Best relax-cation this summer? I really need help.

[Zeze]

Super long story short

• Wife and I will first have our kids-free week at a destination of our choice. This is our first time doing something like this. We want to focus on RELAXING first. We're usually VERY active vacationers (iceland, morocco, etc). But this time we want to mostly lounge around.
• We are in NY/NJ tri-state area.
• Knowing my wife who likes excitement, I'd take a guess that always having some small things to do is fine.
• Last time we went to Cancun (Hotel Zone) and it was perfect. We relaxed mostly but also went on a quick day-trip to isla mujeres. That was fun, but we don't wanna do/visit same place this time.
• So where?
  • Anything that isn't too far - I want to maximize relaxing. Places like Hawaii or Europe are out.
  • Anywhere in Caribbean? No Cancun, we've been to Jamaica.
  • Anywhere in US? Is Colorado strictly winter town? I've never been.
  • Suggest any uber cozy resorts or retreat centers.
  • Vancouver/Seattle? I've never been, but not so much 'relaxing' right?
  • St. Lucia? US Virgin Islands?

Go go go.

 

[DigDog]

Puerto Angels / Puerto Escondido.

Not massively easy to get to, but if you want spiritual calm, thats your destination.

Bring mosquito repellant and/or nets.

 

[shortylickens]

Rent a cabin in the middle of nowhere. Dont tell anyone you are going.

Shoot trespassers.

 

[soulcougher73]

I am not sure your budget. But my wife and I went to Gateway Canyons maybe 8 years ago. It was a lot cheaper then. Looks like they have added quite a bit since then and spruced the place up some. But it is really out in the middle of nowhere which was amazing to just relax. Id love to go again. Think we had a groupon last time actually. I wonder if they still do that. Anyways, give it a look.

http://www.gatewaycanyons.com/

Another place my wife and I may go to next year on the adult week is Black Mountain Ranch, also in CO. Its a dude ranch. All inclusive though. Their 8 min long video on homepage is amazingly shot.

https://blackmtnranch.com/

 

[rh71]

You may be against this because you don't want to be "stuck" but that description sounds like cruise-time. We loved the Western & Eastern Caribbean cruises when it was just us two.

One of our favorite vacations was staying in Vancouver for a couple days before a cruise to Alaska. It's not lying-down-on-a-beach-all-day kind of relaxing but if you're doing a whole week, you need things to do. And there's nothing like seeing Alaska up close.

If you want tranquil and relatively close, Finger Lakes or Lake George.

 

[Brainonska511]

If you want tranquil and relatively close, Finger Lakes or Lake George.

Can definitely vouch for the latter. I was just up there over memorial day weekend. Lots of great hiking, can go out on the lake via kayak or boat, nice little town (if a bit of a tourist trap), but it's close and cheap.

 

[Zeze]

Can definitely vouch for the latter. I was just up there over memorial day weekend. Lots of great hiking, can go out on the lake via kayak or boat, nice little town (if a bit of a tourist trap), but it's close and cheap.

My coworker just happened to recommend Lake George too - along with Sagamore Resort. It looks nice - perhaps better with kids older.

 

[purbeast0]

In order of being able to have more "stuff" to do, I'd recommend any of these 3.

Aruba -most stuff to do here, most perfect weather in the world, great restaurants, great beaches, my favorite vacation spot so I'm highly biased and can give shitloads of recommendations
Grand Cayman - most beautiful beaches I've seen in my life with great restaurants, not much to do at night either and it's very quiet
Turks and Caicos - Providenciales specifically, 2nd most beautiful beaches I've ever seen, great restaurants with a lot right on the beach, also very quiet at night

I've never been to Exuma Bahamas but that could be another one to look at.

Also if you wanted to keep it in the states, the middle Keys down in Florida are about as chill as you can get. I love it down there and have been there many times, specifically Marathon being my favorite place down there.

I've been to Cancun before multiple times and that place is way busier than any of the places mentioned above.

 

[Brainonska511]

My coworker just happened to recommend Lake George too - along with Sagamore Resort. It looks nice - perhaps better with kids older.

The Sagamore and Bolton Landing are both very nice; we actually rented our kayak on the island that the Sagamore resides on. But for our stay, we were in Lake George village at the Heritage of Lake George: we had a small cabin and were walking distance to the downtown area, which was nice for drinking with dinner, and the stay didn't blow our budget.

 

[tynopik]

the most relaxing vacation is the staycation

 

[Zeze]

Grand Cayman sounds good... seems cheaper than St. Lucia or Aruba.

 

[ImpulsE69]

Nothing relaxing about any of the things you listed. You want a place with not a lot around, and not a ton of things you feel you need to do.

Chena Hot Springs in Alaska. So secluded and relaxing.

 

[purbeast0]

Grand Cayman sounds good... seems cheaper than St. Lucia or Aruba.

Grand Cayman is noticeably more expensive than Aruba.

