Best and Worst Family Spring Break Vacation Spots of 2024

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Well my in laws told us they were selling their cabin in junky East Tennessee this year, so we went there to see it one last time . Once there we were told they had actually changed their mind and also my husband’s uncle and aunt were there to stay as well!! Wheeee!! The 4 boomers were constantly cold so the house was at 74 degrees with a FIRE the whole time, almost no food since they don’t seem to eat at that age, and the uncle just yapped nonstop about nothing. Telling me all about his Facebook feed. Also the bed was uncomfortable. 0 stars, do not recommend.

Couldn’t you go out and buy food? Or are there no grocery stores in “junky” East TN??

Yeah, a real grocery store is 20 minutes away unless you want to eat all your meals from Dollar General, which, along with smoke shops, inexplicably proliferate the area. Going to the store and buying things to have on hand isn’t the same thing as having a fully stocked kitchen to actually prepare meals, but you knew that.

So you couldn't drive 20 mins? And who wants to make 3 squares a day while on vacation?

Lady, what’s your deal? I vented briefly about the fact we canceled other spring break plans to go somewhere because we were under the impression that it was being sold when it isn’t and we could’ve gone another time and when another part of the extended family was there, which we weren’t told. All in all I would not have chosen to go during this particular week, and spent the time there cramped with other people, if I had known the house was not going anywhere, and here you are up my ass about it!

You sound pretty awful, no wonder you can't have a good time.

NP here. Leave this person alone! People came to share their worst experiences. She shared hers. It sounds bad to me too and guess what? I’m from Tennessee! Her trip didn’t sound fun though. I don’t know why you’re picking on her.

My best spring break experience: LA/Malibu/Santa Barbara. Worst: panhandle of florida (it was cold and rainy all week and there’s really nothing to do except beach/pool outdoors so we were pretty bored!) I love the beaches along 30a in the summer (and fall) but spring is not reliably warm enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’re having a great time in the Florida Keys - perfect weather. It’s not a lay on the beach vacation though. We have a VBRO condo and have been eating groceries for breakfast and lunch. We’ve been kayaking (John Pennencamp state park) or snorkeling (Islamorada) in the mornings and kids play in the condo complex pool in the afternoon until dinner. No waits at restaurants. We drove a bit further to Bahai Honda state park for beaches yesterday and it was awesome. Heading to Sombrero Beach today.

We went to the keys two years ago and o agree that it was a very nice spring break spot. I did find the hotels booked up really early though and were on the expensive side.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:We are out west skiing and first day was awful for the tween who had never been skiing. HATES it. Day long lesson was a busy as the other kid in the “new skier” group needed one on one; when we picked up our kid, all they could do is go straight down which terrified them and the instructor admitted he didn’t spend much time with my kid. We tried to go down a longer green run as a family and they had a panic attack on the slope. We are trying one more time this morning but if they are still terrified, we will have to figure out non-ski activities for me+tween while teen sibling + other parent spend the rest of the week on the slopes.

Why would you go all the way out west to ski with a kid who has never skied before? We've been working up to a trip out west by taking our kids to Deep Creek and Timberline. We won't go west until they are confident enough to ski blues and robust enough to ski for a few days in a row.

We are on cruise out of Florida to the eastern Caribbean and so far have been having fun. We strategically chose excursions at each stop to avoid crowds and so far it's been great. Beautiful weather.

How do you choose excursions that avoid crowds at cruise ship ports? Isn’t it one giant crowd?

NP but we generally don’t book through the cruise ship. And then you also can look at what the cruise ships are advertising and pick something else. If you get a small boat snorkel cruise, they often advertise that they go to the smaller sites instead of the big party boat spots, for instance. Or find a local driver (cruise critic often has recommendations) who can take you someplace a little less overrrin. I only do the cruise ship excursions if there is a good reason to do it through them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe my expectations were low since DCUM hates on it so much, but my family had an amazing time in Jamaica this week. We even took a few trips off property. This was one of my favorite trips to the Caribbean.

I don’t know why DCUM bashes Jamaica so much. We’ve been six times and never had issues. We go to Round Hill and really don’t have a need to go off the property. When we do, we use the same driver we’ve used for years. I’ve never felt unsafe.

Jamaica is one of the most beautiful places with the nicest beaches. I thought the food was surprisingly good. The crime is unfortunate and the poverty is distressing. But compared to some other carribean countries I guess it’s doing great. I agree it is unfairly bashed on this site as being low brow.

[Anonymous]

Worst: Myrtle beach. I should have headed the warnings. The weather was awful. March is really too cold for spring break. Plus it's an awful commercial place. Thank goodness for miniture gold though. At least it has that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Well my in laws told us they were selling their cabin in junky East Tennessee this year, so we went there to see it one last time . Once there we were told they had actually changed their mind and also my husband’s uncle and aunt were there to stay as well!! Wheeee!! The 4 boomers were constantly cold so the house was at 74 degrees with a FIRE the whole time, almost no food since they don’t seem to eat at that age, and the uncle just yapped nonstop about nothing. Telling me all about his Facebook feed. Also the bed was uncomfortable. 0 stars, do not recommend.

Couldn’t you go out and buy food? Or are there no grocery stores in “junky” East TN??

Yeah, a real grocery store is 20 minutes away unless you want to eat all your meals from Dollar General, which, along with smoke shops, inexplicably proliferate the area. Going to the store and buying things to have on hand isn’t the same thing as having a fully stocked kitchen to actually prepare meals, but you knew that.

So you couldn't drive 20 mins? And who wants to make 3 squares a day while on vacation?

