So, the third blizzard of the week is petering out, the temperature is inching up to 20 below (wind chill’s still functioning, of course) and Piper and the Beloved generally have cabin fever.
It’s a bit too late for a January get away this year, given work commitments, so we’re planning ahead, for next January. But where?
Here’s the requirements:
someplace warm;
close enough that we could get away for a week or so without losing half the time to jet lag;
not too much political instability or oppression (i.e. not Colombia or Cuba, thanks);
reasonably welcoming to tourists who speak English or French;
no blizzards (just to re-iterate).
I’m thinking that those combinations may add up Mexico or Costa Rica or some of the Carribean islands. Alternatively, I’ve heard San Antonio, TX, is a neat place to visit, but I’ve got no idea if it’s warm at this time of year.
Honduras…especially the coastal islands (Tegucigalpa, the capital city, is not a place I’d necessarily go on vacation). I think it’s Roatan - I know the flight is into San Pedro Sula, then a short hop over to the islands.
The Gulf Coast area of Alabama and Florida is a very popular destination for many Canadians during January and February. It’s the off-season and rates are low. The area has good restaurants and other attractions.
One word of caution: The weather is normally too cold for swimming in the ocean at this time of year, but it’s good for beach walking most of the time. You can get unlucky on a short stay and have some weather in the 30-degree range at night, but that’s not too common.
Here’s one link. http://www.gulfshores.com/ There are doubtless many other links for the cities between Panama City, Florida on the east and Gulf Shores, Alabama on the west.
Puerto Vallarta is nice in the winter. Probably the most relaxing vacation we’ve ever had. The weather is so good that the restaurant at our hotel didn’t even have walls on two sides.
But they speak Spanish in Costa Rica. We didn’t find this a problem, but thought you might prefer somewhere that English and French are spoken and that just happens to be St Maarten/St Martin. We enjoyed it very much also. Be sure and find the Grand Case (a group of restaurants out in the boonies) for a fine meal. Also take a boat to St. Bart’s where you can shop like the ultra rich do. There have lunch at Cheeseburger in Paradise which is so not fancy that it appeals to the rich.
[ul] [sup]If you read the Cheeseburger in Paradise link you might decide to go to St. Bart’s instead.[/sup][/ul]
Are you a rich golfer? Though this winter’s been a bit rough, you could do Hilton Head in January with just a windbreaker. It’s not tropical, but if you’ve got a hundred or so (off-season rates–more like 2 bills in the spring), you can play a round at Harbor Town at Sea Pines.
Costa Rica is a good choice. Even though it is an officially Spanish speaking country, I found that almost anyone involved in tourism or hospitality could speak English just fine. Plus, there are loads of American tourists everywhere. You can see most of the country in a week. I recommend a visit to the (active) Arenal volcano and the resort at its base.
The U.S. Virgin Islands are also a good choice. St. Thomas is touristy and active. St. Croix is the largest of the three but pretty quiet. St. John is very rural and private.
[sup]If you read the Cheeseburger in Paradise link you might decide to go to St. Bart’s instead.[/sup][/ul]