As someone who wrote a dissertation, I am going to caution against this approach. You are going to use up days of your time on travel, setting up your work space, orienting yourself, and settling in. And it's going to be very difficult to resist the allure of relaxing in a relaxing setting. I also predict that something you need will be left behind, even if you've done this entire thing on your laptop.

Take ten days at the library and be very rigorous. As soon as you finish the chapter, treat yourself to a real vacation for the past few days of your leave. My guess is that if you do that, you'll finish the chapter in a few days, and have so.much.time to relax.

You're going to need time off for revisions, too, once you turn the thing in.

Congrats, btw! You're almost done!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid spent a lot of time in Starbucks.

Was it a peaceful and warm Starbucks?

I guess so because he got it done. Just received his engineering PhD in December.

Fairhope had snow last week. It's likely to be warmish, but you never know. Also, it's right next to Mobile, which is in the middle of Mardi Gras season. It may be hard to find something affordable.

I'd try south Florida or even the Keys.

Key Biscayne

Anonymous wrote:Fairhope, Alabama or Amelia Island (quaint cottages or bed and breakfast in both locations)

You wouldn't be unusual in Fairhope -- they claim to be home to more published writers per capita than any other place in the country.

http://beautifulfairhope.com/about/fairhope-authors/

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sedona, Arizona

Sunny, sure, but the high tomorrow is going be 46 degrees. The desert gets cold in winter, people.

You may have warmer temps in February with an Arizona location like Tucson.

Anonymous wrote:My kid spent a lot of time in Starbucks.

Was it a peaceful and warm Starbucks?

My DH was able to study for his qualifiers at the Gaylord Palms in Florida. Took the auto train down and then sat on the balcony inside the hotel overlooking the indoor garden. Not too expensive and a constant temp.

Fairhope, Alabama or Amelia Island (quaint cottages or bed and breakfast in both locations)

Anonymous wrote:Sedona, Arizona

Sunny, sure, but the high tomorrow is going be 46 degrees. The desert gets cold in winter, people.

My kid spent a lot of time in Starbucks.

I assume you don't want to spend too much $ if you're a PhD student? Several DCUM threads give glowing reviews of the Florida and Alabama Gulf coast. You can search the archives yourself but here's one that I turned up: http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/539314.page

Sedona, Arizona

TulumMexico
St Lucia
Amelia island Florida
Islamorada-Florida keys

I am taking two weeks off work in February to finish the last chapter of my PhD dissertation. It is such a weight around my neck that I think I need to get away and work on it in a new location.

I live somewhere very cold and dark so I am looking for somewhere that would be sunny and warm, conducive to sitting and writing all day, and pleasant surroundings. I am not going to be doing activities or excursions - just sitting and writing so I need relative quiet. I need very good, reliable internet. It desn't need to be exotic. I don't want to be completely isolated. It would be nice to be able to see humans at some point in the day without going too far.

Maybe a cabin by a beach or a lake?

Any suggestions where I can go in February that would be t shirt weather?

I am open to domestic or international options (if not too far).