Board suggestions for tropical family vacation in April
- Thread starter massimoManca II
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Water temps still too cold, even in April, to be enjoyable. Remember, it's on the Gulf side.
The Panhandle is great in April, unless you want to get "in the water".
Sorry...but I had to be "voice of experience".
LOL. That has me considering Bottom 5, a la Steve Harvey's Bottom 10 CFB ranking. A quick stab at it.
1. Aleppo
2. Mosul
3. Pyongyang
4. Sana'a
5. Kabul
Hey, I assume I was invited, would not put you into any situation where Amy couldn't protect the both of us!
Yeah we did that. Took a tour of St Barts and got to see the homes of the rich and famous including Michael J Fox's. Actually one of the funner things we did at St Maarten was chill out with brews and snacks on a 70' catamaran. A woman who worked on the boat said she had moved there from upstate NY and would never go back.
Hawaii is beautiful, but it takes you a week to get accustomed to being there due to the time zones (why do we even need time zones?!?!). Plus you are a captive audience there, and they nickel and dime you for everything.
If you are looking to save money, consider Miami. Beautiful beaches, nice weather, cheap flights, excellent dining and night life. You could also rent a car and do the amazing drive to key west... and when you get there and see everything key west has to offer in 30 minutes, drive back to Miami.
If you are looking to save money, consider Miami. Beautiful beaches, nice weather, cheap flights, excellent dining and night life. You could also rent a car and do the amazing drive to key west... and when you get there and see everything key west has to offer in 30 minutes, drive back to Miami.
Costa Rica...very affordable...you can stay near Arenal for 2-3 days and drive to Tamarindo to stay 2-4 days at the beach...I went last year with my girlfriend. We are meeting my sister's family and taking our kids after Christmas this year.
Stayed at Tabacon Thermal Resort & Spa in Arenal.
Stayed at Tamarindo Diria Beach Resort in Tamarindo.
We are staying in condos on Diria's property in Dec/Jan. You can find them on VRBO.
Stayed at Tabacon Thermal Resort & Spa in Arenal.
Stayed at Tamarindo Diria Beach Resort in Tamarindo.
We are staying in condos on Diria's property in Dec/Jan. You can find them on VRBO.
From the way you describe your sons, you might like Paradise Island. We rented a house there and went on several fun day trips like taking a speed boat to go snorkeling. Marco Island, FL is nice if you want to stay in the US. We liked T&C a lot. Not as many youth activities, but nice. I also suggest St. Thomas. While I like St. Maarten and St. Barts, I don't think they are for younger people as much. St. Barts is also very expensive. Really pretty and some nice beaches, but very expensive.
If you are looking for a relatively inexpensive vacation with tons of brand new all inclusive resorts and gorgeous beaches, I'd recommend Dominican Republic.
I've been to pretty much every Caribbean island and you can't go wrong with any of them really, they can get a little pricey depending on the island however. We honeymooned on Antigua and it was amazing.
We also went to Costa Rica last year and absolutely loved it. Really lush and tropical with tons to do. Of course it didn't hurt that we were staying at the 4 seasons and everything was free!!
I've been to pretty much every Caribbean island and you can't go wrong with any of them really, they can get a little pricey depending on the island however. We honeymooned on Antigua and it was amazing.
We also went to Costa Rica last year and absolutely loved it. Really lush and tropical with tons to do. Of course it didn't hurt that we were staying at the 4 seasons and everything was free!!
I meant to mention Punta Cana in my post as well. Definitely less expensive than a few of the other places mentioned.
Costa Rica is on our list. We were going to go this past fall, but got too tied up.
I definitely think costa rica is the ticket with kids.
I assume this trip coincides with Spring Break from school, which is gonna kill you on airfare. Costs would be much less if you can swing it in June, just a thought. But what's a couple extra grand for what this experience means to your family
You won't regret it. The country is beautiful and the locals are incredibly friendly and helpful.