1 Grand Cayman dollar is $1.20 USD.

And over there, everything was about 20-25 percent more, and prices were all in Grand Cayman dollars.

Aruba is like the same cost as things are where I live in the DC Metro area, with the exception of some foods being a bit more and same with alcohol. But going out to dinners and hotels, excursions, etc, are not that bad at all, comparable to what you'd find back in the states.

Oh and all 3 of those islands I mentioned you can rent a car and drive around. They are all safe like that. Whereas a lot of other places in the Caribbean you don't want to leave the resort. There are multiple different beaches we drive to on those islands to have a beach day and relax, just getting away from all of the crowds at the resorts.

 

[DietDrThunder]

Go stay at the Biltmore in Asheville North Carolina and just stay on the estate.

 

[Zeze]

Grand Cayman is noticeably more expensive than Aruba.

1 Grand Cayman dollar is $1.20 USD.

And over there, everything was about 20-25 percent more, and prices were all in Grand Cayman dollars.

Aruba is like the same cost as things are where I live in the DC Metro area, with the exception of some foods being a bit more and same with alcohol. But going out to dinners and hotels, excursions, etc, are not that bad at all, comparable to what you'd find back in the states.

Oh and all 3 of those islands I mentioned you can rent a car and drive around. They are all safe like that. Whereas a lot of other places in the Caribbean you don't want to leave the resort. There are multiple different beaches we drive to on those islands to have a beach day and relax, just getting away from all of the crowds at the resorts.

That sounds awesome but I'm serious bummed out that airfare to Grand Cayman is like $600-700pp July & August (yes this is semi last minute)

 

[snoopy7548]

Wherever you decide to go, don't plan everything out. Just do what you want.

How about renting a cabin in New Hampshire, doing some hiking, and visiting the largest classic arcade in the world?

http://www.funspotnh.com/

 

[Zeze]

Nothing relaxing about any of the things you listed. You want a place with not a lot around, and not a ton of things you feel you need to do.

Chena Hot Springs in Alaska. So secluded and relaxing.

My Alaska native friend recommended this too. It looks nice. Liiiitle bit underwhelming to fly to AL just for this small pool (especially I've been to Iceland hot springs.)

 

[purbeast0]

That sounds awesome but I'm serious bummed out that airfare to Grand Cayman is like $600-700pp July & August (yes this is semi last minute)

You need to get on the credit card game. I haven't paid for a flight (other than taxes) in like 5 years.

We're actually most likely going back to Grand Cayman in September for our 10 year wedding anniversary so I will shortly be pricing out things as well.

 

[dullard]

That sounds awesome but I'm serious bummed out that airfare to Grand Cayman is like $600-700pp July & August (yes this is semi last minute)

Southwest flies there. If you are willing to travel on Monday/Tuesday, looks like the flights from EWR are as low as $374 after tax in late July

Otherwise, I cannot help you. A relaxing vacation just doesn't sound good at all. All my vacations are high intensity and active (lets the mind relax when the body is moving).

 

[purbeast0]

Southwest flies there. If you are willing to travel on Monday/Tuesday, looks like the flights from EWR are as low as $374 after tax in late July

Otherwise, I cannot help you. A relaxing vacation just doesn't sound good at all. All my vacations are high intensity and active (lets the mind relax when the body is moving).

Yeah the only time I've gone there I flew SW through FLL. It's a very short flight from FLL to GCM, like an hour.

 

[ImpulsE69]

My Alaska native friend recommended this too. It looks nice. Liiiitle bit underwhelming to fly to AL just for this small pool (especially I've been to Iceland hot springs.)

I want to go to those too! As for this, it is about 50 miles from civilization (Fairbanks) so yea. We actually went to Fairbanks to see the northern lights, and spent a few days there as something to do and ended up enjoying it more than we thought we would. It really depends on what you are traveling for.

 

[Ns1]

5 days at Aria sounds amazing right about now. Do nothing but lounge, go to spa, get wasted on high quality alcohol, eat, sleep.

 

[ImpulsE69]

Wherever you decide to go, don't plan everything out. Just do what you want.

How about renting a cabin in New Hampshire, doing some hiking, and visiting the largest classic arcade in the world?

http://www.funspotnh.com/

This looks like my kind of place!

 

[Zeze]

Wherever you decide to go, don't plan everything out. Just do what you want.

How about renting a cabin in New Hampshire, doing some hiking, and visiting the largest classic arcade in the world?

http://www.funspotnh.com/

5 days at Aria sounds amazing right about now. Do nothing but lounge, go to spa, get wasted on high quality alcohol, eat, sleep.

Yea we floated Vegas too, but really craving a natural beauty that is beach. But still not out of picture.

 

[snoopy7548]

This looks like my kind of place!

If you're ever around Laconia, NH, it's 100% worth a visit! I'm lucky to be 2-2.5 hours away. $20 will get you enough tokens to last the entire day.