[Blake]

present your travel queries here. there seems to be more than a few people around here that can answer travel questions. from first class to mileage runs, ask away.

[Quick6EF]

What should I do this weekend?

[SpacE82]

Interesting this thread came up now. My girlfriend and I are trying to plan a trip this winter, but dont know where to go. The only requirements are that it has to be tropical, and not in Asia/South Pacific or Mexico. We were thinking somewhere in the caribbean like the dominican republic, but don't know where to stay. But we are pretty open to anything that is tropical and that is reasonably priced. Any ideas? Maybe something all inclusive?

[gonzo]

Originally Posted by SpacE82

Interesting this thread came up now. My girlfriend and I are trying to plan a trip this winter, but dont know where to go. The only requirements are that it has to be tropical, and not in Asia/South Pacific or Mexico. We were thinking somewhere in the caribbean like the dominican republic, but don't know where to stay. But we are pretty open to anything that is tropical and that is reasonably priced. Any ideas? Maybe something all inclusive?

http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/hotels/h...tion_inclusive

If you don't have a good time and love it something is wrong with you.

[SpacE82]

Originally Posted by gonzo

http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/hotels/h...tion_inclusive

If you don't have a good time and love it something is wrong with you.

Thanks! Have you stayed there?

Any more recommendations?!

[gonzo]

Not yet. A good friend goes there and raves about it. I said you will love it because he travels everywhere and I trust his judgement.
Tons of stuff to do.

[BTM]

Originally Posted by SpacE82

Interesting this thread came up now. My girlfriend and I are trying to plan a trip this winter, but dont know where to go. The only requirements are that it has to be tropical, and not in Asia/South Pacific or Mexico. We were thinking somewhere in the caribbean like the dominican republic, but don't know where to stay. But we are pretty open to anything that is tropical and that is reasonably priced. Any ideas? Maybe something all inclusive?

Jetsetter usually has a few deals going on in the Caribbean, have you looked there?

[SpacE82]

Originally Posted by BTM

Jetsetter usually has a few deals going on in the Caribbean, have you looked there?

Yeah, I've been on jetsetter for a while. I have 21 places favorited haha. I think we will probably go with something on there, but they don't have too many all inclusive places. But their rates seem pretty reasonable.

[BTM]

All inclusive is cool but can also be limiting, so that sorta depends on how you want to spend your time.

Another thing to look into could be a 5 or 7 day cruise, maybe with a day or two in Miami on the front end of the trip. Somewhat of a sidenote, my roommate from college lives in Miami, and he was once telling me about being able to hop on a cruise last minute (like, the day before) for ridiculously cheap, as those rooms were going to go unbooked anyway. Pretty cool to have the freedom and opportunity to do that. Obviously you wouldn't be taking advantage of some last minute deal like that, but a cruise might be something to consider anyway.

[SpacE82]

Originally Posted by BTM

All inclusive is cool but can also be limiting, so that sorta depends on how you want to spend your time.

Another thing to look into could be a 5 or 7 day cruise, maybe with a day or two in Miami on the front end of the trip. Somewhat of a sidenote, my roommate from college lives in Miami, and he was once telling me about being able to hop on a cruise last minute (like, the day before) for ridiculously cheap, as those rooms were going to go unbooked anyway. Pretty cool to have the freedom and opportunity to do that. Obviously you wouldn't be taking advantage of some last minute deal like that, but a cruise might be something to consider anyway.

Yeah i thought about a cruise, but I dont think she wants to do one this time. All inclusive isnt a requirement, but its nice to not have to worry about drinks and food. I've been looking at the Sandals resorts, I'm not sure how nice those are though. But they are pretty close to what we want. Tropical and close to/on a beach.

[kyleb350]

Or you can just listen to a sales pitch for a timeshare. ha

[Gregxi]

Originally Posted by SpacE82

Interesting this thread came up now. My girlfriend and I are trying to plan a trip this winter, but dont know where to go. The only requirements are that it has to be tropical, and not in Asia/South Pacific or Mexico. We were thinking somewhere in the caribbean like the dominican republic, but don't know where to stay. But we are pretty open to anything that is tropical and that is reasonably priced. Any ideas? Maybe something all inclusive?

How much are you planning on spending w/ airfare?

[1sikbmr]

Originally Posted by SpacE82

Thanks! Have you stayed there?

Any more recommendations?!

http://www.occidentalhotels.com/grand/PuntaCana.asp

stayed there twice. Had a blast both times. They have shows every night and there are a ton of pools and bars. It's based right along the beach so 2 min walk from your room. This is an all inclusive resort as well.

[carve]

I've done a fair bit of traveling myself. My wife and I took a year off a few years back and did an around-the-world. 5 continents, 20 countries.

Resorts in general, and all-inclusive ones in particular are so...I don't know...overpriced and sterile...unadventerous. McVacation. I like to experience the places I go to. Why are you writing off SE Asia? Thailand is AWESOME. Beautiful, cheap, and you really feel like you're somewhere different and exotic.