We were on my wife's 'presidents club' trip so our days were somewhat regimented (she had a couple work meetings and we had some banquets to attend) but we were still able to go zip lining, took out a catamaran, snorkeled, hiked and hit the beaches. We saw tons of wildlife (monkeys galore!) and some of the most lush and beautiful landscapes you could imagine.
I agree with Costa Rica, but the only caveat I would make is that if you plan on doing different things, better leave the driving to others. When I went, I stayed in San Jose, and then took day trips to different excursions including beach, Arenal/Tabacon (my favorite place in the world), jungle trip/zip lining and white water rafting.
You can stay at the Adam's Mark or similar hotel and have a great time doing different things and then coming back to your really nice hotel.
Everyone I know who has gone to CR has really enjoyed it. I would recommend looking into a travel/tour company that will arrange things for you, from pick up at the airport, hotel arrangements, tours and return to the airport.
As far as costs - I think you have one thing working against you - you live in/near Rochester, NY. Travel from the smaller airports is going to add to your travel costs. If you lived near a major airport, it would ostensibly be less expensive.
You can stay at the Adam's Mark or similar hotel and have a great time doing different things and then coming back to your really nice hotel.
Everyone I know who has gone to CR has really enjoyed it. I would recommend looking into a travel/tour company that will arrange things for you, from pick up at the airport, hotel arrangements, tours and return to the airport.
As far as costs - I think you have one thing working against you - you live in/near Rochester, NY. Travel from the smaller airports is going to add to your travel costs. If you lived near a major airport, it would ostensibly be less expensive.
We just got back from Jamaica, but have been multiple places in the Carribean. We love the all-inclusives. Snorkeling is a favorite activity and we pick resorts with good off the beach snorkeling. Our favorite area is Riviera Maya south of Cancun. To get off the beach snorkeling, you have to go south of Playa Del Carmen. Our favorites are the Barceló, which is a huge resort with plenty to do and excellent restaurants and good snorkeling and Akumal Bay Beach resort. Akumal Bay is much smaller and not as good as the Barceló in some ways, but has a great beach and absolutely great snorkeling. Both are reasonably priced and we can get direct flights from Pittsburgh to Cancun. The bus ride from the airport is a little over an hour. Go through Apple Vacations or Vacation Express.
Went to Anguilla in November, some of the most beautiful beaches I have ever been on. The islanders were also great. A little expensive but if you do your homework, you can cut costs.
Appreciate comments like this - all (okay, most) of your comments - keep'm coming cuz I am reading/processing them...
St John is a wonderful island...US Virgin Island so uses US dollar, english speaking, etc.
generally easy flights into St Thomas and then a short ferry to St John.
Good size island, but feels small b/c 2/3 is national park. 1/3 is developed and the town is pretty compact and convenient. The NP is hilly and wooded and provides a lot of great trail hiking with sugar plantation ruins, wildlife, etc. The NPS does a couple guided tours which are cool and then there are maps for other hiking. Beautiful water. Great beaches. Snorkeling off the beach in many locations which will satisfy novices. One of the beaches (Honeymoon beach I think) has sea turtles that come in every day to feed and you can swim very close to them. Very cool experience.
Great restaurants. Both pricey and modest options. Plenty of excursion opps if desired.
Not the cheapest island b/c land is at a premium due to NP, but it's safe, clean for the Caribbean, and offers a lot of variety in experience.
since you asked. I've been lucky enough to go to the Cancun, Cozumel, Belize (Ambres Caye), Aruba, Jamaica (which I wont go back to) the Bahamas. The place I keep going back to though is Grand Cayman. As someone else mentioned, the pluses for Cayman are , safety -no issues, you can walk almost anywhere, including the beach at night, a fixed currency, no haggling on how much your $1 is worth (BTW $0.80 CI), no language barriers, the water is safe to drink, no beggars, and did I say it was safe?
