Vacation Destination Thread

[Morris]

Gary, what a coincidence, a doctor friend of mine just got back from Sandals Ochi last Sunday. He said he felt completely safe because of the testing and everyone on the resort is tested. He said the resort was great.
I think we're set for Aruba. They eased their restrictions just a bit and you can enter without a test if you're fully vaccinated. Aruba has mandatory insurance that you have to buy ($15) to cover quarantine if you test positive coming back.
Good to know about Jamaica we're looking at Couples Negril next time. Sister just spent 6 weeks in Mexico I'll ask her about the airport.
We're going April 19th for 10 days. Going back to Aruba in November with friends and then someplace for Xmas maybe Jamaica. I've got the travel bug now and have Turks, Curacao and Barbados on my list.

 

[BUCKY1]

Wife and I did Sandals Antigua for a week at the end of January. Needed negative test within 3days and vaccination to enter. Also negative test to leave. Resort was fairly busy but not packed. Sandals does a good job with the sanitation and cleanliness. Staff was masked up, but 95% of the guests were not.

 

[JOSHNAUDI]

My wife had a business trip to Barcelona in April 2013 so I tagged along. This is probably my favorite city visited to date. It's a big city but it is super easy to navigate on foot. We used the Metro (subway) to get around most of the time but we used the Hop On Hop Off buses to get around during the day to the various museums and cultural spots. It's on the water, so if you go during the summer season, you can take advantage of the beaches.

For the most part, it was easy to communicate. Everywhere I went someone spoke English, so I felt fairly comfortable moving around on my own. My wife has a degree in Spanish, so I didn't really have to worry about anything from that perspective.

Highlights below....

La Rambla

This is a famous street in Barcelona. It is extremely wide and mostly used by pedestrians. There are restaurants and shops in the middle with shops and apartments lining the edges of both sides. You could spend the entirety of your vacation time walking up and down this street and be really happy. It's unique and very European.

Gaudi

Antoni Gaudi was an architect/artist from the early part of the 20th century who's imprint is all over this city. Park Guell is a site he used to live on that was (I think) supposed to be a real estate development that ended up becoming a park that has his unique architecture all over it. Super cool place you have to see if you find yourself in Barcelona. His most famous work is the Church of the Sagrada Familia. It has been under construction for ~ 100 years......nuts.

1992 Olympic Sites

A lot of the venues from that event are open to go walking around. I spent a couple hours walking around them (in and out of stadiums) and had a great time. The access is easy and you can stroll along, grab a beer, and just keep taking in the sites.

The museums and food were great. Like I said, this is probably my favorite city in the world. Copenhagen, Denmark is the only one that is even in the discussion (so far).

Clothing wise... Do you recommend wearing a jacket?

Easily the greatest story I've ever heard live from a MadJacker. Masterfully told G. Hope all is well.

 

[WhatsHisNuts]

For the record, the jacket was one of the few items I was able to recover.

 

[Tommy Shelby]

Kauai- Koloa Landing Resort at Poipu
Heading there this weekend with wife and 3 kids. All vaxxed and protocol seems easy. Any suggestions welcome.

Just need trip suggestions and not political/vaxx please

 

[Morris]

Let's get this thread going again!
We did go to Aruba in April and again in November for 10 days. Weather was great which is the main reason for going.
Now we're headed to Cancun for Xmas. Big storm headed here on Friday with temps not getting above freezing so we're looking forward to Palm trees and sand!
Gary, I'm going to go back thru and read your recommendations for Jamaica. Already booked the Iberostar Suites with the grandkids in February but looking for AO for us after that.
Alaska tips?

 

[WhatsHisNuts]

Let's get this thread going again!
We did go to Aruba in April and again in November for 10 days. Weather was great which is the main reason for going.
Now we're headed to Cancun for Xmas. Big storm headed here on Friday with temps not getting above freezing so we're looking forward to Palm trees and sand!
Gary, I'm going to go back thru and read your recommendations for Jamaica. Already booked the Iberostar Suites with the grandkids in February but looking for AO for us after that.
Alaska tips?

