Vacation Plans

[hlmr]

Just curious what types of vacations PS''ers have planned for the summer. Do you generally stay at home and relax, go visit relatives, camp, or fly off to a new destination each year?

We already had our family vacation in June..... flew to Alberta and spent time there and then drove through to British Columbia and visited with my two sisters. Both of my sisters love to go camping, and the youngest one will bicycle very long distances between camp sites.

Also, do you like to take two weeks or more at a time, or split your vacation time up throughout the year?

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

The older my son gets, the more difficult I find it to "take off" during the school year, and must rely on designated school breaks. So I find our holiday schedule has become more "regimented" as we have to plan well in advance to travel during Chirstmas, Easter and Spring breaks......booking can be tough if you do not like to plan.....and their is much less spontaneity....

We usually travel Internationally; that said, last year we went to southern BC in the summer,and revisited some of the "holidays" of our youth (except for all the wineries!). Stayed two weeks, together; having already spent a week in the early new year in the Mayan Riveria.

cheers--Sharon

 

[hlmr]

Date: 7/24/2006 10:06:27 PM
Author: canuk-gal
HI:

The older my son gets, the more difficult I find it to ''take off'' during the school year, and must rely on designated school breaks. So I find our holiday schedule has become more ''regimented'' as we have to plan well in advance to travel during Chirstmas, Easter and Spring breaks......booking can be tough if you do not like to plan.....and their is much less spontaneity....

We usually travel Internationally; that said, last year we went to southern BC in the summer,and revisited some of the ''holidays'' of our youth (except for all the wineries!). Stayed two weeks, together; having already spent a week in the early new year in the Mayan Riveria.

cheers--Sharon

Where did you stay in the Mayan, Sharon, and would you recommend it?

 

[ephemery1]

This is a low-key summer for me, vacation-wise... in May, my family and fiance''s family stayed in Hilton Head for a week (golfing for the guys, beach for the girls... but unfortunately the weather wasn''t great

) Other than that, I''m spending a week in Rehoboth at my parents'' beach house the first week of August... and it couldn''t come soon enough!! My Rehoboth schedule is usually lounge on the beach, boardwalk for lunch, lounge on the beach some more, nice dinner out, boardwalk for a snack later... then to bed, just to wake up and do it all over again... ahhhhh.

With some shopping thrown in too, of course!

Any other Delaware beach people here?

 

[portoar]

This year we are going to Toronto for vacation. In August. We are going to scout out neighborhoods. Other than that we are buying a car so no more trips for us . . .

 

[KristyDarling]

Now that we have kids we don''t have "real" vacations anymore. We might take a 3-day weekend locally here or there, but subjecting the kids (ages 1 and 3) to a long flight is just not a great idea since everyone suffers, including our fellow passengers. That said, we just booked a 1 week vacation in San Diego for August. A 1.5 hour flight shouldn''t be too bad and we want to be near the beach and other kiddie-friendly attractions, like SeaWorld and LegoLand.

If we didn''t have kids, DH ad I would probably take 1 week off in the spring and 1 week off in the winter and jet off to somewhere warm, or somewhere historically interesting. I''ve always wanted to go to Spain and Greece.

 

[hlmr]

Date: 7/25/2006 12:22:22 AM
Author: KristyDarling
Now that we have kids we don''t have ''real'' vacations anymore. We might take a 3-day weekend locally here or there, but subjecting the kids (ages 1 and 3) to a long flight is just not a great idea since everyone suffers, including our fellow passengers. That said, we just booked a 1 week vacation in San Diego for August. A 1.5 hour flight shouldn''t be too bad and we want to be near the beach and other kiddie-friendly attractions, like SeaWorld and LegoLand.

If we didn''t have kids, DH ad I would probably take 1 week off in the spring and 1 week off in the winter and jet off to somewhere warm, or somewhere historically interesting. I''ve always wanted to go to Spain and Greece.

Me too KD, and someday my DH and I will get there!!!

