Seattle Nesties
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
US VI or somewhere else
DH and I have been seriously waffling over the whole let's-go-on-vacation thing. We don't know where to go or what to do, and money was really limited. You may remember me asking about Hawaii or Southern California a few weeks back...
Well, last night we did our taxes and we're getting back a bit more than we thought, so DH said I could plan a trip anywhere I wanted within the US.
So tell me, where's your favorite place to go? I just want a great beach. Anyone know anything about the US Virgin Islands? Or New Orleans?
Sorry for the dup post. It posted before I was done!
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Re: US VI or somewhere else
Yes! The US VI are gorgeous, but I actually like the BVI a little bit more (and I think they have better beaches). Also, I haven't been to St. Thomas in a while, but I've heard it's gotten a little rough - worth checking out (you can post on the Travel board to ask, this is just stuff I'd seen / read so no idea how accurate it is). Would you be going before May? I think hurricane season picks up in late May / early June, and the weather is generally the nicest now.
In all honesty, I'll be surprised if you find that it's much cheaper than going to Hawaii (though I know airfare to Hawaii from Seattle can be crazy expensive - it may be much cheaper if you connect in OAK).
Why are you limiting it to within the US? Do you not want to deal with passports? What's your budget (roughly) and what are you looking for? Apart from a beach, what do you want to do? Do you want an AI? How long can you be gone for? If you let me know I will be happy to play around on the internet for a bit this afternoon and come up with some ideas.
I love planning vacations (DH said I should be a travel agent but I think that's a dying industry)...
Yay for getting a tax refund and having a fun trip somewhere!
if cost/time is an issue, i'd stick to hawaii - it's a *lot* closer, and i'm pretty sure that usually equals cheaper flight...but also the travel time is a lot less.
i went to VI (st. thomas) about 10 years ago, and it really was no different than bahamas or caribbean-- so i'd just pick the least expensive option to get what you "need". hawaii is more "domestic", and bahamas, caribbean, and VI are definitely more tropical, but you pay for it to get there.
ETA: hawaii is what i would consider "domestic", but definitely still has good beaches still.
♥ bfp1 06/14/2011 ♥ edd 02/22/2012 ♥
♥ baby jennlin born on 02/15/2012 ♥
who says you can only wear your wedding dress once?
honeymoon bio ♥ married bio ♥ planning bio
jumped ship to the new and improved nest. back to TB for baby boards.
I've only been to HI, and I loved the beaches there. Maui was better than Oahu by a mile, but you just have to think about what you want island-wise. Oahu is more city-like (actually, it is very city-like), and Maui is more secluded and chill.
But that's just my thoughts.
BFP 1/22/12 | Ectopic pregnancy found 2/14/12 | Methotrexate to complete m/c 2/15/12
I've been to st. John, but liked Aruba and st, marten (Dutch side) better. It's not much farther.
Have you considered a Caribbean cruise?
Live really enjoyed new Orleans too, but if you're looking for a beach the Caribbean is a better place. I can't think of any beaches in Nola off the top of my head.
Or what about charleston, sc? It's a charming city and just under 2 hours from the Atlantic ocean. Myrtle beach is a great little beach town. I think most of the town opens up right around may.
I've been to both Charleston, SC and Myrtle beach since I lived in NC. They're both great, but we want to go somewhere new. I would live in Charleston if given the choice.
I haven't looked into a Carribean cruise. Every time I mention them, DH says he doesn't want to do that. I dunno what his deal is, lol.
Thanks for all your info! To answer your questions: I don't know when we'll go yet, but depending on when we go, it can be for a week or two. I'd like to go before May. I'm limited to the US for this vacation because DH doesn't want to go outside the US. He just "doesn't feel like it." *eyeroll* I'd love an AI, but I don't know much about them. I would love to go snorkeling, maybe cool sightseeing trips. I'd love to stay somewhere on a top floor where I can leave the windows open and fall asleep with the sound of the ocean and feel of sea breeze.
I would definitely be a travel agent (I spend nearly all my free time looking for and planning trips), but I agree that it's a dying industry.
This is the first year we haven't owed (I was a contract employee everywhere I worked except my last job, and the university never took out enough taxes when we worked on campus), so we're absolutely tickled!
Just right now I ran an airfare search on Kayak for SEA - KOA, which is the Big Island of Hawaii; I found airfare for $481 (on American, connecting in LAX - only problem is there's a red-eye on the way home which kind of sucks) per person round trip putting in random dates of 5/5 to 5/13, which would be a full week. They have lots of hotel rooms that can be booked for <$200 a night, some as low as $112ish, and there's tons to do on the Big Island (snorkeling with the dolphins and doing a night snorkel with the manta rays, driving to Hilo to check out the volcano, hiking to the green sand / black sand beaches, or just plopping yourself down on a normal beach). So, that trip, for a week, would be roughly $2,500 + rental car and incidentals. Not sure how that compares to what you were thinking of spending, but it gives you a starting point.
There are tons of great islands in the Caribbean if DH was willing to do that - I've been to Jamaica, the Bahamas, the Caymans, Aruba, USVI, BVI, Barbados, Martinique, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic - all have their pluses and minuses, but I think doing a cruise could be a good option for you if DH would consider that (I'd recommend one that hits Ocho Rios, Jamaica and Grand Cayman as those are my two favorite spots in the Caribbean - it would likely be paired with a stop in Cozumel, which is nice, and possibly in Roatan, Honduras). You could get an ocean view room with balcony and all your food is included (but drinks are extra).
You could also consider the Florida Keys... just other places in the US to think about.
Also, as an aside, any can't miss restaurants or sights in Charleston (since you said you're familiar with the area)? DH and I are going out there in May to check out Kiawah Island and spend a few days in Charleston and I am super-excited, so if there's anything you think we need to do, do let me know.
Let me know more of what your budget is and I'll play around with some other options tonight.
Also, I know you said you want to go before May, but if you have the flexibility in your schedule, I'd probably think about going early May if I were you. Traveling in April, what with Easter (which actually can drive up prices) and spring break, means that you'll find places more crowded and more expensive. Early May means you'll get better deals and have fewer people around, and for most places the weather will still be fine (hurricane season doesn't kick in until June usually).
i think cruises are a REALLY good option if you don't have somewhere specific in mind. cruises are pretty dirt cheap for the amount of activities/food you get with them.
♥ bfp1 06/14/2011 ♥ edd 02/22/2012 ♥
♥ baby jennlin born on 02/15/2012 ♥
who says you can only wear your wedding dress once?
honeymoon bio ♥ married bio ♥ planning bio
jumped ship to the new and improved nest. back to TB for baby boards.