Someplace warm end of January with a non-stop flight
 

My sister and I were planning a trip to Montreal the end of January from Manchester, NH and also Washington, DC. We just discovered there are no non-stop flights from Manchester.

With that out, we're back to our planning again. We'd like to go January 28 and return January 31.

By going to Canada we would have gotten more for our money. For a reasonably priced get-away, is there anyplace warm, with shopping and casinos nearby someone might suggest -- also need hotel ideas and restaurants.

We've been to Vegas and don't want to do that again right now. We had considered San Diego, Palm Springs and not sure where else to look.

We need help right away as we need to get something booked to get good airfare.

Can anyone help? Thanks all.

Lois

I have never been to Manchester, NH, but from what little I know of it, you do not have a major airport like what's in NY or DC, so if you limit yourself to non-stop flights, you might not have many options. Why is non-stop such a priority? Personally, I love Montreal, and although you will not get a non-stop flight, it seems like your flights would be very short hops. Perhaps if you will share with us why you must have non-stop, someone can use that information to assist you.

Warm-with-casinos really narrows down your choices. Would you consider driving to Monteal? It's about 4 - 4.5 hours, same as going to NYC. Driving would probably be cheaper than flying and then you'd have the use of the car whle you're there. 4 hours sounds like a long drive, but flying would take up at least 3, by the time you allow for transport to the airport and the required early arrival.

You'll need to fly out of Boston for non-stop flights.

If you want warm, casinos, and January, you'll need to head to Aruba.

Reasonably priced and warm don't go together in January.

Have you looked into Jamaica, or Nassau, Bahamas?

California can be cool and very rainy at that time of year. Might also be mild and sunny but I wouldn't take the chance.

I think that Vegas and Orlando are the only "warm" nonstops from Manchester. And Vegas isn't warm in January so I think you're looking at HELLO DISNEY, Goodbye casinos.

There's a giant casino in downtown Palm Springs, operated by the Indian tribe that owned (and still owns plenty of) the land around PS.

It's a long way to come for 2 days, though.

SW flies non-stop to Tampa from Manchester. There is a Seminole Indian casino in Tampa but with only slot machines. The beaches of St. Petersburg in January are not swimmable, and the weather will be iffy. For that reason you might want to consider getting a place in downtown St. Pete which has had a wonderful revitalization. Stay at any number of new B&Bs that have popped up (google St. Petersburg B&B for many options). Spend your time going shopping or to the museums (Salvador Dali Museum, or Museum of Art) or a few nearby tourist spots (the beach, Sunken Gardens, Busch Gardens, etc.). There are very reasonable restaurants if you're on a budget, and some great high-end places if you're not.

You could fly non-stop into a FL destination and take a 3,4 or 5 day cruise from Miami, Tampa, Port Canaveral to someplace in the Caribbean. There are casinos on board the ship and at some of the ports-of-call.

Questions about warmth --
Is Palm Springs warm the end of January? If so -- what temperatures.

Same question for Tampa -- how warm? My husband and I went to West Palm one February and it was even cool there?

What about Phoenix then??

If we get an early morning non-stop someplace, then we can come back later on the Monday that would give us about 2-1/2 days to enjoy things.

Keep the answers coming -- I really appreciate it.

Continue your research at Southwest.com - since that is one of the primary airlines in/out of Manchester. I could not find anyplace warm that is NS from Manchester - you can fly to Orlando, but unless you are in southern-most Florida, you will not be beach-warm in January.

With 3 days, you really don't have time to fly anyplace and have much time there anyway!

Palm Springs and Phoenix are both kinda warm: daytime highs in the high 60s to low 70s, but nighttime lows in the 40s and 50s; if it's not raining, it will be bone-dry. Welcome to the desert in winter, and bring lots of moisturizer!

Tampa enjoys about the same temperature profile, but the humidity is markedly higher, so it will probably be more comfortable.

Note also that Harrah's is managing an "Indian" casino outside of San Diego (Harrah's Barona, I think it's called), and other tribes maintain extensive casino options in north SD County, if you want to be closer to major airports like SAN, SNA, LAX and even LGB (JetBlue has BOS-LGB nonstops).

"Someplace warm end of January..." and first on your list was Montreal?

Lois, if I could predict the weather, then I would own the Fodors board instead of merely post on it. January can be unseasonably warm -- 80's -- or unseasonably cold -- 20s. But most likely it will fall somewhere in between. I assure you, whatever it is, it will be markedly warmer than Manchester, NH.

Truthfully, there has been only two freezes in Tampa for the past ten years, which means going to or below 32 degrees. This is the point at which all our tropical plants will die so we live by this measure.

We were only considering Montreal as we could get more for our money there, would stay in a hotel over the underground shopping & there was a casino there. Without non-stop flights, though (from Manchester), I figured we may as well try to find a warm place with good shopping, restaurants, and a casino. That's why the switch.

What's a great hotel that would could stay at in Tampa, good restaurants, and where is the casino??

Thanks

Lois, what's your price range? What do you want in a hotel? If you haven't been here, be sure you look at a map and know that Tampa is inland. St. Pete is the beachside.

The casino is east of downtown but only a short drive. There is a Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino on site (813/627-7625).

For hotels in Tampa, check out the Grand Hyatt, the Wyndham Harbor Island, Wyndham Westshore, also the Radisson Riverwalk and Spa Waterside Marriot in downtown. Lower budget but very nice try the Tahitian Inn. The Rocky Point area is also nice (at the back of the bay with sandy beaches), try the Days Inn, the Holiday Inn Express, or Sailport Resort.

There are many other hotels but I live here so I don't check them out. Maybe others have some suggestions. And there are many places in St. Pete as well (the Don Cesar Hotel, the Alden). For downtown St. Pete try the Renaissance Vinoy (upscale).

Further south on the East Coast, but no direct flight, there is the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood. You could stay in Ft. Lauderdale also.

What's your definition of warm?
If you're looking for 75 and above, then the ONLY place in the US is south Florida. Tampa average high is 71, low 51 at that time. The water is too cool for swimming.
Phoenix, Palm Springs, San Diego...same thing. None of them average 75 that time of year.

Here's a summary of this thread:

- Florida or anywhere that Southwest flies non-stop
- Fly from Boston
- Change plane somewhere

And I'll add one more. Drive to Montreal. It's only about 4 hours from Manchester. Unless it's snowing, it's an easy drive, even in winter.