 

[canuk-gal]

Date: 7/24/2006 11:42:40 PM
Author: hlmr

Date: 7/24/2006 10:06:27 PM
Author: canuk-gal
having already spent a week in the early new year in the Mayan Riveria.

cheers--Sharon

Where did you stay in the Mayan, Sharon, and would you recommend it?

HI:

At the Iberostar Paraiso Maya. Fab. resort. All rooms Jr. suites and seemingly no expense spared in construction--rooms all marble and large......there are several of their resorts all linked together, and the Maya the newest. Great food and so much variety, wave pool--we really enjoyed it and I recommend it.

cheers--Sharon

 

[Mara]

we had hoped to go to europe this year but in terms of cost and timeframe, we don''t feel like spending that much this fall and also we''d rather go in a warmer timeframe than late october. so it may be put off again...we''ve put it off a few years now. we are going to palm springs for some resort life and pampering in august which we can''t WAIT for...we are so excited..that is our real vacation this summer...but we may go to Puerto Vallarta in late october instead of europe, we had some friends who went and stayed at the Westin and LOVED it and it was a very nice affordable price through Expedia as well. so that could be an option for something not too spendy for fall-ish.

at least once a year we visit greg''s family at some point...they are scattered all over and last year we went to Florida twice for family visits. this year we are thinking of going over for after Xmas like we have in the past, for new years, and possibly taking my youngest sister with us and visiting NYC so she can see it for the first time. so we may do that in end of Dec.

next year we are planning on going back to Hawaii and Tahiti for our 3year anniversary for 2 weeks (one week in each spot)...so hopefully we can make that happen. and maybe europe too. or that may be pushing it. but i don''t have any upgrades planned for the next EIGHT YEARS, so the sky is the limit! hehe.

 

[hlmr]

Date: 7/25/2006 3:32:36 PM
Author: canuk-gal

Date: 7/24/2006 11:42:40 PM
Author: hlmr

Date: 7/24/2006 10:06:27 PM
Author: canuk-gal
having already spent a week in the early new year in the Mayan Riveria.

cheers--Sharon

Where did you stay in the Mayan, Sharon, and would you recommend it?

HI:

At the Iberostar Paraiso Maya. Fab. resort. All rooms Jr. suites and seemingly no expense spared in construction--rooms all marble and large......there are several of their resorts all linked together, and the Maya the newest. Great food and so much variety, wave pool--we really enjoyed it and I recommend it.

cheers--Sharon

Sounds great Sharon!! I love Mexico and the newer resorts in the Mayan are spectacular!! The food is the best too!

 

[hlmr]

Date: 7/25/2006 4:09:46 PM
Author: Mara
we had hoped to go to europe this year but in terms of cost and timeframe, we don''t feel like spending that much this fall and also we''d rather go in a warmer timeframe than late october. so it may be put off again...we''ve put it off a few years now. we are going to palm springs for some resort life and pampering in august which we can''t WAIT for...we are so excited..that is our real vacation this summer...but we may go to Puerto Vallarta in late october instead of europe, we had some friends who went and stayed at the Westin and LOVED it and it was a very nice affordable price through Expedia as well. so that could be an option for something not too spendy for fall-ish.

at least once a year we visit greg''s family at some point...they are scattered all over and last year we went to Florida twice for family visits. this year we are thinking of going over for after Xmas like we have in the past, for new years, and possibly taking my youngest sister with us and visiting NYC so she can see it for the first time. so we may do that in end of Dec.

next year we are planning on going back to Hawaii and Tahiti for our 3year anniversary for 2 weeks (one week in each spot)...so hopefully we can make that happen. and maybe europe too. or that may be pushing it. but i don''t have any upgrades planned for the next EIGHT YEARS, so the sky is the limit! hehe.

Sounds like you have a lot of great plans lined up Mara! Palm Springs sounds awesome and that will be especially fun to go back to Hawaii and Tahiti for your 3rd anniversary!!!!! How long of a flight is it between the two?

That would be nice to take your sister to New York!! I keep threatening to go to NYC and it keeps getting postponed.....perhaps this fall we will make it happen. It is only about a 7-8 hour drive from where we live.....so close yet so far!

