2021 Vacations?

[RUDisney]

Last year was supposed to be Poland and this year was supposed to be France. Plans are a year behind because I really want to go to Poland, so we'll do that first and then talk about France. My DD really wants to go there again with me so I can see how wonderful she has explained it to be... plus we'll go to Disney while we're there.

I'm waiting to see what goes on before making any definite plans.

 

[Moliphino]

I just booked a week at WDW in May with the new discount that came out. We'll see if the trip actually happens, but it makes me feel better about cancelling February, at least.

 

[StephMK]

We are hoping to go to the beach with my parents and brother's family. We stay in a house and eat at home. Hopefully it will be safe enough but we'll see.

 

[AndreaDM]

OP here, we were talking about Yellowstone again last night and honestly I'm hesitant to visit any NP this year. Not really because of Covid, but because I think everyone and their brother will be planning vacations in the US instead of cruises and international travel. I expect hotels around NPs to be at capacity, as well as beach homes and condos. People still want to vacation, but I'm sure many will do so where they can social distance.

Anyone familiar with San Antonio? Wonder what that will look like this summer, it was another idea we tossed around.

 

[mickeybaby]

We took a driving vacation (over 6000 miles) last summer. We were in and near Yellowstone for several days. It was crazy packed!! I cannot imagine adding more people to that park and it is huge. Other NP’s were on a reservation system and you couldn’t even enter the park without a reservation.
I imagine this summer will be even busier! But it is a beautiful area to explore and discover.

 

[RUDisney]

Anyone familiar with San Antonio? Wonder what that will look like this summer, it was another idea we tossed around.

I'm not sure what San Antonio will look like this summer, but it is a densely populated area and the Alamo and River Walk are downtown amid that congestion. Summer in TX is also VERY hot and humid. I prefer San Antonio in the late fall, winter and early spring. Otherwise, it's just too darn hot for my tastes, although it is a lot of fun. I'm not sure how the parks will be. Sea World there is so much fun and there is also Fiesta Texas.

 

[Wendy31]

We have a summer trip planned to the beach.

However, since it’s where we always go, we don’t feel the need to do any of the touristy things.

We drive down (so no flying) & rent a condo... and no stops except for gas on the way down. At the condo, we use the stairs instead of the elevator. The condo has a washer & dryer, & we wash sheets & towels & sanitize everything as soon as we get in the condo...

We went this past July/August & again in December for Christmas.

Because we’re in a condo, we can do grocery orders & cook all our meals in the kitchen... which is what we did except for a couple of take-out restaurant meals this past summer & December.

Instead of a home lock-down, it’s a beach lock-down.

So, yes, we have a trip planned - but, in reality, it’s just trading one place for another.

Hopefully, case numbers are better by this summer, & we’ll be able to enjoy some of the restaurants.

 

[wvjules]

Well thanks DIS. I just booked 2 weeks on Maui in July. I was able to use SkyMiles which I was never able to "afford" before so that makes it a lot more manageable. DBF wanted to go to Hawaii for his 50th so I'm glad I could make that happen, hopefully.

 

[soccerdad72]

Well thanks DIS. I just booked 2 weeks on Maui in July. I was able to use SkyMiles which I was never able to "afford" before so that makes it a lot more manageable. DBF wanted to go to Hawaii for his 50th so I'm glad I could make that happen, hopefully.

Do you know where you're staying yet? Maui is one of our favorite destinations.

 

[wvjules]

Do you know where you're staying yet? Maui is one of our favorite destinations.

Not yet. Maui is my favorite Hawaiian Island so I'm really excited for two weeks there. And "free" flights make it even better.

What recommendations do you have? I can't remember where we stayed at in 2011 when we went for Christmas. It was a cheap hotel. Hoping for something a little nicer this time but don't want break the bank. Any recommendations?

 

[starvenger]

I've got a week in Tobermory (peninsula between Lake Huron and Georgian Bay) in July.

And a Christmas cruise on (hopefully a non-Abyssed) Allure of the Seas out of good ol' Port Everglades.. Little pricey due to the holiday, may still have buyer's remorse prior to PIF date.

 

[soccerdad72]

Summer of 2019, we stayed in a 2 bedroom condo in Honua Kai: https://wanderlustyle.com/honua-kai-resort/

We really liked it - it's at the very top of Ka'anapali Beach. Not a lot of swimmable beach right in front of the resort, but good ones just a little while up the beach walk. We walked the beach walk pretty much every day as well. Lots of pools, plus Duke's Beach House restaurant right on site. The only drawback (at that time) was construction going on at the property, but that might be done by now. We got a pretty good deal (for Maui ) on VRBO.

All this depends on whether Ka'anapali is an area you want to be at - I know a lot of people prefer other areas like Kapalua or Wailea.

 

[sonnyjane]

I also had a big trip to Africa (Tanzania) booked for this past August. Don't think I'll have the PTO available to do it this year (started a new job), so looks like that will be 2022.

Nice! My trip is for Tanzania also, but in February, so it will be the green season. With my work, I can't travel during our (northern hemisphere) summer, but should still be lovely, just not what you typically see on TV.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

I’ve heard that many colleges are canceling their spring breaks so students cannot travel this year. If true, this may open up the possibility of a beach destination for us in March.

