[Alfisti]

Wife desperate to go somewhere this summer, I am 100% against the idea. Prices are insane, i'd just rent a local cottage but apparently if we don't get on a plane it is not a holiday. But whatever, I am not going to win this battle.

So our needs are weird 'cos the wife is still covid cautious (don't turn this into another covid thread, it is what it fucking is, nothing gonna change her mind).

- Ideally beachfront or close enough
- Ideally part of or next to a resort but not a deal breaker
- Accommodations for 4
- Accommodation must be stand alone, no apartments with shared aircon for example. Could feasibly do a villa that is attached but so long as we can open windows or have own air
- Must have outdoor eating options, we won't be doing large gathering buffet all inclusive breakfast for eg
- Open to a VRBO or Air B and B but has to be close enough to a safe city for outdoor restaurants
- Ideally a direct flight from Toronto
- Looking at July/August
- $10K CDN all in, tops, absolute tops, less if we can
- Did I mention this is a waste of money? FML.

Any suggestions appreciated.

[tdott]

We were going to do Maui, but prices are insane, nothing under $600/night and the fees are insane for airbnb, vrbo, vacation rentals etc.

Instead we are breaking it up into 3 trips and will still spend less than Maui.
5 Days in Clearwater, FL nice hotel on the beach. Under $300/night
3 Days in Key Largo, FL at a nice resort. Under $300/night
5 Days in Vegas. haven't decided where yet, there are lots of inexpensive options but we will probably stay at somewhere nice this time.
Will be mostly Hilton properties, we get a F&F discount.

We enjoy vacays and don't think it is a waste unless we feel like we are over paying and not getting any value.

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by tdott

We were going to do Maui, but prices are insane, nothing under $600/night and the fees are insane for airbnb, vrbo, vacation rentals etc.

Instead we are breaking it up into 3 trips and will still spend less than Maui.
5 Days in Clearwater, FL nice hotel on the beach. Under $300/night
3 Days in Key Largo, FL at a nice resort. Under $300/night
5 Days in Vegas. haven't decided where yet, there are lots of inexpensive options but we will probably stay at somewhere nice this time.
Will be mostly Hilton properties, we get a F&F discount.

We enjoy vacays and don't think it is a waste unless we feel like we are over paying and not getting any value.

Oh I enjoy them too but we could rent a cottage for a week for about $2K if we split it with the wife's cousin. Swim, fish, fire etc, wonderful time. Or, spend 10K, hassle of flying and travelling with kids for basically the same experience as the cottage but salt water. It makes no fucking sense.

We do Maui on the way to Australia. Where do you stay in Clearwater? I keep thinking this may be an option. I just hate dealing with the US hidden fees and tipping culture, like just list the fucking ffs.

OT: That is a wonderful looking M3, jus wonderful.

[tdott]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

We do Maui on the way to Australia. Where do you stay in Clearwater? I keep thinking this may be an option. I just hate dealing with the US hidden fees and tipping culture, like just list the fucking ffs.

OT: That is a wonderful looking M3, jus wonderful.

Thanks!

We are staying at the DoubleTree Beach Resort, looks pretty cool, we haven't really explored the area much so we plan to do some of that when not relaxing on the beach.

I used to live in Toronto, so I know what you mean about the US tipping culture but it's really not that much more given the expectations now shifted in Canada also. Being in the US domestic flights are so much easier and cheap, plus no us customs to deal with.

Summers are nice in Toronto so I'd say do the cottage stuff in the summer, travel to a nicer place during the not so great months.

We like visiting new places and usually have to be forced to relax, if we goto the same place twice we tend to get bored. So everyone's different in what they like.

[Alfisti]

Biggest issue living here other than the weather is it's cottage or plane, nowhere nice to drive to and plonk yourself on a beach for a week.

[HappynHealthy]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Wife desperate to go somewhere this summer, I am 100% against the idea. Prices are insane, i'd just rent a local cottage but apparently if we don't get on a plane it is not a holiday. But whatever, I am not going to win this battle.

So our needs are weird 'cos the wife is still covid cautious (don't turn this into another covid thread, it is what it fucking is, nothing gonna change her mind).

- Ideally beachfront or close enough
- Ideally part of or next to a resort but not a deal breaker
- Accommodations for 4
- Accommodation must be stand alone, no apartments with shared aircon for example. Could feasibly do a villa that is attached but so long as we can open windows or have own air
- Must have outdoor eating options, we won't be doing large gathering buffet all inclusive breakfast for eg
- Open to a VRBO or Air B and B but has to be close enough to a safe city for outdoor restaurants
- Ideally a direct flight from Toronto
- Looking at July/August
- $10K CDN all in, tops, absolute tops, less if we can
- Did I mention this is a waste of money? FML.

Any suggestions appreciated.

They book up fast,. Skipping this year for another place

Our goto for 3 years of Covid vacations was figure 8 island off of the coast of Wilmington, NC

Figure8island.com had an awesome house - with an elevator!!

