Spring Break - Hawaii or..... ?

[Anonymous]

Since covid, we've been living large on travel. Doing 2 or 3 international trips each year, to pretty cool locations. We're in the whole "life is short, we both work insane hours, DS is going to college soon and is the kind of kid who is never coming home again, so why not just have fun" stage. DH and I did a lot of travel before DS was born, and now we're enjoying showing him the world. It's by far my favorite thing we do.

Spring break is in mid-march. DS is 14 and loves travel, loves to eat new food, has unending energy to walk, and is just generally a good sport about whatever we're doing.

We live in a beach town, so aren't interested in a beach or "relaxing" trip. We've been to Europe several times with DS, and Europe weather is not great during March. So I think Europe is mostly off the table for this particular trip. South America is also off the table for us. And I think Oceania is too far for just a week (though Australia is one of my favorite places ever).

We've done a bunch of big cities in Europe. We did South Africa (safari and Cape Town - my favorite trip). We've done a bunch in Canada, and taken him to Japan - which he adored. Just to give a flavor of how and where we like to travel.

We've had a bunch of friends rave about their trips to Hawaii. A few years ago, Hawaii was on DS's short list for a long time. So I was assuming we'd go to Hawaii this year. But it feels like none of us are super excited about it now. It seems very expensive, far to get to, and maybe pretty touristy? But I just don't know that much about it. I've been assured that the best parts are not a beach/relaxing place, but are active and outdoorsy.

I should add that DH travels so much for work, that we can typically get upgraded to first class - which makes a lot of these distant locations more viable (and a lot cheaper!!)

So where else should we go that's not continental US, probably not Europe (unless somewhere with good weather), not South America? Or is Hawaii really that amazing that we should do it?

First world problems, I know!

[Anonymous]

Cabo

[Anonymous]

We did Maui and Kauai a few years ago and it totally lived up to the hype. Book through Costco to save money

[Anonymous]

Can I just clarify? You’ve been to all those places, but you’ve never been to Hawaii?

And is the beach town you live in in the east or the west USA?

[Anonymous]

Why not South America?

[Anonymous]

The weather in Seville or Portugal should be nice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cabo

Not op. I wish Cabo was easier to get to from DC. Or is not bad? I like direct flights.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can I just clarify? You’ve been to all those places, but you’ve never been to Hawaii?

And is the beach town you live in in the east or the west USA?

Op here. Never been to Hawaii. It’s just never appealed. Dh has been almost everywhere on earth (but for a lot of countries in Africa that just aren’t on the work or pleasure list) and we’ve just never felt the urge. We are on a beach in Florida. It’s always felt silly to fly so far to go to …… a beach. But this is where I’m seeking input about if it really is that special. More amazing than taking ds to Vietnam, or Bhutan, or Morocco? (Just naming some random places that we’ve been or have heard good things about).

[Anonymous]

We did Hawaii last spring break and was amazing.

[Anonymous]

Why not the Galapagos if you think Hawaii will be boring? Though I’ve been all over the world, and still love Hawaii!

[Anonymous]

Lapland, Finland

https://www.kakslauttanen.fi/

Lots of snow in March. Rent a log cabin with a glass igloo. Sleigh rides, snow mobile rides, husky dog rides, cross country skiing. Perhaps Northern lights.

[Anonymous]

I absolutely adore Hawaii but I feel like your expectations will be too high and you will be disappointed. Also I find the time change challenging for just a week (although we just did 10 days which I guess is not that much more).

I’m not sure why you’ve struck off South America but what about Belize and you could do amazing snorkeling, amazing Mayan ruins, and some jungle tours?

Cabo is not super exhibiting unless you are gojng to really lean into the marine life tours like go to Cabo pulmo and isla spiritu. There are some nice cruises or trips — check Cabo expeditions or Lindbad.

Galapagos is another idea for spring break but you said no South America.

I might also think about something like northern Spain and hiking part of the Camino Santiago, or seeing some of the small medieval towns in central Spain.

Another idea is Mexico City and some of the awesome colonial towns in central Mexico — cuiernavaca, Puebla, etc. again, weather will be nice, food will be great and some awesome historical/cultural things to see. You could also see the Aztec pyramids and the archeological museum in Mexico City.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cabo

Not op. I wish Cabo was easier to get to from DC. Or is not bad? I like direct flights.

You can get direct flights but only on some days. If you stop in Texas, it’s basically in the way anyway. We’ve been a bunch of times because my parents used to have a time share in a really lovely resort there. I avoided it for years thinking “ugh time share” and then googled it one day and was like “omg, why are we not gojng there????”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lapland, Finland

https://www.kakslauttanen.fi/

Lots of snow in March. Rent a log cabin with a glass igloo. Sleigh rides, snow mobile rides, husky dog rides, cross country skiing. Perhaps Northern lights.

If you want cold, you can do a lot of this in Breckenridge if your spring break is on the early side. We did dog sledding there last year and it was so much fun!! And the dogs really love it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Since covid, we've been living large on travel. Doing 2 or 3 international trips each year, to pretty cool locations. We're in the whole "life is short, we both work insane hours, DS is going to college soon and is the kind of kid who is never coming home again, so why not just have fun" stage. DH and I did a lot of travel before DS was born, and now we're enjoying showing him the world. It's by far my favorite thing we do.

Spring break is in mid-march. DS is 14 and loves travel, loves to eat new food, has unending energy to walk, and is just generally a good sport about whatever we're doing.

We live in a beach town, so aren't interested in a beach or "relaxing" trip. We've been to Europe several times with DS, and Europe weather is not great during March. So I think Europe is mostly off the table for this particular trip. South America is also off the table for us. And I think Oceania is too far for just a week (though Australia is one of my favorite places ever).

We've done a bunch of big cities in Europe. We did South Africa (safari and Cape Town - my favorite trip). We've done a bunch in Canada, and taken him to Japan - which he adored. Just to give a flavor of how and where we like to travel.

We've had a bunch of friends rave about their trips to Hawaii. A few years ago, Hawaii was on DS's short list for a long time. So I was assuming we'd go to Hawaii this year. But it feels like none of us are super excited about it now. It seems very expensive, far to get to, and maybe pretty touristy? But I just don't know that much about it. I've been assured that the best parts are not a beach/relaxing place, but are active and outdoorsy.

I should add that DH travels so much for work, that we can typically get upgraded to first class - which makes a lot of these distant locations more viable (and a lot cheaper!!)

So where else should we go that's not continental US, probably not Europe (unless somewhere with good weather), not South America? Or is Hawaii really that amazing that we should do it?

First world problems, I know!

Yeah, COVID has definitely made exotic and international travel significantly more affordable and attainable to the middle class. Glad you’ve been able to finally taste a flavor of the finer life, OP, though everything in travel has been substantially downgraded as a result of COVID. Today’s Four Seasons is like yesterday’s Holiday Inn. It’s a wonderfully delicious parallel to the COVID-induced degradation of the stock market. Reddit-reading, robinhood-wielding retail investors that have dirtied the entire investment landscape.

In any case, I digress; if you cannot afford to make it all the way to Australia or New Zealand for spring break (fantastic fall weather there, so you’re really missing out), Hawaii is a great compromise. DH and I have been 40+ times and to every island. Would recommend the Big Island right now, especially with an adventurous teen. Incidentally, we took our DS to Morocco last spring break and it was very well received. Spent time in Marrakech, Casablanca, Fez, and Rabat. Weather was lovely. If beaches are a must, consider Tenerife or Seychelles.