Vacation

[yosh]

Just don't go to a fracking resort where you are going to sit by the pool for a week.  Rather than spend 3 grand, you may as well climb the fence at Chase Manhattan and do it for free.  If you're going to take the trouble of getting a passport, going through customs and spending a few thousand, experience something. You'd be amazed at what else is out there for the same price as a week at a Beaches resort.

 

[Saulbadguy]

cruises are gay, seriously.  who would even consider this crap?  i'd rather head down baha california in a dune buggy or chill on the beach in st. barts.  vacations in general are a huge waste of money imo though, so idk

You can do that crap on cruises too.  It's cool not to have to worry about where you are going, how you are going to get there, and just relax and people bring you crap in between excursions.

[Saulbadguy]

The Rocky Mountains.

Why go someplace warm when I can work outside in it half the year?

Because it's nice to escape the cold weather during the winter.  Plus Caribbean hot is much different from Kansas hot...

[steve dave]

cruises are gay, seriously.  who would even consider this crap?  i'd rather head down baha california in a dune buggy or chill on the beach in st. barts.  vacations in general are a huge waste of money imo though, so idk

You can do that crap on cruises too.  It's cool not to have to worry about where you are going, how you are going to get there, and just relax and people bring you crap in between excursions.

Are they all inclusive or do you pay for every meal/drink?  Pricey?

[jeffy]

The Rocky Mountains.

Why go someplace warm when I can work outside in it half the year?

Because it's nice to escape the cold weather during the winter.  Plus Caribbean hot is much different from Kansas hot...

I can put on enough clothes to stay warm, but I can't take off enough to stay cool, much to everyone's glee.

[Saulbadguy]

cruises are gay, seriously.  who would even consider this crap?  i'd rather head down baha california in a dune buggy or chill on the beach in st. barts.  vacations in general are a huge waste of money imo though, so idk

You can do that crap on cruises too.  It's cool not to have to worry about where you are going, how you are going to get there, and just relax and people bring you crap in between excursions.

Are they all inclusive or do you pay for every meal/drink?  Pricey?

Food is free, with very few exceptions.  They have pastry bar/coffee bar things that sometimes charge for stuff.  They also have upscale restaurants on some ships that you pay a cover charge.  However all other food is included.  You generally have an assigned dining time where you sit down for dinner and order from a waiter, always have choices. If you don't like it you can choose something else, or just have 1 of each and then eat 3 desserts.  If you don't want to dine at an assigned time you can do the buffet - not as good but not bad either.  On the ships i've been on ice cream, pizza, and room service with the usual american food is available 24/7.  Sometimes they will do late night buffets too.  

Drinks, they charge you.  Generally they give you big portions, I generally had a 16 oz pina colada in hand and they are about 5-6 bucks. They automatically add gratuity to them.  Soda is expensive, but you can bring your own on the ship if you wish.  Alcohol, you can't with the exception of a bottle of wine per person.  

[Saulbadguy]

The Rocky Mountains.

Why go someplace warm when I can work outside in it half the year?

Because it's nice to escape the cold weather during the winter.  Plus Caribbean hot is much different from Kansas hot...

I can put on enough clothes to stay warm, but I can't take off enough to stay cool, much to everyone's glee.

I like the cold too but sometimes, like in the middle of march or feb when there is a crap ton of snow on the ground and every day sucks worst than the next day, it's nice to escape to 80 degree weather with the cool ocean air blowing across your face.

[jeffy]

The Rocky Mountains.

Why go someplace warm when I can work outside in it half the year?

Because it's nice to escape the cold weather during the winter.  Plus Caribbean hot is much different from Kansas hot...

I can put on enough clothes to stay warm, but I can't take off enough to stay cool, much to everyone's glee.

I like the cold too but sometimes, like in the middle of march or feb when there is a crap ton of snow on the ground and every day sucks worst than the next day, it's nice to escape to 80 degree weather with the cool ocean air blowing across your face.

That's when I go visit mj in Phoenix.

[catdude33]

The Rocky Mountains.

Why go someplace warm when I can work outside in it half the year?

Because it's nice to escape the cold weather during the winter.  Plus Caribbean hot is much different from Kansas hot...

