NationStates Jolt Archive

I've got some money that I need to spend in a hurry, and adter paying off debts, and buying a few necessities, I thought I take a much needed vacation. The question is: where do I go? My budget is about $5000 US, it needs to meet the following qriteria:

1. It needs to be somewhere I don't need a passport to get to, so that narrows it down to US, Canada, or Mexico

2. I need airfare, hotel, food, and spending money to not exceed $5000 US

3. I can leave no earlier than August 20, and must return no later than Septembet 4th.

I'd like a place that has lots of stuff to do. If I want to sit in a room, I'll just stay here.

This trip would be just for me, and if it helps I live in New England, and I don't have a car so I can't drive anywhere.

go to miami... fun shit there. cheap flight from new england, and most things to do are within walking distance froma hotel. should be well under 5 g's depending on how oyu spend ur money. Or take a cruise.... dont know how much those cost though. :cool: and dont worry about :mp5: ... hehe

You have given us soooooooooooo many possibilities, I am excited for you... There is always Vegas, everyone seems to love Vegas. You may have to give a few details about yourself to help in the suggestions: Are you old enough to gamble and drink? Are you a big sports fan?? How about just some relaxation? If you are a sports fan, you could visit several historical ballparks, such as Busch Stadium in st. Louis, home of the Cardinals, which will be torn down after this season..

Also, my wife and I went to Cancun Mexico, stayed in a place called the Moon Palace for our honey moon just over 2 years ago. It was less than $3500 i imagine (my wife took care of the planning, I just signed checks)

thats a good chunk of money

want to go to the city? toronto is great, as is montreal. i havent been to vancouver but i hear its well worth going to. (you can get to an airport eh?)
san diego is fabulous. sanfrancisco is a good choice

dont go to florida, you wont survive it. too damned hot.

looking for something in the wilds? grand tetons are good this time of year. sun valley idaho area is some of the best wilderness accesss in the country. just fabulous. santa fe isnt too too hot in august but it will be quite a change from maine. you cant go wrong with the canadian rockies. also a good time of year to try a nice alaskan cruise. you can get great discounts for a cruise covering that time frame.

Use some of that 5 grand to get yourself a passport?

How much is a passport anyway? Go to some US protectorate or something. Go to pueto rico, its probably cheaper than hawaii

Good ideas. Here's more info on me. Yes, i'm old enought to drink and gamble. (soon to be 38). I'm not much into sports, and "roughing it" is out, because I'm in a wheelchair. I'd go to Vegas, but hell, that's hotter than FL! I'm kind of leaning toward either Toronto, Key West, US Virgin Is, or Alaska. Cruise sounds fun, but I'd need to be able to get to port of departure. Anyone know if cruises sail from Boston, or closer still, Portland, ME? The reason I'm trying to find somewhere I don't need a passport for is I may not have enough time to get one.

i think there are east coast cruises that sail from boston. doesnt the bluenose2 (or its sister ship) still sail from portland to yarmouth ns? there are definitely cruises that sail from NYC. you have to really grill the cruise line about accessiblitily. sometimes they just dont understand how hard it is to get around in a chair.

geez there are alot of really nice things you could do in boston, nyc, newport.

Without a passport your limited to some two dozen nations in N America and the Carribean. So first off I would suggest expediting a passport. Shouldnt take to long as long as you dont have a criminal record.
I would suggest somewhere tropical. If your into history I would suggest the Yucatan penninsula. Its stepped with Aztec/Mayan/Toltec ruins. Very cool place. If your a single person looking for some fun I would suggest some of the College mexican hangouts. You should definately get out of the US into a foreign land and get some experience and have fun.

Easy: Las Vegas.

I am 15, and I have been to Las Vegas. While 15 yr olds can't gamble, they have turned Las Vegas into a place where there is much more to do than that. Just visiting some of the cool looking hotels is cool enough. Plus there are Museums, tours, lots of places to eat, the Las Vegas strip, and there are places in the outskirts to go to such as redrock canyon and valley of fire. Plus you can gamble (although that might be a waste of 5000 dollars). Its not that cheap, but its not that expensive either, assuming you arent taking anyone else. The hotel I stayed in was the MGM Grand. If you are thinking "no way in hell", at least look into it a little bit.

Easy: Las Vegas.

