STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

member · Hermes

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brazilian · Dooney & Bourke

RE: Beach Vacation Recommendations

Hermes

I received some really good input when I asked a similar question a while back. We didn't end up going (yet) - here's the post:

http://stylethread.activeboard.com/forum.spark?forumID=44784&p=3&topicID=6895041

member · Hermes

D wrote:

I received some really good input when I asked a similar question a while back. We didn't end up going (yet) - here's the post:

http://stylethread.activeboard.com/forum.spark?forumID=44784&p=3&topicID=6895041

Thanks for the link D, but I'm thinking a lot of those places mentioned are probably out of our price range. We'd like a nice, tropical vacation, but nothing super expensive. We're fine w/doing an all-inclusive type vacation (which is why I mentioned Jamica & the Carribbean). Keep the suggestions coming!

halah · Kenneth Cole

What about Costa Rica? I've never been but heard lots of people rave about it. Looks like there are lots of fun things to do (jungle tours etc) and nice beaches!

I stayed at Superclubs grand lido braco years ago in Jamaica. It's nice BUT I sort of felt like I was on a cruise, all the excursions off the resort cost so much extra, I didn't like feeling stuck at the resort. Jamaica however was beautiful and we did the usual touristy stuff like Dunns river falls and duty-free shopping excursions.

Jahni · Dooney & Bourke

I recommend Seaside, FL. www.seasidefl.com

The weather may be a little too cool, but the scenery/environment totally makes up for it. It's just (at the risk of sounding Drew Barrymore-esque) magical...

member · Hermes

Jahni wrote:

I recommend Seaside, FL. www.seasidefl.com

The weather may be a little too cool, but the scenery/environment totally makes up for it. It's just (at the risk of sounding Drew Barrymore-esque) magical...

Thanks Jahni, but I should have mentioned - we want to go outside of the U.S

littlebean · Kate Spade

halah wrote:

What about Costa Rica? I've never been but heard lots of people rave about it. Looks like there are lots of fun things to do (jungle tours etc) and nice beaches!

I stayed at Superclubs grand lido braco years ago in Jamaica. It's nice BUT I sort of felt like I was on a cruise, all the excursions off the resort cost so much extra, I didn't like feeling stuck at the resort. Jamaica however was beautiful and we did the usual touristy stuff like Dunns river falls and duty-free shopping excursions.

Costa Rica is a great place to visit! Although Jamaica's beaches are beautiful, I don't think that there's a lot for tourists to do except for just stay in the all-inclusive resorts (not the least because of safety concerns). Although I know you mentioned the all-inclusive resorts are alright by you, I think that there's so much more to see in Costa Rica that makes it worth your while to leave the country! Great natural beauty there for day excursions.

Puerto Rico is pretty fun, too, and affordable.

e_doli · Dooney & Bourke

Ohhh, yes ... Costa Rica would be perfect. It is really inexpensive to stay/get around/eat there and the beaches are beautiful. there are a ton of places you can go where you can have gorgeous beach and then do jungle/wildlife/hiking/rafting, etc right there. when are you thinking of going and for how long? i have spent a lot of time in costa rica and would be happy to give you some recos for places to go, stay, eat, etc.

member · Hermes

e_doli wrote:

Ohhh, yes ... Costa Rica would be perfect. It is really inexpensive to stay/get around/eat there and the beaches are beautiful. there are a ton of places you can go where you can have gorgeous beach and then do jungle/wildlife/hiking/rafting, etc right there. when are you thinking of going and for how long? i have spent a lot of time in costa rica and would be happy to give you some recos for places to go, stay, eat, etc.

We're hoping to go as soon as Jan/Feb. Please give me your recommendations! Do you have any idea about how much $$ we're talking for 2 people to go for about a week? Thanks!

kahluamilk · Dooney & Bourke

I highly recommend Jamaica. We were there this past Aug and loved it. The beaches are beautiful. Did not stay in an all inclusive.. we wondered all over Negril, found some great hang outs and places to eat. We found it very safe. The people we talked to said Jan/Feb is the best time to go. Warm in the days, cool at nights.

jacks435 · Kenneth Cole

Just chiming in to add to the Puerto Rico recommendation! I went last year and really enjoyed it. You get the exoticism of a foreign country without many of the hassles (money exchange, passport, etc.), the beaches are stunning, and there's a gorgeous old city to wander around in San Juan. Old San Juan is like Europe with a major jolt of color and tropical flavor. Plus, you can take a day trip to El Yunque, the rainforest on the island, which is a lot of fun. Oh, and it's not that expensive. I highly recommend it :)

kittenheels · Coach

Belize has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. It's a bit rustic though, and I don't know how the resorts are...but some friends of ours did their honeymoon there and loved it!

