Help with vacation ideas

[Irishnuke]

So the old lady and I are celebrating ten years this fall and I'm trying to figure out where to go on vacation. We'll be going in the middle of July for a week since I can't get time off or child care in the fall. My wife wants to go somewhere tropical. I'm a huge fisherman so that is fine with me. We also like to do "adventure" type tours. So far I've looked at Costa Rica (my top choice, has the best fishing), Belize, Tahiti, Kona, and other various places mostly in the Caribbean. We're not loaded so price is an issue. I would love to hear if anyone has ever traveled to these places and what their experiences were. I'm also open to any suggestions.

 

[Rhode Irish]

My wife and I went to Phuket (Thailand) for our honeymoon. Tropical as hell, different but very cool culture, and absolutely beautiful. The other thing that is great about it is that the dollar is really strong against the baht, so it is incredibly affordable. Like, all-in for food and drink at a really nice restaurant is about $40 USD; hotels are also really doable. The only thing pricey about the trip is the flights.

Google image search Phuket and check out some of the places/prices on tripadvisor. If you think you might be interested shoot me a PM and I can give you an idea of what we did. I planned our trip myself so I have all that info lying around.

Going to that part of the world is something you don't get the opportunity to do a lot (at least that was true for us), so if you're looking for something a little different and off the beaten path and freaking awesome, I'd give it some consideration.

 

[Irishnuke]

My wife and I went to Phuket (Thailand) for our honeymoon. Tropical as hell, different but very cool culture, and absolutely beautiful. The other thing that is great about it is that the dollar is really strong against the baht, so it is incredibly affordable. Like, all-in for food and drink at a really nice restaurant is about $40 USD; hotels are also really doable. The only thing pricey about the trip is the flights.

Google image search Phuket and check out some of the places/prices on tripadvisor. If you think you might be interested shoot me a PM and I can give you an idea of what we did. I planned our trip myself so I have all that info lying around.

Going to that part of the world is something you don't get the opportunity to do a lot (at least that was true for us), so if you're looking for something a little different and off the beaten path and freaking awesome, I'd give it some consideration.

Thailand, Bali, New Zealand and Australia were all places I considered but given that I only have a week I didn't think they were very reasonable with the long ass flights.

 

[irishog77]

Branson, MO

 

[Rhode Irish]

Thailand, Bali, New Zealand and Australia were all places I considered but given that I only have a week I didn't think they were very reasonable with the long ass flights.

Yeah, that is true. You'd have to factor in about 3 days of travel all together so probably wouldn't be worth it if you only have a week.

 

[Bluto]

Belize.

 

[Pa Golden Tate Fan]

Cayman Islands.

 

[Redbar]

Went to Puntarenas, Costa Rica in 1994, it is on the Pacific side it is incredibly beautiful sailing in to the port area. So many small green islands, I heard that some of the opening scenes of Jurassic Park were filmed in this area. It is a small surfer type town. You are right the sport fishing is really fantastic over there, very inexpensive, I went as part of my training so I didn't really do it as a tourist. It was almost 20 years ago but other than the port, the natural beauty and the fishing I am not sure what else Puntarenas has to offer. My parents went to San Jose several years back. My mom loved it, did a lot of excursions, my Dad had to admit it was pretty, but was ready after a few days to get back to the Northern Woods. Costa Rica is a nice safe affordable place though.

 

[dshans]

Since you're on the west coast you might want to consider Canada or Alaska. The scenery will knock your socks off (a good thing on an anniversary trip), the fishing is great and in July the extended daylight hours enable making whoopy while the sun do shine that much more"doable."

My honeymoon was 10 days hiking and camping on Isle Royale in the middle of Lake Superior. Tough, difficult days but memorable and a gas to boot.

Regardless, have fun and enjoy!

 

[irishog77]

Since you're on the west coast you might want to consider Canada or Alaska. The scenery will knock your socks off (a good thing on an anniversary trip), the fishing is great and in July the extended daylight hours enable making whoopy while the sun do shine that much more"doable."