With no upgrades for eight years you will be jetting off to Europe in no time. There are so many fabulous countries to visit there..... if only time and money were no object! I think Italy will be our first stop but I''d love to go to just about every country for a visit.

 

[Mara]

i know heather, we want to do a lot more traveling than we have in the past, especially if we decide to have kids in the next 2-3 years, we want to get kind of the whole ''us us us'' thing out of our system a bit. we both have a bunch of places in europe we''d love to visit...so we''ll see. i also would love to go to the carribbean at some point as well. we joked around about how cool it would be if we could go from tahiti to fiji next year and make it hawaii, tahiti, fiji for 3 weeks...woo hoo. doubt that''ll happen though unfortunately, too much time away and too expensive!! in terms of flights, from CA to hawaii it''s 5 hours and then from hawaii to tahiti it''s 5 hours. so it''s cool to break them up by doing the 1 week in each. we both loved hawaii and tahiti so we have been thinking about going back since the moment we left! but the flight back is BRUTAL because you have to stop and have layovers, and last time it took us something like 15 hours of flying and layovers to get home. nightmare. so we may try to plan that more smartly next year.

 

[ammayernyc]

I''m super excited for our summer trip!

We''re leaving next week for a 10 day Europe trip -- Prague, Vienna & Salzburg. It''s Mozart''s 250th Birthday and there''s a big festival every year and this year it will be super big. I can''t wait!

 

[canuk-gal]

Date: 7/25/2006 5:45:15 PM
Author: AmandaPanda
I''m super excited for our summer trip!

We''re leaving next week for a 10 day Europe trip -- Prague, Vienna & Salzburg. It''s Mozart''s 250th Birthday and there''s a big festival every year and this year it will be super big. I can''t wait!

Hi:

WOW! Sound like fun!! Always wanted to go to Vienna......

cheers--Sharon

 

[Mara]

Will I fit in your suitcase, AP?

 

[ammayernyc]

Date: 7/25/2006 5:47:51 PM
Author: canuk-gal

Date: 7/25/2006 5:45:15 PM
Author: AmandaPanda
I''m super excited for our summer trip!

We''re leaving next week for a 10 day Europe trip -- Prague, Vienna & Salzburg. It''s Mozart''s 250th Birthday and there''s a big festival every year and this year it will be super big. I can''t wait!

Hi:

WOW! Sound like fun!! Always wanted to go to Vienna......

cheers--Sharon

I was there about 15 years ago. I can''t say that I remember so much. Although, that is where my father is from, so I''m excited to go back and see all of that again!

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

Heather, do you have family in Italy?

P.S. KristyDarling: My husbands colleague just returned from Spain--was there for the running of the bulls. She emailed the most wild pictures; vacationers lying on grassy parts of the street on the main roads--sleeping it "off" from the festivites, and I was told that these folks were "hosed" down daily by the city to keep them clean/decrease the smell.....so you might want to avoid this time of year for a vacation!!!

cheers--Sharon

 

[ammayernyc]

Date: 7/25/2006 5:52:23 PM
Author: Mara
Will I fit in your suitcase, AP?

I just bought a new one, so it might work! You have to bring your precious puppy though!

 

[Mara]

Date: 7/25/2006 5:54:22 PM
Author: AmandaPanda

Date: 7/25/2006 5:52:23 PM
Author: Mara
Will I fit in your suitcase, AP?

I just bought a new one, so it might work! You have to bring your precious puppy though!

LOL, well okay!

 

[TravelingGal]

Getting into a relationship really put a damper on my traveling style! I used to come off one trip and plan another, taking a couple weeks at a time and wandering around by myself. Now all vacation days will be spent on wedding or going back to Australia to visit his family.

We need to vacation more. Even this little mini getaway to Carmel was so wonderful for us. No honeymoon when we get married this year, which is a bummer.

So I''ll have to make do with local stuff. We may to go Palm Springs too, although now that the girls want to take me there before I get married, we''ll probably change it to something else. All I know is that our 2008 vacation is set...we are going back to Croatia!

