Non-Cruise Vacation?

[Booyakasha]

We uses cruises to go to places that are hard to get to (Alaska) or to check out new places to stay (Southern Caribbean, Europe etc). I prefer to be in 1 location for a week or so to really get a feel for the area, find the good spots etc. We spend a lot of the time in the Caribbean renting houses and just hanging out for a week diving and snorkelling etc. I find this harder to do on a cruise due to limited time in ports so we use the ships to give us a taste and then plan a land vacation if we find a place we like. We probably have 3 or 4 land vacations to every cruise.

 

B.

[agabbymama]

So, I realize this is Cruise Critic and therefore the subject should be cruising. However, I'm going to stray a bit off topic, so please forgive me.

 

My mom, sister and I have all decided to plan a Winter getaway for a few days in February. We can't seem to find any 4 or 5 day cruises that meet our needs. Therefore, we've decided to take our first non-cruising vacation in a very long time. I don't even know how to plan a non-cruise vacation!

 

Do you ever take non-cruising vacations? What are some of your favorite experiences that are similar to cruising? All inclusive resorts? Do you find that your land vacations are significantly more expensive than cruising?

 

You're making this much harder than it has to be. I usually prefer land vacations, but my traveling companion loves to cruise, so we've done a few of each.

 

Pick a place you want to go, then start researching. You are clearly internet savvy, so start looking. It's so much fun to look, plan, then go.

 

We had planned New Orleans a few years ago, but then Katrina hit. Thought we had lost all our money (foolishly no insurance) but then Rita hit, so the airlines decided to refund.

 

Now we are finally planning to go again in February. We'll be staying at Harrah's (casino & hotel) right on the Mississippi. I've had such fun looking at things to see and do in the area. Can't wait to get on that airboat for a ride through the swamps! We'll taste the local cuisine at Oak Alley Plantation, ride a paddlewheel riverboat, listen to Jazz and Cajun music. I'd like to do a carriage ride, but they are cost prohibitive, so will do a trolley ride instead through the old Garden District. And of course walk through the French Quarter.

 

It truly depends on your likes and dislikes. Talk it over with your Mom and sister, see where you would like to go, and start planning.

[backyardponder]

A couple of suggestions:

 

Fly to MIA or FLL and drive to Key West.

 

Go to Disney World. There's great guide books out there like "Disney for Adults". If you go, don't miss Jellyrolls on the Boardwalk...an adults only dueling piano bar.

 

New Orleans...we're going there between Christmas and New Years. Staying in a B&B. We'll be coming home New Years Eve. We found some great airfare (it's up now) and rooms were under $125...some hotels were under $100.

 

Good Luck

[smoosh21]

So, I realize this is Cruise Critic and therefore the subject should be cruising. However, I'm going to stray a bit off topic, so please forgive me.

 

My mom, sister and I have all decided to plan a Winter getaway for a few days in February. We can't seem to find any 4 or 5 day cruises that meet our needs. Therefore, we've decided to take our first non-cruising vacation in a very long time. I don't even know how to plan a non-cruise vacation!

 

Do you ever take non-cruising vacations? What are some of your favorite experiences that are similar to cruising? All inclusive resorts? Do you find that your land vacations are significantly more expensive than cruising?

 

I usually do one of each per year. This year our land vacation was Australia and New Zealand. I realize that you can not do that in 5 days.

I don't like staying at resorts on land.

 

A few years ago we went to San Antonio for a nice 4 day getaway.