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As some of you may have noticed, I have not had a vacation in over 4 years. I am in the process of planning a month long summer vacation now.
I'm boarding the dogs at a nice ranch, will have family check in on them every other day, and I'm off to some place relaxing.
I'm mainly interested in an all-inclusive adults only resort that has on-site or nearby dining, massage services, excursions and etc. I am thinking somewhere in the Caribbean.
If anyone has specific suggestions feel free to let me know. I haven't decided on a timetable yet. I'll either try to get it done before our 4-year anniversary in June, or right after. June is a very busy month so I'll have to be here, but otherwise I think I can host a few webinars from the beach while I'm away.
A daughter & significant other rented a place in Dominican Republic for a month or so a few years ago and loved it. If so inclined it probably beats the resort scene.
I've visited Aruba several times on business and liked it. However the island is only 14 miles long and after a week or 2 found it can get confining unless you visit the other islands or the mainland (Columbia).
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My first thought was to rent a nice beach house. But then I decided that is better for families or a group of friends going with lots of activities. I really don't want to go buy groceries, or drive some place to get dinner. What I would rather have is a resort type atmosphere where everyone caters to me, I can eat, drink, have laundry services, massages at the spa, and etc all on location. Then do some sightseeing in between with tours or excursions arranged by the hotel.
Mike, to stay in the carribean for a month is a torture.
After one week you will see it all...
My suggestion is to come to Miami first , and spend a few weeks here before hitting any Island.
Collins Ave/Washington Ave/ Lincoln Rd......will give you everything you are looking for.
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I've been to Miami, Daytona, Key West. Looking for something new. My goal for this vacation is to really do very little except be by the pool, get tanned, drunk and laid. So I don't need a lot of activities to keep me content, what I need is a true vacation to simply relax and do nothing.
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Unfortunately, that isn't realistic. I'm a single person business, I have responsibilities to the site and have to be available at least once a day by email to take care of people. But trust me, it will be minimal
A trip to Eurasia will come a bit later, I think I have a few friends I could possibly stay with on the forum in several countries
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I'm figuring somewhere around $1,500 to $2,000 in dog boarding, another 2k in air travel, and 5-8k in hotel costs already That's my max budget, hopefully I will do it for half that or even less. But the goal is to be buzzed 24/7, so get ready for some fun webinars...
They are near , clubs, spas, restaurants, etc
Mike, I am TRYING to find an excuse to get out of the house and your are not helping..."I have a friend BIG MIKE..."LOL
Where ever you choose I wish you nothing but a relaxing time.
M
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I considered that, but in my experience it would be mostly older adults as usually young adults can't afford to do such things or be off work that long. I would rather not be surrounded by seniors.
If you have a particular cruise in mind where you think it is young adults let me know please.
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There don't appear to be many all inclusive resorts in Hawaii, eh @Private Banker? I don't want a romantic getaway or even an action packed one, so perhaps Hawaii isn't the right choice this time anyway.
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The wonder of Google search You will be surprised. A thirty-some years old friend girl went on one of those cruises. The ratio of females to males was astonishing high and she could not even compete. There were many groups of young girls that were there just for fun. Although, it was not a thirty days cruise. true story..
If all fails, you can still get a penthouse and all amenities very reasonably in Vegas. Best food, drinks, pools, and fun loving girls. Plus, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.
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Thanks. I've done the Vegas thing, not really my idea of a relaxing vacation.
I can see 7-day and 14-day being younger crowds but when you go to the transatlantic crusies that are >20-30 days, I would think they are majority retired adults.
I will talk to a travel agent, I love to cruise...
I'd never post an idea that I have not actually done myself. There is a place at Jost Van Dyke in the B.V.I. called the Soggy Dollar Bar. The host resort is called Sandcastle.
The sailing in this part of the world and the "eco" stuff is amazing.
You could live on boat, land or any combination and never have the same view...or have the same view for the entire month. There are opportunities for a conservative yet laid back dinner at (even by NYC standards) fantastic restaurants or you can catch and cook you own lobster. There are areas where the party rages (meaning shots served off 8 foot surf boards bikini tops flying) or other places where you might see and share a casual drink with CEO types.
Someone mentioned Necker Island. I did meet and play the tree ring game with Richard Branson and his guests at the Soggy Dollar for the better part of an afternoon. The young woman was a pop star that was renting Neckar. Nobody exchanged names, just laughs and trips to the bar.
The "sights" as that may go are certainly available as well, especially if you can find your shoes and get to the shopping areas on the US side.
On the other hand if exclusivity and refined is your key you could consider Turtle Island in Fiji.
It is absolutely over the top and would be incredible if you prefer quite solitude. It is on the expensive side and may be better destination for a byo "sights". The locals will treat you like family. Never imagines such a beautiful place.
