Help me pick a place to go for Christmas

DSJ said: CPAESQ said: I'm looking for some ideas on where would be a good place to go for Christmas. We don't have any kids and before we get "tied down" we were thinking it would be fun to head somewhere different for Christmas.

We were thinking about Disney World (people say it is beautiful down there).

You have no kids but you're considering vacationing with hordes of other people's kids??

BTW the only things remotely beautiful in/around WDW are the golf courses.

Well we are able to take advantage of the "single rider" line at the rides.

So do you have any other suggestions? or just criticisim?

Disney doesn't usually use single rider lines. Not their style. I think the only one they have it on is everest.

I hear Cleveland is pretty in December.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysmLA5TqbIY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZzgAjjuqZM

I was just down there 2 weeks ago - so we did all the rides... we would mostly just be walking around, fast pass the rides we realy like (Soaring, space mtn (if it is open), toy story, etc.)

The single rider is on rockin roller coaster (MGM), Test track (epcot), Everest (animal kingdom).. IMHO these are all good rides.

Where in Arizona or New Mexico are good places to go?

My Budget is flexible... I would spend 2-3K.

www.Travelzoo.com

www.cheapcarribean.com

Local travel agent in the phone book

Santa Fe, NM is really nice at Christmas. Do you ski? If not, it is still really pretty and most nicehotels have kiva fireplaces in the room, good for snuggling. If you can afford it, I reccommend Inn of the Five Graces. If you can't afford that, Inn of The Governors is OK.

I wouldn't recommend Nevis in particular for you - you probably want a place that is lively and with a lot of things to do. There are other places in the Caribbean that offer that, however. Nevis was very quiet, VERY.

Maybe you could go to St. John, which is American territory, and lovely. Not too lively, in my experience, but comfortable because it's American, takes dollars, speaks American English, drives on the right, but still has a different culture, climate, gorgeous nature, etc.

You could also take a cruise -- from Puerto Rico, say -- that visits many of the different islands while it glides around the ocean proffering feasts, entertainment, shuffleboard, paper umbrellas in cocktails (at least I remember that's how it was on The Love Boat tv show!

I happened to see in an article on a British newspaper website just now that one such 4-day cruise around the Caribbean from Puerto Rico that they had looked into costs about $600. When you consider that it's your room and board and transportation all rolled into one, that's not bad. I know nothing about cruises, but there seems to be lots of info around, including here on the travel discussion forum.

I obviously don't know you at all, but if you and your partner are young, energetic, thinking soon about trying for kids, and want to broaden your horizons, if I were you I wouldn't stick to the tried and true, I wouldn't go to Disney or the Grand Canyon or whatever - you'll be doing that the rest of your lives with the kids and grandkids -- I'd do something unique and requiring a bit of gumption and exploration.

You could take advantage of the NYC location (in terms of airports, flight routes, etc.) and head to Europe, maybe 4 days in London or Paris or Barcelona or Rome... yes, even at Christmas. (The jet lag and the fast-paced nature of a 4-day getaway might be a pain, but you are young, and it would probably be okay.) I spent Cmas in Paris once, and it was cold and even snowy, but still lovely. In making those plans, though, you have to make sure you can get around though, and get fed (usually the hotel will offer some kind of eating arrangements) -- many places in Europe pretty much close during Christmas so you can't rely on many restaurants and things being open that would usually be open, and public transportation often is shut on Christmas day and the day after. But if you are in a good location in a big European city, you can walk to many spots and even seeing the outside of famous buildings is pretty neat. There are also some things going on, even on the one or two days when most things are shut. In London on Cmas day there are always guided tourist walks and carol singing and many church services and other things to do, even if you have to walk or take a taxi (double-priced and hard to find on this kind of major holiday) to get to the activities, instead of taking public transportation.

Forget the Epcot schmepcot plastic recreations of disneyfied foreign locations (conveniently with exit always through the gift shop), go to the real deal and soak it in while you can.

i'd have to say the most beautiful place you can be for Christmas is in church and or with the family....don't forget what the holiday is about.

sarowraith said: ...don't forget what the holiday is about.Over-eating and watching bowl games?

mrredskin said: a random cruise to the carribean

I like to pick my itineraries based on the weather and local activities...not a crap shoot.

Leaving the border of the US isn't actually that complicated or time-consuming - one could visit Canada or Mexico on a daytrip, depending on where one started from.

I suppose one has to be energetic - and remember the passport and deal with an immigration checkpoint, but other than that, it's not much trouble to leave the US and go to another country, especially if it's within a couple hundred miles from the US.

The amount of travel time involved in going from New York to a Puerto Rico cruise ship dock is no different than going from New York to the Grand Canyon. (Or going from Peoria, IL to Fort Wayne, IN in my experience...)

followsportsdiscount said: 4 nights long enough for a overseas travel

sarowraith said: i'd have to say the most beautiful place you can be for Christmas is in church and or with the family....don't forget what the holiday is about.

Agreed. Tough crowd, but you've gotta remember FW is disproportionately full of bitter divorcees and guys who have a different definition of "virgin miracle"

Just stirring the pot--sometimes I forget the tone in the various subforums isn't the same as in Hot Deals or Finance.

I didn't exactly visit any Military cemeteries for Veteran's Day, so I don't always practice what I preach (nor do most of us).

easy choice. vegas.

far from northeast
adult stuff to do...and also rides at nyny hotel and stratosphere
great shows
cheap this time of year

try random dates on 0rbitz Exped1a, etc and pick a city in Europe... Germany right before Xmas has the winter markets which are sight to be seen... but be careful, Central and Eastern Europe can be really cold... so bring a coat... other cool places... Barcelona, been there three times this year, always a blast... Madrid is also Beautiful... Paris is nice and romantic... plus taking your SO over the pond for the weekend will definitely get bonus points...

Christmas is Disney's busiest time, even busier than the summer. Gatlinburg/Smokies area is one of my favorite places, but also way too crowded at Christmas.

So where should you go? Vieques, PR. Look into it - you'll thank me later. But you need to start booking soon - finding a room, and especially a car, could be tough with only a month to go. That doesn't mean it'll be crowded, it just means that it's a small island, and they only have so many.

If there's any possible chance, stay at Hector's by the Sea. Best place on the island. But once again, you may not have a choice if you don't act quickly.