Check out 16 Comber Road on the island its the closest to the water from google earth. There's many others but this one was so good we stayed 3 YRS in a row

[MunkyTool]

Originally Posted by tdott

We were going to do Maui, but prices are insane, nothing under $600/night and the fees are insane for airbnb, vrbo, vacation rentals etc.

Instead we are breaking it up into 3 trips and will still spend less than Maui.
5 Days in Clearwater, FL nice hotel on the beach. Under $300/night
3 Days in Key Largo, FL at a nice resort. Under $300/night
5 Days in Vegas. haven't decided where yet, there are lots of inexpensive options but we will probably stay at somewhere nice this time.
Will be mostly Hilton properties, we get a F&F discount.

We enjoy vacays and don't think it is a waste unless we feel like we are over paying and not getting any value.

You can find cheaper options on Big Island or Oahu. Maui is deff the most expensive of the Hawaiian islands.

[tdott]

Originally Posted by MunkyTool

You can find cheaper options on Big Island or Oahu. Maui is deff the most expensive of the Hawaiian islands.

True, we already did Oahu in the past and wanted to try another island. But I think FL will get us some of the beach scenery without the flight hassle and added expense.

We'll definitely visit there some time, hopefully when things are a little less crazy.

[Tommy-G]

So, I'm going through the same scenario kind of.
Was going to do Dominican Republic b/c its reasonable. Totally forgot our Passports expired and cant expedite them in time.
The decided Sandals Bahamas. Well dumb azz that I am, you need a Passport for Bahamas UNLESS you are on a cruise. Duhhhhh

My travel agent just sent me this. Looks amazing! You said 4 people so if that includes 2 kids, this may be out....and its def not cheap but it checks most of your boxes

https://www.bungalowskeylargo.com/

Anyone been?

[Bking60]

Originally Posted by Tommy-G

So, I'm going through the same scenario kind of.
Was going to do Dominican Republic b/c its reasonable. Totally forgot our Passports expired and cant expedite them in time.
The decided Sandals Bahamas. Well dumb azz that I am, you need a Passport for Bahamas UNLESS you are on a cruise. Duhhhhh

My travel agent just sent me this. Looks amazing! You said 4 people so if that includes 2 kids, this may be out....and its def not cheap but it checks most of your boxes

https://www.bungalowskeylargo.com/

Anyone been?

no but read the reviews. Awful.

[JMcLellan]

I don't know how nice the beaches are but I have heard that the Alabama gulf shores are a less expensive way to beach vacation. I have never been but I've had some friends and coworkers mention it was cheaper and their families enjoyed the experience.

[JMcLellan]

Originally Posted by MunkyTool

You can find cheaper options on Big Island or Oahu. Maui is deff the most expensive of the Hawaiian islands.

100% agreed. Was going to chime in and recommend trying a different island than Maui to save some cash.

[Tommy-G]

Originally Posted by Bking60

no but read the reviews. Awful.

I didnt even get that far but thanks for pointing it out. At that price point it better be like a Ritz Carlton or Four Seasons.

[3.0L]

Not in Mexico.

[Alfisti]

Any recommendations in Jamaica? Seeing some really ideal looking places in Negril but a right pain in the arse to get to, 2 hours from the dang airport.

[floridaorange]

Punta Cana

[dreamingat30fps]

Originally Posted by floridaorange

Punta Cana

This. If I want a relaxing vacation on a beach for reasonable $$ it's either Cancun or Punta Cana. I know people who rent houses and what not, but personally I just stay at one of the all inclusives and call it a day. Haven't been in a few years. I know OP said no buffets or what not, but there are plenty of nice all inclusives that offer a la carte or room service options for breakfast and lunch.

[infinitekidM2C]

Eastern Caribbean.

[floridaorange]

Originally Posted by dreamingat30fps

This. If I want a relaxing vacation on a beach for reasonable $$ it's either Cancun or Punta Cana. I know people who rent houses and what not, but personally I just stay at one of the all inclusives and call it a day. Haven't been in a few years. I know OP said no buffets or what not, but there are plenty of nice all inclusives that offer a la carte or room service options for breakfast and lunch.

It’s all taken care of for you and you don’t have to touch your debit card or wallet once.

[Clark_Kent]

Traveling with kids or no?

[Alfisti]

Sorry, yes two kids. I am leaning resort because the kids, imho, will get bored just on a beach all week. By that I mean say we rent a villa in a small complex, I see them in Negril for example, it's just a beach, not much to do. There's decent looking bars and the like but the kids will be bored. At a resort, there's more to do but finding accommodations where we control the airflow and it is not centralised, is very difficult, as is non-buffet dining.

I realise i am being difficult but this is what I am facing and why a cottage with the cousins would work better but again, I am not winning this battle. Wife has gone through hell at work the past month so she is going to want a reward for it.

[Alfisti]

Oh keep in mind we have a great pool in our yard so novelty of water activity will wear off pretty fast.