We can get to Orlando, Los Angeles & San Diego with our free air tickets (x-mas, 09). Need vacation ideas, please
 

We have free 'bonus travel tickets' from Alaska Air. We wanted to do either Manzanill or Hawaii over Christmas, but the bonus flights are already booked up. We CAN get to Orlando, but I know absolutely nothing about that area. We like small, intimate places(5-10 rooms); B&Bs, beaches, fishing, boogie boarding. We're not into large crowds and lots of city life activities. We could do a cruise out of Ft. Lauderdale or Miami, but I'd really rather not. ANY and ALL suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Can a great, reasonably-priced, 10 night vacation be had in the Orlando area?
We'll be flying out of Seattle. We can also get to San Diego, Los Angeles, Guadalaraja and Mexico City without too much hastle.
Your ideas and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

There are no beaches, fishing, or boogie boarding in Mexico City or Guadalajara. However, both offer lots of city life activities. I think you can knock both those off your list.

Are you still planning to take this trip Christmas?

If so, the amusement parks in Orlando are peak season during the holidays, so if that's your Orlando plan you will encounter large crowds. Also, Orlando rates are high season over the holidays. 10 days will be pricey.

You can reach many Floriday beaches from the Orlando airport. Again, rates will be high. The further south the better for reliable weather. December in Florida can be risky.

San Diego might offer the best temperatures for a beach trip. It can be chilly in the mornings in San Diego at the end of December.

I was in Southern California during the holidays this year. We had temperatures in the 30's in the mornings and had marine layer several days.

"We CAN get to Orlando, but I know absolutely nothing about that area."

This is a very general question which invites some basic research on your part first. There is a TON of information here and in many travel books, including Fodors. You might start here <http://www.orlandoinfo.com/>. Be sure to request a free Vacation Planning Kit <http://www.orlandoinfo.com/vacationkit/>.

stumpworks73 is correct about Christmas week being very busy. It is high season and the theme parks will be filled to capacity. Nevertheless, people do visit them and manage to have a good time. Just don't expect any bargains during this time. I do think you can have a &quot;great, reasonably-priced, 10 night vacation&quot; in the Orlando area <u> if you don't spend all 10 days at Disney and the other attractions.<u></u></u>

And yes, it is too cold for swimming in the ocean. San Diego too, IMO. Heated swimming pools &quot;may&quot; be a different story.

Thanks for the suggestions. As far as Orlando, we wouldn't be visiting any of the large tourist parks. Guadalajara and Mexico City are both great cities to catch another flight to a beach resort, but changing flights several times becomes a big hastle.

The Alaska Air flights from SEA to MCO are non-stops and take 5½-6 hours (depending upon tailwinds/headwinds).
I fly this route 1-2 times a year and it is as painless as can be.

If you fly to Guadalajara, you could then that a bus to Manzanillo(3-4 hrs) or Puerto Vallarta(4 hrs).

MY