Yea if only laundry wasn't considered an incidental and I could do that. Used a service instead of my current hotel and saved close to 20 bucks. Still much prefer to do it on my own if possible.
We washed ours in a sink at a fancy hotel in Florence. I would love to see the housekeepers reaction when she came in the room to our underwear hanging from the lamps and curtain rods.
Curious how long you are going and if you're tagging on a personal trip. I've never not been able to expense laundry. I might be going to India this year and def planned on some laundry
26 April - May 18 with personal time in Greece May 1-7. I finished my first work trip a day or two earlier than expected. I would have to leave for my next trip May 6th, so there's little point traveling 22 hours and returning home late on May 1st, taking Thursday off for rest, working Friday, and then leaving Monday for the next trip. I can just work Thurs and Fri from a location where I'm already acclimated to the time. I'm trying to get my company to make exceptions when it's more of a necessity than an incidental.
Brussels is cool. Lots of good places for beer and plenty of douchie coffee places. Everyone spoke English - not suprising since NATO and the EU are there but since I don't speak French or Dutch it's pretty handy. Public transport was excellent and easy to use (flat-rate tap-on that maxes out at I think 10 euro a day if you use the same card). Food was pretty shockingly expensive, especially compared to drinks, but that might just be everywhere now. Also a lot of the women's fashion is like 90's queer east-German punk, which I'm into, so that was fun for me.
Wife is 15 weeks pregnant and the inlaws will watch the 2 year old for a Friday-Monday trip. May 31-June 3. She wants to relax and sit by a pool. I'm not fired up about Miami/South Florida but that's where she's talking about. Trying to figure out best place to stay. South Beach v Brickell v Palm Beach etc. Thoughts? Looks like there's a 4 Seasons in Palm Beach , Ritz in South Beach. Any recs? I was talking about going somewhere in CA but she said the flights were too long. Doesn't want to go to NYC. Taking about maybe Charleston but that doesn't sound that exciting. Need somewhere with easy flights , good pool/beach, and relaxing.
Seems you are looking for somewhere to sit on the beach and relax conveniently. In Miami the most convenient area to do that will be Miami Beach. Brickell is nice but more of a business district and you'll have to drive to the beach. Highly recommend northern to middle part of Miami Beach instead of South Beach for what you're looking for- look at the Setai Hotel. I'd also look hard at Ft. Lauderdale, which has several very nice Beach front hotels. You seem like a 5* hotel kind of guy so FTL has some nice options like the Conrad etc. It's going to be absolutely scorching that time of year though. Other Ideas- Also may look into the Keys- either flying into Key West and doing the southern Keys or fly to Miami an do like Islamorada or Key Largo. I'd also look at the Northern Caribbean like the Bahamas, probably 2.5 flight or so from NOLA if I had to guess...some of the Southern Caribbean like Barbados probably way too long of flight. The gulf side you're probably very familiar with but there's very nice spots at Boca Grande, the Ritz in Naples is sick, and probably some great Tampa area spots as well as 30A which I'm sure you're well acquainted with.
we just did a day trip, went to the Rubens house museum, walked around some, saw the cathedral and the castle. it’s a cool city to just wander around imo. also stay and walk around the train station it’s incredible
Anyone have good recommendations for an adult-only all-inclusive? Should make the caveat that we are looking for something a bit more upmarket (not considering Sandals, etc.) in either Mexico or the Carribean.
Grand Velas if going to Mexico imo The non-Sandals/Beaches options in the Caribbean are pretty slim. Some of the sandals resorts in the area, depending which one, are supposed to be incredibly nice though just fwiw. Cap de Maison in St Lucia has an all inclusive package add on to your room that looks really nice
We used free Hyatt night vouchers to stay at The Confidante in Miami a few years ago for a 4-night "babymoon" and really enjoyed it. We spent more time by the pool than the beach and basically only left the hotel for dinner.
We actually stayed at the Grand Velas in Cancun for a family trip a few years ago. Going to check out Cap de Maison but St Lucia is hard to get to from here in Austin. Has anyone stayed at Le Blanc in Cabo?
Thanks that's awesome input. You must have spent some time down down in South Florida. I hadn't thought about FTL, I will add that into the equation. The problem with the Keys is you lose a whole day of an already short trip traveling. You fly out of Gulfport at 10:30AM , connect in ATL, don't get to the keys until 5:30PM. She doesn't want to go out of the country while pregnant. My original preferred destination was Mexico but she nixed it. I also thought about Boca. I think it would be a similar vibe to like Palm Beach or FTL . I veto'ed 30A because I've been there a million times and I think it's a rip off to pay Caribbean money to stay in freaking 30A. I'm sure when the kids get older I'll end up doing some $10,000 rip off family vacays to 30A. And finally Naples or Tampa doesn't sound bad but probably will just do South Florida.
