Where would you go?

[apress]

Not really sure where to put this question, but thought I would try here. My husband and I are looking to take a trip in July just the two of us. We both are turning 40 this year and just had our 15th wedding anniversary. We have talked about it for years, that instead of a party or gifts we should take a trip together alone without our 3 kids. We have not been away together since 2006, so it is much needed. The problem I am having is I can't figure out where to go. We talk about cruises, but have never been on one and I am not sure if I would like that. I am the type that loves to be on the go. We love Disney but my family thinks we are nuts to keep vacationing there. Plus I don't know about the guilt factor from the kids. So any suggestions on where we should go that wouldn't break the bank.

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

What's your budget? What's your time "budget"? Where are you located? You mentioned "on the go" but what types of things do you like? Shopping? Gambling? Snorkeling? Food? Etc.?

I love cruising, but I'm not an on-the-go type. If I'm in the Caribbean I do go diving every stop but other than that I'm happy on my balcony. I know cruises have a ton of activities, bars, etc. We don't do shows, climbing, etc. but I'm pretty sure you could have your whole day filled if you wanted. That said, cruising isn't for everyone.

 

[apress]

What's your budget? What's your time "budget"? Where are you located? You mentioned "on the go" but what types of things do you like? Shopping? Gambling? Snorkeling? Food? Etc.?

I love cruising, but I'm not an on-the-go type. If I'm in the Caribbean I do go diving every stop but other than that I'm happy on my balcony. I know cruises have a ton of activities, bars, etc. We don't do shows, climbing, etc. but I'm pretty sure you could have your whole day filled if you wanted. That said, cruising isn't for everyone.

We are looking at least a week, would like to stay under $3000 and we are from PA. As far as on the go, I mean everything shopping, physical activity. I just enjoy Disney because we are on the go from the time we get up until bed. So looking for something along those lines. Hope that makes sense.

 

[usnuzuloose]

You know, don't feel guilty for having couple time. Kids need to see that parents love each other and need that time. That is why to have a date night at least once a week. It teaches them how to love your spouse. And who better to learn from than your parents. To me we love on the go at times. And sometimes we love to relax. We have a place we go that is about a 3 hour drive away. Down by the ocean. We take walks on the beach, go through antique stores and just enjoy our time together. So to me it does not have to cost a lot. Is there any place special around a few hour drive you have both wanted to see? I know this does not help much in where to go.

 

[Stacy's a freak]

Just because it's on the top of my list of places to go, what about New Orleans for a long weekend? Maybe July would be a crazy hot time to go but it sounds like an amazing place if you like food and music mixed in with plantation tours, ghost tours, cemetery tours, etc. I don't know the cost but you would have to factor in airfare like us in NY.

 

[potterfanatic]

We are also on the go people and also have 3 kids. We did a 10 year anniversary trip without the kids a few years ago to Vegas and loved it so much that we decided to make it an every other year thing. There is so much to do there that we never got bored. I may be a big grouch, but it was also great that there weren't a lot of children around. I don't want to spend my child free vacations surrounded by other children.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

$3,000 is more than enough to do a REALLY nice vacation for just the two of you. And you're on the Budget Board - you can make that money stretch! Where do you want to go? Virgin Islands? Europe? Stay in the US and maybe visit some landmarks you haven't seen? The possibilities are endless. You know what I have always wanted to do and it sounds silly and crazy but I have wanted to take one of those Groupon Getaway emails and write them all down on a separate piece of paper(or at least the ones I'm interested in) and draw from a hat. They always sound so fun and something I'd not usually plan myself!

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

Right now is a pretty perfect time to travel to Europe since it is about 1 Euro to $0.93 USD. By summer there are predictions that the USD will be on par with the Euro. Plus if you travel somewhere like Greece which is experiencing some economic hardship, the deals are even better. Greece is an amazing place with beautiful sites, great food and very friendly people. Gate 1 Travel has an 8 day essential Greece trip for less than $1200 per person with flights (sometimes they have deals that make it even cheaper). If I had $3000 and 1 week, this is where I would go.

 

[havaneselover]

I'd go on a cruise. I love Disney, but for couples I might look at Celebrity. But really I'd probably find an appealing itinerary.