#1 rec would be JVD and the "Virgins" alternating between land stays and sailing.
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Except for the cold I got the instant I stepped off the plane into 111 degree dry heat and all my body fluids evaporated. Ears popped on the return flight as soon as the plane hit 30000 feet; took 2 weeks to unpop. Not to say someone who doesn't wear a parka 10 months of the year--non-Canadian, someone from Texas, say--will have the same problem.
Girls I met were friendly but so much fun loving as sympathetic
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Yeah, Hawaii is more of a couples/family destination nowadays. Back in the 80's and early '90's, it was a good place to go because the drinking age was still 18. If I were a single dude looking to relax and get away from it all but also looking for some ladies, I'd go where ever the Scandinavian ladies are going but that's just my personal preference. That would probably be somewhere in the Mediterranean? Maybe someone on the forum would know better who is from up there. Not sure if there are any resorts like that though but I'd be surprised if there weren't.
Sounds awesome! Please keep us posted so that we may live vicariously .
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Punta Cana is nice but you would probably get bored after a week or so ... it caters mainly to couples and families. Spend a week in Punta Cana and then head up to Sosua - you will find everything you need there.
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Mike, if you want to consider something "off the wall", I'd consider Santorini in Greece. It's a bit of a PITA to get there but the level of relaxation and tranquility is so much better than any other place I've been anywhere in the world including island hopping trips in Fiji.
You will come back fully refreshed with really great memories. US resorts are nice but can be "same old same old".
You can rent a little house or room on the cliff face in downtown Fira with one of the best views in the world. Easy walk to get food etc.
I'm not sure about the women in Santorini but you could do a side trip to Mykonos which has a great night life and jaw dropping women sunbathing on the beach naked which is always a plus.
1 month stranded in the Caribbean, the French Polynesia etc. is the least relaxing thing I can ever imagine.
Cuba is a great place to be if you like diving/snorkeling. How about going to Europe? It's within your budget and not too much of a flight away.
I'd probably pick Mykonos (beach, pool, sea, plenty of attractive women who are there for their summer retreats, all the right conditions for a high win rate) in your position. I'd see if it's within your budget to rent a boat and move around the islands. Another possible way is to start out in Turkey (e.g. Bodrum) where it might be better to rent a boat. Elounda and Santorini are amazing, too.
I'd also recommend a circuit around Spain, e.g. San Sebastián, the Canary Islands (e.g. Tenerife, Gran Canaria) - lots of things to do on the islands, and plenty of women too.
Alternatively, Albufeira and Algarve in Portugal. I love the food in the Portugal, the place is cheap , and the women make good company.
Or Costa Smeralda, Sardinia, great balance of beautiful clear waters, white beaches and good resorts.
1 month is a long time, and you'll rack up a lot of points if you're staying with a hotel chain's loyalty program - if you haven't signed up for one already - and spending your vacation entirely on a matching credit card (e.g. Starwood AMEX, Hyatt Chase). The reward card programs all come with a first 3-month expenditure bonus, so you'll easily hit it if you're going on a vacation. Starwood has a great selection of resorts in Europe. Hyatt has pretty good ones in the Caribbean and one in South Africa. If you're in a typical place like Waikiki or Puerto Rico which has a lot of resorts lined up next to one another (e.g. Hilton, Sheraton, W) you could probably hop between 2 resorts on alternating days so you will rack up points really quick and not feel bad about not tipping the cleaners. If your planning is good, you can rack up enough points to recover $1,000~2000 in expenditure. (I do this every Christmas/New Year season, when you can arbitrage the points and rewards system.) If you do pick this route, let me know as I have some recommendations.
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I see. True, a cruise around the Caribbean would be nice, so long as you're not stranded on an island whose industry revolves around registering 5,000 companies in the space of 700 square feet, and charging $10 for a bottle of water.
I personally hate the Miami/SoBe area, although I've never been to Ft Lauderdale.
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Been looking at cruises. Leaning towards that now over a resort. Galveston is only a 4 hours away, I've driven it many times and there are a few choices for cruises out of that port as well.
I've been on Princess and Royal Caribbean so considering Carnival this time. Found this pretty fun passenger video of the Carnival Magic:
Big ship - 3700 passengers + 1500 crew, but from the other videos and pics I've seen it's manageable and not over crowded.
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If you mean Bruno Mars (?), that's the first time I've ever heard a song from him to my knowledge. It's a catchy song, the guy who made the youtube cruise video did a good job with it.
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Disney? No thanks. I'm trying to book during the school year to purposely miss all the kids.
I did find a nice 28 day transatlantic, but the problem is that once I arrive in Europe, it's no longer a vacation. It's work. I mean you are compelled to see the sites, take the tours, lots of running around so you can see everything. I want to do that, but not this trip - this trip I mainly want to do nothing.