My honeymoon was 10 days hiking and camping on Isle Royale in the middle of Lake Superior. Tough, difficult days but memorable and a gas to boot.

Regardless, have fun and enjoy!

Do you ever think you should have left her on the island?

 

[Irishnuke]

Since you're on the west coast you might want to consider Canada or Alaska. The scenery will knock your socks off (a good thing on an anniversary trip), the fishing is great and in July the extended daylight hours enable making whoopy while the sun do shine that much more"doable."

My honeymoon was 10 days hiking and camping on Isle Royale in the middle of Lake Superior. Tough, difficult days but memorable and a gas to boot.

Regardless, have fun and enjoy!

I'd love to go to Alaska, but my wife is pretty adamant about it being a tropical location, at least for the anniversary trip.

 

[Cackalacky]

Roatan or Utila, Honduras. Congrats on the 10years.

 

[BobD]

Key West Florida.

Technically Sub-Tropical, but definitely a tropical climate.
Fairly short flight because it's in the US.
Great Fishing.
Great Nightlife (my favorite is the Hogs Breath saloon)
Tons of touristy stuff for the ladies.
Great atmosphere.

Or

There are great deals going for Hawaii right now.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

St Lucia. 9-1 for my referrals. Everybody I recommended the island to fell in love with it, man! Except a former family member and her husband. They went there for their honeymoon, the poor devil! I think they really enjoyed themselves, except that she always had to have something to bitch to me about. So I believe the discontent was more about me than the island. I have never referred that many people to anywhere or anything with that kind of satisfaction.

The weather is great, the people are kind and loving. It always has been a romantic paradise.

Me, I am going to Isle Royale, as soon as my kids are capable of doing anything more than being dinner.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Key West Florida.

Technically Sub-Tropical, but definitely a tropical climate.
Fairly short flight because it's in the US.
Great Fishing.
Great Nightlife (my favorite is the Hogs Breath saloon)
Tons of touristy stuff for the ladies.
Great atmosphere.

Or

There are great deals going for Hawaii right now.

There are some really great suggestions here Cack, dshans, etc., but Bob has one of my favorite places to go; I find nothing more romantic than the though of drinking, pissing and staggering in the footsteps of 'Papa!'

 

[woolybug25]

Costa Rica doesn't have better fishing than Belize. I've been to both on fishing specific trips and I would take Belize 4:1 over Costa Rica.

Belize is a beautiful country with nice, clean beaches and really cool jungle. Tons of activity stuff and their official language is English. It's also much cheaper than destinations like Costa Rica. It's a safer country too.

Honduras is awesome too, but definitely not as safe as Belize. It's a less "touristy" location though with more culture.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Costa Rica doesn't have better fishing than Belize. I've been to both on fishing specific trips and I would take Belize 4:1 over Costa Rica.

Belize is a beautiful country with nice, clean beaches and really cool jungle. Tons of activity stuff and their official language is English. It's also much cheaper than destinations like Costa Rica. It's a safer country too.

Honduras is awesome too, but definitely not as safe as Belize. It's a less "touristy" location though with more culture.

Been years since I did the kind of travel that would make me an expert, but I remember when Nicaragua and El Salvador had a few hot spots.

 

[woolybug25]

Been years since I did the kind of travel that would make me an expert, but I remember when Nicaragua and El Salvador had a few hot spots.

Nicaragua seems like an awesome place and I would love to go there. That's definitely the kind of place you could get stuck at though. So much uncertainty with militant gov, crime and crooked police. It's definitely one of those places that you have to bring a "bribe allowance". Otherwise, you aren't coming back.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Nicaragua seems like an awesome place and I would love to go there. That's definitely the kind of place you could get stuck at though. So much uncertainty with militant gov, crime and crooked police. It's definitely one of those places that you have to bring a "bribe allowance". Otherwise, you aren't coming back.

