Vacation recommendations please

nancy324

nancy324

Cathlete
I've lost my energy and enthusiasm for life and I'm thinking it may mean that I'm overdue for a vacation. I can't even remember when my last vacation was. So I need recommendations for a quick getaway. Something relaxing and easy to get to from NYC. Does a week on a Caribbean island make sense in May? I don't know much about travel. I don't want to do a lot of packing, or move from hotel to hotel. I just want a streamlined, stessless vacation. I want to read, sleep, workout at the gym and go bike riding in a beautiful setting. Any ideas? Should I call a travel agent? If so, any travel agent suggestions?

TIA!
 
Nancy, a Caribbean island trip would make sense in May. The rates will be down and the weather should be nice. Or maybe you should look for something closer to home, that won't involve flying, since that is such a huge hassel anymore. Hudson River Valley? Finger Lakes? Vermont?
 
Robin, what's the place that you love to go to? St John is it? I should buy a book called "Vacations for Dummies".
 
Hi Nancy,

I think May in the Caribbean would work since it is still before hurricane season, which starts June 1. Also, I think in some places, the month of May is kind of a "shoulder season", so you might get better hotel deals during that time.

Also, being near a major airport, I'd think you'd have an easy time getting a direct flight to somewhere nice.

Good luck. I love planning vacations!
 
Steph, we went to Napa Valley I think in 2004 for a week. It was great, but we were sightseeing every day, and really didn't spend much time just relaxing. Also, wine no longer agrees with me. I know, pretty sad, huh?
 
Nancy,
I live in the Hudson Valley and this place is beautiful any time of year. The Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz N.Y. I have been there many times and the hiking alone is worth it.I have never stayed at the mountain house but I know people that have and have never heard a bad thing. The gardens are amazing. Here's something I pulled from their website.

Mohonk Mountain House is a sparkling wonder, tucked away at the top of the Shawangunk Ridge. Rock formations rise majestically above the water, framing our enchanting, 265-room Victorian castle. The sight of this sprawling architectural wonder never fails to thrill its visitors. Explore our unspoiled Hudson Valley hotel and mountaintop resort - a famed destination for over 130 years. Tour our award-winning Show Gardens, or lose yourself in our Victorian Maze. Challenge your partner to a tennis match on red-clay and Har-Tru courts. Fish, boat, swim, or just kick back on Lake Mohonk. Just a few hallmark features of our Hudson Valley resort include:

A variety of guestroom options, from elegant rooms in our Victorian Towers to charming guest cottages
110-year-old Scottish golf course, a historic landmark course, fashioned in the old-links tradition of St. Andrews
85 miles of hiking trails, ideal for hiking alone or in a guided group
Award-winning Gardens and Victorian Maze, reflecting French, Italian, and mid-19th century English landscaping
18,000-square-foot Skating Pavilion, offering ice skating on a spectacular refrigerated rink
Mountain Lake Conference House, accommodating groups of 10 to 350 attendees
Unique theme programs, designed to enlighten and entertain, with topics ranging from music to nature to mystery
Nightly entertainment, including such enjoyable activities as movies, nature shows, campfires with s'mores, dancing and much more
The Spa at Mohonk Mountain House, now open, with a heated indoor pool, expanded Fitness Center, yoga/motion room, and a full-service spa
New! Rock Climbing, overnight guests of Mohonk Mountain House can participate in rock climbing at Sky Top while escorted by an authorized guide from Alpine Endeavors
 
Nancy,

You might want to try St. George Island, FL. It is located about 75 miles from Tallahassee, FL. There are a few hotels but I would recommend getting a rental house. There is nothing to do there except read, lazy around the beach and eat (which is what I do when I go there). There are bicycles that you can rent on the island. I don't think there is a gym on the island but you can certainly run or walk on the bike trails. The plantation section (a gated community on the island) is very serene and beautiful especially this time of year.

I will be going there on May 13. May is the perfect time because it is usually sunny and in the 80's with very low humidity.

Check out this website for more information.


http://www.resortvacationproperties.com/
 
Thanks, Jen. I know Mohonk well. I've stayed there 2 or 3 times, but never in the spring before. Funny that I think of it as a "winter" resort. It's really an all-year round resort, and it is WONDERFUL!!
 
I honeymooned at Seaside, FL, and it's wonderful. It's where The Truman Show movie (with Jim Carey) was filmed, if you want to get a glimpse of it. It's little cottages by the sea and a little market place with lots of artsy stuff. You also can rent bicycles there. We honeymooned in May, and it was SO nice. If you decide on this, the honeymoon cottages are right on the beach and they have one bedroom/one bath downstairs and a kitchen/den/deck with hammock upstairs. (assuming they haven't changed in 10 years.) It's a magical place.
 
Nancy, why don't you stay home? I know how much you love to do that, and how much you love NYC. Maybe you could take a daytrip and picnic to somewhere nearby, but you could spend lots of time relaxing in your own home, and the gym is nearby! Oh, and unplug the computer and the phones!!!
 
