Vacation recommendations please

Haven't been for many many years, but we also did a Jamaican Sandals resort. Very beautiful once you get there (kinda depressed areas all the way to the resort).

All inclusive - you can do as much or as little as you want.

We went in Nov so not sure about the weather now.

All in all, I like resorts which tend to cater to whatever you want whenever you want - very similar to a cruise but typically you can get a little farther away from the crowds if you wish.
 
Hi Nancy-

If you've never tried an "all inclusive" trip those are pretty nice! Especially if you don't want the hassle of trying to find things to do, places to go and restaurants to eat at. The resorts are usually pretty nice and its about as stress free as a trip can be..

I've been to two all inclusives.. one is Playa del Carmen near Cancun and the other in Jamaica. Both were great!

I've heard marvelous things about the Dominican as well and that would be my next choice if I was going to an all inclusive trip.

All inclusives are a great deal for the money.. plus you usually fly a charter and they will transport you to and from your resort.

If this is something you are thinking of pursuing, contact a travel agent and book it through Apple Vacations. Make sure you pick a higher "apple" rating ( I think 4 or 5 is the highest) Less than that and it could be somewhat questionable.

Lastly, May in the caribbean is a great time.. no spring breakers and usually the rainy season starts in June and goes through the fall.

You'll have to let us know what you decide!

take care, Lynn M.
 
Hi Nancy and all,

I agree with Carolyn about Sanibel Island. I work for a timeshare resort company that has resorts in Sanibel/Captiva and they have lost quite a few owners...most of them have bought timeshares in Marco Island instead. That's where I work now...it's a beautiful place, lots of upscale yet casual attire restaurants, beautiful and peaceful beaches, my resort has a brand new fitness center in it :p , you can rent bikes to ride around the island if you wish, and there are some very nice boutiques. It's the perfect place to sit on the beach, read, relax and look for pretty shells. I wish I had more time to do that here!!

Most of our owners are from NY or NJ...I think JetBlue has direct flights into Fort Myers at fairly reasonable rates. Marco Island is just a 45 minute drive from the airport, and of course you can take a taxi (about $75 one way).

If you'd like more information, PM or email me...I'd be happy to give you my work number and discuss options with you.

Connie :)
 
Another vote for the Dominican Republic here, Nancy!

I just returned from Punta Cana and it was a perfect trip!! We booked through www.funjet.com We paid about $1250 per person and this included EVERYTHING (except my shopping!!), air, transfers, accomodations, food, drinks...

We stayed at Gran Bahia Principe, but there are many resorts in Punta Cana. I have read many good things about Excellence.

Try looking at the www.tripadvisor.com forums. The one on Punta Cana is very lively and VERY active! You can ask anything and get a response very quickly.

I would recommend using www.tripadvisor.com for anyone interested in traveling. You can get advice from "real" people who have visited the place you are researching, country, city, hotels, etc.

Have fun deciding! Travel is a hobby for me (You know that you are addicted to the internet when you spend more time on travel sites than you do actually traveling!!!).
Jenn
 
A quick weened getaway...well, we rednecks in upstate NY like to go to Lake Ontario (Sackets Harbor makes for nice digs) but I don't know if that's you scene Nancy. LOL!
 
Thanks so much for sharing, Amy! I'm glad you had a great time. Question for you: what was the age range? I'm looking at the pics and I'm imagining lots of tan, perfect-looking 30-somethings. We don't want to feel old and ugly! ;) :+
 
>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'


:7 :7 :7 :7 :7 :7
 
Nancy,
A warm destination in May is a great way to get a jump start on summer! What about a cruise to Bermuda? We have cruises straight out of Boston to Bermuda so I would imagine that NY would have something similar. I've never been on one of these myself but I know many people to do this year after year and love it. You could go to the gym or run on the ship and look forward to the beautiful pink sand beaches of Bermuda (which I have been to and loved). Just a thought. Wherever you choose, relax and enjoy - sounds like you need a break!
 
I live right next door...Cape Coral, FL. I've been down here 20+ years though...so its not exciting to me. I cant wait for winter to come back around cause I'd love to rent a cabin somewhere in Colorado and snuggle up with my honey. (think it would be romantic) Well I'm Jamaican so you could guess what my recommendation would be...although I hear Hawaii is pretty.
 