I can put on enough clothes to stay warm, but I can't take off enough to stay cool, much to everyone's glee.

I like the cold too but sometimes, like in the middle of march or feb when there is a crap ton of snow on the ground and every day sucks worst than the next day, it's nice to escape to 80 degree weather with the cool ocean air blowing across your face.

I think I'm the poorest person on this board.  Sometimes in the winter I put my space heater underneath my blanket and pretend I'm at the beach.  Not for long though cause I might start a fire.

[Rick Daris]

cruises are gay, seriously.  who would even consider this crap?  i'd rather head down baha california in a dune buggy or chill on the beach in st. barts.  vacations in general are a huge waste of money imo though, so idk

You can do that crap on cruises too.  It's cool not to have to worry about where you are going, how you are going to get there, and just relax and people bring you crap in between excursions.

Are they all inclusive or do you pay for every meal/drink?  Pricey?

Dont let Saul talk you into this Cruise thing SD 

[LimestoneOutcropping]

Cruises are for old people but traipsing around some pissant village and getting your dome caved with a baseball bat is also no good.  It is generally a bad year to travel because the dollar sucks.  I was just in antigua and thought it was pretty sweet until the place down the road from where we stayed was the scene of a pretty nasty double torture/murder.  Spent last week at the W in san diego and it was awesome and no one broke into my bungalow to beat me to death for my fracking digital camera.

Go to the keys or san diego.  Will be just as nice and you won't feel compelled to "experience the culture" by touring the ghetto.

[steve dave]

Cruises are for old people but traipsing around some pissant village and getting your dome caved with a baseball bat is also no good.  It is generally a bad year to travel because the dollar sucks.  I was just in antigua and thought it was pretty sweet until the place down the road from where we stayed was the scene of a pretty nasty double torture/murder.  Spent last week at the W in san diego and it was awesome and no one broke into my bungalow to beat me to death for my fracking digital camera.

Go to the keys or san diego.  Will be just as nice and you won't feel compelled to "experience the culture" by touring the ghetto.

Yeah, will be in San Diego next year for work and the Mrs. and I are extending it for a week.  Maybe I'll just blow that one out of the water and she will call it acceptable.  Broads...am I right?

[Pete]

Cruises are for old people but traipsing around some pissant village and getting your dome caved with a baseball bat is also no good.  It is generally a bad year to travel because the dollar sucks.  I was just in antigua and thought it was pretty sweet until the place down the road from where we stayed was the scene of a pretty nasty double torture/murder.  Spent last week at the W in san diego and it was awesome and no one broke into my bungalow to beat me to death for my fracking digital camera.

Go to the keys or san diego.  Will be just as nice and you won't feel compelled to "experience the culture" by touring the ghetto.

Yeah, will be in San Diego next year for work and the Mrs. and I are extending it for a week.  Maybe I'll just blow that one out of the water and she will call it acceptable.  Broads...am I right?

Take her across the border for a Donkey show and some blow while you are there.

[pissclams]

the cruise thing is just too "i'm sitting here" for me.   shuffleboard? no thanks.  some stupid ass branson type show?  no thanks.

seriously, what about a trip up to the little big horn river in montana, or yellowstone and do some hiking/camping, or as was suggested, head up to vail/aspen area, or lake placid, or spain.  i'm starting to think the whole bahamas thing might be played out.

[Saulbadguy]

the cruise thing is just too "i'm sitting here" for me.   shuffleboard? no thanks.  some stupid ass branson type show?  no thanks.

seriously, what about a trip up to the little big horn river in montana, or yellowstone and do some hiking/camping, or as was suggested, head up to vail/aspen area, or lake placid, or spain.  i'm starting to think the whole bahamas thing might be played out.

im pretty lazy.  None of that crap sounds fun at all.

[pissclams]

thing is, i can sit on my couch for free everyday and stare out into nothing. why pay to do it with a bunch of blue hairs   

[steve dave]

We don't do camping.  It's a little to "ZOMG, what is that no-shower throwupinmymouth stench!?" for our taste.  Plus, it's fracking cold in Omaha and we want someplace warm during the winter.  