Plus the water is clean and clear, with great snorkeling and scuba diving (why I go) , the beaches are beautiful, and I can find plenty to do, even if it is just hanging on the beach.
the downside is, it can get expensive. I just booked my flights from CRW, they are $650 (heading out at the end of April, did I book too soon? who knows) . There maybe 1 or 2 all inclusive, but unless you will drink a lot , no reason to use them, traps you in to eating at their place.
Hotel/condo's? How much do you want to spend, they range from $200 per night to $1000 per night. Food? no matter where you eat it will be $100 minimum for dinner, without drinks. Diving ? $100-$120 for a 2 tanker. Sting ray city snorkel ( a must do BTW) will be $60-$100 each depending on what else is involved. But you will have a fantastic time, and you wont believe the water clarity.
If you go to Expedia, and search around about hotels and what to do, let me know and I'll give you the pluses and minus. There are basically 2 sides to the island, 7 mile beach, very active, and the East End, cheaper, still beautiful, plenty to do, but may have to work a little harder at it.
Anguilla is probably #2 on my Caribbean list behind St John. Best beaches in the Caribbean. Some of the best food. No crime. Laws limit foreigners from starting businesses and coming to work so Anguillan citizens work in tourism and are happy you came to their island.
Downsides for OP is:
Price: There is no duty free so everything is expensive
It's a sandbar like Aruba. Highest point is 300' above sea level.
There are only a couple resorts and b/c of that, the restaurants, although very good, are not that many in number.
This isn't the island I'd likely take my teenagers to. It's awesome for a honeymoon or a couple traveling by themselves.
I liked GC a lot, but I felt more like I was in Miami than the Caribbean, so depends on what you are looking for.
Because of the off-shore banking business, it is very "urban" relative to most islands. But that is why it is safe and has many conveniences. Tons of great food. We found some great restaurants that weren't too expensive.
If snorkeling/diving is your thing, it's a must.
Yea, probably a lot of other places teenagers would find more enjoyable, but hey, I'm 60.
I spend time on both the 7 mile side, and the East End side. If you make it around to the EE, you wont have a Miami feel, I really enjoy my time over there. I would be curious to know the great restaurants that aren't too expensive, I am always looking for a recommendation.
People always say they like to eat where the locals eat. I find at most of these places, its the salad bar at the grocery store!!
MMII - seriously consider going to Beaches Turks & Cacaos. They are all-inclusive but they have 20+ restaurants to choose from. They have daily activities for the kids so you and your wife can have some alone time. 
They run specials quite frequently. We took the kids to Beaches Ocho Rios in Jamaica last June and had a blast! We dropped the kids off at Sesame Place (childcare) 2 or 3 days, and once for a few hours so we could do our anniversary dinner on the beach. The kids loved it, they have water parks, swim-up bars, etc. Turks is 100x better (just a bit more pricey). The nice thing about all-inclusive is once you are on the property there is no need to ever leave, and you aren't carrying around CC or $$$.
They run specials quite frequently. We took the kids to Beaches Ocho Rios in Jamaica last June and had a blast! We dropped the kids off at Sesame Place (childcare) 2 or 3 days, and once for a few hours so we could do our anniversary dinner on the beach. The kids loved it, they have water parks, swim-up bars, etc. Turks is 100x better (just a bit more pricey). The nice thing about all-inclusive is once you are on the property there is no need to ever leave, and you aren't carrying around CC or $$$.
Fair enough. We stayed at the Westin on 7MB. Only took a drive over to EE one day. Honestly, can't remember the restaurants. It was 10 years ago I was there. Assuming a family of 4, you're probably right at the $100 figure, but $25/head for dinner (minus alcohol) isn't outrageous on an island where pretty much everything needs to be imported. I forget the name, but we found a little wine bistro on the main road near 7MB. It was in a little strip mall. Huge visible wine selection. Prices were very affordable. Honestly, not the type of place I expect on a Caribbean island, adding to the Miami feel
Probably my favorite location in the Caribbean is Barbados. Stayed at the Almond Beach Club years ago, and I just checked and they are still there, better than ever it seems. It's a long flight, as it's about as far south in the Caribbean as you can get. English speaking. Some cool things to do there ... pirate castles, etc.
http://www.almondbarbados.com/
http://www.almondbarbados.com/
Loved Kauai. Stayed on the north shore at Hanalie Colony Resorts! Much to do.
