Random Travel Thread

In Cbus last week; played Tartan Fields Golf Club in Dublin on Wednesday, hit the Memorial Tournament Thursday.  Hyde Park steakhouse beside the Embassy Suites a real plus. 

Has anyone been to Puerto Rico? Two of my gal friends are going this weekend and need recommendations. 

Because of my retarded job, vacationing is difficult for me.  With that said, I get one weekend off a month and I am hoping to do a 4 day weekend in St Louis and Kansas City.  Just trying to see a couple more ballparks.

posted by wes_mantooth

Because of my retarded job, vacationing is difficult for me.  With that said, I get one weekend off a month and I am hoping to do a 4 day weekend in St Louis and Kansas City.  Just trying to see a couple more ballparks.

Also you owe me five Meth Gary days, and I won't forget it. 

Puerto Rico is fun and super cheap. No great recommendations because the majority of the time I just drank and chilled on the beach (Condado).

We did hike El Yunque at dawn, that was awesome. Go very early though, place gets rammed with tourists.

Heading to Pigeon Forge for a week at the end of the month for the boy's baseball tournament. Should be an interesting week with the Cal Ripken Experience.

Just got back from Punta Cana. Anyone that's been, did you have to deal with massive piles of seaweed on the beach? 

Not on the beach, but there was a ton of seaweed in the water near the shore when I was there. This was over 15 years ago. I assume it's a time of the year thing. 

posted by justincredible

Just got back from Punta Cana. Anyone that's been, did you have to deal with massive piles of seaweed on the beach? 

Heard this was a problem when we went, but didn't see much. I think it is where Punta Cana is located and I think it is worse in June.

I'm trying to book a week in August to a driveable beach destination, but haven't booked anything yet. Not many options with a 6 month old.

There were piles taller than my wife. It was a sight to see. We didn't end up spending any time on the beach, we would just wander down every couple days and watch them cleaning up the piles.

Has anyone done an all-inclusive in Costa Rica? Or have any recommendations for anything in Costa Rica? We want to do an all-inclusive every other year, and have tapped Costa Rica as our 2020 trip.

Nope, but CR is on my list. I know a ton of people who've been there recently, but mostly focused on outdoor stuff, no all inclusidve.

I'd like to go there to properly learn how to surf. 

I just learned it's possible that I don't have as many vaca days remaining in 2018 as I originally thought. I'm fucking pissed.

I was told to look at Costa Rica for my honeymoon. I want to do all inclusive somewhere tropical. We basically just want to sit on a beach or by a pool for 4-5 days. Keep it under $3-4k. Any suggestions? I’ve looked at Puerto Rico (the favorite rn), Bahamas, and punta Cana already. 

posted by SportsAndLady

I was told to look at Costa Rica for my honeymoon. I want to do all inclusive somewhere tropical. We basically just want to sit on a beach or by a pool for 4-5 days. Keep it under $3-4k. Any suggestions? I’ve looked at Puerto Rico (the favorite rn), Bahamas, and punta Cana already. 

To keep it cheaper, I would imagine Punta Cana is your best bet. Cheaper flights and the rates seem cheaper (always iffy during hurricane season though). Costa Rica would probably be a waste if you don't want to do the activities associated with the jungle and stuff. Cancun would probably be cheap too unless that isn't tropical enough.  I haven't been to an all inclusive in Puerto Rico but when I looked for locations I didn't see that in my budget.

Edit to add: The bahamas are trash.  

Also, the food is way hit or miss, probably the most important part. You'll get beer, liquor, pool, beach, everywhere. Make sure the food reviews are good. I'd also recommend staying in an adults only part if they have one, as well as a resort with room service. We went on a faux honeymoon and 1) kids suck and 2) lunch back at the room to recover, or at midnight was clutch. 

I've done 3 all inclusives in my life. 

Punta Cana (Iberostar), Negril (Beaches), and Lucea (Grand Palladium)

All we're great, yet different. The Negril one was by far the best because the resort was more higher end compared to the other two and way more expensive. Also, Jamaican people are just awesome.

Food is a big factor for me. The food the 2nd time in Jamaica (Grand Palladium Resort) was fucking trash. The resort itself was amazing though. Just do your research and read lots of reviews. You get what you pay for.

Punta Cana, I was 16, so I was just happy my parents allowed me to drink. It was a great trip, we did a crazy open air bus trip. 

5 days is perfect and 4k would definitely get you some lavish accommodations. I've seen decent ones going for $1200/person.

If I was interested in another, I'd check out Puerta Vallarta. I've heard great things. 

Our Punta Cana trip (Secrets Royal Beach) was roughly $3100 for 6 nights, with direct flights from Cincinnati. Food was good, not great. Staff was great. Presidente is a decent beer to drink all day.

posted by SportsAndLady

I was told to look at Costa Rica for my honeymoon. I want to do all inclusive somewhere tropical. We basically just want to sit on a beach or by a pool for 4-5 days. Keep it under $3-4k. Any suggestions? I’ve looked at Puerto Rico (the favorite rn), Bahamas, and punta Cana already. 

Aruba, Turks and Caicos. Both have great weather that time of year and the beaches and water are amazing. 

My friend did just get back from Puerto Rico and she loved it. They didn't do all-inclusive, but she said the people were amazing, they found plenty of great places to eat and the beaches they went to were really nice. 

Oh and the Bahamas are definitely my least favorite of the Caribbean islands I've been to. It was still fun, but I wouldn't go back. 

^ Aruba is great. We went there on our honeymoon (not all-inclusive) and had a great time.

What's the deal with the Bahamas?

posted by justincredible

There were piles taller than my wife. It was a sight to see. We didn't end up spending any time on the beach, we would just wander down every couple days and watch them cleaning up the piles.

Looks like a good place to swim to me.