Now that finals are here, I’m in the mood to ignore them. I think I’ve just about convinced Marty that next August we should take a long vacation. I’ll have finished taking the bar, and hopefully he’ll be just about ready to start school. So that means the timing will be perfect for a two-week get away! Woo-hoo!
The fun part is deciding where to go. Here are some of the places I’ve been looking at/dreaming about:
Pros: All-inclusive, off the beaten path, small hotel, by a beach, stunning location, not too far to travel
Cons: A little pricey, no big sand beach, we’ve already been to Jamaica
The Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia
Pros: Awesome spa packages, tons of activities and tons of lounging opportunities, don’t need a passport, can drive there in a day (no airports, hooray!), only a little pricey
Cons: Not that exotic, no beaches, not all-inclusive (no butler to bring me drinks on the beach)
Pros: All-inclusive, not tacky-cruise-style ships, possibility of spending an extra few nights in Italy, so much to do!
Cons: Long flight to get there, pricey, Marty’s never been on a cruise and he’s afraid he’ll feel “cooped up” (says the man who spends most of his time in a tiny apartment).
Pros: Private island, secluded, not overly pricey (for what it offers), great snorkeling, great alone time
Cons: Not terribly active (could be a pro or a con), kind of hard to get to, a little out of our price range.
Pros: Really exotic, private island, awesome snorkeling, great price (for the actual stay), someplace that nobody we know has ever been.
Cons: Really long and expensive flights, Mozambique isn’t the world’s safest place (but this is a private island, so it’s somewhat safer, and Mozambique isn’t horribly unsafe).
Ireland
via National Geographic
Pros: I’m of Irish descent, so it’d be really cool to see where my family is from, could easily be done on a budget, could also easily be really indulgent, see things at our own pace, get to hear lots of amazing accents.
Cons: No beach drinks or sunbathing are likely, RyanAir is now charging people to pee, and the flight will be long.
There are more options, but those are my current personal preferences. The only other place I’m toying with is Tahiti, but that’s just so far away, and the rooms are so expensive (because if I go to Tahiti, then I want an overwater bungalow, otherwise what’s the point?). There are also several great all inclusive resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean that I’m considering. I just want to get it narrowed down to a couple choices before I present the ideas to Marty.
Any thoughts?
They all sound good to me.
Ireland is on my list of places to visit. Greece, too.