Help me hit the beach!!!

[Jewel]

DH and I are planning our third anniversary in October. We usually get two vacations per year, one in summer and one for our anniversary. If we do a 'big' trip for our anniversary in October we'll just do a simple (aka: cheap) road trip or something during the summer, but we're at a loss about where to go in October!! :( Both of us LOVE the beach. We like being able to spend the days on the beach playing in the surf, maybe take a parasail, rent jet skis, etc...but at night we like to be able to hit the restaurants and some nightlife! :) We like to shop also, so it can't be too remote. Last summer we did Maui, and we loved it...but DH has said we can't go back to Maui until we've seen some other places! October is 'off season' for most places so the rates are cheaper, but we spent our Honeymoon (October 1999) in Orlando/Daytona Beach and were there the week between hurricanes and it rained nearly the entire time we were there!

I just watched the Travel Channel's 'America's 10 Best Beaches' yesterday and saw recommendations for Miami's South Beach, San Diego's Coronado Beach, Puerto Rico, North Carolina, Nantucket Island, etc, etc, etc. :confused: I trust you all more than I trust the Travel Channel! :D We have frequent flyer miles to take us just about anywhere (as long as we can actually get the FF miles to get us to a particular place, sometimes they're selective) but we're at a loss as to where to go! Any good beach recommendations? I've never been to the East Coast except for Daytona 3 years ago, and I've never been to Mexico either! :eek: My best friend is telling me Puerto Vallarta, my mother is saying "Well Honey, Pismo Beach was always good for you when you were a kid, and we can drive over to meet you!" :eek::eek::eek:

Any suggestions? I want to get the planning going as soon as possible and maybe get the Frequent Flyer thing checked out for a particular destination!

[Gilgamesh37]

How about Turks & Caicos? They're islands, gorgeous beaches and snorkeling/scuba--I went to a Club Med there about 10 years ago, they were just starting to court tourist dollars so I'm thinking there are probably sufficient accomodations/restaurants there now (at the time I went, CM was nearly the only tourist thing there).

[lhall]

I think that's In Season or close to it for Key West. We've been 3 times. You can do deep sea fishing, sunset catamaran, snorkling, jet skis. There are of tons of musems and old houses to tour. Lots of places to eat, bars, etc. Part of the fun of KW is the nightlife. But, it can be $$ in season and rather crowded. August on the other hand is not crowded at all (too hot!)

You could fly to Miami and rent a car and drive it's about 3 to 3.5hrs from Miami. Also Delta's commuter line flies into KW (sorry I only know about Delta stuff). Don't know about hotel prices as my dad owns a timeshare so we've never had to pay for the room. You can book weeks at the timeshare places too.

Leigh

[linsleyd]

Just so you can cross this one off of your list:
The Outer Banks in North Caralina (I assume those are the beaches the Travel Channel was talking about)
although I love the Outer Banks it is more of a relaxing vacation than one with lots of things to do. There is shopping and deep sea fishing and parasailing and all that but it is more low key. When we visit the outer banks we always rent a house and do few things except sit around and relax with friends. I am pretty sure they don't have an airport on the island, at least they didn't last time I was there. Though, I am sure there is one not too far away if this interest's you.

I know South Beach is supposed to be amazing, my father and his fiancee spent a few days there and also there are resorts on the gulf around Alabama that are supposed to be wonderful.

Not much of a help, I know, but some food for thought anyway!

[cchhbb]

Jewel,

I wouldn't recommend Puerto Rico in October as that is the middle of Hurricane season. For the last few years, Hurricane season hasn't been that severe in Puerto Rico, but it does rain a good deal in the fall.

If you would decide to go there at another time, I would recommend the Westin Rio Mar hotel. What a terrific place. In 2000, I spent more than 150 nights there due to work. It was a great home away from home.

I agree with your thoughts on Maui. DH and I were married there and spent 20 days in Hawaii. I want to go back every year, but DH says no. We'll see.

Cheryl

[BosunsWife]

We've done the Outer Banks twice and its very relaxing, but not a lot to do so it depends on what your idea of a vacation is. Also, since October is hurricane season, it can be rather iffy since they do get evacuated for hurricane threats.

Cancun sounds nice. My parents have also enjoyed Cabo San Lucas for a relaxing vacation - again, not a lot of touristy things to do.

Nantucket Island is nice, very crowded in the summer though. October might be a bit chilly if you are looking for sun.

[slknight]

I'd have to agree with the rest of the crowd and say that the East Coast/Caribbean might not be the best choice. That's prime hurricane season. Although the weather might be perfect, you never know.

If you don't want to go back to Maui, what about one of the other Hawaiian islands? We just got back from Kauai and it was awesome. Although we've been to Hawaii twice now, all of the islands are so different. You could have a totaly different trip/experience than you did last time. Just a thought.

Edited to add - well, I just noticed that you want some nightlife. There's not too much of that on Kaui, but there are some very good restaurants.

[Abby]

If you're thinking about the caribbean, I'd suggest Cozumel. I've been to Cozumel, Cancun, Jamaica and Grand Cayman and can say that I think Cozumel is definitely my favorite. You get so much value for your money. The thing I didn't care for in Cancun and Cayman is that the culture isn't very discernible; when I go somewhere, I want to feel like I've been somewhere different! I think you get that in Cozumel.

[Jewel]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone! I'd like to stay away from the East Coast during October only 'cause of the hurricane possibilities, but DH thinks I'm a coward. :rolleyes: Now I'm starting to think this vacation could be late July/Early August OR October, depending on fares...well, on fares and how my body shapes up in the next few months! :eek:

Now I'm wondering about Mexico, but also about one of the beaches on the Travel Channel yesterday, Coronado Beach in San Diego. Anyone been there?