Vanessa · Kate Spade

Late in the game, but I would also highly recommend Costa Rica. There are so many various things to do depending on your interests and it's really affordable! We used jetawayholidays (I wrote a review before on my vacation but I can't find the archive, sorry!) and I was very pleased with the accomodations they set up.
I'm also going to Miami this weekend for the holiday, then going on a cruise to Jamaica & the Cayman Islands. I can definitely give you more details after I get back if you're interested! Let me know :)
I've also been to Mexico a few times, & love to plan getaways, so let me know if you have any questions. HTH!

Aurora · Marc Jacobs

I've never been to CR but I hear it is beautiful as well. Just in case you don't have a passport the rules are changing Jan 1. Not sure if CR is included or who exactly is included but just a reminder to check on the website to see what documents you may or may not need for Jan/Feb.

My coworkers have all been going to the Dreams resorts out of puerto vallerta but I think they mentioned prices went up for 2007. Not sure $$ but might be worth looking into.

theotherjess · Chanel

Abaco, Bahamas is beautiful, chill, and not touristy.

mandajeanie · Nine West

I'm going to add my 2 cents! The boyfriend and I just went to Jamaica in late September and had an Amazing time. We went to an all-inclusive. We were totally there to relax and didn't have any real expectations of leaving the resort (for all the reasons mentioned above.) I know that seems sortof spoiled and American, and if we were going to Europe or something it would have been *Totally* different, but sitting on the beach like bums together was the whole reason we were there! heehe.

Anyhow, we went to Couples Swept Away. If you can get past the semi-cheesy name, it's actually one of the nicest all-inclusive adults-only chains. Not racy (like Hedonism) but not totally boring. And not nearly as cheesy as a Sandals (sorry if anyone has been and liked, I don't mean to offend in any way!) We live in New York and so have been to our share of really nice restaurants/etc. and this was totally better than we expected. Great food (seriously), great service, gorgeous, classy grounds.. (Sigh, can you tell I want to go back!??). And everything truly was all inclusive. Scuba, snorkeling, a catamaran cruise where you could go cliff-jumping, top-shelf drinks... I think I spent $50 all week, most of the in the airport there and back! (Obvi the rest was pre-paid). There was also flag service where they bring around flags at about 11 am and whenever you want a drink, you just pop your flag up. And bring fresh fruit and cold towels. Fabulous. I've never felt so spoiled in my life.

So check into it if that's the kind of thing you're looking for! We booked through Expedia and booked really far in advance to take advantage of a great deal (otherwise we couldn't have afforded it). You can tell I was really happy about it because I wrote a book, but if you want to know more just PM me!

HTH!

ILoveChoo · Hermes

I know you said no Mexico, but we did Tulum for our hoenymoos and LOVED it. It;s out of the way and quit, but beautiful. We;d go back in a heratbeat. We stayed at Dreams, which was all-inclusive but still practiclly empty...there were a few other nice lookign resorts around too.

-- Edited by ILoveChoo at 00:56, 2006-11-18

shopgirl · Kenneth Cole

dominican republic, where I am right now. (I love free wifi). Depending on your tolerance, there are many all inclusives, and luckily loads of other places in the northeast (Las Terrenas, Las Galeras) where you can get your own bungalow steps from the beach for just $30 a night. The US$ is still really strong and it is a quick flight. There is also an amazing rain forest, whale watching (in February) and el limon waterfall.

If you don't do the AI, you'll need a strong command of spanish -- or french -- to get by.

We get back to the States tomorrow night and if you're interested I can write more next week.

jacL · Coach

brazilian wrote:

Where in Mexico have you been? I've been to Cozumel and its so much prettier than places on the west coast. Also Grand Cayman Island is really pretty.

I have to second this suggestion. Yes, it is Mexico but it does meet your criteria of being in the Caribbean. BF and I did an all-inclusive a while back and it was a lot cheaper than a lot of other places in that area. The people were very nice and the island is really beautiful. It is pretty peaceful but it does have a small but fun nightlife--it is just not super crazy like Cancun. My favorite part of that vacation was renting a car and driving around the island and finding a deserted stretch of beach to hang out on all day and finding random bars and restaurants along the way. I also snorkled along both the Palancar and Columbia reefs--Cozumel has awesome snorkeling and/or diving. The island also has Mayan ruins, which sounds fun too!