Winter vacation recommendations please

[MrsCat 6]

Come stay with us in Hilo, Hawaii. Its more than 5 hours, but I can guarantee lava, surfing, sun, snow on top of Moana Loa if you really need it.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Airfare to Hawai'i is a killer.

[MrsCat 6]

Airfare to Hawai'i is a killer.

I'd go with Cuba then - fly or drive to Canada. Cheap stuff, cheap stay, white beaches

[Nessa 23]

Philippines

No, someplace nice.

One of my friends just got back from the Dominican Republic and she said it was beautiful and she had a blast!

Where in DR, where did she stay?

Where on Barbados and T&C did you stay?

Disregard Barbados - my wife would need a visa.

Still interested in T&C.

[Nessa 23]

Airfare to Hawai'i is a killer.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Airfare to Hawai'i is a killer.

An employee of mine got totally shafted when ATA and Aloha shut down right before he was going to take his trip to Hawaii. He ended up paying an arm and a leg for those tickets with other carriers besides having the worst itinerary imaginable - he had like a week or so to find flights when ATA suddenly stopped operating earlier this year.

[MrsCat 6]

Airfare to Hawai'i is a killer.

An employee of mine got totally shafted when ATA and Aloha shut down right before he was going to take his trip to Hawaii. He ended up paying an arm and a leg for those tickets with other carriers besides having the worst itinerary imaginable - he had like a week or so to find flights when ATA suddenly stopped operating earlier this year.

I was flying home from Hilo the day that ATA stopped its flights - which was the only carrier outside of Aloha and Hawaiian to offer direct flights to Hilo. Those two airlines stopping has really increased the cost of airfare to the Big Island, along with the cost of fuel. So many people were f*cked that day at the airport. That was really horrible - I felt sorry for them!

I always fly on Alaska. I hate AirCanada and never fly with them. I pay a little more and save myself the aggravation of that inept bunch.

[przy 0]

Have to say it because that's we're known for : Southern California, U.S.A

[HAL 9000 96]

Dude Troll I hghly recommend Puerto Rico for December.

Christmas season starts early December and that means festivities everywhere, in addition to those already planned in San Juan (Festival de la Calle San Sebastian) and in other parts of the Island- Día de los Inocentes in Hatillo, and etc. Old San Juan is super during this time of year.

Food... like Roasted Pork? Get your lechón asado in Cayey about 30 minutes out of San Juan by expressway. Rice and beans are ubiquitous.

The beaches in San Juan are good for urban beaches- Ocean Park is good for people watching, Isla Verde in Carolina is also good and a bit farther east is Piñones with surf and fried foods. Fajardo has Seven Seas and if you go with enough time you can go to Culebra island to chill out at Flamenco beach. Vieques is also great but the hotels can be boutique and pricey.

For a more authentic experience you can also go west to Isabela (Jobos beach and area), Rincón with its surfing beaches and laid back attitude... Cabo Rojo for calmer waters and kickazz sunsets. There are also the central mountains that are beautiful... El Yunque is great and accessible from San Juan easily, and more wandering time will give you the option to do the panoramic route literally up the middle of the central mountains.

For hotels you're gonna have to get detailed about your budget... and of course tastes... there's a bit of everything for anyone.

You could just as much go to South Beach for certain stays in San Juan but if you have a rental car the entire island is doable in a week with good highlights.

Contrary to belief you won't need to spend an inheritance to get an authentic feel for the island. If I was down there I'd show you around.

BTW the flight out of EWR to SJU is less than 5 hrs.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Aruba

Any specific hotel/resort you like?

Uncle went.

[Nasturtium 500]

Sup everybody.

I'm looking for recommendations on places to go for winter vacation.

The parameters are:

1. Sun and surf, not snow.

2. Good eating.

3. Natural beauty more important than nightlife.

4. Safety - we don't want to be stuck within the confines of a resort.

5. No more than a 5 hour flight from Newark.

6. Allows US LPR's to enter visa-free or to acquire the visa at POE.

Thanks.

How far is LA or San Diego from Newark? Because I am thinking about Santa Catalina Island. It's pretty cheap in the winter (nearly half-off), although you'll have to take a cruise (about $40-45) there which is another hour or so... it's about 1hr15 from San Diego and 45 minutes from Long Beach or Newport Beach, but then you'll have to get from LAX to one of those two-- at SD you jsut get out of the airport and essentially cross the street to the dock. There are a lot of things you can do there if you like the outdoors and views. If you like snorkeling you can do it on one of the reefs. There is a bus that crosses the island as well, up to Two Harbors (I think around $22, but I cannot quite remember).

[Nasturtium 500]

Thought I would add that winter is the growing season in CA, so all the things will be really green and the temps nice.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

Come stay with us in Hilo, Hawaii. Its more than 5 hours, but I can guarantee lava, surfing, sun, snow on top of Moana Loa if you really need it.

I Hilo

[~krakatoa~ 27]

Airfare to Hawai'i is a killer.

Very.

Turks and Caicos would be nice, specifically Providenciales Island. The Somerset is a very nice place to stay. It depends on how much you wish to spend on hotels. Villas are neat too. A friend suggested the place to me. We will be going on September.

http://www.turksandcaicostourism.com/go/en...me-message.html

Edited June 23, 2008 by krakatoa