Or an M-60. A LAWs, a few Claymores. And a riot gun. 12 gage in the jungle is always a plus.

 

[RallySonsOfND]

I would never recommend New Zealand unless you have at least 2 weeks, you really need 3 to do it right.


Turks and Caicos, or the Dominican Republic are a couple of the last places I went in the Caribbean. Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in the DR is fantastic.

 

[ACamp1900]

Great thread nuke, I've never been able to take a real vacation unless you count Vegas, but the wife and I are getting there... Some great ideas/ input here.

 

[dshans]

Do you ever think you should have left her on the island?

In retrospect it would have saved me a lot of anguish and a chunk of cash.

Had I been offered Ginger or Mary Ann (or both) as a trade it would have been a done deal.

 

[irishmarine]

Group on has a soecial for punta Cana Dominican Republic all inclusive for pretty cheap if you're on a budget. Just saying

 

[Irishnuke]

Costa Rica doesn't have better fishing than Belize. I've been to both on fishing specific trips and I would take Belize 4:1 over Costa Rica.

Belize is a beautiful country with nice, clean beaches and really cool jungle. Tons of activity stuff and their official language is English. It's also much cheaper than destinations like Costa Rica. It's a safer country too.

Honduras is awesome too, but definitely not as safe as Belize. It's a less "touristy" location though with more culture.

I guess I should clarify, the pacific side of Costa Rica has fishing that is more appealing to me. Black/blue marlin, sailfish, yellowfin tuna, roosterfish, cubera snapper. Belize looks good too but it seems to be more flats fishing which I think is why you enjoyed it. Don't get me wrong, catching a tarpon would be awesome, but I've never been that interested in permit and bonefish. It's definitely still under consideration though and I'm sure the wife would be equally happy at either place. Depending on our tax return it might be the more feasible option as well.

 

[koonja]

In Caribbean, I've been to Jamaica, and it was amazing and cost effective. Granted this was 5 years ago, but for $1,100 per person, we got round trip flights, 5 nights at hotel, and 2 meals a day paid for, along with admissions to some show/event for every night.

Jamaica is very poor, and their primary source of income is tourism. So the people there treat you like gold because they can't afford not to.

The snorkeling was out of this world. For $40 per person, we got to go out with a guide on a glass boat, and saw a school of swordfish, tons of star fish, somethings I don't understand, and 3 sting rays, along with tons of tropical fish.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

I prefer Mexico over Jamaica, DR, etc. because the people are so much nicer and service-oriented. They bust their ass to make sure everything you do is top notch.

IMO Mexicans see you as dollar signs, and will bend over backwards to make you happy, while people in the Caribbean see you as an annoyance and don't really do much more than the bare minimum.

 

[koonja]

I prefer Mexico over Jamaica, DR, etc. because the people are so much nicer and service-oriented. They bust their ass to make sure everything you do is top notch.

IMO Mexicans see you as dollar signs, and will bend over backwards to make you happy, while people in the Caribbean see you as an annoyance and don't really do much more than the bare minimum.

You've been to both I take it? Where did you go in Jamaica? I went to Negril, and the locals were fantastic. Maybe it's you that sucks! Lol.

 

[The Polish Irishman]

St. Thomas or the BVIs. Very tropical. Great fishing. Awesome beaches.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

You've been to both I take it? Where did you go in Jamaica? I went to Negril, and the locals were fantastic. Maybe it's you that sucks! Lol.

I think you already knew about my suckitude.

We went to Montego Bay and Punta Cana (DR), and had a great time at both places. I agree the locals were very warm in Jamaica and DR, but the servers where we stayed both places were not. They weren't rude, just kind of lazy. Felt like getting a drink or food was an ordeal each time. I'm not bashing either place, but prefer Mexico based on the service from my travels.

 

[T Town Tommy]

Anyone been to Cabo San Lucas?