Other than Hawaii, are there nice warm sunny spots in the US w/nice beaches?

[cheapie]

We have a bunch of vacation to burn before June and considering different vacation spots. I can't get to Hawaii w/my FF miles but am still trying to find a nice beach and location that will be warm in April/May.

Pensacola is hard to fly to w/Northwest. Any other places that you would recommend for a family of 4 to travel to?

My wife would like to go to Utah and go hiking around but...meh....sounds like a lot of work. I'm hoping to entice her with a lazy beach vacation.

[guiseppewv]

Hilton Head, SC - def warm in late April/early May.

Atlantic Beach/Morehead City/Beach NC (just like the name :-) ) - probably not warm enough in April/May time frame - maybe mid to late May. Pretty quiet area, though.

Mackinac Island, MI - Pretty warm in April :P j/k

[Merlin]

What about south Florida? Like Key West

[Yossarian]

water ain't gonna be warm, but the outer banks is always a good choice

[kgsilvas]

Most of the So Cal coastline could fit into that category. :) You should be able to easily get a flight with FF points to either LAX or SNA in OC.

You might consider Huntington Beach. You could use your HH points at the Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort (http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/hotels/index.jhtml;jsessionid=LZRDIAHIHDSO4CSGBIYMVCQKIYFCXUUC?ctyhocn=HUBWHHF&moreDesc=true#ourhotel). It's a HHonors Reward Category 5 property that takes 35,000 HH points per night and is rated four-diamond by AAA. They have a stunning indoor waterfall and private balconies for each room.

Excerpt from their website: Our lush, tropical resort swimming pool is heated year round to provide an ideal spot to bask in the sun and look out over the Pacific Ocean. Many additional recreational amenities are available at the hotel, including a sand volleyball court, basketball court, lighted tennis court, bicycle rentals, and fully-equipped fitness center. Just a short walk across the street, resort guests may enjoy the many activities available on Huntington Beach, the pier, and Huntington Beach's Main Street. Come to Huntington Beach, California, where waves wash onto miles of uninterrupted beaches and reflect spectacular golden sunsets.

[cheapie]

hmmm...it's too bad i hate californians. :heh:

i tried to book the hilton cancun. unfortunately it's not re-opening (after the hurricane) until july 1.

is huntington beach a nice area?

[nickel]

water ain't gonna be warm, but the outer banks is always a good choice
:agree:
5 years in a row i've been vacationing there.

[cheapie]

i'm looking for beaches. sun. and drinks with little umbrellas.

[Merlin]

i'm looking for beaches. sun. and drinks with little umbrellas.
You may want to broaden your search to the islands. It takes a little more in the FF miles - like 35,000 instead of 25,000 but you'll get better weather.

[guiseppewv]

You need to travel more for work so you can get more FF miles. :)

I still think Mackinac Island is your best bet. Cheap, closer to home, clean air, beach, you might see the sun, family oriented, and I am sure you can get drinks.

[esme]

Mazatlan/Acapulco ....it's nice and the weather's already in the 70's-80's

[ShawnLee]

is huntington beach a nice area?Yes. Come visit me. I'll take you shooting. The beach is awesome, and if you have a rental, it's not too bad a drive to anywhere you could want to go.

Seriously. The Hilton's quite nice. Literally beach front. I go past it nearly every night on my run/walk routes on the beach.


Shawn <==== Using Houdini's signature arrows to show that he lives in Huntington Beach.

[LegendKiller]

If you want something nice but a little more quiet, check out Key Biscayne in Miami. It's more sedate than S-B but still is close enough that you can go check out all of the highlights. There is also a very nice state park called Bill Baggs at the end of the key with a lighthouse and a nice north facing beach. The beach is always very well groomed, is protected from much of the wind, and usually has a lot less people than south beach.

miami airport sucks, but if you can stay on the key it's well worth it.

[sixpac shakur]

We stayed at the Los Cabos Hilton in Mexico this past October and it was fantastic! We were there for 7 nights and the service was fantastic. The food was a pretty pricey but we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. PM me if you want more info!

[cheapie]

this one? http://www.hiltonloscabos.com/gallery/index.html

the one i just booked and am trying desperately to get flights to?

[Markel]

miami airport sucks....
That's putting it mildly. A same-airline connection can be a 30 minute hike.

[cheapie]

THANKS ALL FOR THE SUGGESTIONS!

we're going to http://www.hiltonloscabos.com/gallery/index.html\

used FF miles and hilton points. except for the $90 to book the four FF tickets, food, and mebbe a rental car, i'm not going to spend much. just called my wife and told her to go get the passports going for the boys. not telling her where we're going yet. don't know how long i'll keep her waiting. maybe we can trade that info for her letting me know what gender the baby is. :heh:

crap. it's 98.91/person for "fees". good grief!

