Favorite Warm Weather Vacation Destinations

[goldtopper]

So I fell azzbackwards into a bucket of money. I'm looking for a place to take 9 other family members, age ranges from 5-79. Would prefer a house on a beach. Mexico, the Keys, the Caribbean are places I'm considering. Central and South America are Ok too- been to Brazil, NOT going there (as a married man!!)
Anyone have any neat places they've been to that would be quiet, safe and a ball for a big family?
Thanks for any and all suggestions.

[Hockey Rocker]

All inclusive "Beaches" in Turks and Caicos is a good Carribean value for so many folks of various ages. Good snorkeling and fishing too.

Fiji is awesome but politically troubled, I'm afraid. Thailand's Phuket is an excellent value: Lovely people, great service, beautiful beaches, but a bad reputation of human rights abuses that attract pervs.

I default back to Turks & Caicos.

[jclark]

If you're looking to stay in the States, and want peace and quiet, I've always been partial to Sanibel or Captiva Island. Some decent restaurants and bars, good places to fish, nice beaches and it's easy enough to rent a big house there.

[geddins]

Congrats to you! And good on ya for takin your family for a nice vacation. We never travel to exotic places like Mexico, etc...but when we go for a beach vacation, we REALLY love Orange Beach, Al. It's easily my favorite beach destination.....

And while we're talkin vacations, I'm gettin geared up for our annual trek to Red River for a little skiing. My kids are still young enough to really enjoy this type of stuff, and we're doing all we can to make sure we make some great memories with 'em.

Good luck and have a great trip!

[boris bubbanov]

Fair amount of English spoken there; the people are honest and for whatever reason (?) still really admire Americans. The dollar still has decent value against their currency. Based on elevation and sub-region you can pick just about any combination of temperature and humidity, fair sized areas are not deforested, the highways are good even if the drivers are not.

Be prepared to wake up real early in the morning in San Jose, they get moving well before daylight. Don't fall over the local people when walking in the streets; adult women are often well under 4 feet nine inches.


Bubbanov

[AnthemBassMan]

-Not sure where you're from, but North Myrtle Beach is pretty sweet. The north side is mostly condos and homes. And you're still close to all of the golf courses, parks, shopping and restaurants you could need. My wife and I go there a couple times a year.

L8R,
Matt D.

[0le FUZZY]

...If getus ain't a prollem La Jolla CA iss where I'd go.



...I wood knott go tew Aruba.







Please visit MySpace


Please visit my page

[Tim Armstrong]

I'm gonna echo Fuzzy, at least somewhat, and say The Hotel Del Coronado on Coronado Island, right across the bay from San Diego.



I briefly lived in SD and worked at the Hotel Del (as we called it), and it's a really wonderful place. The whole San Diego area is lovely and pretty happening (La Jolla is just up the coast a few miles, you can practically see it from the Hotel Del...).

Cheers, Tim

[e-merlin]

I was going to say the Philippines, but you said you wanted safe. The Philippines is a great place to go if you're wife happens to be from there like mine is, but things cost twice as much in the cities if you're white. It's a beautiful place, but if you don't know a Filipino, you'll get ripped off or worse.

OTOH, even if you are getting overcharged, it's still way cheaper than most other tourist places.

[StuH]

Moosejaw, Saskatchewan

[goldtopper]

Originally Posted by 0le FUZZY

...If getus ain't a prollem La Jolla CA iss where I'd go.



...I wood knott go tew Aruba.

I love La Jolla. Trouble is I'm taking my sister, her husband and 3 kids. They live in San Diego!
I'm leaning toward Costa Rica or Zihuatanejo.

[Tim Armstrong]

Originally Posted by StuH

Moosejaw, Saskatchewan

I guess that seems tropical if you're up in the Yukon!

Cheers, Tim

[studio1087]

Please Google the words "Akumal Mexico Rental" and discover the best family water spot on earth. You fly into Cancun and drive about 70 minutes south on 307 along the ocean. You will find rental condos and houses galore. The Mayan Ruins of Tulum are 15 minutes away. the jungle Mayan Ruins of Coba are about 35 minutes away. You can snorkel, deep sea fish and scuba dive cheap. Playa Del Carmen has shopping and music and crazy night life about 30 minutes away (and they also have a some great grocery stores to buy family stuff).

My wife and I have been diving in Akumal for 20 years. All three of our kids went to Akumal in the womb and shortly after birth. No one has ever gotten sick or been in harms way. I just bought airline tickets for 10 days in March.


Half Moon bay in Akumal


My youngest having a blast.