The bottom line is that most everywhere in the Caribbean makes for great vacations, but the most wallet friendly places are the Dominican Republic [Punta Cana] and the Cancun/Riviera Maya area. We much prefer the Riviera Maya because the reef is close to shore for snorkeling [if you pick the right hotels] and it is safe and common to go off the resort on your own. We take the collectivo into Playa Del Carmen for shopping. Direct flights are a big plus in choosing your destination.
I remembered incorrectly. I just searched on Google maps and it was an an Italian place called Ragazzi. Huge open wine storage but not a wine bistro
Funny, I was thinking on posting same ? but for summer (June-Aug). We started this process and have learned a lot. AAA and travel books from library help a lot. Of course the internet but I like the compact less bias analysis. People here are dead on to what they say in those books.
We have been to many of the islands by plane and cruise but never with our kids. This is the year. If it were up to us we would do a cruise so the kids could explore multiple islands, all inclusive and great deals especially last minute. So if your kids are open to that check it out. Unfortunately we have a sea sick boy who can't even canoe so it won't happen.
I suggest you pick a few islands and then register on their websites for deals at the resorts. If you are willing to go last minute, I am already seeing great deals for Atlantis at the Bahamas (may end up there ourselves, it is kids #1 and many of our friends have gone over the years and loved it).
My wife wants to hit T&C but I am balking on the $$$. It was her original honeymoon pick but we couldn't afford it. We went to Cozumel and loved it. Been back twice since. You may want to check that out. And they have excursions to the mainland so you get best of both worlds (although sand bottom so issues with toilet paper and such.)
Be sure to have passports for all of you as most suggestions here require them.
Best of luck and please report back and let us know what you did and pro/con. That may be in time for us to make a decision
We have been to many of the islands by plane and cruise but never with our kids. This is the year. If it were up to us we would do a cruise so the kids could explore multiple islands, all inclusive and great deals especially last minute. So if your kids are open to that check it out. Unfortunately we have a sea sick boy who can't even canoe so it won't happen.
I suggest you pick a few islands and then register on their websites for deals at the resorts. If you are willing to go last minute, I am already seeing great deals for Atlantis at the Bahamas (may end up there ourselves, it is kids #1 and many of our friends have gone over the years and loved it).
My wife wants to hit T&C but I am balking on the $$$. It was her original honeymoon pick but we couldn't afford it. We went to Cozumel and loved it. Been back twice since. You may want to check that out. And they have excursions to the mainland so you get best of both worlds (although sand bottom so issues with toilet paper and such.)
Be sure to have passports for all of you as most suggestions here require them.
Best of luck and please report back and let us know what you did and pro/con. That may be in time for us to make a decision
I've heard of it , but have never been. I usually prefer places on the water. Might give it a try
Your sea sick one, have you tried a trans a dram scoop (sp?). They keep my wife from getting sea sick. No side affects. Need a script thoughFunny, I was thinking on posting same ? but for summer (June-Aug). We started this process and have learned a lot. AAA and travel books from library help a lot. Of course the internet but I like the compact less bias analysis. People here are dead on to what they say in those books.
We have been to many of the islands by plane and cruise but never with our kids. This is the year. If it were up to us we would do a cruise so the kids could explore multiple islands, all inclusive and great deals especially last minute. So if your kids are open to that check it out. Unfortunately we have a sea sick boy who can't even canoe so it won't happen.
