# We need a vacation ...
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-vacation/341632
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [January 25, 2006, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-vacation/341632 "2006-01-25T23:11:56Z")
**Posts on this page:** 10
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@cormac262](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cormac262)
#### Post date: [January 29, 2006, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-vacation/341632/21 "2006-01-29T23:22:59Z")
> [@rockle](#):
>
> Good news. After much discussion and debate and a big huge fight, there has finally been some movement on this issue. Turns out, while cost is an aggravating factor, the real reason for hubby’s resistance is … _he hates to “travel.”_
>
> Although, in his case, “travel” does not actually mean “get on a plane or whatever and go somewhere,” like it does for normal people, but “do the research and plan the trip and make the arrangements and pack the suitcase and drive to the airport and find a _goddamn_ place to park and go through security and customs and find something eat in the airport at _six the fark o’clock in the morning_ because we can never get anywhere on time so we didn’t have time for breakfast before we left the house.” Or, in other words, he has trouble with our normal, everyday organizational malfunctions. Which, _duh!_ That’s why we need a vacation, _sweetheart!_ (She said, through gritted teeth.)
>
> Thankfully, being on the airplane and then sitting on a beach – or not, depending on the weather and his mood and whether or not he has a hangover from one too many margaritas the night before – for seven days and six nights is not something to which he is opposed. In fact, he’s “all for it.” I have just have to get him there.
>
> So I’ll be taking care of everything, up to and including the moment our flight begins to board (which I would have done anyway, because I love the man, but most of the time I can’t trust him to pick a freaking sandwich at Subway), and I think we’re going to Mexico. Right now I’m looking at either Cozumel or somewhere in the Riviera Maya. We are not categorically opposed to domestic travel – and in fact we love it, normally – but we want to go “away” away. Somewhere with a beach and an all-inclusive resort and people whose job it is to bring us cold Pacificos and Mai Tais all day long, where we can turn off our cell phones and ignore our parents and jobs for a week. Most of Mexico fits the bill. We’ve already been to the western coast, so we want to try to Yucatán this time.
>
> Anyone ever been there? Will it be worth it? (Even though I am firmly of the opinion that the worst possible day on vacation is better than the best possible day at work.)
Been to Cozumel a couple of times and I have to say that unless you are scuba divers, you’re probably better off going somewhere else in the Yucatan. Coz is well known among divers and the diving is world class. Most of the resorts are geared toward diving. There are some beaches, but I wouldn’t say it is known for it’s beaches.
Right across the channel, however, is a wonderful beach/town called Playa Del Carmen. I know it is very popular with the europeans, and the beach there looks great. Unfortunately, I don’t know of the resorts there, and what they may be like. But it would be worth looking into.
If Playa doesn’t pan out, then a sure bet would be Cancun. Cancun is WAY more built up than either Cozumel or Playa Del Carmen (like 300X more built up). But it is known for nice beaches, some snorkelling, and ample people willing to bring you those mai tais on the beach. May not be that much different from your Acapulco experience, but it sounds like that is what you are looking for.
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### Author:  [@myskepticsight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/myskepticsight)
#### Post date: [January 29, 2006, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-vacation/341632/22 "2006-01-29T23:56:30Z")
Have you thought about a cruise?
A cruise will blend the laziness of a vacation plus the active see things part. The days on the ship can be spent soaking up the sun, boozing it up and eating great meals. There are also activities, parties, shows and contests if you do get bored. Then when you’re off the ship, you get to explore a few different places and see what you like. I went on one a few years ago and had a blast - and the only organized thing we did was an excursion in Grand Cayman to see the stingrays. The Caribbean is beautiful.
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### Author:  [@rockle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rockle)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2006, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-vacation/341632/23 "2006-01-31T00:11:17Z")
> [@cormac262](#):
>
> Been to Cozumel a couple of times and I have to say that unless you are scuba divers, you’re probably better off going somewhere else in the Yucatan. Coz is well known among divers and the diving is world class. Most of the resorts are geared toward diving. There are some beaches, but I wouldn’t say it is known for it’s beaches.
> Right across the channel, however, is a wonderful beach/town called Playa Del Carmen. I know it is very popular with the europeans, and the beach there looks great. Unfortunately, I don’t know of the resorts there, and what they may be like. But it would be worth looking into.
>
> If Playa doesn’t pan out, then a sure bet would be Cancun. Cancun is WAY more built up than either Cozumel or Playa Del Carmen (like 300X more built up). But it is known for nice beaches, some snorkelling, and ample people willing to bring you those mai tais on the beach. May not be that much different from your Acapulco experience, but it sounds like that is what you are looking for.
After I spent the morning in the emergency room getting my finger stitched back together (please _don’t ask_ because it’s embarrassing that I’m essentially too stupid to be allowed to live), I spoke to a travel agent, and she said pretty much the same thing. We like to snorkel, but neither of us are SCUBA certified, so we have decided to look at the Riviera Maya (which includes Playa del Carmen). One of the biggest draws for us (well, for me, really) is that the Riviera Maya is very eco-tourism-oriented: lower buildings, near national parks, etc. Cancún is a little too crowded for us, we think, although it has not been 100% ruled out yet. Wherever we stay on the mainland, we can always take a day trip to Cozumel, so I think we’ll be happy in any case.
> [@myskepticsight](#):
>
> Have you thought about a cruise?