I have a running joke with one of my good friends that my wife and I go all over the world and spend less per trip than his family of 5 does at Watercolor
I can get up at 4:45 AM, leave for Gulfport at 5:15AM, arrive at Gulfport airport at 5:45 AM, fly out of Gulfport at 6:14 AM and be in Miami at 11:08AM and still have most of that day left. I'd have to get up at 3:30AM leave my house at 4AM arrive in NOLA at 5:30AM, fly out of NOLA at 7AM, and I'd be in LA at 9:20AM their time. It's just a bigger hassle. Throw in a pregnant wife and it's not doable. She doesn't want to do the waking up super early and driving 1.5 hrs to NOLA thing.
Exactly. It's absurd. And I won't stand for it. Yet I'll get pressured into doing it and eventually probably cave. The emerald coast has some of the best beaches in the world and gorgeous water. I also grew up doing it my whole life every summer and thus have had a lifetime fill of it. Therefore, I'd rather spend my $ on something else.
Yes I have spent most every spring break in FTL visiting family for about 30 years, spent a lot of time down there. That explains my crazy Dolphin fandom DM me if you have any questions down there.
idk I am the biggest CA proponent in the world but for a resort style vacation, I would prefer South Florida for better beaches and warmer water
Someone already said it but The Breakers for a more resort feel for me over something like the Fountainbleau. If you’re looking for Miami Beach and something more boutique-y and quiet I’ve always liked The Grand Beach Hotel - Miami Beach
I stayed at the Fountainbleau about a year and a half ago, and while I'm glad I did it once I wouldn't stay there again. The room prices aren't bad, and it's a beautiful hotel, but the nickel and diming you for every single thing one you get there is very annoying and gets old quickly. Feels like DisneyWorld or something like that when you're paying $30 for a cocktail, $25-30 for a sandwich by the pool for lunch, $12 for a coffee...it just really adds up. I don't mind paying for quality but I hate feeling like I'm being totally ripped off.
Treat the pregnant wife to first class. Fly to San Diego. Take a 15 minute Uber to Hotel Del Coronado. Stay in the poolside cabana room with fire pit and beach view. Never have to leave the grounds the entire weekend.
Re: North Miami - we stayed a few nights at St Regis Bal Harbour and we liked it. Was pretty chill by the pool and access to the beach and wasn’t too crowded. Plus the Bal Harbour shops are across the street if the wife be shopping. Bonus was the 10 minute walk for my first ever visit to Publix.
My wife are looking to do a summer trip as my parents agreed to watch our son for 4 nights in late June. Looking for suggestions. Lets remove any place that is kid friendly (i.e. beach vacations). I also have companion pass and A List for Southwest so being able to fly for them isn't a deal breaker but preferred. Looking for cities that are walkable cities where we can spend the day eating and drinking is what we are looking for. Our current thoughts: - Portland, ME - beers and lobster - Vancouver - this is my #1 location i want to go but getting there is longer and more expensive - Asheville - Have a good friend who lives there but no SW flight option - Other ideas: New Orleans (been there when 20 years ago when I was 21 but too hot in June?), Savannah, TMB crowd sourced suggestions
We went to New Orleans in mid-May and the humidity sucked but we tolerated it. You're going to be hard pressed to find a better city for a trip focused on eating and drinking. Plus Whitney Plantation and the WWII museum are worth a visit if you want to do something else.
Splurge on Vancouver, you won't regret it. Plus, the USD is still really strong against the Canadian dollar right now, so meals, drinks, etc will be cheap-ish. A lot cheaper than like NYC, SF, Seattle.
Just went to DC recently and it's certainly one of the few walkable cities, and the food and drink were top notch (maybe save this one for the kids, though). I also cape hard for San Francisco but it's very far, but certainly walkable with great and diverse food and drink options. Charleston, imo, especially for its size is one of the best food cities in America and the portion you'd likely stay in is very walkable. What is your definition of walkable? Some of the cities your listed I wouldn't describe as extremely walkable. You can walk to certain places/sites, but you'd honestly need a car or uber to see most of the places. I guess when I think of a walkable city I think of everything you really need is within a 10-20 minute walking radius- somewhere like DC or NYC or SF, maybe the French Quarter portion of New Orleans. Idk if I'd put Vancouver or Asheville on that level of walkability, but awesome spots.
Got a lost and found email from the last hotel I stayed at and was concerned because I wasn't tracking anything I left It was for 3 diet cokes and they asked me if they want them to hold on to them until I come back next time. That's a first.