Where else can we go on Holiday!?

[SammieG]

There is no doubt that we are totally spoilt at Disney and the Orlando area with stuff to do on holiday, but after 15 or 16 trips in 9 years we are ready for a change...

trouble is, where can we get what we need in terms of accomodation etc?

We need good weather (ie hot basically guaranteed) - luxury accomodation with a 2 bedroom apartment -
fantastic pool area... with stuff to do nearby...

oh and good value for money!

Not too much to ask for is it!?

Any ideas?

Has anyone done any other resorts in the US (not west coast though - its just too far!)

Thanks for your help!

Sammie xx

 

[Lizzybear]

Maybe Vero Beach? Or even Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. The bahamas?

 

[UKDEB]

Last year we did an 'East Coast Road Trip'. We started in Washington DC, which blew us away (so much better than NYC, IMHO, although that could have been to do with our low expectations), then we drove down through the Appelachians (Skyline Drive/Blue Ridge Parkway) and spent a couple of nights in a log cabin in the mountains (sheer bliss). From there we moved on to Charleston and Savannah before ending up in Orlando for 2 weeks (well, it would have been churlish not to! ).

This year, we spent a couple of nights at Miami and Vero Beach following a Caribbean cruise (Antigua - our favourite, Puerta Rico and St Thomas). I'm really keen to do Key West and the Gulf Coast of Florida (Naples in particular) via the Everglades. I'm also desperate to do Hawaii, but like you, I don't really relish travelling that far.

 

[CharleyUK]

Hi

West coast isn't that much different IMHO than Florida. We did Las Vegas and Palm Springs as a twin centre holiday over two weeks. Nice accomodation is easy to find, weather great and lots to do.

If you want rearly good value we did Mexico all inclusive in June- stayed in a beautiful hotel with lots of resturants.The nearby town ( Playa del Carman)was nice for shopping and there were plenty of other trips to do, both cultural and fun. Weather was great too. Flight was probably an hour to hour and a half longer than Florida.

Have fun finding somewhere.

 

[jen_uk]

I went to Cancun in 2002 and it was lovely, Caribbean sea, beautiful beach, luxory hotel, loads of activities and the price was cheaper than a WDW holiday!

 

[SammieG]

thanks for the ideas guys!
I thought that Mexico was about 14 hours flight?

 

[gilld]

I would suggest the Bahamas, or even the Caribbean. Flight time is similar, great weather and some good...as well as bad ...accommodation with fantastic facilities.

 

[Tron[ADS]]

Although were back to Orlando this year, last year we went to Portugal, which, as I was blinkered towards Orlando being the only place in the world I wanted to go to, I was determined I was going to be disapointed with, but it was actualy very nice.
There is nowhere as good as Orlando overall, but I had a more relaxing couple of weeks of beach and a bit of driving/touring, with only a 2 hour flight and residents who don't hate the British (or westerners). I'd definitely go back.
It was the more quiet area of Portugal though (Calvario or however its spelt), and I was shocked at the villa rental price which was about 3 times what I'd pay in Orlando !

 

[magicmouse2]

I really want to go to Hawaii. Also Bali. There are lots of nice apartments there. I woud love to do a US roadtrip if I could drag myself away from WDW. DH and I woud like ro rent an RV and just drive off!!!

 

[carolfoy]

As an Africa-phile I'd say head for Cape town, great value, great beaches, no jet lag! loads to see and do.

 

[Claire L]

Oh do visit california it is a wonderful state the journey is only 10 1/2 hours and once on the plane an extra couple hours is nothing So much to do and there is DLC so a chance to see Mickey

Claire

 

[SammieG]

we are thinking of Vegas and California.. as a possibility.. but I just dont think i can stand the flight ... Florida is really about my limit right now..

I was wondering if anyone had done the Carolina's? Or anything there.

A road tour we would LOVE to do, but not with DS6...

 

[UKDEB]

We stayed in Charleston, SC as part of our Road Trip last year (and Savannah, which is in Georgia, but only 100 miles away). Both are beautiful and I'd return in a heartbeat (we only stayed one night at each). You could easily combine these and Hilton Head, if that appeals.

 

[UKVermonter]

I agree with the person who went to Washington D.C. you can spend nearly 4 or 5 days there and just about everything is free to go into, but I think with the security issues they may not let you bring camera's into alot of places like the White House, when your done drive down to Williamsburg Virginia and go to the Busch Gardens and Colonial Williamsburg Villiage which is more like a museum and is very realistic with the old ways of the time. There is also a water park I think called Water Country. If I remember there is another park of some kind but I forget if it's a ride or water park. There is plenty of resorts and hotels nearby some expensive but there is cheaper ones too.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

I think Sammie poses a very good question, and in a way we are in a similar position having been to Florida 14 times.

Joshua although he has done really well to cope with Orlando flights year after year really struggled last Month, and we are not sure whether we want to put him through it anymore, despite having an existing booking for July 2007.

Certainly whilst Orlando has so much to offer I don't think we could spend the entire 2/3 weeks there anymore, we feel now the need to turn the clock back a few years and go back to a traditional 2 or 3 centre holiday and have been to Naples/Sarasota/Clearwater/Miami/Fort Lauderdale/Key West etc in the past, all of which suddenly have an extra appeal - especially as we would like to combine with a Disney DVC resort.....it is just with Joshua's autism and that long flight, really not sure we can travel that far again.

With a need for cooking facilities etc we have in the past looked at Spain for example but found the villa prices more expensive than Florida.
In addition (turning into a snob here), having been to the US so many times anywhere else just doesn't carry the same appeal.

Naples and Sarasota are very quiet places, maybe toooooo quiet perhaps, a week may be too long at either unless you just want chill/sunbathe etc , the east coast may be a better choice as with Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale and Miami you have more options and most of these are fairly close together - if you like shopping then Miami is the best.

 

[SammieG]

we did ft lauderdale last year Johnny...and it was absolutely gorgeous... but I wouldnt want to spend more than 5 days there I dont think..

We are soooo spoiled in Orlando...
But also i hate to say it.. Bored of it.. we have done it all.. so many times and whilst we love it we do want to do something else too!
DH wont go to Caribbean or South Africa.

We dont want to do a City holiday either like Washington.. we want a resort holiday like the Carribbean or Bahamas but somewhere in the uSA>..
Its so tricky!

Love to go to South Florida but have a feeling that after day 4 will drive to Orlando anyway... so..
help!

 

[saratogagirl]

Over on the US Community Boards they seem to sing the praises of Bermuda a lot, don't know if that would appeal to you ? My next dream destination when I can drag myself away from the Mouse is Hawaii

 

[JohnnySharp2]

we did ft lauderdale last year Johnny...and it was absolutely gorgeous... but I wouldnt want to spend more than 5 days there I dont think..

We are soooo spoiled in Orlando...
But also i hate to say it.. Bored of it.. we have done it all.. so many times and whilst we love it we do want to do something else too!

I agree about Fort Lauderdale, and 4 or 5 days max would be plenty.

 

[angel659]

Hi

I would suggest Bahamas. You can go to Miami and FL keys as well. How about a twin holiday one week bahamas and one week in Keys. I think you can also visit the everglades whilst staying at Keys

If not Bermuda is meant to be nice too. Both Isles small.

The US virgin Isles are also nice, but expensive.

 

[pokemon_master]

Antartica..

Just kidding; you could always try Massachutus in America if you get bored of fun in the sun; very nice there but it's very much like home if you wanted change of surrondings..