These are three bedroom, three bath homes that fit up to 9 people....$1800.00 per week right on the ocean (with maid and cooking service). PM me if you interested in renting a house like this.

I love Akumal. It takes three hours to get to Cancun from Milwaukee...it's an easy flight for kids.

John

[goldtopper]

Originally Posted by studio1087

Please Google the words "Akumal Mexico Rental" and discover the best family water spot on earth. You fly into Cancun and drive about 70 minutes south on 307 along the ocean. You will find rental condos and houses galore. The Mayan Ruins of Tulum are 15 minutes away. the jungle Mayan Ruins of Coba are about 35 minutes away. You can snorkel, deep sea fish and scuba dive cheap. Playa Del Carmen has shopping and music and crazy night life about 30 minutes away (and they also have a some great grocery stores to buy family stuff).

My wife and I have been diving in Akumal for 20 years. All three of our kids went to Akumal in the womb and shortly after birth. No one has ever gotten sick or been in harms way. I just bought airline tickets for 10 days in March.


Half Moon bay in Akumal


My youngest having a blast.


These are three bedroom, three bath homes that fit up to 9 people....$1800.00 per week right on the ocean (with maid and cooking service). PM me if you interested in renting a house like this.

I love Akumal. It takes three hours to get to Cancun from Milwaukee...it's an easy flight for kids.

John

Wow John thanks! I will check this out. Looks like one heck of a deal! Very reasonably priced as well. You normally do Half Moon Bay?

[6942]

A few years back, my family and I rented a small house in Canada.
It was on the east coast of Vancouver Island, about 50 miles north of Victoria.
Quiet, peaceful,....VERY beautiful!
Lots to do and see to keep the kids happy.
We went to a rodeo, surfing (on the western side of the island), rode bikes & horses....great fishing!!
We LOVED that vacation!!

Steve

[Telenator]

I may be a little weird in my vacation habits as I don't think in terms of "destinations."

When I go off on holiday, I like to "trek" places and stay on the move. I like to pass through small towns, HUGE mountains, wheat fields, deserts and all the wonderful landscapes, cultures and experiences this country has to offer.

Being on the road tends to pull a group of people together in a different way than simply jumping on a plane and plopping down somewhere.

Why not rent the biggest baddest RV on the planet and drive cross country, then ditch the RV and all fly home from wherever you end up.

[studio1087]

The Akumal Dive Shop is in Half Moon Bay. Half Moon bay is about 3 feet deep until you walk about 300 feet out into the water. There is a reef surrounding the bay in about 13 feet of water. There is a north and south hole in the reef where the dive and fishing panga boats go through. The reef and shallow nature of the bay make it fantastic for swimming and dive training. My 8 and 10 year old have done the PADI Bubble Makers class 4 times. The dive masters rig them with small gear and teach them to float 4 feet under the surface... they swim the length of the reef (4 feet deep) and look at all the fish. This costs $65 USD for the first dive and $40 for the second.

My kids.....




At 80 feet deep the visability is about 75 feet and the temp. is 82 degress F.




Our houses are in Adventuras Akumal or South Akumal. We are 2 km south of Half Moon Bay. There is an all-inclusive resort called Oasis Akumal on our beach. You can usually find airfare, transportation, room, all your food, booze and water toys for about $850 per person per week. I think that you would have more fun renting a house and car and seeing the area. Tulum and Xelha (national snorel site) are 15 minutes away. Coba is 45. Playa Del Carmen is 25 minutes. Playa Del Carmen has a pedestrian mall that walks about 20 blocks along the ocean. Great fun. You can ride a fast ferry over to Cozumel for about $8.00 each round trip. The all-inclusive places usually cater to couples who want to booze and fool around. Get a house for the family.

If you might be interested in an all-inclusive deal, look in your Sunday paper for Fun-Jet and Apple Vacations packages. High season gets more expensive up until Christmas and then it tanks until spring break. You can find deals right now. We're going for 10 days at the tail end of spring braek and I found tickets on American Airlines for $525 non stop. A VW Rabbit cost me $325 for 10 days. I've paid as little as $180 each to fly direct from O'Hare. Gotta look for the deals!

I would seriously like to retire or start a business near Akumal. I could deal with being the old retired fart who rents scuba cameras to tourist girls all day. Rough job man; someone has to do it.

John

[Catweazle]

Most of South East Asia will give you a fantastic time.
Thailand - anywhere but Phuket, Pattaya or Koh Samui. Koh Pha ngan, Koh Chang, Koh Lipe (best bit, it's only 75 minutes by boat from Langkawi in Malaysia), Koh Samet
Indonesia - Bali is absolutely beautiful
Phillipines - Boracay
Malaysia Kapas Island, Perhentian Islands, Tioman (the real "Bali Hai").

