<p>It turns out, our family’s schedules are in sync and we can actually plan a short get-away in December. We would like to leave Christmas day and return December 29. I have researched going to Vail or some other ski locale out West, but given the short time frame, it probably isn’t reasonable. Plus, with the holiday season, most places I contacted were either booked or have a 7 night minimum.</p>
<p>We live outside DC, so perhaps the Bahamas or another easily accessible island? If we did the Caribbean, I think an all-inclusive would make things easy but there are SO many choices that I got overwhelmed! Any guidelines or suggestions? Any other ideas?? We are pretty open to anything. </p>
<p>We are thinking this may be our last chance to vacation together for a while. S1 graduated college this past May and is working. He has a very serious, long-distance GF, so he would prefer to use his vacation time to visit her. It just so happens his office is closed those couple days after Christmas. S2 is a college sophomore, so he has plenty of time off in December. </p>
<p>This may all be futile given the last minute planning during a VERY busy travel time, but I thought I would throw it out there.</p>
<p>We like Puerto Rico. No passport required, English is spoken in the main cities, dollars are used, lovely beaches and a European feel in Old San Juan.</p>
<p>^^I also agree that Puerto Rico is nice. You can do a day at the El Yunque Rain Forest and a few days at the beach! The Bahamas are also real nice. I would personally just stay away from Mexico, imo.</p>
<p>Cross posted with CT1417…I think the Bahamas should be okay in December…it’s Bermuda that may be too cold.</p>
<p>It will be too cold in the Bahamas, assuming that you are looking for a beach vacation, and I don’t think there are AIs in Nassau. You will need to travel further south, but I fear that most decent resorts will have a seven to ten day minimum during Christmas week.</p>
<p>The only AI we have stayed at was in Mexico and the random drug-related shootings have left me wary of Mexico. Grand Velas Riveria Maya was the place we stayed and the food was excellent. Friends have stayed at the Westin Playa Conchal in Costa Rica and were OK with the AI food.</p>
<p>One other thought it to rent a private home and a chef. Generally more economical for larger families, and probably not available for only four days. OK—I don’t have any useful suggestions!</p>
<p>PR: We have stayed at Ocean Sixteen villas at Rio Mar. Full condo kind of set-up on the grounds of a larger resort. Villa, in low-rise building, on ocean with own pool and then short-ish walk down the beach to the more hectic resort, but we would walk down there daily for lunch. Condo had full kitchen so that we did not need to leave for breakfast.</p>
<p>^^Again, Bermuda may be cold in December…but probably warmer than DC! Bahamas should be warmer…Puerto Rico is real nice. We’ve been a few times but as part of cruises, so no places to suggest, sorry.</p>
<p>I can recommend 2 hotels in PR. The Royal Isabela (especially if there are any golfers in your group) and the Ritz Carlton in the Dorado Beach area.</p>
<p>We planned a last minute vacation a number of years ago during the April vacation…same deal…we realized at the last minute that we ALL had the same time off. That was back in the day when we used a travel agent. We ended up going to San Antonio. It was really fun.</p>
<p>If you do want a ski vacation you can go up to VT or NH although not certain about the minimum number of days required. We are frequent visitors to Waterville Valley NH during the summer. We went skiing one year when Christmas fell on a Wed/Thurs. We went up on Sunday or Monday and stayed for about four days in advance of Christmas which is when the rates change. Christmas is not our religion so celebrating that holiday with extended family not an issue. We did bring our Menorah with us as it was still Chanukah.</p>
<p>I have never been, but hear Key West is fun around then.
If you decide on skiing, it sounds like Utah is quickest to actually get to slopes from airport. I would not recommend planning for east coast skiing at Christmas.
We went to Lake Tahoe for skiing once Christmas and loved it.</p>
<p>We flew to St. Thomas a few years ago on Christmas Eve and returned on New Year’s Eve. We stayed in a cheaper hotel near the airport and rented a car. We drove all around the island and visited the beaches recommended in the guide book. We took the kids snorkeling (8 and 15) and avoided the town when the cruise ships were in. Sampled local restaurants, but also did a lot of picnicking. On Christmas Day we found a grocery store and bought a roast chicken and some chips and fruit and had a picnic on one of the most beautiful beaches imaginable.</p>
<p>We stayed at a guest villa near the rain forest. Unfortunately, the place we stayed at closed this year; but I would check into them. We had a lovely place to ourselves.</p>
<p>If you would consider a cruise, there are a lot of good deals out there for the holidays. Ships don’t like to sail empty. You could go out of Cape Canaveral, Ft. Lauderdale or Miami down to the Bahamas or Caribbean, and have a lovely vacation at a good price, even over the holidays.</p>
<p>Many years ago we went to the Dominican Republic at that time of year, rented a beach house. The weather was lovely. We were besieged by beggars every time we set foot in Puerta Plata, the nearby city, but friends who have been there since then say that it no longer happens. Oh, and at the airport they broke into everyone’s baggage and stole anything of faint value, including my contact lens heat treatment thingie, and broke the locks if necessary. Don’t know if that still happens.</p>
<p>If you want to ski out west, Utah is logistically easier than Colorado. Exit terminal, walk to car rental counters, and 35 minute drive to Park City resorts.</p>