[Merlin]

Very Nice.....so when are you going?

And one request.....keep the shirt on when you post the pics. :P

[cheapie]

Very Nice.....so when are you going?

And one request.....keep the shirt on when you post the pics. :P


my shirt? :hehehmm:


may 28 and coming back june 2. so sun-fri.

[Markel]

crap. it's 98.91/person for "fees". good grief!
Plus the cost of a couple of passport applications. :kaching:

[Itsme]

You don't need a passport for Puerto Rico...and some airlines may have a good deal with frequent flyer points for there.

[cheapie]

it's mexico isn't it?

[cheapie]

i kinda feel bad telling people about this. i just got back from a cruise, have been to all kinds of places already this year for fun, and just got a new car. i'm just very blessed and don't want to feel like i'm bragging to my friends. ;)

[Merlin]

No worries. Life goes by fast so enjoy as much as you can as much as you can.

[sixpac shakur]

this one? http://www.hiltonloscabos.com/gallery/index.html

the one i just booked and am trying desperately to get flights to?

That's the same one that we were at! Just a few tidbits of advice. We rented a car from the airport because The Hilton is on "Hotel Corridor" which is about a 10 minute drive between Cabo San Lucas and Cabo San Jose. That gave us the freedom to drive all around without having to wait for the shuttle buses to town.

Food at the Hilton and in both towns is really expensive. I don't think we ever paid less than $10 per person in any restaurant. We ended up driving to a Mexican type Wal-mart where we were able to buy fresh fruit, pastries, and bottled drinks for cheap.

In the downstairs part of the Hilton is a small deli-mart (near the pool entrances) where they sold brown bag lunches with really good sandwiches. Those ended up being a pretty good deal (~$6).

We also booked an ATV tour through the Hilton which was a lot of fun and worth the money. I think we ended up paying about $50 a person for the tour.

We also spent a lot of time in the big huge mall in Cabo San Lucas. They have a giant parking garage there with free parking so you can park there and then explore the town.

[cheapie]

sweet! i rented a car based on similar advice. we'll be taking the boys so i'll try to minimize the food $$. i'm a diamond member so i'm hoping i'll get free breakfast.

[Thesifer]

I went to Hilton Head, SC like 6 years ago and we stayed in a 6 Bedroom 6 Bathroom house on the Beach. Unfortunately the place isn't cheap. But it was fun. Was right before boot camp.

[bachviet]

SoCal ocean water is mostly cold even in the summer.

I would say FL.

[hapoo]

hmmm...it's too bad i hate californians. :heh:



its ok, we hate you too :)

[Ladogaboy]

One caveat: I put strychnine in the guacamole.

[Memo]

it's mexico isn't it?

No, Puerto Rico is part of the United States, not part of of Mexico.

[Ladogaboy]

No, Puerto Rico is part of the United States, not part of of Mexico.

cheapie was talking about Cabo San Lucas.

[cheapie]

No, Puerto Rico is part of the United States, not part of of Mexico.


:bonk:

[Merlin]

Ah, American geography lesson. :hehehmm:

[Memo]

:bonk:


Hey, you didn't quote anyone and your post didn't indicate which one you were referring to, can't blame a person for trying to help out! :shrug:



edit: Memo, that's not an acceptable way to refer to yourself here.

:nono:


- GAM

[cheapie]

we're here. it's 99 degrees and i've got the obligitory first-day sunburn. dang. i didn't even think i was out there all that long. the best is the scalp burn. scratched my head and owwww!

i'm surprised how much everything is. just got a can of pringles for over $6. sheesh. :2far: thankfully i'm not having to buy bottled water because they give you a pretty good supply in your room everyday. but the net connection is $10/day. i'll expense 2 days of it tho'. hey! it's legit. my boss needs something so i'm totally not scamming.

anyhow, here's some pics so far.


yay. carter found a dead fish. after convincing him he really shouldn't touch it i thought i'd let him bury it so that the next set of parents can have the joy of telling their kid to leave the buried fish alone. ;)

http://www.raymondkwan.com/uploader2/files/csl/fish.jpg

i'm a hilton diamond member and i was expecting an upgrade to a suite but didn't get one on check-in. however, the room is very large and exceptionally well-appointed. they told me that as soon as one opens up they'll let me know and we can move.

this is the view off our balcony looking left.

http://www.raymondkwan.com/uploader2/files/csl/left.jpg

and looking right

http://www.raymondkwan.com/uploader2/files/csl/right.jpg

this is the pool where we spent most of the afternoon. gotta love the swim up bar and the way it looks like it just goes right into the ocean.

http://www.raymondkwan.com/uploader2/files/csl/pool.jpg

the three boys. gotta love my haircut. she cut it short all over but kinda left the bangs long. so it looks like an effing combover when i'm in the pool. :2far:

http://www.raymondkwan.com/uploader2/files/csl/pool2.jpg

and i just took this pic. my family is down at the beach in the pic playing in the sand. they think i'm working up here. which i should be.

i'll post more pics when i get them.

