. One great thing about Las Vegas is you can be up all night if you want, and maximize the time you have on vacation. There are tons of great food options as well. Just my two cents. I'm sure whatever you decide your wife will be really touched by the surprise.

Based on your excellent suggestions and some research on flights/costs/etc, I've narrowed it down to Sedona or Charleston. Bahamas is too much travel time for 3 nights (esp since we're hoping to leave Thu evening), plus Atlantis is $$$$$ that time of year. We've done Napa, Vegas, most of Cali, so I'd like to do something new.

A couple airlines have nonstops from STL to PHX. And Charleston isn't too bad of a travel time even with one connection. I'll certainly check out the Enchantment Resort in Sedona. Any lavish suggestions for Charleston? Do we need a car in both cities?

For Sedona if Enchantment is sold out or too pricey, we just stayed at the Sedona Rouge Hotel & Spa and for the huge savings and still being able to eat at Yavapai for lunch at ER was a great second runner up..
I would fly into Phoenix and rent a car up to Sedona and back..its around 2 hours each way..you need a car..
Best to you!

www.sedonarouge.com

Have never been to Charleston, but LOVE Sedona. We have been many times. Enchantment Resort is gorgeous, but very pricey. We enjoyed an anniversary stay at Inn on Oak Creek. Very private for a B&B, lovely grounds, good concierge service.

CCGEGG I recommend Charleston if you liked Savannah. Charleston is a beautiful city and there are some fine restaurants. I liked Sedona very much but it's a hour or so drive from Phoenix and you would need a car. Enchantment is 15/20 minutes outside Sedona and you would not have a lot to do other than the spa, golf, tennis, swimming or maybe touring the area by jeep sightseeing in the desert. I really liked it though but I would recommend more time in AZ to see Grand Canyon and other sights. You can reach Charleston by Air pretty quick. Stay at Charleston Place and have dinner @ Charleston Grill one night and walk across the street to Planters Inn and have dinner the next night at Peninsula Grill.

http://www.charlestonplace.com/web/o...a_a2a_home.jsp

http://www.charlestongrill.com/

http://www.peninsulagrill.com/

I recommend McCrady's or Magnolia's the third night.

http://www.mccradysrestaurant.com/01.html

http://www.magnolias-blossom-cypress.com/splash.asp

Check out Hank's Seafood for lunch and/or dinner. It's owned by the Peninsula Grill folks.

Take a waling tour down King to The Battery and back up Meeting St. as well as over to E. Bay St. and shop along the way or learn of the great history of the city. Good luck.

You ought to choose an area that you can reach non-stop from STL, seriously. A three nighter with connections would undo all the expensive relaxing, you know?

Have you looked at sites such as Luxurylink to see what's available?

CCGEGG have you been to New Orleans lately. You can fly directly from SL to NO leaving SL at 1:15PM or 6:40PM if you need to leave Thursday evening. Stat at The Windsor Court or The Ritz Carlton. The WC has a suite for May for $295/night but I like the RC because they are close to FQ and they have a super spa. The RC has a fantastic spa and the hotel is just around the corner from Galatoire's, Bayona, Peristyle, not far from Emeril's, a cab ride to the Garden District and Commander's Palace, Clancy's et al.

The folks down there need your tourist dollars too. We just got bacl from the RC last month. We love NO. Good luck.

CCGEGG I changed my mind. You need to go to The Cloister At Sea Island, GA. I have been there three times. It's just north of Jacksonville, FA and south of Savannah, GA. You can fly direct to Jacksonville from St. Louis leaving at 1PM, 4:45PM or 7:45PM. This place is a grand old resort that was almost completely torn down and rebuilt to the tune of $500 million a few years ago. It's fantastic. Spa, golf, tennis, swimming, you name it. Go for it.

http://www.seaisland.com/

Great suggestions! Ike- We had a bad experience in New Orleans so our 10th anniv trip isn't a good time to give it another chance. Sea Island looks amazing, but is there anything else to do other than the resort itself? My attraction to Charleston is touring the historic district. We love plantations, gardens, etc. Ike's recommendation of Charleston Place looks amazing, although a bit pricey in early May-- over $500 per night. Anyone know of a place in the $300 range? (hopefully with an in-room jacuzzi for the spouse)

We stayed at the Ansonbourough Inn about 10 years ago. It's centrally located, and at the time not too pricey. We really liked the place, and there's a grocery store that sells wine, right across the street.


I just found a junior suite for $289 for Fri and Sat and $209 for Sunday night. Continental breakfast included.

I'm going to close this thread as my mind is made up on Charleston. I've done lots of reading on previous posts, but will start a new thread with specific questions. Thanks again, everyone!

CCGEGG stay at Planters Inn just across the street from Charleston Place. It's more of a B&B not too large not too small and it's a member of Relais and Chateaux. There are rooms from $200/$300/night in May. I spent two nights there last year. The restaurant Peninsula Inn is outstanding. The rooms are nice and big. Good luck.

Sorry left out link to Planters Inn. I wish you could edit your post.

http://www.plantersinn.com/