I am 15, and I have been to Las Vegas. While 15 yr olds can't gamble, they have turned Las Vegas into a place where there is much more to do than that. Just visiting some of the cool looking hotels is cool enough. Plus there are Museums, tours, lots of places to eat, the Las Vegas strip, and there are places in the outskirts to go to such as redrock canyon and valley of fire. Plus you can gamble (although that might be a waste of 5000 dollars). Its not that cheap, but its not that expensive either, assuming you arent taking anyone else. The hotel I stayed in was the MGM Grand. If you are thinking "no way in hell", at least look into it a little bit.
there are a couple problems with vegas.

1) its hot as hell. going outside to get just to the other side of the street can be an ordeal. its all accessible but its a much longer way than it seems.

2) there is an extreme shortage of wheelchair accessible taxis. i have waited with a chaired friend for over an hour and still had to walk/roll back to our hotel. it was late at night so it wasnt intensely hot like in the day but wow it was annoying.

For a little extra they will expedite your passport - I believe 2 weeks time, but check.

British Virgin Islands is much nicer than US, but consider the hurricane season.

I vote TO. I live just a few hours away, and have been there dozens of times.
There is shopping, of course (and an awsome exchange rate for you), cultural festivals (http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/you-belong/attractions/), and it's the capital of Ontario (if you care). Late August is definitly one of the best times to go.
Have fun, no matter where you go! :)

There aren't too many cruises out of Boston.....If you want my suggestion, I'd get to Providence and take a cheap flight somewhere from there...they fly with fairly cheap airlines.

You could come to Colorado, we have lots to do...visit the Sand Dunes in Southern Colorado, the Royal Gorge, see a Broncos or Ave's game, go skiing (although you live in Maine so I imagine that might be something you do often) and plenty more. By late August some of the ski resorts should be opening up, I reccomend Monarch for some great powder...anyway, hope this might have helped. :D

Honestly, don't be a dope. Take $500 of that, have a vacation. Take the rest to a finacial advisor. Invest that bitch, and she'll make money for you.

Didn't you read my first post? I don't have the option of investing it. I have to get rid of it. Believe me, I'd save it if I could, but Uncle Sam will jump on my crippled ass if I do.

You could come to Colorado, we have lots to do...visit the Sand Dunes in Southern Colorado, the Royal Gorge, see a Broncos or Ave's game, go skiing (although you live in Maine so I imagine that might be something you do often) and plenty more. By late August some of the ski resorts should be opening up, I reccomend Monarch for some great powder...anyway, hope this might have helped.

Wheelchair. Skiing's not really my thing.

I am very interested in how you got this money. How did you get it? Why are you so eager to burn it? Why will uncle sam jump all over your ass? I'm not a cop, so I don't care if its stolen. If its some kind of creative tax evasion, i would much like to know about it. God knows i need some fun.

Well, if you must know, it's the settlement I got from suing the SOB that hit me with his car last year (not why I'm in a wheelchair. I was born like this) and I need to spend it because otherwise I'll lose my SSI benefits, which I'm going to need until I finish school. That's all the info I'm willing to give out, except to say no, you can't have any. :D

Come on down to Boston. I'll get you laid and wasted and it won't cost you much. :D

Seriously, though. The cruises to NS are pretty awesome.

The Bay of Fundy!

Oh wait, you already live there. :p But you can see it from the other side.
http://www.bayoffundy.com/

Maineiacs,

If you decide to come up here to Canada, your $5K will be worth about $7K. It's dirt cheap vacationland for you folks south of the 49th.

I am in Ottawa, Canada's capital and it's a little quaint frankly for a capital city. You will find much more to do in Toronto and they have an extensive public transportation system. Tons of shopping, walking (or rolling) tours, a very good entertainment district and a more diverse culture than any other city in the world. Catch a Blue Jays game, visit the Hockey Hall of Fame, check out Casa Loma or make you way up to Wonderland, a Paramount Theme Park. Also a Second City comedy club. Direct flights to Toronto from most major cities via most major airlines.

My wife and I go with our 15 year old son once or twice a year to see a play or just get away from home for awhile. Holiday Inn on King is my recommendation.

Anxious to hear your decision.

S.

You should go backpacking. You can buy a ton of gear for 5 grand and the actual trip costs essentially nothing. You could go nearby and spend even less.

I seriously doubt that a guy in a chair could even go backpacking...

good guess. I'm not really the outdoorsy type. I'm looking into expiditing the passport process, so here's the current short list:

Seattle
San Francisco (too hilly?)
LA
Cancun (or what's left of it)
Aruba
Jamaica
Bermuda
Bahamas (Key Largo, Montego baby whay don't we go.. sorry, I had to :D )
Anchorage
Hawaii
Ireland
UK
Toronto
Ottawa
Vancouver

Come on down to Boston. I'll get you laid and wasted and it won't cost you much.