 

[hlmr]

Date: 7/25/2006 5:45:15 PM
Author: AmandaPanda
I''m super excited for our summer trip!

We''re leaving next week for a 10 day Europe trip -- Prague, Vienna & Salzburg. It''s Mozart''s 250th Birthday and there''s a big festival every year and this year it will be super big. I can''t wait!

That sounds very exciting AP!! I hope you have a fabulous trip, and don''t forget to take lots of pix!

 

[hlmr]

Date: 7/25/2006 5:53:18 PM
Author: canuk-gal
HI:

Heather, do you have family in Italy?

My DH has some family in Italy and our son has never been there so we want to take him soon. We may coordinate a trip with some other family members and make it a real family affair!!!

 

[canuk-gal]

Date: 7/25/2006 6:25:52 PM
Author: hlmr

Date: 7/25/2006 5:53:18 PM
Author: canuk-gal
HI:
Heather, do you have family in Italy?

My DH has some family in Italy and our son has never been there so we want to take him soon. We may coordinate a trip with some other family members and make it a real family affair!!!

bella!

cheers--Sharon

 

[Sundial]

Date: 7/25/2006 5:45:15 PM
Author: AmandaPanda
I''m super excited for our summer trip!

We''re leaving next week for a 10 day Europe trip -- Prague, Vienna & Salzburg. It''s Mozart''s 250th Birthday and there''s a big festival every year and this year it will be super big. I can''t wait!

How exciting AP! Hope you have a wonderful time. Haven''t been to Prague or Vienna, but we adored Salzburg!!!

No big summer travel plans for us although we did go to Vegas back in June with another couple to celebrate our anniversary. Just waiting for my cruise to Japan and China in October that I discussed on another thread!

 

[ladykemma]

before i became a school teacher , i was basically a stay at home wife. during that time there was a lot of international travel courtesy of my hubby''s company. I was spoiled.

now i am restricted to standard school vacations and summers. when I priced tickets and hotel in england, i was surprised at how much money summer travel was. so I think i will wait until I have the opportunity to travel during the off season.

 

[bee*]

We normally go somewhere in Europe as we live in Ireland so its not that long a flight. This year we have no big holiday planned as we have already been to New York back in January and I was in Barcelona in May. We have also gone to the west of Ireland for our anniversary weekend and we are going on a long weekend to Paris in August. We are trying to save for our big holiday to New York next July so we have cancelled trips to Munich and Amsterdam for this year as it was working out a bit too expensive.

As for splitting up holidays, I think over here we get a bit more holidays than you do in the States-we get a month off all together, sometimes a couple of days more, so we usually go on a week to two week holiday in the summer, a couple of days after christmas somewhere and than just some random weekends and days off

 

[hlmr]

Hey TG - where is it in Croatia you will be going back to in 2008? My DH''s uncle is from Croatia...not sure where exactly.

 

[TravelingGal]

We will probably do some wine tasting in the region, but will head back to Hvar. Something about that island...everyone kept saying we would get married, and were already in love but didn''t know it. It was freaky! So we''ll go back once we''re married to let them know they were right about us.

I''d also love to see Dubrovnik again. I''ve been to Split already, and don''t feel compelled to go back there, although it was nice there too.

You should find out where he''s from, and find a way to get there! It''s a wonderful place and Americans are catching on fast!

 

[moremoremore]

It''s not for a while yet, but in march, we are going away! front runners are
Caneel Bay, Little Dix Bay, Parrot Kay, Bermuda or Hawaii...I''m very excited!!!

 

[hlmr]

It sounds like a great place to go back to TG, with all of those wonderful vibes and memories. I will ask and find out where exactly he is from, and try to incorporate it into our next trip to europe

Ladykemma - which countries were you able to visit? Travelling is always extra fun when someone else is paying for it!

Bee - Ireland is another country I REALLY want to visit someday. My ancestors were mostly from Scotland, one from England, and one from Ireland. I love Irish people - they know how to party and have a great time!