Oh and India is really nice.........

The flight may cost, but daily living is that much cheaper.

If you're really flush (I mean really, really flush), the Atlantis, Paradise Island, Nassau, Bahamas.

[Charlie Bernstein]

My front porch.

[Tim Armstrong]

I just remembered a place that a few of my friends go to every winter for a week or two: St. George Island, Florida. I haven't been there myself, but they tell me a large rental house is affordable, and the beach is wonderful, very quiet and a great place to decompress. Apalachicola is on the mainland across from the island, and has some nice places to eat and shop.

FWIW!

Cheers, Tim

[Telarkaster]

Goldtopper, I don't know if you're American, but Cuba is the most popular destination among my friends. I would seriously check it out if you are allowed to visit that country. I would think it's worth it just to check out the architecture and cool antique cars that are still in use in Havana. Of course there are the cigars...

Domenican Republic is a close second. Mmmm, rum....

[petebradt]

Anyplace this is going.

[0le FUZZY]

Trouble is I'm taking my sister, her husband and 3 kids. They live in San Diego!

...Now that rite there throws a monkey wrench into the mess donut!


...I dunn been in erry state inna onion and most of the Pacific includin I'll-ask-ya Hi-a-wah-ye, Taiwan, Japan, Fill-o-peens, Vietnam, Wake, Guam and udder places. I never made it tew Yer-up but then again I never wanted tew.

...I been tew most of the beaches on all three coasts but the won I dent make it tew (still wanna go) iss "Kitty Hawk North Carolina". My son Andrew jes got back from there and sed it waz good.

...Yew prolly live there HEE! HEE!

...Sorry I kant think of noe udder place tew go with yer fambly that wood be safe.


0le FUZZY

[goldtopper]

Originally Posted by Telarkaster

Goldtopper, I don't know if you're American, but Cuba is the most popular destination among my friends. I would seriously check it out if you are allowed to visit that country. I would think it's worth it just to check out the architecture and cool antique cars that are still in use in Havana. Of course there are the cigars...

Domenican Republic is a close second. Mmmm, rum....

Yep, I'm American, so Cuba would be a tough deal.
St George Island looks great, and Akumal looks incredible! This is such a cool forum in that it's so international, great suggestions, keep em comming and thank you all!!

[Hockey Rocker]

Originally Posted by Tim Armstrong

I'm gonna echo Fuzzy, at least somewhat, and say The Hotel Del Coronado on Coronado Island, right across the bay from San Diego.

I briefly lived in SD and worked at the Hotel Del (as we called it), and it's a really wonderful place. The whole San Diego area is lovely and pretty happening (La Jolla is just up the coast a few miles, you can practically see it from the Hotel Del...).

Cheers, Tim

I love that place. I'm surprised that a wooden structure has survived all these years so close to the salt water.

[Sarge]

One of my favorites are the Outer Banks in N. Carolina..lots of nice beaches and really laid back.

[studio1087]

Yep, I'm American, so Cuba would be a tough deal.

People from the United States can easily go to Cuba but we have to leave the United States first. If you look around in Cancun or Playa Del Carmen you will see cheap Cuba trips advertised everywhere. Most of the advertising is pointed at people from the States. Once we get out of the States (pretend I am staying in Playa Del Carmen for 10 days) it's very easy to book a two night stay in Havana flying from Cancun to Havana. My In-laws have done this 5 times and my brother and sister in-laws all did this before they had kids.

The buildings and automobiles are all frozen in time from the 60's when the States stopped shipping things to Cuba. Cubans are fantastic at keeping a vehicle running for 30 years. Necessity is the mother of invention. My father-in-law is a successful hippy throw back and the rebel in him loves Cuba. He digs going there because we're forbidden to do so. The old cars, rustic culture, great music, cheap (real and counterfeit) cigars, and obvious hookers crack him up as he is an avid photographer. There is a lot of fascinating stuff in Cuba but I wouldn't take a bunch of kids there. I would love to go with a group of adults just to see it and take photographs but I'll keep my kids in the Yucatan.

[jclark]

I'm leaning toward Costa Rica or Zihuatanejo.


If you go to Zihuatanejo, be sure to say hello to Andy Dufresne and Red.

[Robert H.]

If there is a more beautiful spot on this earth than Kuaui, Hawaii---I haven't seen it yet. Houses, hotels, condos are all available. And you are still in the USA.