Favorite Vacation Ever!

I don't know how big you're planning, but my husband and I took our vacation to Portugal this past summer. The Algarve is absolutely lovely (the south coast). We stayed in Lagos. There are several beautiful tourist-friendly towns throughout the Algarve and the vast majority of people speak at least some English there because so many British take holiday there.

We also spent some time in Lisbon. If you like hiking and history and museums, Lisbon is great. We took a fabulous tour from D. Tours for a half day in Lisbon. In Lagos, we hung out at the beach, hiked through town and took naps. I can highly recommend Hotel Tivoli in Lagos and AC Lisboa in Lisbon. Lisbon also has the metro line so that you can go all over with ease. We spent a lot of time in Baixa and ate a lot of pastries and fruit.

Bonus, Portugal is relatively inexpensive compared to the rest of Europe. We spent about $200 on food for a week. You get ENORMOUS breakfasts.

Let me know if you actually want more info.

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Mmmmmm.

So hard.

Of course, I'm biased, because travel is my favorite thing in the world next to my son.

There are really 2 types of traveling for fun:

1 - Traveling to Mars
2 - Traveling to immerse yourself in a culture/people/place/history

I like both, for different reasons. (I tend to do 10 type 2 trips for every type 1 trip...unless you count weekends away...But I know people who never do anything other then one kind, or whose ratio is in the reverse of mine. And no. I'm in no way, shape, or form wealthy/welloff/welltodo. In fact, we hover near broke, for the most part...but for us, the experiences are worth mac'n'cheese, & quite frankly, with all the tricks we've picked up over the years we often spend less money traveling then we do staying home. I refuse to go to Turkey without a rug budget though. Absolutely refuse. Even if the trip was free. I wouldn't be able to stand it :)

Definitions & Experiences :

Traveling to Mars is going to any kind of resort. They're engineered places & experiences, and it really doesn't matter where in the world they're located; from BC, to Thailand, to Jamaica, to Norway, to St. Barts, to...well...Mars.

They're places that exist outside of reality. Whether you're skiing or lounging in a pool drinking icy drinks and tanning...it doesn't really matter where they're located. Choose one based off of the weather and price and the activities you want to do...but not by what country they're in. You don't experience the country, except for VERY peripherally, if at all. Personally, I can only do a resort for about a week, and then I go stir crazy. But that week! Boy oh Boy oh Boy. You never need a vacation from your vacation with these ones. Regardless...Tacking on an extra day when you're done traveling to decompress/unpack/sleep before jumping back into the fray is HIGHLY recommended.

The Type 2 trip I recommend at LEAST 2 days of nothing to do when you come home. When there's no stress when you get back and you can relax in the comfort of your own home after a busy exciting time, it makes EVERYTHING from the trip to the weeks that follow it sooooooo much nicer. If you're going by yourselves...try and arrange care for the kids for one extra day...so you have that day to lazy about alone, and then at least and then at least one day to lazy about with them.

You asked for favorite experiences though, not travel advice, so I'll jump back on topic. :) I DO have a tendency to jump off.

Italy is my favorite country in the world to date. Rome, in particular. Trestevore as my favorite neighborhood IN Rome (a 2 minute walk from the ancient city). But FROM Rome you can hit the Amalfi Coast, Venice, Florence, or jump borders and pop into Greece & or Turkey. LOVE Italy. Nicest people I've met anywhere. All you have to do is butcher their language, smile & laugh as you get impromptu language lessons, and you've got friends for life. I've been all over for work or play and I've never felt more welcome anywhere. And the history. My god. Anyhow...if you decide to go to Italy email me...I could write you a book...and point you in the direction of several very good published ones...but I won't take up space here.

We're taking our son on a dig in Israel next summer, but the next two trips we're actually PLANNING (digs don't count...you show up, you work, you play in the ocean, you sleep...repeat)are:
1) Beaches Family Resorts (I'm due some DO NOTHING time, darnit :)
2) Egypt

There's possibly nowhere in the world as romantic as Egypt, but we'll be taking our little one with us...since at six he's not so little any more. Hurray!!

Wherever you go....have a blast. And if you go anywhere in Europe (or anywhere BA flies), look into getting a British Airways Card. If you buy your tickets with it, you only have to buy one, a companion fare is always free. <Laughing> It's actually cheaper for our family to fly to London/Paris/Rome/etc. then it is to fly to Hawaii or DC. Go figure.

Good Luck!
Z.

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My husband and I went to Africa (botswana and zimbabwe) for a spell and fell in love with the continent. there's something about it that gets under your skin. the animals, the scenery; can't be beat. And the accomodations are amazing! Romantic tents with egyptian cotton sheets, open showers, ahhhh... the life.

Have a wonderful time wherever you go. I've also heard bora bora is gorgeous.