 

[KSR0330]

I would definitely go to Aulain, the Disney Resort in Hawaii!

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

I would definitely go to Aulain, the Disney Resort in Hawaii!

At the very least, a trip from the East Coast to Hawaii for two for a week is probably a $4,000 vacation. Hawaii is expensive! Especially Aulani.

 

[Imanonymous]

We are looking at least a week, would like to stay under $3000 and we are from PA. As far as on the go, I mean everything shopping, physical activity. I just enjoy Disney because we are on the go from the time we get up until bed. So looking for something along those lines. Hope that makes sense.

We've done a week in Cozumel including scuba diving for $3000. Awesome trip- plenty of activity. We've done an AI for that price, but we greatly enjoy staying in town - so many great places to eat.

 

[antmaril]

You could take a cruise to Alaska.

 

[havaneselover]

You could take a cruise to Alaska.

This is my dream but I think it would be twice the op's budget. Airfare is expensive and Alaska excursions are not cheap.

 

[BrerRabbit66]

A cruise would be fun and there are a lot of activities to do onboard. I am partial to NCL or Royal Caribbean but I've never tried Celebrity Cruises. If you want quiet adult getaway, check out Beaches Resorts in Negril, Turks and Caicos or Ocho Rios. We did 21 days at Disney and enjoyed every minute but our DD is grown so very little guilt. Whatever you decide.....ENJOY!

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

This is my dream but I think it would be twice the op's budget. Airfare is expensive and Alaska excursions are not cheap.

I'm not sure where in PA OP is from but they could get flights for around $400 roundtrip from Philly to Seattle or Vancouver. Plus a $900-$1,000 per person cruise. Plus some onboard credit. That might put them right around $3,000 with a couple of excursions. I wouldn't say twice their budget. I'd say they could comfortably enjoy an Alaskan cruise for under $3,200 which is over but not twice. If it were something they REALLY wanted to do I'm sure they could make it work. I wouldn't do it if it weren't something that was on my list to see though.

 

[havaneselover]

I'm not sure where in PA OP is from but they could get flights for around $400 roundtrip from Philly to Seattle or Vancouver. Plus a $900-$1,000 per person cruise. Plus some onboard credit. That might put them right around $3,000 with a couple of excursions. I wouldn't say twice their budget. I'd say they could comfortably enjoy an Alaskan cruise for under $3,200 which is over but not twice. If it were something they REALLY wanted to do I'm sure they could make it work. I wouldn't do it if it weren't something that was on my list to see though.

I love cruises but there's no way I could cruise Alaska in July with two people for $3000. It's just not realistic imo when you figure in taxes, tips, hotel stay, local transportation, excursions, airfare, etc. We'll just have to agree to disagree.

 

[sdoll]

My husband and I recently did a trip to Aruba. We had been 10 years before and loved it. We decided to rent a condo about a half mile in from the beach it was about half the cost of staying right on the beach. Totally worth it. We walked to the beach daily and had the best vacation ever! We were way under $3000 and were able to eat out every where we loved. We love to cruise too. Have been on 3 with out the kids. i think the thing i love about cruising is you can be on the go and relax too. The choice is all yours. we have done cruises where we do something in every port and we have done cruises where we barely get off the ship. Depends on the budget.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

I love cruises but there's no way I could cruise Alaska in July with two people for $3000. It's just not realistic imo when you figure in taxes, tips, hotel stay, local transportation, excursions, airfare, etc. We'll just have to agree to disagree.

I completely agree with you that it wouldn't be ideal. But it would very much be possible. If it were someone's DREAM to go to Alaska and all they had was $3,000 they could definitely make it work.

It's on my list and we're going next August. I didn't really set a budget but trying to save every way we can. Using air miles for our flights, hotel points for our hotel and churning gift cards until our payment is due. Our family of 4 will be doing an ocean view room for under $7,000 with flights, hotels, taxes, tips and excursions all included.

 

[Jaime4004]

DH and I also turn 40 this year and are escaping our 3 kids. We are doing WDW though, because DH was dying to run the Star Wars races in April and I'll take any excuse to go to WDW. If I could go anywhere, I would choose Alaska or Hawaii without kids, because either is so expensive that we'd be unlikely to go with the 5 of us...