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Post by MB on Oct 29, 2004 15:46:43 GMT -5
Jackie,
I will still be your driver even though you have a bad memory! We are talking Feb or Mar and looking for WARM weather.
MB
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Post by MB on Oct 29, 2004 16:34:30 GMT -5
You know guys, if we did compromise on the warm weather, (now Susan hold on before you hit the escape button on the computer), we could start looking at off-season properties for some great deals.
This could mean beautiful accommodations but not so beautiful weather. For example, I would be happy to host a getaway in my city. We could stay in a beautiful area but at a new Residence Inn. Last March we stayed there for a week while work was being completed on our house in a two-bedroom suite for $159 a night. Honestly, we had a terrific time. Breakfast and thingytail hour would be included. It is situated in a shopping, restaurant, museum, dining area. We could opt for another hotel (****) which anchors an enclosed shopping, dining, museum area which is connected by enclosed walkways so you would not have to go outside. A third option would be the nicest hotel (*****) with 2-4 people in a room, but let me call in a favor to have us placed on the club floor. The club floor has a stunning lounge with a beautiful view and non-stop bar and light food service. So if you looked at your hotel room as just a place to shower and sleep and the beautiful club lounge as the place to spend time with each other while waiting to go somewhere, it could be a great experience.
You would also have a guide, me, to arrange other outings to museums etc.. It would be heavy on shopping and eating and drinking and visiting and light on beautiful sunsets with tropical drinks.
The up side is no down time arranging for restaurants or sightseeing as I would do that. Some would be able to drive and others, as with all the locations, would have to fly. The down side is explaining to your family that you are going to meet a complete stranger to spend a few days with possibly complete strangers in a city that is not widely thought of as a vacation destination.
I am in no way saying that I am not interested in the warm weather spots. I am happy to go anywhere!
Back to off-season, we usually go to off-season condo places for our summer vacations because we bring 5 extra people with us. We have had some terrific penthouse accommodations for the nine of us. These vacations are heavy on spending time together.
Again, throwing out ideas and happy to have you throw them out all together!!!!!
MB
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Post by Emilysmom on Oct 29, 2004 17:32:26 GMT -5
MB, MB, MB, MB.........as tempting as all of that sounds (you DO live in a wonderful city, and you would be a fantastic tour guide), it just does not compare to a WARM place!!!
Keep thinking WARM, SUNNY, and WORRY FREE!!!
Susan
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Post by MB on Oct 29, 2004 17:35:29 GMT -5
O.K. I'm on it! I remember Steff saying that she has had great vacations by bidding on priceline I think? It was a long time ago. Dare we?
MB
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Post by Emilysmom on Oct 29, 2004 17:38:20 GMT -5
Ok......two out of three isn't bad....there is ALWAYS something to worry about. (Like how our kids are managing at home without us) But WARM and SUNNY is really a MUST for me!!
Susan
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Post by MB on Oct 29, 2004 17:38:29 GMT -5
Any interest in L.A.?
MB
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Post by MB on Oct 29, 2004 17:40:15 GMT -5
I hear Santa Barbara is to die for. Any interest?
MB
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Post by MB on Oct 29, 2004 18:11:39 GMT -5
Phoenix/Tuscon is certainly an option. The Phoenix airport is so close to all the hotels. Lots of direct flights for me how about everyone else?
MB
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Post by christie on Oct 29, 2004 23:46:25 GMT -5
Hmmmm MB and where might your City be?? Unless I missed something, which happens lots, LOLOL hard to decide if we don't know where that is?? K, just shooting this out there, but I see Suzi and A ~ both mentioned a cruise, I think. OMG I would LOVE that ;D How about a 3 day cruise to the Bahamas (sp?) to see how much fun they are and then if we all like it, we could have a longer one as a UNO gathering and bring the kids ;D ANNIE you are the cruise queen, if your reading, help me here girl Sell the cruise idea to all ;D CC ~
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Post by MB on Oct 30, 2004 12:09:43 GMT -5
Once again, a cruise sounds great. We would not have to have any decisions about meals. We could spend as much or as little time together as we want. People who do not opt for shore excursions still have something to do on the boat. People can opt to room together or not. No cars needed. WARM for Susan! It certainly has it's advantages.
MB
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Post by Emilysmom on Oct 30, 2004 17:34:13 GMT -5
A cruise sounds AWESOME to me.....it would definitely take care of my winter time blues! Only one thing though.....can we do a CHEAP cruise?? Ok...then the least expensive one we can find???? And, are we just talking a 2 night one?
Susan
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Post by MB on Oct 30, 2004 18:49:25 GMT -5
The 3 night carribean cruises appear to be very reasonable. The first day of the cruise is pretty much lost to airplane rides, loading up the bus at the airport, checking in to the boat and waiting for your luggage. Of the cruises I've taken, the luggage did not arrive until after dinner the first night. Oh, don't forget the lifeboat drill and the introduction to your cabin by the cabin attendant. The first day is really a wash. The last day is the same thing in reverse order. So, if you do a two night cruise, you end up with two nights but only one day. A three day cruise will give you three nights and two days to enjoy the boat.
MB
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Post by Emilysmom on Oct 30, 2004 20:53:23 GMT -5
How reasonable is reasonable???
LOL Do I dare get excited about this?????
Susan
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Post by Becky on Oct 30, 2004 22:56:10 GMT -5
This is some fast prices I looked at To go in Feb 4 night Caribbean inside cabin start at $399.99 3 night Bahams inside cabin start at $279.99 this is from Expedia. Just thought I would dream a little Becky
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Post by MB on Oct 31, 2004 10:49:16 GMT -5
The inside cabin has no window and is about the size of a closet and my first choice!!!! I have been in the cabin with the porthole and the suite with the balcony. Both times, we spent no time in the room except to sleep, shower and change clothes.
The balcony cannot be used if the ship is moving because it is too windy. They talk about sitting on the balcony eating breakfast, but it is kind of grungy from all the seawater that has sprayed on it and I found we never wanted to stick around long enough to wait for it to arrive. There is always something happening on the ship.
The beauty of the cruise is that everyone can choose their own level of comfort.
The prices don't necessarily reflect port charges, taxes etc... The price does include all meals, but no alcohol and sometimes no soft drinks either. There are always shore excursions you can buy like trips to private beaches at bahamian resorts, scuba diving, snorkeling etc...
There is absolutely enough to see and do and friends to make without going on any of the excursions that cost more money.
What do you think about going through one travel agent who would put us in cabins near each other and make sure we are seated together for dinner?
If this goes the distance, I would strongly recommend the late seating so everyone has time to get cleaned up after a day at the pool or beach or shopping.
We have friends here in town who own a travel company that specializes in taking groups on cruises. I like the idea of using a travel agent (doesn't have to be mine) because the travel agent is a better customer of the cruise line than any one of us individually. If we have a problem once we arrive, we simply call our agent and have the agent use his influence with that cruise line to fix things.
What do you think? Please feel free to disagree! I am looking for a consensus of opinions only... no matter what we do.
MB
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