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Hello,

My husband and I just took our first away vacation from our kids for our 6th anniversary this summer. I don't know if this is what you are thinking but we went to Chicago and had a great time. It was our first trip there and we stayed downtown and were able to walk or ride the subway so didn't have to rent a car. We stayed a couple minutes walk from Michigan Ave and they have tons of great shopping. We enjoyed a Cubs game, something my husband had always wanted to do, and I enjoyed it too. We took in some Jazz too. The city has so many wonderful things to do. I felt very safe and was impressed how clean the downtown area was. We enjoyed a Chicago river tour of all the amazing architecture the city is so well known for. We didn't even make it to the beach but they have some beautiful beaches along Lake Michigan.
Regardless of where you end of going, I hope you have a great time and enjoy focusing on being a couple and that time together.

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The Hilton Waikoloa Village on the big island of Hawaii. Hammocks under the palm trees, massages outside close to the water, swim with dolphins & snorkel with sea turtles, many places to eat, amazing place! It's a Disneyland for adults.
OR the Mauna Kea for golf & relaxation.....the best place on earth!

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I love Leavenworth. It is a little pricey, expecially getting into this time of year, but the tree-lighting ceremony is gorgeous!!! They turn all the lights off all week, and on Friday night, they do the big ceremony. It is packed! Plus, all the shops are open late, so you can do your Christmas shopping while the town is lit up by the lights, and they also have roasted chestnuts and carolers! The best place to stay is the Bavarian Lodge. They have an awesome view because they are directly across from the town square where the ceremony is.

My husband and i took a late honeymoon over the summer and took a cruise to the carribean. It was so amazing! It was wonderful to spend time with him and have everything planned for us to do and not really having to do anything. You go and have a great vacation with the only planning you do is what shore excursions you want and where you want to go. You get to the ship get on and everything is planned out and ready for you. NO STRESS!! Just sun, drinks, and spending genuine time with your husband!

I love Hawaii the best. And I suggest any island except Oahu. Maui is really fun, I lived there for awhile. Hawaii is peaceful, a big island and rather quiet. Kauai is very romantic, small, peaceful, and quiet.

Tropical is ALWAYS good! When are you planning on going? I have a timeshare at a gorgeous 5 star resort in Cabo San Lucas in the beginning of April that is open to rent. The resort is beautiful, oceanfront with a fantastic spa---great massages, facials, all that stuff, plus a fitness center. The weather is always great at that time and the people are super-friendly. It's at Playa Grande Resort (www.playagranderesort.com). Let me know if you'd be interested. We can't afford to go anywhere and would love to rent it to someone who wants to relax and enjoy the sun.

One of my favorites is Kauai Hawaii. However, if you want something closer that is just as romantic, Vancouver and Victoria BC are awesome, so is the Oregon Coast!

My parent are currenlty taking a cruise around Miami, Jamaica and the Caymans I think is what they said. A nice tropical cruise could do you good.

Hawaii...great weather, good mixture of relaxation and activities. It isn't any more expensive than Mexico and you can drink the water.

I went on a cruise to the Bahama's and absolutely LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT!! It was beautiful, the ship was nice (although I spent a total of 3 hours in my room...in 4 days!!) I swam, gambled (nickle slots!) got a massage, sang, danced, shopped, and had Diet Coke's brought out to me when I sun bathed.
I went with my grandma, who did none of those things with me. I just did them by myself, and it was a blast. I can only imagine how much fun it would be to do all that with my husband! Although I would probably spen more than 3 hours in my room (giggle)
L.

Hi , I'm T. and I went to Germany this past Apr(Bavaria) and it was SO nice. I am going back in late Jan and planning on going to the Czech Republic also. It is a lovely place!

D.,
My husband and I went to Couples resort in Negril Jamaica. It was amazing! The resort is all inclusive, the suites are beautiful and breezy and it is along a 7 mile beach. The resort has everything you need to have a great connection with your husband, hammocks throughout the beaches as well as lounge chairs where just a flag in the sand summons your waitress with a tropical drink of your choice. The food is amazing the staff is amazing, Oh I wish I could go back!!!

We took a family cruise with stops in Cozumel and Grand Cayman (beautiful place!) a couple of years ago and absolutely loved it. My husband and I hope to go on another cruise without the children sometime in the near future. I would definitely recommend taking a cruise. Check out a couple of cruise lines and look into the areas they pull into and choose the one that interests you most. Have fun!

My husband and I took a Cruise on Royal Carib. and had the absolute time of our lives! Cruise's are at a great price right now because the travel dollar is shrinking and the Cruise line would like to have a full boat, so they are dropping prices! It was the BEST all inclusive vacation we have ever experienced. I highly recommend Royal Carib. A good resource for prices is Vacationstogo.com! HAVE FUN~!

If you want a fun vacation you should think about Cabo....Yes Cabo. We took our 4 yr old and 9 yr old there last november and they are begging to go back again. It is a great place to go. Very relaxing. I would recomend the Rose or Sunset Beach resorts we have stayed at both and they are great! Im not sure how old your kids are but Cabo is very fun and relaxing. We spent a lot of our time by the pool just playing and laying around.