[LaraW]

Originally posted by Jewel

Now I'm wondering about Mexico, but also about one of the beaches on the Travel Channel yesterday, Coronado Beach in San Diego. Anyone been there?

Jewel, just FYI - DH and I tried to go to Mexico (Cancun and Cozumel) for our honeymoon and we got diverted due to a hurricane. We were going the last week of October. We were on a cruise, and we ended up going to Key West (as planned), Freeport and Nassau, Bahamas instead. Still a fun trip! ;)

Something to keep in mind. I don't know where in Mexico you were thinking of. We would like to try to go to Cancun, but not in October! :)

[BosunsWife]

I've been to San Diego but we didn't stay in Coronado. We did visit there one evening to say that we had been there and to see the Hotel Coronado (I think that is it). It is beautiful (hotel) and the beach is stunning (or was in 1993). We were there in time for sunset and had a wonderful walk on the beach watching the sunset.

We were there for a belated honeymoon, but the main reason was to see the Grateful Dead in concert (two shows back to back)! We flew down from Washington and it was December. If I remember right, we wore shorts and short sleeved t-shirts the whole time.

[KristaMB]

San Diego meets all of your criteria! Coronado is beautiful, and you can also enjoy the beaches in La Jolla and Del Mar. We have tons of great places to eat and shop, and you can hit the Gaslamp distict downtown for the nightlife.

If you come to San Diego, it will be less crowded in October than July/August. (We get a lot of folks trying to escaspe the Arizona heat during the summer.)

[Kristine]

San Diego is really a great city, but I can't honestly imagine getting in the ocean during October. The Pacific Ocean never gets very warm even during the summer, and usually by October I wouldn't even put my toes in :) (okay, okay, I really HATE cold ocean water!). The weather is also semi-unpredictable.....there could be a heat wave with temps in the 80s or a cold spell in the 60s. But I guess you have to risk the weather no matter where you go!

[KristaMB]

Kristine, you're probably right about getting in the ocean in October. I somehow spaced it on that aspect. ;) Jewel, if you want to play in the ocean, then summer time might be better.

Okay, being the big nerd that I am, I checked Farmers Almanac for 2000 and 2001. One year at Coronado the temperature for August 1st was 86 and the next year is was 71. For October 1st in the same years it was 71 and 82. (It doesn't list the water temperature)

[AzAnne]

Originally posted by KristaMB
If you come to San Diego, it will be less crowded in October than July/August. (We get a lot of folks trying to escaspe the Arizona heat during the summer.)

HEY! I resemble that remark ;) :D

[nmody]

Jewel:

Puerto Vallarta is nice (we stayed at the La Jolla de Mismaloya...for all you movie buffs, I think this is where Night of the Iguanas was filmed). I think we went in November and the temperature was still in the upper 80s!

We just got back from Puerto Rico in March and it is quite the gem of the Caribbean! You get the culture, the shopping, the nightlife, and still get to use American dollars! (CCHHBB, we stayed at the Westin Rio Mar as well!! It was a great hotel with so much to do right on premises!)

How about some place really exotic like in the Pacific Rim??? Fiji, Tahiti????

Nima

[Jewel]

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone!! :) We decided to book our 'beach' vacation for the last week in July this year and take a different shorter vacation in October for our anniversary. Here inlies the dilemma...

I get two weeks of vacation per year. DH gets four weeks. He always spends at least one of those weeks back in Pittsburgh with his family. I started a new job last year and only got one week of vacation, and I wasn't going to waste (gasp!) that one week on my in-laws, so we went to Maui together instead on my one week. :D He went to PA alone. THIS year I know that I'm going to have to spend my second week of vacation in PA with him. I missed last year and my in-laws are pouting. :( Sooooo...looks like some time in October or November I'll be going back with him to PA, and our anniversary will be a 3-day Romantic Getaway or something, I have no idea where. I just know that if I don't go to PA with him this year for my second week of vacation I will put myself in a bad light with my in-laws, and I cherish my relationship with them too much to ruin it. ;)

So yesterday I found the perfect trip for us this summer! DH and I are flying out of Seattle on a Saturday morning to the San Jose, CA airport and renting a car. We've got 4 nights in a Beach Resort in Monterey, and then the next three nights we'll stay somewhere else in that vacinity, I just haven't made the reservations yet! I found round-trip airfare for $137 each :eek: and I found a beach resort room in Monterey for $104 per night :eek: (average price in Monterey/Carmel/Santa Cruz was $169. Santa Cruz Motel 6 was even $175!) and I got 8 days in a full-size rental car for $250! :eek: PERFECT! We adore the Monterey/Seaside area, and we would love to retire there someday, so DH wants to really get a feel for it while we're there. We'll travel down the coast the last three days a bit or maybe even hit the Wine Country for those three days, and we'll be back in San Jose by the following Saturday night for the flight home!

It ain't Mexico, but it'll be perfect for us...I checked out Puerto Vallarta and the cheapest we could do as a package deal was $1500 total, and that was staying in a bargain motel, and we decided when we did Mexico together we'd rather do it right. So on July 27 we're off to Monterey! Woohoo! :D

[Angela]

Jewel--at least when your "stuck" at your in-laws there is now a Penzey's in P-burgh to go to!! :)

[Jewel]

Originally posted by Angela
Jewel--at least when your "stuck" at your in-laws there is now a Penzey's in P-burgh to go to!! :)

..... :eek: ..... FIELD TRIP!!!! :D