I have no desire to be at a beach with a bunch or drunk college students. Imagine how the virus would spread?! .

anyway, we are considering a week in the southeast specifically Savannah/Charleston. Would love to hear recommendations for this area.

My DD’s university cancelled Spring Break. Instead they are supposed to have 5 separate days off during the semester. It’s supposed to be enough to give the kids a break but not enough for them to go anywhere. So now lots of the Seniors are planning to do their “Spring Break” trip after graduation in mid May. If lots of kids have the same idea, the popular Spring Break beaches will be mobbed in mid May.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

Two years ago we decided that we'd go to Hawaii summer of 21. Then switched to California to visit our favorite places. Our teens have since informed us that they want to attend summer camp this year. Since they are aging out of Girl Scout camp (high school options are limited!) we've decided that they can do summer camp. Since high school marching band/guard camp starts in July any family trip will most likely be without our girls.

Of course, I might just take a mommy only trip.

The only trip planned so far in March 2021 to WDW.

When that happened to us (kids couldn’t do summer vacations due to jobs, sports, internships, college summer school), we started taking a family vacation over Christmas Break. It was more expensive then, but it was the only time we could really all be together. We toured Colonial Williamsburg and stayed at Great Wolf Lodge, went to the Poconos and did some snow tubing, went on a Christmas cruise to the Bahamas out of Charleston. We had so much fun together as a family! We skipped Christmas 2019 because of our blow out *Africa trip that summer. And we skipped this Christmas because of Covid. We did “safe” things together locally instead - a staycation.

*When our oldest graduated from college, we asked him to get a late July start date for his job and asked DD to tell her summer job right from the beginning that she would be gone for 2 weeks in early July. We took one “last hurrah” family trip to London and South Africa for a safari.

 

[sk!mom]

OP here, we were talking about Yellowstone again last night and honestly I'm hesitant to visit any NP this year. Not really because of Covid, but because I think everyone and their brother will be planning vacations in the US instead of cruises and international travel. I expect hotels around NPs to be at capacity, as well as beach homes and condos. People still want to vacation, but I'm sure many will do so where they can social distance.

Anyone familiar with San Antonio? Wonder what that will look like this summer, it was another idea we tossed around.

I'm not sure what San Antonio will look like this summer, but it is a densely populated area and the Alamo and River Walk are downtown amid that congestion. Summer in TX is also VERY hot and humid. I prefer San Antonio in the late fall, winter and early spring. Otherwise, it's just too darn hot for my tastes, although it is a lot of fun. I'm not sure how the parks will be. Sea World there is so much fun and there is also Fiesta Texas.

Very familiar with San Antonio (probably close to 100 weekend stays as an adult.) I do not recommend summer unless you love Florida in the summer- if so, you'll be fine. I had forgotten just how much I hated it in the summer until DD moved there after college. Her first summer there in 2018, we visited several times as she was having a birthday, getting settled, etc... IT WAS MISERABLE! I love it in the Spring, Fall, and Winter. Fall is so typically nice that DD had an outdoor wedding in November 2019.

I don't find it too crowded except on big holiday weeks like Spring Break. I would avoid that week for sure.

As far as the Covid situation, Texas is not really locked down now with it raging so as more people get vaccinated it will just continue to increase capacities.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

Not yet. Maui is my favorite Hawaiian Island so I'm really excited for two weeks there. And "free" flights make it even better.

What recommendations do you have? I can't remember where we stayed at in 2011 when we went for Christmas. It was a cheap hotel. Hoping for something a little nicer this time but don't want break the bank. Any recommendations?

We usually stay at the Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas because my parents own there and invite the whole family to come every other year.
https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/hnmkw-the-westin-kaanapali-ocean-resort-villas/
We’ve also stayed once each at the Wailea Beach Resort (Marriott) and Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club (timeshare condo) with my parents because they also own a boatload of Marriott points.
https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/hnmmc-wailea-beach-resort-marriott-maui/
https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/hnmmu-marriotts-maui-ocean-club-lahaina-and-napili-towers/
When we’ve paid for our own accommodations, we’ve stayed at the Royal Lahaina Resort in the tower (not the cottages). It’s not as ritzy as the Marriott or Westin properties, but it is very nice. The grounds are gorgeous. Only thing really missing is a lagoon style pool. It just has a regular rectangular pool.
https://www.royallahaina.com/

 

[AndreaDM]

So my employer just changed the vacation policy, no more carry over so I have 4 weeks plus 2 days to use up this year and don’t know if I can go anywhere! And after being without a job for 6 months out of 2020, I don’t want to take time off to stay at home again!

 

[DisneyLover83]

We are taking our usual trips, going to TX for Spring Break, WDW in May, will also travel at Fall Break but destination undecided at this time....

 

[C&Jx2]

I got vacation approved for the first week of November. If things are more normal at Disney and there are no travel restrictions we’ll do that, if Disney is still weird and there are no quarantine guidelines we’ll rent a house in the Keys for a week. If the travel restrictions are still in place, staycation it is! Lots of “ifs”, so we’ll see!