need travel advice/ideas during xmas holiday

[vicb]

Hi all. Need some advice and or ideas for taking a family vacation somewhere warm during the xmas holiday (probably between xmas and nye). We have never traveled this week, but DD is off to college and not on same vacation schedule as DS anymore.

Hawaii is out, too far to travel for 6 days so.... I have come up with Puerto Rico but not sure where else. Budget is somewhat of a concern, can't go hog wild.

Would love to hear where any of you have been during that time, where did you stay, how was the weather etc.... ??

Thanks. BTW, not WDW as we just returned a couple of weeks ago and not planning to go back for a couple of years.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

St. Martin. Incredibly beautiful, and warm, warm, warm and sunny that time of year.

We love the French atmosphere and the entire area. The Dutch side is very nice too, but we prefer St. Martin.

 

[DawnCt1]

If budget is a concern, you picked an expensive week to travel to any "warm" destination. That would include the actual destination and "getting there". I would consider a cruise that ends the weekend before your DS is due back at college. Its all inclusive and you might find a good deal shopping now. If the price goes down, you get the difference back.

 

[paintnolish]

Are you wanting to go someowhere warm? If not, I would suggest Gatlinberg/Pigeon Forge, TN. It is absolutely beautiful there that time of year, with things to do for everyone (hiking to shopping). And it will be a little warmer than MI!

 

[flipturngirl]

If budget is a concern, you picked an expensive week to travel to any "warm" destination. That would include the actual destination and "getting there". I would consider a cruise that ends the weekend before your DS is due back at college. Its all inclusive and you might find a good deal shopping now. If the price goes down, you get the difference back.

I totally agree with Dawn on this one. This is the most expensive week of the year to travel to warm destinations.



If you have traveled at this time before then you can ignore this part below

Also is the 6 days your whole vacation including the travel days, the day to get there and then the day to get back? You will want to make sure that you allow yourself enough time to get to the airport, thru TSA and everything like that. When I worked at an airport, not the largest one but pretty big, it was super busy the whole month of December. Lines were extra long and flights were delayed. So I might suggest looking for an extra day if those include travel and to make sure that you really want to be at the airport all that time!

 

[vicb]

If budget is a concern, you picked an expensive week to travel to any "warm" destination. That would include the actual destination and "getting there". I would consider a cruise that ends the weekend before your DS is due back at college. Its all inclusive and you might find a good deal shopping now. If the price goes down, you get the difference back.

I totally agree with Dawn on this one. This is the most expensive week of the year to travel to warm destinations.



If you have traveled at this time before then you can ignore this part below

Also is the 6 days your whole vacation including the travel days, the day to get there and then the day to get back? You will want to make sure that you allow yourself enough time to get to the airport, thru TSA and everything like that. When I worked at an airport, not the largest one but pretty big, it was super busy the whole month of December. Lines were extra long and flights were delayed. So I might suggest looking for an extra day if those include travel and to make sure that you really want to be at the airport all that time!

Good points both of you, thanks for the jolt of reality. I am just struggling with this issue of how we can all have a vacation together when nobody feels they can miss school and their vacations no longer will be the same... sad for us.

You are right about that being the most expensive week to travel and that may not work for us.

DH has suggested two shorter vacations instead of 1 big one. Three of us could go to Florida beach vacation during public school spring break the first week of April (2011) for 5 days and DD meet us there for 3 days over weekend, missing 1 day college. And maybe we take a short 3 day driving trip during xmas week... perhaps Nashville somewhere we have always wanted to go.

I don't know. But I do appreciate your comments.

Just an interesting side note, I read on another dis board this week that Presidents Day is later in 2011 (Feb. 21) and Easter is super late (April 24)!

We have usually done our WDW travel the last week in Feb during our "mid winter" break which is what we did this year with really low crowds but next year that week will be Pres. Week, so glad we went this year (all 4 of us). And next year our spring break won't be over Easter so we lose Good Friday as a travel day. Hmmmmm.

 

[DawnCt1]

Good points both of you, thanks for the jolt of reality. I am just struggling with this issue of how we can all have a vacation together when nobody feels they can miss school and their vacations no longer will be the same... sad for us.

You are right about that being the most expensive week to travel and that may not work for us.

DH has suggested two shorter vacations instead of 1 big one. Three of us could go to Florida beach vacation during public school spring break the first week of April (2011) for 5 days and DD meet us there for 3 days over weekend, missing 1 day college. And maybe we take a short 3 day driving trip during xmas week... perhaps Nashville somewhere we have always wanted to go.

I don't know. But I do appreciate your comments.

Just an interesting side note, I read on another dis board this week that Presidents Day is later in 2011 (Feb. 21) and Easter is super late (April 24)!

We have usually done our WDW travel the last week in Feb during our "mid winter" break which is what we did this year with really low crowds but next year that week will be Pres. Week, so glad we went this year (all 4 of us). And next year our spring break won't be over Easter so we lose Good Friday as a travel day. Hmmmmm.

How we handled the some in college, some in high school dilemma was to change our big vacations to summer time or take those who were available as you suggested. Sometimes the first day of college classes are no big deal and with other professors, they can be offended. You never know how that works, even though it is officially "add/drop week".