Ohhhhh... Kauai! It is gorgeous, lots of natural stuff to do, very romantic. One warning, the roosters really do cock a doodle all day and night but if you make up words for their banter it is pretty entertaining.

My husband and I took a cruise around the islands of Hawaii. We flew into Honolulu and visited 5 or 6 different ports. We enjoyed snorkling, wind surfing, bike riding, and just laying on the beach. We opted for a nice room on the ship to be able to relax away from people too. It was perfect and not too expensive.

We loved French Polynesia. We visited several islands--Tahiti, Bora Bora, and Morea among them. It was spectacular, romantic, and a lot of fun. Get one of the over-water bungaloes with a glass floor, if you can.

I know you have lots of great responses, but I wanted to add mine too...I agree with Cabo. Just don't expect a very cultural Mexican area...it's very "Americanized". What I love about Cabo is it is clean, safe and you can pretty much walk anywhere. The food is great and the people friendly. You have your choice of a more active, people watching swimming beach on the Sea of Cortez side, or a quiet, more private no vendor beach (and no swimming) on the Pacific side. I love talking about Cabo and if you are considering it, I can give you advice on Hotels and restaurants/things to do if you like. You can email me if you want ____@____.com will have a great time I'm sure no matter where you choose...how exciting!

We went to Fiji for our honeymoon and it was absolutely fantastic!! We went in December and it is the Fijian summer so the weather was super nice. Since it's an island nation, water sports are the most common thing to do. We spent a whole lot of time scuba diving, but also went to the local zoo, and did a river raft villiage visit. If you want activity, the big island (Vini Levu) is great, but if you want more laid back, Tokoriki is amazing! (http://search.live.com/images/results.aspx?q=tokoriki&amp...) The resort is the only thing on the island and it's very romantic and relaxing.

If you go to Hawaii, I HIGHLY recommend the volcano bike ride! We did it on Maui and were driven up the side of Haleakala, watched the sunrise over the rim of the crater, and then biked (coasted!) down the side of the mountian to breakfast at the bottom. It was the best thing I've done on 4 trips to the islands!

If you have never been to Hawaii, of course, go there! Kauai is lush and quiet, but in Maui, you can relax at your resort and when you get bored, there is Lahina for lots of activity. Don't forget, you must do the Old Lahina Luau. It's the best on the island of Maui. Cabo is a lot of fun, but if you want the most romatic place, then Hawaii is better.

How nice for you two to get away just the two of you. Two of my favorite vacations have been Kauai Hawaii, very relaxing island. The other place has been going to Napa, Ca and doing the tours of the wineries and having a spa day.

Have a great time.

S.

D.:
Congratulations! I suggest the island of Kauai! It is absolutely BEAUTIFUL and relaxing, very much laid back. Not a whole lot of night life like Oahu. I loved just sitting on the rocks and watch the turtles swim in the water, swimming in the ocean and looking at the beautful tropical gardens. Check out the link: http://www.kauai-hawaii.com/.

Good luck and have fun!

-Steph

We have traveled all over and still by far the most romantic is Kauai but we just got back a week ago from The Riveria Maya, South of Cancun.. stayed at the El Cid in a waterfront platinum suite on first floor and were literally 15 feet from the water. clear turquoise calm water and sugar soft white sand... we had our 2 year old and would have thought it woudl of been very romantic by ourselves.. Kauai is a little more expesive but if you have never been, book your trip immediatly there.. it's truly the most beautiful place in the world! have FUN...
PS.. if you do a trip with your kids, we did the Disneyland hotel for 3 nights and then took a Carnival cruise, it was the Perfect Family trip.. Carnival is the only cruiseline that changes diapers and takes kids as young as 18 months in their kids club and it was so nice to have a fun free place for the kids and time to enjoy dinners and shows.. Perfect family trip~~~ HAVE A GREAT TIME!

How about some skiing? Tropical is nice but it just makes you too relaxed... Skiing is a very active vacation plus you can enjoy everything else that a tropical one can offer.

Hi D.! My husband and I went to Puerto Vallarta , Mexico for our 10 yr. anniversary about a year and a half ago. It was also our first vacation together since we had kids! We chose a resort called "Dreams Resort and Spa". My husbands company (US Bank) used to send their employees there for company award trips, so I chose it, cause they all had good things to say about it. It is an all-inclusive resort, which is so amazing in itself. This includes all your meals, as many drinks as you could ever want, room service...everything! It was so much more relaxing to not have to think about the cost of anything! Plus, they refill your drink before you even have to ask for it...very great service. The other really neat thing about this resort is that the beach is private. The resort is nestled in-between two rock cliffs, and no one can get onto the beach unless you are staying at the resort, or come in by water. There are a few local vendors they allow to com and sell on the beach, but they are not at all bothersome. It never felt crowded either. We absolutely loved our stay there. We booked through Alaska air vacation packages (I had a coupon). But we got the whole package with airline tickets for like $2000. It was worth every penny:-) Enjoy, wherever you go! And feel free to message me if you would like more info!