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Beach Vacation

Great suggestions everyone! Looks like a have some research to do. I am getting anxious for a vacation, as everyone is I’m sure. Every winter we try and plan a “beach vacation” and “ski trip” to get the wife and kids away for some fun. I own a construction business so it’s about impossible to get away from March-November. So we cram everything into a few winter months, usually around the holidays.

We have been going to Playa Del Carmen quite frequently and went to Ft. Meyers last year. Got married in Puerto Vallarta. Other than that, we haven’t been to many “beach” locations. Our goal is to start branching out a bit and picking new destinations each year.
 
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Wife and I just booked another trip back to Couples Swept Away in Jamaica for the winter... Highly recommend.
 
Let me do you a lil favor. Drive to the nearest Kum and Go, grab a sixer of keystone light and a pack of Marlboro’s and head to Peterson’s Pit just north of Ames. You will he presented with a vast array of activities including hiding your meth from the DNR officer, seeing which kid can catch an infection the fastest and checking out all the scantily clad plus size women on the beach.
 
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If you are looking to stay in the US, look at Port Canaveral/Cocoa Beach Florida. Average December high is 74 f. Holiday Inn Club Vacations Canaveral Beach is on the beach. That group builds Signature (high end luxury) units as its new units. The new building at Canaveral Beach is a few minute's walk from the beach. Restaurants are not really in walking distance, but a number of good ones around. Industrial canal is home to numerous cruise ships, a gambling ship heads to international waters every day, submarines occasionally arrive and depart form the submarine pen there, you can visit Kennedy Space Center, if the timing is right you'll see a night time launch that just rocks the place. Plenty of things to do in the metro area. Resort has its own restaurant, bar, tiki bar, water park, and the signature building has an adults only pool. Dolphins often escort the cruise ships in or out. Surfing, fishing, jet skiing, hang gliding, walking the beach, swimming, rip currents, sharks, turtle nesting.
 
Our family loves Anna Maria Island in Florida—-quiet place with awesome beaches that aren’t packed on the Gulf side. No chain restaurants and the bars close at 10, but it’s all good! Quick drive from Tampa/St. Pete.
 
I really love Latin America especially Cozumel Island (from Playa del Carmen first went there in 1987 when it had about 200 residence), Puerto Vallarta (family friendly all-inclusive hotels like the Fiesta Americana-a little dated but good and less expensive) and especially Huatulco on the south coast of Oaxaca, south Mexico. Major ruins (Mayan and Zapotec) there. Helps to know Spanish. Great access to atms, safe in both Oaxaca and Puerto Vallarta. Great foods, weather is warm to hot except in wet season which varies to each locale.

If you want real natural paradise Hawaii has nothing over Costa Rica's SW coast such as Quepos. My most memorable stay was in Si Como No Resort & Wildlife Refuge, . From our ocean view top floor double-suite balcony we could see three species of monkeys, sloths, macaws, toucans, honeycreepers, hummingbirds, frigatebirds-close to 100 species of exotic birds! Tropical dreamland! Many expats here with restaurants being owned by them.
 
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Planning to go to Cozumel in February. I have done zero research, but was looking for recommendations for resorts there.
 
Been to Kauai and Oahu three times for work. Going to those two and the big island next year for our 25th anniversary . Got a ton of Hilton points to use. Plus work will hopefully pay for my rental car and flights to Kauai and Oahu. Looking through Kayak I can get flights for both of us for around $1900. $700 for five nights on the big island. Probably will stay on Waikiki beach for two-three nights and Kauai for two nights. Wife has never been there so telling here now so she can figure out when she wants to go.
 
ISUConE said:
I’m considering a family vacation in December 2020 (if safe to travel) to a warm beach area preferably in the United States (California, Florida, Georgia, maybe Hawaii) but also considering Mexico, Bahamas, etc. We are looking for a location that meets a few criteria listed below. As an example...Playa Del Carmen, MX is one of our favorite locations but we have been there about 6 times and looking to try a new place. Any suggestions??? Here is what we prefer, cost is not a huge factor:

-Resort, nice hotel, or rental house with pool and either beachfront or close access to beach
-Abundance of nice restaurants within walking distance or short drive
-Pedestrian friendly downtown or boardwalk area to access restaurants and shops
-Location that does not require a lot of time in the car with heavy traffic
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There is nothing like the safety and comfort of a vacation in the states--preferably florida.

A cruise (or land) beach vacation w/ caribbean destination is always risky from my friends' and our own experiences.. travel nightmares, connections, refunds, weather, bad food, stinky accommodations.

I laugh when I hear of people booking a cruise for August-Oct in the caribbean because they got this 'great deal'.

ummm.. It's hurricane season. It's akin to booking a vacation to Phoenix in July. have fun
 
Keep your ugly goldbricking ass out of my beach community.
 
We decided we're going to try to do a beach vacation every year. There's something about relaxing by the ocean with a cocktail...

We're trying to steer away from the mega resorts, and try to stay at smaller places.

We went to Curacao this past spring, and stayed at a resort called Baoase. They only had 25-ish rooms in the whole place, and it was phenomenal. Very, very private.

Next year we're trying the Cliff Hotel on the western side of Jamaica. They have right around 30 rooms. It's supposed to be very nice, and isolated as well.

I'm sure we'll get some duds along the way, but fingers crossed.
 
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Mr Janny said:
We decided we're going to try to do a beach vacation every year. There's something about relaxing by the ocean with a cocktail...

We're trying to steer away from the mega resorts, and try to stay at smaller places.

We went to Curacao this past spring, and stayed at a resort called Baoase. They only had 25-ish rooms in the whole place, and it was phenomenal. Very, very private.

Next year we're trying the Cliff Hotel on the western side of Jamaica. They have right around 30 rooms. It's supposed to be very nice, and isolated as well.

I'm sure we'll get some duds along the way, but fingers crossed.
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We enjoyed a small resort (around maybe 50 rooms ) by Playa called Petit Lafitte. We rented a hut about 50 yards from the beach that looked like it belonged on Gilligans Island ( but had air conditioning and a bathroom). Only one bar, only one restaurant. But I really enjoyed the ability to visit with other people as you get to know them over a week long vacation.

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Of the big resorts we thought the Barcello was one of the best run. Stay away from Cancun (IMO).
 
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IASTATE07 said:
Planning to go to Cozumel in February. I have done zero research, but was looking for recommendations for resorts there.
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I havent been to cozumel but I have been to several resorts in riveria maya, if you want a nice relaxing time look at a Secrets resort
 
gocy444 said:
Let me do you a lil favor. Drive to the nearest Kum and Go, grab a sixer of keystone light and a pack of Marlboro’s and head to Peterson’s Pit just north of Ames. You will he presented with a vast array of activities including hiding your meth from the DNR officer, seeing which kid can catch an infection the fastest and checking out all the scantily clad plus size women on the beach.
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Go to Saylorville. It's beautiful.
 
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