Now there's an idea I can get behind :D :fluffle:

I was going to suggest adventure travel but there isn't much out there for folks in a wheel chair.

I suggest a cruise and from there take what excursions you can.

Top notch is Celebrity but Carnival still has the youngest crowds.

JMayo

good guess. I'm not really the outdoorsy type. I'm looking into expiditing the passport process, so here's the current short list:

Seattle
San Francisco (too hilly?)
LA
Cancun (or what's left of it)
Aruba
Jamaica
Bermuda
Bahamas (Key Largo, Montego baby whay don't we go.. sorry, I had to :D )
Anchorage
Hawaii
Ireland
UK
Toronto
Ottawa
Vancouver

I can vouch for Cancun... that is one cool place. If you're into meeting people from different countries, check it out.

And there's no water in the world quite like the Caribbean... I've seen the green-blue water of the Mediterranean (Italian Riviera) and it just doesn't measure up to that turquoise-blue caribbean water. As you're flying into Cancun you'll almost cream your pants, it's so pretty.

As you're flying into Cancun you'll almost cream your pants, it's so pretty.

I'll try to control myself. :rolleyes: :p :)

you may be able to go to aruba on just your certified birth certificate. (all that may have changed since 9/11)

i love aruba. its the most fantastic friendly beach vacation you could ever have. plus any extra money you have can be spent either in the casinos or in the jewelry stores.

check out www.visitaruba.com

As you're flying into Cancun you'll almost cream your pants, it's so pretty.

Do you know from experience?

Also, I'm also planning a vacation. Anyone know of a good place with lots of hot, easy chicks?

Here are three good Midwest places:
Michigan
Illinois
Wisconsin

Do you know from experience?

Also, I'm also planning a vacation. Anyone know of a good place with lots of hot, easy chicks?

lol, no... but the "oohs" and "ahhs" in the descending/circling plane would make one think that people were getting off on the overhead sight.

Check out the Lakeland area of Minocqua, Wisconsin

Hundreds of freshwater lakes, cabin-rental possibilities... great fishing, mild weather.

http://www.minocqua.org/

Do you know from experience?

Also, I'm also planning a vacation. Anyone know of a good place with lots of hot, easy chicks?
miami
but they have very high standards so if you dont measure up, dont bother

I've got some money that I need to spend in a hurry, and adter paying off debts, and buying a few necessities, I thought I take a much needed vacation. The question is: where do I go? My budget is about $5000 US, it needs to meet the following qriteria:

1. It needs to be somewhere I don't need a passport to get to, so that narrows it down to US, Canada, or Mexico

2. I need airfare, hotel, food, and spending money to not exceed $5000 US

3. I can leave no earlier than August 20, and must return no later than Septembet 4th.

I'd like a place that has lots of stuff to do. If I want to sit in a room, I'll just stay here.

This trip would be just for me, and if it helps I live in New England, and I don't have a car so I can't drive anywhere.

Er...this should be obvious. HAWAII! WHOO!

miami
but they have very high standards so if you dont measure up, dont bother

That obviously leaves me out, then. :headbang:

That obviously leaves me out, then. :headbang:

Well surely someone will feel for a cripple...


Also, if you like animals, try an African safari.

That obviously leaves me out, then. :headbang:
you didnt say thats what you wanted on your vacation

you want quality, go pro.

aruba is a dutch island. there are call girl ads in the paper.

you didnt say thats what you wanted on your vacation

you want quality, go pro.

aruba is a dutch island. there are call girl ads in the paper

No, thanks. I'd prefer a woman who actually likes me :fluffle: , not one who was paid too. I'm not that desperate...yet. *LOL*

Wow...
Hey Maine, think of how many girls you could get there for $5000... :fluffle:
Makes my mouth water :)

Also, if you like music or theater, New York City is your best bet. They have Broadway and some of the strongest music scenes, from classical music to punk.

You could go to vegas and see if you get lucky...

The decision has been made. I'm going to ... *drum roll*... Disney World. That's right, I've decided to brave the heat and Hurricane season in Orlando. Got a sweet deal: for $4100 I get a room, meals, and unlimited access to the entire complex for 2 weeks. Not bad, huh? I may have lost a girlfriend recently, but I've gained a mouse.


BTW: post 400! *woot* :D :cool:

not a bad plan!
since you are staying at the park, you can go early before the heat builds up and you can go back to the hotel when it rains or just gets unbearable

plus, you LUCKY LUCKY man, those in chairs get to cut the line! (i love going to busy places with people in wheelchairs)