We're heading to Jamaica next week....our 19th trip to that country :scared

For the money, we just can't see how you can beat Jamaica all inclusives. The cost per night is relatively cheap. Southwest flies into Montego Bay, so the flight is cheap and up to 2 bags fly free. We just spent 4 nights in Key West with two other couples and it cost more than our typical 7 night stay at Sandals. Disclaimer: If you want to get out into a town and do stuff off resort, don't look to me for Caribbean advice. We learned a long time ago that it is more trouble than it is worth.

I'll be interested in your Alaska trip info. Crusie? I've only ever heard of Alaskan cruises because it is pretty difficult to get around within the state.

 

[Morris]

Hey Gary, good to be traveling again. We're headed to Playa del Carmen next week for Xmas. We don't go off the resorts anymore either for the same reasons as you. In Jamaica we will walk the beach and talk to the locals in Bloody Bay or Negril but not at night. We're going to Jamaica in February with the grandkids so that will be fun.
Thinking about sneaking in another trip to Aruba or back to Jamaica before Alaska.
Right now I'm definitely planning on Alaska for wife's birthday. I'm going to talk to our travel agent and get details. I'll let you know when I finalize something.

 

[Morris]

Did you do Curacao? I think you have to go thru Aruba right?

 

[WhatsHisNuts]

Did you do Curacao? I think you have to go thru Aruba right?

We haven't done Curacao yet, but we were looking to book a trip there for 2024. I haven't looked into the logistics yet for that one so I can't say what the routing is.

 

[Morris]

Hey Gary we changed our plans and booked 9 days in Aruba over Christmas. We decided to go to Mexico in February.
Wife said she wanted to try a different spot for May. Maybe Antigua or Barbados. Any thoughts?

 

[WhatsHisNuts]

Hey Gary we changed our plans and booked 9 days in Aruba over Christmas. We decided to go to Mexico in February.
Wife said she wanted to try a different spot for May. Maybe Antigua or Barbados. Any thoughts?

I liked Antigua and Barbados but Barbados was the clear favorite. I'm basing it solely on my experience as someone that sticks to the resort and doesn't venture out much at all, so take that for what it's worth. Both islands are small so you don't have to worry about any long shuttle rides, which is a nice change from Jamaica.

 

[Morris]

Where did you stay in Antigua if you don't mind me asking? All the places look like small boutique type places.

 

[WhatsHisNuts]

Where did you stay in Antigua if you don't mind me asking? All the places look like small boutique type places.

Sandals. It has a public beach....which was a tad weird for Sandals.

 

[Morris]

Sandals. It has a public beach....which was a tad weird for Sandals.

I should've guessed. After I posted I said I'll bet it's Sandals. Thanks!

 

[Morris]

G... Do you tip at Sandals?
We were at Couples and it has a strict no tipping policy but a lot of people were tipping and I believe we got better service because we did tip.
Wondering what Sandals policy is.
We have Aruba booked for Christmas and Dreams Mexico for February. Maybe looking at the Bahamas for May. Have you ever been there?

 

[WhatsHisNuts]

G... Do you tip at Sandals?
We were at Couples and it has a strict no tipping policy but a lot of people were tipping and I believe we got better service because we did tip.
Wondering what Sandals policy is.
We have Aruba booked for Christmas and Dreams Mexico for February. Maybe looking at the Bahamas for May. Have you ever been there?

They have a No Tipping policy for the onsite workers at Sandals. Lately, they seem to get spooked by tip offerings (even the maids) so I think they are worried about getting fired if caught accepting them. I've heard that if they accept them (because a guest is adamant), they're supposed to turn them into the charity. Personally, I really like not having to worry about money at all while I'm there so this is great.

We just went to Cabo with 5 other couples and stayed at Le Blanc (part of Palace Resorts). It was the nicest place we've stayed and the food was better than Sandals, but it was much more expensive and I felt like I was always worried about how much to tip and having tip money on me at all times. Also, the campus was really small and the water was too rough to swim in (not that I cared). We did one excursion with the group where we had a private sunset catamaran cruise. That was great and my wife liked the spa. Part of the high expense is the built in "credits" they offer. I used some of the credits to go golfing and my wife went to the spa ~ 4 times.....but we still left a bunch behind because I have no interest in half the crap they offer.