<p>We seriously need a break in all of this “college stuff”!! Trying to make some vacation plans for a little post-graduation getaway. Any ideas? Looking for a nice beach resort, lots of sand, fun restaurants, and a great pool or two. Florida, Carolinas, Texas…open to whatever ideas you may be willing to share. If you have the name of a particular resort that you loved, that would be great!</p>
<p>How about Costa Rica. There is a great small hotel right on the beach in Tamarindo called Capitan Suizo. Great pool with howler monkeys in the trees above. Large iguanas sunning themselves by the chaise lounges. Restaurant has a German chef and has wienershnitzel on the menu. Town of Tamarindo has some great restaurants. Stellas has great fish in a relaxed atmosphere. You can take a guide to the national park and go on a small boat and capuchin monkeys come on to the boat and take bananas from you. Large crocks come to the side of the boat to be fed. Great waves at the beach. Truly a great vacation. Best time to go is from December to April. Can fly into Liberia and Tamarindo is about an hour away.</p>
<p>Hilton Head Island</p>
<p>Naples Florida OR any west coast of Florida resort area like Marco Island, Captiva, Bonita Springs or Sanibel. We love Naples because of beautiful beaches, breathtaking sunsets on the gulf of Mexico, and great restaurants downtown.West Coast of Florida is WONDERFUL. You feel like you are really on vacation there! </p>
<p>Lot of people like South Beach but in May the east coast of Florida tends to have something called “sea lice” in the water (from Mother’s Day till Father’s day). Sea lice is really jelly fish larvae/eggs but they can cause a painful rash and fever.</p>
<p>so jealous of my daughter she is taking a weekend break, either here [Cochin</a>](<a href=“http://wikitravel.org/en/Cochin]Cochin”>http://wikitravel.org/en/Cochin) or here [Kumarakom</a>](<a href=“http://wikitravel.org/en/Kumarakom]Kumarakom”>http://wikitravel.org/en/Kumarakom), maybe it was both.</p>
<p>our dog became very ill Friday night, so I felt I needed to let her know (she seems better now), she was easy to reach 
but told me they were taking a boat trip.</p>
<p>However I get to take a boat trip too, with a Scottish underwater photographer for the BBC 
( with an environmental club @ school), but as it is in the San Juans, and it was snowing in Seattle this morning 
, I may have to get out my storm gear.</p>
<p>You don’t say where you’re starting from. How warm should the water be? Are you a foodie? Do you want to laze on a beach or enjoy nightlife?</p>
<p>East coast:
For lazing around a pool: the Grand Hyatt in Orlando. Fabulous pools.
For lazing at the beach, warm water, Sanibel (any place at Sanibel).</p>
<p>Flight involved:
For lazing around a pool: the Wynn, Palazzo, Venetian, or Bellagio in Las Vegas. Good for foodies too. (Book with expedia or travelocity and the deals are amazing.)
For lazing at the beach, warm water: Big Island, Hawaii. If you stay in Kona, it’s cheaper and there’s a modicum of nightlife.
Lazing at the beach, just looking and hiking: Oregon coast.</p>
<p>more info…
starting from midwest.<br>
can either fly or drive.</p>
<p>definitely want to lay around pool and beach…no need for tons of plans
definitely need lots of food choices…no cooking allowed!!!
would prefer to stay in the states</p>
<p>any specific resorts suggestions for sanibel or hilton head?</p>
<p>appreciate all of the suggestions…it’s exciting just to plan!</p>
<p>Purchase through March 31, for travel through Aug 15, Disney (Walt Disney World, FL) is having a buy 4 nights, get 3 free.</p>
<p><a href=“http://bookwdw.reservations.disney.go.com/ibcwdw/en_US/specialOfferDetails?name=Promo&promotionCode=b4g3f&market=b4g3f[/url]”>http://bookwdw.reservations.disney.go.com/ibcwdw/en_US/specialOfferDetails?name=Promo&promotionCode=b4g3f&market=b4g3f</a></p>
<p>As far as Sanibel goes, I’d check around for good deals. I’ve stayed at a bunch of places there and they were all just fine. And the beach is public access, so no problem. Just rent a bike.</p>
<p>We LOVED San Antonio. Stay in one of the hotels on the Riverwalk. Lots to do…weather should be nice. Sit around a pool. A disclaimer…we were there in April the year we went and of course they were having record cold weather…highs in the 60’s…it didn’t matter…we found plenty to do. During the day we went to places like the Alamo…and every afternoon/evening we went to the Riverwalk…lots of entertainment and great food.</p>
<p>surf beach resort on treasure island (near st petes, fly into tampa).