You could always take a week long cruise to Bermuda - they have some cruises that leave from nyc and go there...you would hvae about 4-5 days in bermuda before you sailed back. Bermuda has a Caribbean flavor, but is definetely unique! Anyway, have fun picking out your vacation and enjoy it in May!
 
>Nancy, why don't you stay home? I know how much you love to
>do that, and how much you love NYC. Maybe you could take a
>daytrip and picnic to somewhere nearby, but you could spend
>lots of time relaxing in your own home, and the gym is nearby!
>Oh, and unplug the computer and the phones!!!

Shannon, you know me well! I was just discussing that option with DH. I DO find puttering around the house enjoyable. I have closets to clean out and files to organize. I'm considering it....

ETA: My health club has so many interesting classes I never have time to take, and I've been dreaming about pilates lessons for YEARS.....
 
I posted not to long aga about Little Cayman. It has been 10 years November it is small I believe 9 miles w x 9 miles L. Pure Peace you have to take a hopper plane from Grand Cayman they have a road around it you could bike, rollerblade, walk, hop, skip, jump but beware of the iguanas sunbathing. You can choose to go scuba diving or snorkling or stay by the pool and read or walk the beach. Something comes out at night that you can go out to see in the water. They have hammocks outside each cabin, I think they had a little store and I think a restaurant too, otherwise it was an all inclusive. I can not remember the owner I can look it up for you you come in with a few other couples and stay with them for a week (or whatever) some come and go but you all eat together at the same time Breakfast lunch and dinner. Hubby and I were there for Thanksgiving it was the first time we ate a holiday meal with all strangers it was awesome we met some wonderful couples. Pure Relaxation no hustle & bustle no pollution, no cars I lived in my bathing suit did not even need to take a change of clothes just jammies, (Honeymooners I didn't need those either) wink, wink
beth6395

"You didn't pause your dvd and go make popcorn did ya"
-Cathe Friedrich

http://www.picturetrail.com/juicyfruities2002
 
I know how much you like to stay home, Nancy, but I really think going away is more relaxing. You don't see all those chores you've been putting off, or feel the need to check in at work.

Yes, St John is where we go. It's a little off the beaten path. I don't know if there are any gym facilites. We consider snorkeling and hiking workout enough. I love the beach and we spend almost every waking moment sitting on the beach reading. You need to rent a car, or take a taxi (safari style pickups) to get to the beaches (unless you stay at Caneel, which has 6 or 7 private beaches and is way out of my price range) and the driving is a little scary. The roads are narrow, steep, twisty and they drive on the left, with right hand drive in the cars. I've never driven - that's DH's job. I don't consider it a vacation for anyone who desires pampering, but it is beautiful and relaxing if you don't expect or want to be waited on hand and foot.

I've also heard Sanabel Island (spelling) in Florida is lovely and quiet. It's on my list of places to get to....

Why don't you visit a book store and peruse the travel section. Pick up a couple Fodor's guides and see if the description of any place strikes your fancy.
 
We visited Sanibel Island last summer while we were vacationing in Naples. It has totally changed since the hurricanes ripped through there about 3 years ago. Not nearly as beautiful as it was 10 years ago. Pretty much all the beautiful trees with moss hanging off of them leading to Captiva Island from Sanibel have been uprooted or topped off. Such a sad sight:(

Carolyn
 
Nancy,

Why not try Cape May, NJ?? It's America's Original Seaside Resort (boss likes it when I say that)...maybe you know someone on ohh, I dunno...cathe.com who just may be able to get you a decent rate, whose name begins with a j, ends with a y, and err's in the middle??

http://www.hotelmacomber.com

Just sayin'
 
Ok Nancy...I haven't read any of the replies...BUT...I just, and by just I mean on Saturday, got back from the most stress-free, most wonderful vacation of my life. SO and I went St Lucia and stayed at the Sandals Halcyon. OMG, totally exceed my expectations. The flight from Atlanta was 4 hours. The weather was perfect...high 70's at night mid 80's day. All inclusive...food, drinks, entertainment etc. Full gym with a PT who had all kinds of classes, quiet beach, couples only, no kids, I could go on and on and on about how fabulous it was. The people there were the most care free, relaxed, most awesome, people I have ever run across...as friendly as they could be. I have never come back from a vacation so relaxed in my entire life. We did go through a local travel agent and she took care of everything for us and we cannot thank her enough. If you want more info, let me know.

ETA the website http://www.sandals.com/main/halcyon/ha-home.cfm

Totally looks just like the pics in real life...
 
Hi Nancy
I have heard from two very good friends of mine (recommended because I am in the market for a vacation myself) have told me of their marvalous experiences in the Dominican.
They told me the travel agent to speack with (here in the northeast anyways) and the price is more than reasonable, and you get an all inclusive weeks stay, beach front and flight included (we're talking somwhere in the $800-$1300 range depepnding on what kind of view you want from you room)-- did I mention that the Domincan has excellent food??
Just an idea..
Sometimes all you're really looking for to relax is just a few days in a beachfront condo (or whatever setting suits you) where you don't have to drive or commute anywhere's.
 
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