I suggest you pick a few islands and then register on their websites for deals at the resorts. If you are willing to go last minute, I am already seeing great deals for Atlantis at the Bahamas (may end up there ourselves, it is kids #1 and many of our friends have gone over the years and loved it).
My wife wants to hit T&C but I am balking on the $$$. It was her original honeymoon pick but we couldn't afford it. We went to Cozumel and loved it. Been back twice since. You may want to check that out. And they have excursions to the mainland so you get best of both worlds (although sand bottom so issues with toilet paper and such.)
Be sure to have passports for all of you as most suggestions here require them.
Best of luck and please report back and let us know what you did and pro/con. That may be in time for us to make a decision
Staying at a VRBO near Princeville. Have stayed in Poipu and Lihue. Have also stayed on Maui, Hawaii and Oahu. Love them all but Kauai is our favorite. Also enjoyed Fiji
Of all the places we've been in the Caribbean, Aruba is our least favorite and probably won't go back. We do have fun memories of the party bus or booze bus as it is sometimes called.
that surprises me, we just got back from a trip in December. I was pleasantly surprised, I enjoyed it. What was it you didn't like, if I can ask.
If flying somewhere tropical becomes too much of a cost factor I would consider a domestic vacation again. Right now I am in New Smyrna Beach Florida in a beach house that I rent every year for the winter months. It is February 15th, it is 78 degrees outside, the water temps are in the upper 60s and there are people swimming and surfing all up and down the beach in bathing suits, not wet suits.
By the middle of April it will be as "tropical" here along the central Atlantic coast of Florida as anywhere in the Caribbean, the water will certainly be warm enough for anyone used to having to swim in Lake Ontario, you will actually have waves great for surfing (NSB is one of the popular surfing spots in Florida), NSB borders the Canaveral National Seashore and its 500,000 acres surrounding the Kennedy Space Center that is mostly salt marsh excellent for kayaking, exploring and general nature excursions.
NSB is just south of Daytona Beach which has the NASCAR race track and other attractions. Orlando is a bit over an hour away. The Kennedy Space Center is a great educational destination and to see it all takes two full days. There are still plenty of launches to watch from SpaceX sending up private satellites or huge Atlas 5 rockets sending up government space hardware.
Most of these things aren't available in the Caribbean and you will spend half as much. Your boys will love it more because there is more to do here. The surfing, kayaking, paddle boarding the ocean on calm days, exploring the salt marsh, travelling the dirt roads of the National Seashore and the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge viewing the extensive bird life, alligators, wild boar that are free roaming and all kinds of other wildlife is something you don't get on a Caribbean island.
So I pitch a "see America first" concept that costs less, provides more and is just as is just as weather and water friendly in the middle of April as the Caribbean.
By the middle of April it will be as "tropical" here along the central Atlantic coast of Florida as anywhere in the Caribbean, the water will certainly be warm enough for anyone used to having to swim in Lake Ontario, you will actually have waves great for surfing (NSB is one of the popular surfing spots in Florida), NSB borders the Canaveral National Seashore and its 500,000 acres surrounding the Kennedy Space Center that is mostly salt marsh excellent for kayaking, exploring and general nature excursions.
NSB is just south of Daytona Beach which has the NASCAR race track and other attractions. Orlando is a bit over an hour away. The Kennedy Space Center is a great educational destination and to see it all takes two full days. There are still plenty of launches to watch from SpaceX sending up private satellites or huge Atlas 5 rockets sending up government space hardware.
Most of these things aren't available in the Caribbean and you will spend half as much. Your boys will love it more because there is more to do here. The surfing, kayaking, paddle boarding the ocean on calm days, exploring the salt marsh, travelling the dirt roads of the National Seashore and the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge viewing the extensive bird life, alligators, wild boar that are free roaming and all kinds of other wildlife is something you don't get on a Caribbean island.
So I pitch a "see America first" concept that costs less, provides more and is just as is just as weather and water friendly in the middle of April as the Caribbean.
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