[Saulbadguy]

thing is, i can sit on my couch for free everyday and stare out into nothing. why pay to do it with a bunch of blue hairs   

Better weather, better scenery, better food, people will bring you crap, and you do have the option of doing all that stuff on a cruise anyways, just in places like Mexico, Jamaica, etc..

[Rick Daris]

thing is, i can sit on my couch for free everyday and stare out into nothing. why pay to do it with a bunch of blue hairs   

Better weather, better scenery, better food, people will bring you crap, and you do have the option of doing all that stuff on a cruise anyways, just in places like Mexico, Jamaica, etc..

Cruise ships drop you off in the crappiest beyone crappiest part of Jamaica. Just an FYI and another reason for SD not to cruise.

[Saulbadguy]

thing is, i can sit on my couch for free everyday and stare out into nothing. why pay to do it with a bunch of blue hairs   

Better weather, better scenery, better food, people will bring you crap, and you do have the option of doing all that stuff on a cruise anyways, just in places like Mexico, Jamaica, etc..

Cruise ships drop you off in the crappiest beyone crappiest part of Jamaica. Just an FYI and another reason for SD not to cruise.

Ochos Rios or Montego Bay?

[Rick Daris]

thing is, i can sit on my couch for free everyday and stare out into nothing. why pay to do it with a bunch of blue hairs   

Better weather, better scenery, better food, people will bring you crap, and you do have the option of doing all that stuff on a cruise anyways, just in places like Mexico, Jamaica, etc..

Cruise ships drop you off in the crappiest beyone crappiest part of Jamaica. Just an FYI and another reason for SD not to cruise.

Ochos Rios or Montego Bay?

Mobay.

[pwrcat1]

Cruises are for old people but traipsing around some pissant village and getting your dome caved with a baseball bat is also no good.  It is generally a bad year to travel because the dollar sucks.  I was just in antigua and thought it was pretty sweet until the place down the road from where we stayed was the scene of a pretty nasty double torture/murder.  Spent last week at the W in san diego and it was awesome and no one broke into my bungalow to beat me to death for my fracking digital camera.

Go to the keys or san diego.  Will be just as nice and you won't feel compelled to "experience the culture" by touring the ghetto.

Yeah, will be in San Diego next year for work and the Mrs. and I are extending it for a week.  Maybe I'll just blow that one out of the water and she will call it acceptable.  Broads...am I right?

Take her across the border for a Donkey show and some blow while you are there.

  "I kind of felt bad for the horse..."

[Saulbadguy]

thing is, i can sit on my couch for free everyday and stare out into nothing. why pay to do it with a bunch of blue hairs   

Better weather, better scenery, better food, people will bring you crap, and you do have the option of doing all that stuff on a cruise anyways, just in places like Mexico, Jamaica, etc..

Cruise ships drop you off in the crappiest beyone crappiest part of Jamaica. Just an FYI and another reason for SD not to cruise.

Ochos Rios or Montego Bay?

Mobay.

That's the crappy one?

[Rick Daris]

thing is, i can sit on my couch for free everyday and stare out into nothing. why pay to do it with a bunch of blue hairs   

Better weather, better scenery, better food, people will bring you crap, and you do have the option of doing all that stuff on a cruise anyways, just in places like Mexico, Jamaica, etc..

Cruise ships drop you off in the crappiest beyone crappiest part of Jamaica. Just an FYI and another reason for SD not to cruise.

Ochos Rios or Montego Bay?

Mobay.

That's the crappy one?

The place where they drop you off is crappy. Dirty crappy hip strip with crappy beyond crappy stores and 1001 locals all trying to sell you something crappy. Not very relaxing and not a place to vacation in imo.

[Saulbadguy]

thing is, i can sit on my couch for free everyday and stare out into nothing. why pay to do it with a bunch of blue hairs   

Better weather, better scenery, better food, people will bring you crap, and you do have the option of doing all that stuff on a cruise anyways, just in places like Mexico, Jamaica, etc..

Cruise ships drop you off in the crappiest beyone crappiest part of Jamaica. Just an FYI and another reason for SD not to cruise.

Ochos Rios or Montego Bay?

Mobay.

That's the crappy one?