[cheapie]

We stayed at the Los Cabos Hilton in Mexico this past October and it was fantastic! We were there for 7 nights and the service was fantastic. The food was a pretty pricey but we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. PM me if you want more info!


doh! i guess i didn't remember this part. :(

[nickel]

i hope you don't peel cheapie. :(
beer... beer will help take away the pain you might feel from that burn or a margarita in your case. :cheers:

nice pics. wish i was there. :thumbup:

[cheapie]

so do i! :naughty:

and a margarita here is $9 so i think i'll use ibuprofin. lol.

[Markel]

and i just took this pic. my family is down at the beach in the pic playing in the sand. they think i'm working up here. which i should be.

So, are you waiting for that pic to develop or something?

[nickel]

so do i! :naughty:

and a margarita here is $9 so i think i'll use ibuprofin. lol.
what? it's not all inclusive?

[cheapie]

what? it's not all inclusive?

huh? no...i'm at hilton golf and spa resort. not an all-inclusive one.


the clientele is a bit....older than i am. not so many kids. quite a few rich people sporting upturned collars. ugh.

[nickel]

huh? no...i'm at hilton golf and spa resort. not an all-inclusive one.


the clientele is a bit....older than i am. not so many kids. quite a few rich people sporting upturned collars. ugh.
so i'm sure you're quite glad it's not a nudie beach then. :gle:

[cheapie]

So, are you waiting for that pic to develop or something?


hahaha...sorry.

http://www.raymondkwan.com/uploader2/files/csl/playing.jpg

[nickel]

crop circles :gle:

i mean, i see sand circles.

[cheapie]

so i'm sure you're quite glad it's not a nudie beach then. :gle:


oh no. there's MANY fine ladies here! lotsa mid-40's looking single women that have apparently spend a little bit on upgrades. :heh:

[Airencracken]

its ok, we hate you too :)

:stupid:

[riskykougra]

Nice pics..cute kid...next time either take us all with you or shut your pie hole....j/k...not really...ya Im kidding.....:shake:

[guiseppewv]

oh no. there's MANY fine ladies here! lotsa mid-40's looking single women that have apparently spend a little bit on upgrades. :heh:

No pics = lies. :P

[cheapie]

more pics if anyone is interested. i really hope it doesn't look like i'm rubbing it in!

http://www.raymondkwan.com/uploader2/files/cabo2/1_austin_and_i.jpg

http://www.raymondkwan.com/uploader2/files/cabo2/1_austin_splashing.jpg

http://www.raymondkwan.com/uploader2/files/cabo2/1_batman.jpg

http://www.raymondkwan.com/uploader2/files/cabo2/1_beach.jpg

http://www.raymondkwan.com/uploader2/files/cabo2/1_beach2.jpg

http://www.raymondkwan.com/uploader2/files/cabo2/1_beach3.jpg

http://www.raymondkwan.com/uploader2/files/cabo2/1_boys_on_rocks1.jpg

[cheapie]

http://www.raymondkwan.com/uploader2/files/cabo3/1_burning.jpg

http://www.raymondkwan.com/uploader2/files/cabo3/1_carter_eating.jpg

http://www.raymondkwan.com/uploader2/files/cabo3/1_carter_ring.jpg

http://www.raymondkwan.com/uploader2/files/cabo3/1_chel_and_boys.jpg

http://www.raymondkwan.com/uploader2/files/cabo3/1_doorway.jpg

http://www.raymondkwan.com/uploader2/files/cabo3/1_hotel_rear_day.jpg

http://www.raymondkwan.com/uploader2/files/cabo3/1_hotel_rear_night.jpg

[cheapie]

http://www.raymondkwan.com/uploader2/files/cabo4/1_in_pool.jpg

http://www.raymondkwan.com/uploader2/files/cabo4/1_in_pool_2.jpg

http://www.raymondkwan.com/uploader2/files/cabo4/1_in_sand.jpg

http://www.raymondkwan.com/uploader2/files/cabo4/1_us.jpg

[riskykougra]

Great pics. It looks like a really nice place....and ya...you know you're rubbing it in so stop playin...:hihi:

[dougadam]

Holland Michigan. :sneeze:

[ray]

http://www.hoteldel.com/