Lady, what’s your deal? I vented briefly about the fact we canceled other spring break plans to go somewhere because we were under the impression that it was being sold when it isn’t and we could’ve gone another time and when another part of the extended family was there, which we weren’t told. All in all I would not have chosen to go during this particular week, and spent the time there cramped with other people, if I had known the house was not going anywhere, and here you are up my ass about it!

You sound pretty awful, no wonder you can't have a good time.

Are you the aunt / uncle? Just let PP be 🙄

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well my in laws told us they were selling their cabin in junky East Tennessee this year, so we went there to see it one last time . Once there we were told they had actually changed their mind and also my husband’s uncle and aunt were there to stay as well!! Wheeee!! The 4 boomers were constantly cold so the house was at 74 degrees with a FIRE the whole time, almost no food since they don’t seem to eat at that age, and the uncle just yapped nonstop about nothing. Telling me all about his Facebook feed. Also the bed was uncomfortable. 0 stars, do not recommend.

Couldn’t you go out and buy food? Or are there no grocery stores in “junky” East TN??

Yeah, a real grocery store is 20 minutes away unless you want to eat all your meals from Dollar General, which, along with smoke shops, inexplicably proliferate the area. Going to the store and buying things to have on hand isn’t the same thing as having a fully stocked kitchen to actually prepare meals, but you knew that.

So you couldn't drive 20 mins? And who wants to make 3 squares a day while on vacation?

Lady, what’s your deal? I vented briefly about the fact we canceled other spring break plans to go somewhere because we were under the impression that it was being sold when it isn’t and we could’ve gone another time and when another part of the extended family was there, which we weren’t told. All in all I would not have chosen to go during this particular week, and spent the time there cramped with other people, if I had known the house was not going anywhere, and here you are up my ass about it!

You sound pretty awful, no wonder you can't have a good time.

NP here. Leave this person alone! People came to share their worst experiences. She shared hers. It sounds bad to me too and guess what? I’m from Tennessee! Her trip didn’t sound fun though. I don’t know why you’re picking on her.

My best spring break experience: LA/Malibu/Santa Barbara. Worst: panhandle of florida (it was cold and rainy all week and there’s really nothing to do except beach/pool outdoors so we were pretty bored!) I love the beaches along 30a in the summer (and fall) but spring is not reliably warm enough.

Different NP. Seriously, back off. It does sound horrible, I don't get why this PP is leaning in hard like it's their fault. She doesn't sound awful, she sounds like she's sucking it up through a shitty situation.

[Anonymous]

Palm Springs is gorgeous this week.

Worst spring break was rural Maryland in March, but Myrtle Beach in March was also very bad: cold, and everything closed.

[Anonymous]

Loved Curacao. Just the right mix. Not crowded. Some great beaches. If you want cheesy night life and crowds go to Aruba. Bonaire is really low key if you are looking for that.

[Anonymous]

If you want beach weather during spring break you really need to go south of Tampa or Caribbean. Anything further north is a roll of the dice for temperature. Some years you get lucky other years not so much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Loved Curacao. Just the right mix. Not crowded. Some great beaches. If you want cheesy night life and crowds go to Aruba. Bonaire is really low key if you are looking for that.

Do you have a hotel rec for Curaçao? We are looking into it for Christmas break but have seen mixed reviews for the Mariott property online.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well my in laws told us they were selling their cabin in junky East Tennessee this year, so we went there to see it one last time . Once there we were told they had actually changed their mind and also my husband’s uncle and aunt were there to stay as well!! Wheeee!! The 4 boomers were constantly cold so the house was at 74 degrees with a FIRE the whole time, almost no food since they don’t seem to eat at that age, and the uncle just yapped nonstop about nothing. Telling me all about his Facebook feed. Also the bed was uncomfortable. 0 stars, do not recommend.

Couldn’t you go out and buy food? Or are there no grocery stores in “junky” East TN??

Yeah, a real grocery store is 20 minutes away unless you want to eat all your meals from Dollar General, which, along with smoke shops, inexplicably proliferate the area. Going to the store and buying things to have on hand isn’t the same thing as having a fully stocked kitchen to actually prepare meals, but you knew that.

So you couldn't drive 20 mins? And who wants to make 3 squares a day while on vacation?

Word. 20 minutes is nothing. East TN can be really beautiful. I would have enjoyed going to the store and cooking some fun meals for everyone but I am used to that because when we go to Appalachia to visit my dad, I always take over the kitchen. The man can’t cook and is very grateful.

I did go to the store and cook for everyone! Went and bought enough food to cook dinner for 8 and as soon as we walked back in the door and I started cooking the uncle and aunt left because even though they had decided to come during the days they knew we were going to be there , the aunt then acted like a martyr and told my FIL she didn’t feel comfortable eating food we had bought and cooked. So I bought and cooked a dinner for 8 and they literally walked out lol.

[Anonymous]

And to be clear, cooking meals for 8, 4 of which are not even my immediate family, was NOT my idea of a great spring break, but as soon as we got there and I realized the situation I just sucked it up and dealt with it. Smiled my way through and then vented here later. I too would have preferred being at a beach or resort or cool vacation like everyone else on this thread and would’ve been had we not thought that house was imminently being sold and it was our kids’ last chance to go! Lesson learned.

[Anonymous]

I am currently suffering on my spring break vacation with my kids and husband. I think this trip is the beginning of the end for us. Actually it's been the end for a while, but I really need to start planning.

[Anonymous]

I'm the OP: so many good suggestions here! I guess I need to get to Curacao soon