You folks here seemed pretty well-travelled, so...

Any recommendations for year-end vacations? I unexpectedly have 1.5 weeks off work from around Christmas to early January, and am looking to take a brief vacation with my girlfriend.

We're currently open to all options. I'm thinking of either visiting NYC for New Year's (never been to NYC before), Whistler snowboarding trip, or maybe somewhere in Mexico to hang out and get massively and constantly drunk. But these depend also on cost, since it's during a peak travel period.

Also, any good sites for vacation packages that you guys would recommend? I'm aware of places like Expedia, Pleasant, SunTrips, Apple Vacations, and a few others, but am always looking for more.

Any input regarding possible destinations, as well as Websites to purchase packages from, is appreciated. Thanks!

 

MAUI, MAUI, and MAUI

Although anywhere in Hawaii is nice, but can be extremely pricey.

If you want cheap, Mexico. I like Cancun alot.

New Orleans is way cool. All depends on what you are looking for.

If it is cheap fun, partying, nice weather Mexico, Bahamas, Vegas, New Orleans.

Vegas and New Orleans also have great food, and shopping for the GF.


New York is neat as well as Boston, Chicago, blah blah blah, but coming from Minnesota, if I shell out money for a winter vacation, it is either Vail or someplace real warm. I am headed to Hawaii for Christmas.

 

My favorite place is CABO. The weather is perfect, beautiful golf courses and the deep sea fishing is the shiznit.

 

[QUOTE]MAUI, MAUI,

 

New orleans has lots of neat stuff to see. But it is boiled down mostly to Bourbon Street, the garden district, and probably the finest collection of restaurants you will ever find in one place. Good hole-in-wall cajun places and LOTS of high buck jacket required places like the Commander's Palace.

Neat city, lots of swamp, cajun culture, etc......

On the downside, you have to watch your step. LOTS of VIOLENT crime if you venture even to the wrong parts of the french quarter. I was just talking to my uncle over thanksgiving and he just returned from Thailand and he commented that he thought Bangkok was a much safer spot to walk around and look like a tourist than Nawleans.

 

Sadly this is true. I believe last weekend there were 7 unrelated murders and N.O. is not that large of a city. I don't believe there is a city in the nation with better food or more of a party atmosphere. It's a great place to stay drunk for a week but stagger into the wrong place and hope that you just get mugged and not killed. Keep in mind that it's not often the tourist that are killed and the killings are most often drug related. It's not that risky if you're careful. A few weeks ago a large group of motorcyclist gathered in New Orleans for the Steel Pony Express Event and more than 70 motorcycles were reported stolen during the event.

The swamp tours are great and you'll see things that can be found no where else in America. If you visit New Orleans please don't think you're seeing the deep south because while it's a part of it, it's no more representative than saying Barstow and San Fran are just alike because they're both in CA.

Have you thought about Orlando or the Keys? The middle keys are great to party and relax in. Not too far from Key West but more laid back and cheaper.

 

^^^ Yep, I've considered Orlando, Miami, or the Florida Keys as well. Still pondering them... If I'm travelling to anywhere on the east coast, though, I think it's going to be NYC, just because I have never visited there and am thinking about moving out there for a bit after finishing up grad school.

But I've always wanted to visit Florida, too. When I was a kid, I was fascinated (and still am today) with reptiles and amphibians, and Florida was always featured in the nature shows (plus bass fishing shows) I watched. Well, I never got to go there and do the exploring I desired as a kid, but it's still been an area that I'm interested in. Would the Florida Keys be a pretty good place to enjoy and kill a week, particularly during winter?

 

Ok, considering some cruises now...

Any cruise lines or destinations that you guys would suggest? I'd be leaving from either San Francisco or Los Angeles. I'm kind of interested in Alaska, but don't know if that would end up being boring.

Any cruise recommendations appreciated.

 

ya'll watch wayyy too much Wild On.. Actually no, I watch way too much Wild On..

I know weather wouldn't be great, but if it's not one of those relaxing getaway vacations.. NYC would be really fun for New Years.. or Vegas.

 

dude, it's impossible to watch too much wild on! they don't even need to go anywhere, just keep the camera on the host and we're all good