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Yes, I've been to the private island before and it was very nice. I sailed on the Caribbean Princess for my honeymoon about 7 years ago.
I'm leaning towards the Carnival Magic out of Galveston for now, since I want to try Carnival having sailed Royal Caribbean and Princess previously but never Carnival.
@Big Mike...if the vessel is under power, can you really call it a "sail"?. That said...you call it any damn thing you want and enjoy the hell out of it. DB
I would say do the Yucatan peninsula again, but this time go a little bit more South. Playa del Carmen is more European style (compared to Cancun), there are all inclusive huge resorts around it, and if you are fed up with the masses, you can go South of Tulum, they have lots of very small butique hotels there. Try the cenotes for snorkeling.
If you go in May, it is less hot and kids are still in school... 3-4 weeks is too long pretty much anywhere in the Caribbean but around Playa, there are plenty things to do...
We were at a resort in schooltime, it was only occupied I would say 30% or less, mostly adults, we loved it...
What the hell? I click on the link looking for the nude girls sunbathing on the beach and I see room quotes?
Come on Brother, I know you clicked some pics. You can send them to me via PM
If you always do what you have always done you will always get what you have always gotten.
Celebrate because you executed your edge. Not because you won.
We took a Sandals trip to Emerald Bay.
They have a butler service in addition to all the typical.
If you have not chosen yet, You may want to take a look.
If you always do what you have always done you will always get what you have always gotten.
Celebrate because you executed your edge. Not because you won.
Cuba on an all inclusive in Veradero.
People of all ages and from all over the world. Hardly any children and the children that were there kept mostly to the children's pool. A day trip to Havana to see the Cuba as it was in 1950's. Great food in Havana. You can rent a car and get a driver/tour guide for an additional $2/day. We had a driver whose English was not very good, so we asked for another and he was wonderful. An Eddy Murray look alike. Internet available. Food at the all inclusive is just OK. Beaches are just about the best in the world. Snorkeling, skuba diving, catamaran.
Used to be illegal for Americans to visit Cuba, but you just ask that your passport not be stamped.
Highly recommend having a driver take you to Trinidad where the Cuban music is everywhere. Can stay at a Pension where lobster dinner and breakfast is included. Remember to bring your passport to the Pension. Lots of single women go to Veradero. Dancing in the dance halls at Veradero on the weekend with Salsa competitions. Not for a month, but for maybe 10 days.
I wouldn't spend all my days at the all inclusive but certainly you need a good rest and this might be just the ticket for you.
Mike - all the islands are the same. Narrow your list to the ones that have nonstop service from DFW (i think you are dallas?). Then pick a resort - the all inclusives are all relatively the same - decent food, good beaches, great drinks, cool activities.
Sandals are great if you are going with a significant other AND diving is included. if you dont dive, you should and you can get certified there. Best diving/snorkling islands are Turks and Cayman (no all inclusive resorts really).
I think the best Sandals resort is the newest one on St. Lucia on the spit of land between the ocean and the carribbean.
If you are going solo and not looking to remain that way - go to Hedonism....
I highly recommend getting yourself some kids and going to Beaches at Turks.
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Just a note that I will be on vacation for the next few weeks. Back to back cruises in the Caribbean. I'll share pics once I return. I leave in a few days...
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I'm back
In catch up mode for now, but have some amazing pictures and maybe some videos to share (depending how much time I have).
The views were amazing, ship was amazing, crew was amazing, shows amazing, pools amazing, and I enjoyed the ports (even though I had been to three of them before).
The food was also fantastic and even though I was eating and drinking all day, I still managed to lose 5 pounds due to all the activity.
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Sail day
Early in the day I was at pool and emergency sounded with "Oscar! Oscar! Oscar!" repeated multiple times.
The ship came to an emergency all stop and started to turn around. I was on the starboard side and was watching as a flare was shot to mark a position in the water, and later learned it was believed to be a man overboard.
The whole thing was quite remarkable, how fast everything happened, how fast the ship of this size stopped and turned, etc. I also learned from talking to the crew there are sophisticated cameras that monitor motion to detect anything (person) going overboard.
It turned out to be that someone had thrown some sort of funeral earn over from their balcony and set off the alarms. The whole thing delayed us about an hour, captain increased speed to make up the time. BTW this ship avg cruising speed is 24 knots, quite impressive given it's size.
If you look real close at pic 4580 closely it shows the flare in the water and our wake turning.
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St Thomas, took a catamaran to St John for most of day.
Unfortunately, due to the government shutdown, I couldn't visit the 8 national parks which I had previously booked with a guide. I had seen St Thomas already on a previous cruise.
That's my max budget, hopefully I will do it for half that or even less. But the goal is to be buzzed 24/7, so get ready for some fun webinars...
very reasonably in Vegas. Best food, drinks, pools, and fun loving girls. Plus, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.