We got a 2 bdrm condo with an awesome beach view for $150 per night. Wow. Right near a paved 1/2 mile beach walk way and you can walk for miles on the white sand.
Nice - but rather smallish pool. Great hot-tub.
Good restaurants nearby.
Spring breakers don’t like Treasure Island (I was told they prefer the action in Clearwater) - that’s a PLUS. You can rent chaise lounges and a cabana and RELAX. Very quiet. Terrific.</p>
<p>Drive to Page, AZ, get a room at the </p>
<p>[Lake</a> Powell Resort, Page, Arizona](<a href=“http://www.lakepowell.com/lodging-food/lake-powell-resort.cfm]Lake”>Rainbow Room | Wahweap Marina AZ | Lake Powell Resorts & Marinas)</p>
<p>lower off season rates, weather this week in the 70s, sun, pool, lake, boats to rent, etc </p>
<p>It is very mellow in the off season like this</p>
<p>The Outer Banks of North Carolina. You won’t really find resorts but there are lots of beach houses/condos for rent that have pools. All the action is in the Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head areas. </p>
<p>Slower paced but beautiful houses/condos are with some resaurants are the Northern Outer Banks towns of Southern Shores, Duck and Corolla. South of Nags Head you’ll find Avon, Hatteras, Rodanthe, Waves, very pretty with not as much traffic but fewer restaurants/things to do.</p>
<p>As someone who has recently finished planning two beach vacations, my suggestion is to look for a place that is within an hour of an airport that you can fly direct to versus one where you will have to change planes. We’re doing a family vacation at the end of June to the Panhandle of Florida and because of everyone’s not-quite-firmed up summer jobs,most of us are going to drive with two people (so far!) flying one leg. I almost wish we had decided on a place based on if it was served by Southwest airlines so we could change flights without penalty.</p>
<p>We spent a week at Sandestin the summer after daughter’s high school graduation. Lovely beach and great water. Rented a 2 bedroom condo on the beach through VRBO. We found the cheapest airfare by using Pensacola airport and driving an hour to the resort.</p>
<p>Hilton Head can be a bit cool this time of year. We have been in April out by the pool swimming one year, and huddled at the pool in sweatshirts and blankets!</p>
<p>If you want oceanfront in Hilton Head, I would look in Palmetto Dunes. There you can find oceanfront hotel or condos. If you are not cooking, you might be happy at one of the hotels if you can find a great rate. As far as restaurants in Hilton Head, there are hundreds to chose from!! VRBO will have plenty to chose from if you want a condo, but there are also many rental companies if you would rather go that way.</p>
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</p>
<p>[Georgia</a> Resorts and Spas - Sea Island - Coastal Georgia Luxury Resort Vacations](<a href=“http://www.seaisland.com/16/Home.htm]Georgia”>Luxury Forbes Five-Star Resort in Georgia | Sea Island Resort)</p>
<p>H and I went here last year–he was there for a meeting. It was a beautiful resort. We only stayed for three days–we went fishing and while he was at the meeting, I spent time walking at the beach and reading by the pool at the resort. You can fly into Jacksonville, FL or Charleston and drive to Sea Island. There was also a spa at the resort.</p>
<p>Okay—we’ve settled on a location! Have decided to go to Siesta Key, Florida in June.<br>
Any resort suggestions? If you’ve been there and loved (or hated) where you stayed,
we’d be glad for the input.
(Hubby is still thinking the Florida Keys sound better------We’d be glad for resort info
there as well…)
Thanks, all!</p>
<p>I have to go with your H here. The Florida Keys are fabulous. I’ve spent time in both Sarasota and The Keys, and I’ll take The Keys everytime. If you do go to The Keys be sure to visit Bahia Honda: pristine island and conchs in the water all over the place. Bring or buy snorkeling gear and make sure to slather tons of sunscreen on your backs b/c you’ll spend hours viewing the undersea world no matter which keys you visit. Very, very relaxing and the scenery is unmatched anywhere else in the U.S.</p>
<p>Sorry, I can’t recommend any resorts in Sarasota b/c I stayed at a friend’s parents’ house on one of the canals every time I went there. Not much to do except go to the beach, shop, and Ringling Museum.</p>
<p>We’re going to the Keys in 2 weeks and staying at the Best Western for $159/night. Because there are not many beaches in the Keys, we are also spending a few nights at the Marrriott Harbor Beach in Fort Lauderdale, which I got for $135/night on Priceline. I thought that was a fabulous rate for Easter week.</p>