4 days, no kids, unlimited budget - where would you go?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What time of year and what do you like to do, ie are you looking for relax on the beach, explore a foreign culture, try a new adventure, etc.

Lots of great options, the key is finding one that suits you and your travel window.

Sorry -- the time of year question is a good one. We'd likely go in May.

As for what to do, we're pretty open. We've done both cities and beach, foreign and domestic. We haven't done too much nature-y stuff, but if it was a cool trip, I'd consider almost anything (although I'd like to to be the sort of trip that we wouldn't take the kids on, at least for several years). That's sort of what we're struggling with. So I'm interested in the full gamut of ideas -- destination, resorts/hotels, activities, etc.

I was going to say skiing in Aspen but May is too late. If you reconsider and want to go in March, do that!

May, NYC would be fun and so easy.

They said they don't want to spend 10k so I think Aspen is out.

?? I just looked into aspen for Christmas break and it was no more expensive than any other ski area in the west. We could have gone as a family of 4 for less than $10k and that's with lift tickets. I wouldnt go for 2 reasons - it requires a connecting flight, and May isn't a great time at ski areas. in April you can ski, in June it's nice, but May is kind of blah-and can be muddy (for hiking/mountain biking,etc) with the snow melt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Plus, am I the only one who luxuriates in long flights without kids? I can read a whole novel, or watch three movies, and eat whatever I want, and no one bothers me. It's wonderful.

I only fly a few times a year these days.
I look forward to it for a number of reasons, and then I'm at the airport, and then in coach. And I think, "I was looking forward to this?"

[Anonymous]

Of all these ideas the ones I liked best were: New York, London, Dublin, and Puerto Rico.

London and Dublin are your closest European destinations although I still think 4 days is a tight turnaround time.

New York in a nice hotel and at a relaxed pace would be great. You could see a show(s), have nice dinners, visit museums, shopping, art, culture, nightlife, maybe you have friends there you could catch up with - maybe sporting event, may should be nice weather for outside stuff also,

Puerto Rico also close enough you could get in a little beach and culture time. I also like the Mexico City idea.

[Anonymous]

Costa Rica - four seasons there
Four seasons Nevis is also lovely
Napa or Sonoma
Charleston, SC - quaint, great art galleries, amazing restaurants

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What time of year and what do you like to do, ie are you looking for relax on the beach, explore a foreign culture, try a new adventure, etc.

Lots of great options, the key is finding one that suits you and your travel window.

Sorry -- the time of year question is a good one. We'd likely go in May.

As for what to do, we're pretty open. We've done both cities and beach, foreign and domestic. We haven't done too much nature-y stuff, but if it was a cool trip, I'd consider almost anything (although I'd like to to be the sort of trip that we wouldn't take the kids on, at least for several years). That's sort of what we're struggling with. So I'm interested in the full gamut of ideas -- destination, resorts/hotels, activities, etc.

I was going to say skiing in Aspen but May is too late. If you reconsider and want to go in March, do that!

May, NYC would be fun and so easy.

I think Aspen is not welcoming for the lower-spenders but perhaps I am wrong.

They said they don't want to spend 10k so I think Aspen is out.

?? I just looked into aspen for Christmas break and it was no more expensive than any other ski area in the west. We could have gone as a family of 4 for less than $10k and that's with lift tickets. I wouldnt go for 2 reasons - it requires a connecting flight, and May isn't a great time at ski areas. in April you can ski, in June it's nice, but May is kind of blah-and can be muddy (for hiking/mountain biking,etc) with the snow melt.

[Anonymous]

Istanbul

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Plus, am I the only one who luxuriates in long flights without kids? I can read a whole novel, or watch three movies, and eat whatever I want, and no one bothers me. It's wonderful.

I only fly a few times a year these days.
I look forward to it for a number of reasons, and then I'm at the airport, and then in coach. And I think, "I was looking forward to this?"

Yes, but transatlantic flights are still nice. two not terrible meals, your own TV with choice of movies, and the seats aren't that small. And I fly coach. The horrors of air travel are greatly exaggerated except when flying with children, which I despise because I wok my ass off to keep them silent as church mice so everyone else has a good time. But anyway....Dublin is still nice for 4 days, did that a few years ago and had a great time.

[Anonymous]

Europe is really out. You will spend two of the four days traveling plus the time difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Plus, am I the only one who luxuriates in long flights without kids? I can read a whole novel, or watch three movies, and eat whatever I want, and no one bothers me. It's wonderful.

I only fly a few times a year these days.
I look forward to it for a number of reasons, and then I'm at the airport, and then in coach. And I think, "I was looking forward to this?"

Yes, but transatlantic flights are still nice. two not terrible meals, your own TV with choice of movies, and the seats aren't that small. And I fly coach. The horrors of air travel are greatly exaggerated except when flying with children, which I despise because I wok my ass off to keep them silent as church mice so everyone else has a good time. But anyway....Dublin is still nice for 4 days, did that a few years ago and had a great time.

Which airlines serve "not terrible meals". I must be picking the wrong airline. Last flight coming home from Italy - worst pasta dish ever. Some kind of cruel joke.

[Anonymous]

Nayara Hotel, Spa and Gardens in Costa Rica! Tripadvisor just rated it number 2 in the world. If you could add one more day to your trip to make up for some travel time that would be perfect because once you get there you will not want to leave.
My absolute favorite place on Earth. Beautiful, luxurious and the most friendly and welcoming upscale hotel we have ever stayed in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Europe is really out. You will spend two of the four days traveling plus the time difference.

I agree, yet many people are still recommending it.

[Anonymous]

We've done a 4-night getaway from DC a few times.

- Napa/Sonoma - easy non-stop flight on Virgin America!
- Seattle in summer, gorgeous - also went to San Juan Island
- Key West - had to change planes in Miami but this is a fun spot!
- New Orleans is a blast, but pace yourself!
- Jamaica is next (non-stop from BWI)

The European trips we've done have been 5 nights.

[Anonymous]

2 days in Charleston at Charleston Place or the Wentworth
2 days in Kiawah at the Sanctuary

1 hour nonstop flight.

I think travel time is key here. You need to keep it short.
We did 4 nights Cancun at the Ritz. It was nice, that that's the farthest I would go in that timeframe.

[Anonymous]

Not sure if the OP is still reading this thread, but I just talked to a friend who spent 4 days at Rosewood Mayakoba which is about 25 miles from Cancun. Sounds HEAVENLY! I'd go there.

[Anonymous]

I'm not a casino person, but I'd want to do adulty things that I'd have to leave my kids with a sitter to enjoy, like scuba diving, hikes longer than 3 miles, drinking and late nights with live music, lingering in art museums. St. Lucia Jazz Fest, New Orleans (Jazz Fest?), SXSW in Austin, Coachella...