[BTM]

Originally Posted by carve

Why are you writing off SE Asia? Thailand is AWESOME. Beautiful, cheap, and you really feel like you're somewhere different and exotic.

I'm guessing time constraints

[SpacE82]

Originally Posted by carve

I've done a fair bit of traveling myself. My wife and I took a year off a few years back and did an around-the-world. 5 continents, 20 countries.

Resorts in general, and all-inclusive ones in particular are so...I don't know...overpriced and sterile...unadventerous. McVacation. I like to experience the places I go to. Why are you writing off SE Asia? Thailand is AWESOME. Beautiful, cheap, and you really feel like you're somewhere different and exotic.

Originally Posted by BTM

I'm guessing time constraints

Yeah, the time constraints. It's a looong flight and we don't want to spend a few days just getting there/leaving. I would love to go to SE Asia. I really want to do Thailand, Fiji, or Maldives, but it just too long of a flight with the time we have to go.

[SpacE82]

Originally Posted by Gregxi

How much are you planning on spending w/ airfare?

We are going to figure that out soon. But im thinking anywhere between the $1,000-$2,000 range, total per person?

[solefald]

Spain is dirt cheap right now. Friend of mine just rented a 6br villa on Mallorca (i think) for $1,200 for a whole week.

[Blake]

Originally Posted by SpacE82

Interesting this thread came up now. My girlfriend and I are trying to plan a trip this winter, but dont know where to go. The only requirements are that it has to be tropical, and not in Asia/South Pacific or Mexico. We were thinking somewhere in the caribbean like the dominican republic, but don't know where to stay. But we are pretty open to anything that is tropical and that is reasonably priced. Any ideas? Maybe something all inclusive?

i'm actually headed to barbados on saturday. this is their off-season, due to the tropical storm season, but i often like to travel places during off-peak season for two reasons: it's much cheaper all around and tropical destinations are much less crowded. there are 4 of us going and we're staying at a 4-star non-inclusive resort for >$1000/pp all-in, including airfare. since i've done a fair bit of pecking through caribbean deals lately, i can tell you that most everything is on sale right now. our runner up, for around the same price, even some of them inclusive, was st. lucia. all packages seem to be around $1000/pp a/i for a week in much of the southern caribbean.

Originally Posted by BTM

All inclusive is cool but can also be limiting, so that sorta depends on how you want to spend your time.

yes and no. i would actually recommend all-inclusives like sandals because of the large corporate structure and how they tend to 'westernize' their resorts. what i mean by westernize is their all-inclusive includes stuff like name brand premium spirits and decent food. some of the independent all-inclusives i've ever stayed at (4-star type places in mexico) are really sketchy. food is just above dog food quality and questionable local brand spirits and wine, if alcohol is even inclusive at all. so yes, it can be limiting in that aspect, although most of the all-inclusives are just trying to sell you on most of the free activities they offer.

Originally Posted by carve

Why are you writing off SE Asia? Thailand is AWESOME. Beautiful, cheap, and you really feel like you're somewhere different and exotic.

that's what i would do. haven't been to thailand yet, but it's possible to travel to thailand in the sub-24-hour travel time frame. but if you only have a week or so, then it's probably not the best utilization of time, but i've done crazier things.

[808six]

Originally Posted by SpacE82

Interesting this thread came up now. My girlfriend and I are trying to plan a trip this winter, but dont know where to go. The only requirements are that it has to be tropical, and not in Asia/South Pacific or Mexico. We were thinking somewhere in the caribbean like the dominican republic, but don't know where to stay. But we are pretty open to anything that is tropical and that is reasonably priced. Any ideas? Maybe something all inclusive?

hawaii.

trust.

[stooken]

Originally Posted by SpacE82

Interesting this thread came up now. My girlfriend and I are trying to plan a trip this winter, but dont know where to go. The only requirements are that it has to be tropical, and not in Asia/South Pacific or Mexico. We were thinking somewhere in the caribbean like the dominican republic, but don't know where to stay. But we are pretty open to anything that is tropical and that is reasonably priced. Any ideas? Maybe something all inclusive?

What type of vacation do you want? Caribbean islands are VERY chill. I did an Eastern Caribbean cruise last year and loved it. Not sure how I would feel being stuck in 1 resort for a week though. There's no "downtown" area to hang out or anything like that.

Other places like Hawaii (mentioned above), offer more city-like activities as well as island activities.

[SpacE82]

Originally Posted by 1sikbmr

http://www.occidentalhotels.com/grand/PuntaCana.asp

stayed there twice. Had a blast both times. They have shows every night and there are a ton of pools and bars. It's based right along the beach so 2 min walk from your room. This is an all inclusive resort as well.

I like this place! But the reviews scare me! There were a lot of people that had a terrible experience