We have, but I don’t think hubby is keen on it right now, and I don’t want to push it. There was one in particular that I thought sounded awesome, which went to the “Exotic Western Caribbean.” Both Cozumel and the Riviera Maya were included in the ports of call (as well as Belize, where my friend went on a rainforest tour where she saw real live monkeys in the wild - _monkeys!_) He said he didn’t want to be “cooped up” on the boat for a week. Whatever. At least he agreed to go _somewhere_, as long as I make the arrangements. I will work with what I can get.
> [@BiblioCat](#):
>
> Yes, I’d like to know more about the Divorce Wallpaper. We’re planning an addition to our house, and I’d like to keep it from becoming a Divorce Addition.
> After the nasty ‘Let’s Paint The Living Room and Dining Room’ event (which nearly turned into Divorce Paint ), this sounds interesting.
> Please share.
The good news, since you are dealing with an addition, you may be able to avoid the Divorce Wallpaper Problem. The short version of the story is this: we redid our dining room after we bought our house, and it is an older house (build c. 1928), with plaster walls that are not plumb in any direction. Trying to get a wallpaper border to hang straight in that room was a nightmare – and that does not even include the problems we had with Adhesives, Paint Matching, and of course Taping Off The Trim. It took us almost _six months_ to actually eat in that room when we were done.
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### Author:  [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2006, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-vacation/341632/24 "2006-01-31T15:35:02Z")
> [@rockle](#):
>
> The good news, since you are dealing with an addition, you may be able to avoid the Divorce Wallpaper Problem. \
Knowing what I know now about the dynamics of marriages, I’d say they’ll still be able to find a way. 😃
( **lorene** , there’s only one word for your Divorce Carpeting: :eek: )
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### Author:  [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2006, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-vacation/341632/25 "2006-01-31T17:27:36Z")
> [@featherlou](#):
>
> Knowing what I know now about the dynamics of marriages, I’d say they’ll still be able to find a way. 😃
Thanks for your support. 😉
Since we’re doing most of it ourselves (i.e., **not** hiring a contractor), yes, we should be able to make it a Divorce Addition. It will involve a bathroom and a kitchen enlargement, so there’s always hope.
:smack:
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### Author:  [@rockle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rockle)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2006, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-vacation/341632/26 "2006-01-31T19:48:36Z")
> [@BiblioCat](#):
>
> Thanks for your support. 😉
>
> Since we’re doing most of it ourselves (i.e., **not** hiring a contractor), yes, we should be able to make it a Divorce Addition. It will involve a bathroom and a kitchen enlargement, so there’s always hope.
> :smack:
Oh, there’s plumbing involved? Oy. We have a sofa bed if you need a place to crash.
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### Author:  [@petalpusher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/petalpusher)
#### Post date: [February 1, 2006, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-vacation/341632/27 "2006-02-01T15:14:35Z")
Didn’t the coast of Mexico sustain heavy damage from all the hurricanes last fall? Check to make sure your facilities are rebuilt, pool functioning, etc. A friend of mine was on a scuba trip to Cozumel during one bad hurricane and that trip was way worse than a bad day at the office.
Have a wonderful vacation!
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### Author:  [@rockle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rockle)
#### Post date: [February 1, 2006, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-vacation/341632/28 "2006-02-01T15:27:50Z")
> [@petalpusher](#):
>
> Didn’t the coast of Mexico sustain heavy damage from all the hurricanes last fall? Check to make sure your facilities are rebuilt, pool functioning, etc. A friend of mine was on a scuba trip to Cozumel during one bad hurricane and that trip was way worse than a bad day at the office.
>
> Have a wonderful vacation!
Actually, yes. This is in part while we are dealing with a travel agent this time (we haven’t in the past). Our agent comes highly recommended, and she would not send us somewhere she herself wouldn’t stay. (I hope, anyway.) This is also why we “expanded” our search into the Riviera Maya – quite a few of the resorts in Cozumel got hammered by Hurricane Wilma. Some of them are not scheduled to re-open until March.
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### Author:  [@serious\_lark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/serious_lark)
#### Post date: [February 1, 2006, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-vacation/341632/29 "2006-02-01T17:57:26Z")
I was all set to tell you to save up the money and then surprise him, when I saw the further post indicating that he doesn’t want to deal with the hassle of planning the vacation. Enjoy planning! Please don’t ignore the finances issue though - while the break will certainly do you good, a little planning will probably go a long way to making this a guilt-free vacation (not to mention avoid quarrels later).
That being said, **trupa** and I (and little **trusquirt** ) recently went for our first non-family vacation in 4 years to a lovely beach all-inclusive in the Carribean - 2 week stay. I’m normally the cultural vacation type, and was concerned I would be bored stiff, but it turned out to be just what the doc ordered for all of us. I hope you get to indulge too!
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### Author:  [@rockle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rockle)
#### Post date: [February 8, 2006, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-vacation/341632/30 "2006-02-08T16:06:33Z")
> [@rockle](#):
>
> … I was thinking about this earlier. He does occasionally watch with me, and he has said a few places “sounded interesting.” … It has the beach factor, plus the stuff-to-do-factor, _plus_ the Amazing Race factor.
Well, we’ve made a decision. _Sort of._ I’ve put all the plans in place, we found a number we agree on, and there’s nothing left except the packing and the photosynthesizing. We’re going to … _drumroll please_ … [Tulum](http://www.cbs.com/primetime/amazing_race3/leaderboard/index.shtml), which was the location of Pit Stop #2 of TAR: 3. (We’re not staying at the Diamante K Bungalows, though.) Now we have to start the countdown, which … _the waiting is the hardest part!_
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