The place where they drop you off is crappy. Dirty crappy hip strip with crappy beyond crappy stores and 1001 locals all trying to sell you something crappy. Not very relaxing and not a place to vacation in imo.

Ports are generally crappy - gotta take a cab, or have a planned excursion to get anywhere neat.

[Rick Daris]

thing is, i can sit on my couch for free everyday and stare out into nothing. why pay to do it with a bunch of blue hairs   

Better weather, better scenery, better food, people will bring you crap, and you do have the option of doing all that stuff on a cruise anyways, just in places like Mexico, Jamaica, etc..

Cruise ships drop you off in the crappiest beyone crappiest part of Jamaica. Just an FYI and another reason for SD not to cruise.

Ochos Rios or Montego Bay?

Mobay.

That's the crappy one?

The place where they drop you off is crappy. Dirty crappy hip strip with crappy beyond crappy stores and 1001 locals all trying to sell you something crappy. Not very relaxing and not a place to vacation in imo.

Ports are generally crappy - gotta take a cab, or have a planned excursion to get anywhere neat.

yeah-I was kind of guessing that about the port thing. I guess if you know this in advance and try to plan ahead maybe you can make out ok. They are actually in the process of building a third port in Jamaica in a town over by Negril (Lucea, I think). This town is even crappier than the other two but only about twenty minutes to negril

[applegate]

Kauai - expensive but has a ton of great hiking, surfing, diving options.  Much more secluded, better active/outdoor options and less crowded than the other Hawaiian islands.

Keys - much less expensive and easy to travel to but not as exotic.  Fly to Ft. Lauderdale...take the drive down Hwy 1, stay on one of the keys along the way...end up in Key West and rent a small house/conch shack...good restaurants and culture if you stay away from Duval St. and the Jimmybuffettnerdalertblacksockssandalshereisafivedollartshirtandbeerspecial type places.  Snorkeling is cheap and awesome...as is plenty of other stuff.

If you want to go somewhere truly exotic, use your money to dump the Bahamas/Jamaica type places and take a shot at Thailand.  Not a huge difference in price and you actually get to see a new spot/experience culture other than what the resorts will shove down your throat.  

[Saulbadguy]

thing is, i can sit on my couch for free everyday and stare out into nothing. why pay to do it with a bunch of blue hairs   

Better weather, better scenery, better food, people will bring you crap, and you do have the option of doing all that stuff on a cruise anyways, just in places like Mexico, Jamaica, etc..

Cruise ships drop you off in the crappiest beyone crappiest part of Jamaica. Just an FYI and another reason for SD not to cruise.

Ochos Rios or Montego Bay?

Mobay.

That's the crappy one?

The place where they drop you off is crappy. Dirty crappy hip strip with crappy beyond crappy stores and 1001 locals all trying to sell you something crappy. Not very relaxing and not a place to vacation in imo.

Ports are generally crappy - gotta take a cab, or have a planned excursion to get anywhere neat.

yeah-I was kind of guessing that about the port thing. I guess if you know this in advance and try to plan ahead maybe you can make out ok. They are actually in the process of building a third port in Jamaica in a town over by Negril (Lucea, I think). This town is even crappier than the other two but only about twenty minutes to negril

You can book your excursions online months ahead of time, or book them on the boat.  Then a bus or whatnot picks you up and takes you to where you need to go.  Ports in general don't have much except what you mentioned.

[SkinnyBenny]

start a new trend, go somewhere cold and crappy.  get the ice road truckers to take you there.  don't come back.  tia.

I concur.  For the last three years straight I've gone ice fishing in the middle of Minnesota over Martin Luther King weekend.  (No better way to celebrate the King.)     It's usually about 30 below when we step out onto the ice and we always question it until we get into the huts and start boozin'.

Failing that, I recommend a cruise as well.

[steve dave]

start a new trend, go somewhere cold and crappy.  get the ice road truckers to take you there.  don't come back.  tia.

I concur.  For the last three years straight I've gone ice fishing in the middle of Minnesota over Martin Luther King weekend.  (No better way to celebrate the King.)     It's usually about 30 below when we step out onto the ice and we always question it until we get into the huts and start boozin'.

d00ds, I live in Omaha....you may not think it's any colder than KC but it is....it is bros