I've never been anywhere awesome except I was in hawaii when I was 13 and loved it. My mom has been all over the place and still her favorite is Maui. Well a tie between that and Italy.
The things I remember are picking up fresh coconut and pineapple at roadside stands. Some beautiful beaches..
the roads would be great for biking and they do helicopter rides. I also remember the air smelled so sweet like flowers and had a nice warm breeze. This was in March though.
You can do the luaus(sp?) See a volcano and the black beaches. Ride bikes: http://www.mauidownhill.com/haleakala.html

I hope to get to go back one day.
 
I think you should go on a cruise! :)
My husband and I went on a seven nite cruise to the caribbean. I love Royal Caribbean Cruise line. They are classy, with good food, nice rooms and beautiful ships. They also have different itineraries. I find great prices on travel sites like expedia or travelocity. You could search orbitz or hotwire too.

May is the perfect time to visit the caribbean. That is when we went, last May. It was beautiful. We went to Cozumel, The Grand Caymen, the private island in Haiti (It was BEAUTIFUL there), and Jamaica.

I had so much stress in my life last year - wedding planning, trying to get my new job in Fla (i was living in VA when i got married), planning a major move and life change, and trying to sell my home in va in a crappy market and get money to make a downpayment on the florida place. I was frazzled and super stressed...when i stepped on that cruise boat, my PROBLEMS disappeared! At least for those seven days lol. THey pamper you, you can eat 24 / 7, there is plenty of entertainment and a good sized fitness center, you can even sign up for classes. THe destinations were beautiful.

I really think cruises are great. YOu get to see a lot of places, but dont have to worry about how to get there. They feed you and your food and lodging is paid for. You can get some great rates. You can fly to catch the boat, or you can go nearby. I know some leave from baltimore, ny and nj.

Just my two cents...i LOVE cruising. I vowed to go on one a year. In fact we were going to go on a bahama cruise this weekend (real short notice) but it got sold out before I booked it because i waited too long.

HIghly recommend them..its a great escape from life. They even pick up your room for you - twice a night.

I have tried NOrwegian, Celebrity and Royal Caribbean. I love Royal Caribbean the best.

Good luck, let us know what you decide!
 
Hi Nancy,

Have you ever heard of Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Pennsylvania? I was there last August for a corporate retreat and it's a beautiful resort in a wonderful setting. They have a gym, spa, and hiking/biking trails. Also golf if you're into that. I didn't have much time to enjoy the surroundings since I was there for work, but what I saw was beautiful. It is quite expensive, but I just checked their website and they're offering discounts through April.

http://www.nemacolin.com/

Laura
 
Nancy-

We have traveled to all inclusive style to resorts for the last 14 years. We only go with a company called Superclubs. (PM me if you want more info.) We prefer a couples only resort and find our vacations to be quite relaxing. Like you we hang by the pool or beach after a daily workout. A few walks up and down the beach each day and no agenda other than a couples massage. I can tell you, most of the people there are NOT 30 something and fit. The age range is from 30ish to 70ish. And no one has a perfect body. (fewer 30's ~ most 30's cannot afford it)

PS- the food is acceptable to very good. The wine stinks. (But we are picky wine drinkers)

http://superclubs.com/


[font color=lime green][font size +3]Judy "Likes2bfit"



***Eat Food. Not too Much. Mostly plants. Michael Pollan[/font]

http://img109.mytextgraphics.com/myrainbowtext/2008/01/24/c07d67f3a8d2bfed065f377ce1494b6c.gif
 
>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

This sounds like absolute heaven to me! My DH took me to the Hudson Valley for my 50th birthday which is in May, and we had a fantastic time. I've never seen a more beautiful place, and it's perfect for kicking back and relaxing, but there's plenty to do and see, too.

Thanks for posting about this place. I've bookmarked it :)
 
Hey Nancy, the ages ranged anywhere from mid/late 20's to mid/late 60's. Since it is couples only we had no encounters/problems with young spring breakers or anyone getting too wild, if you know what I mean. SO and I are 40 and 41...everyone (no matter what the age) was easy to talk to and have a great time with. When I said the pics were just the way it was in real life, I really meant the scenery and not necessarily the people :)

There are three Sandals resorts on St Lucia, and when you book at one you can go to any of the three for food, drinks, entertainment, pools, beaches, etc. We heard from several that the Halcyon was the one to stay at in St Lucia. It's basically the "middle man" of the three.

Have fun what ever you decide to do...you definitely deserve a vacation. I thought I remember you planning a trip to Belize last year and having to cancel it :( You will love the Caribbean, totally different from anywhere in the world IMO!
 
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