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Subject: OT where to go for vacation
Posted by: Khahan
- [486552412] Mon, Mar 16, 2009, 19:26
Ok, this post is more to rant and vent than anything, but there is a serious question at the end:
So, last year my company gave us sales goals and if we met certain goals we could earn trips to places like Atlantis in the Bahamas. Guess who won the all expense trip for 2 to Atlantis?
Today I get an email with the itinerary explaining I need to make my own flight reserverations and the expenses were paid etc. I wasn't sure if I put the flight on the company or paid for it myself and got reimbursed, so I did not immediately book the flight. Lucky me. 3 hours later we get an email: Due to the economy and the sensitivity of our customers, all rewards trips are hereby cancelled! Yes, cancelled as in we're not going. If this wasn't a public forum, I'd post the thoughts going thru my head.
The problem is, my mother-in-law who lives in Texas had booked a round trip flight to come up at the end of April so she could babysit for us. There's some pretty hefty expenses paid out already. Screw that company. Bunch of self-servi...oh wait, I'm not going to do that.
But at least they could have the decency to tell us the truth, "We want to cut our bottom line and decided these trips are an unnecessary expense." It would still suck, I would still be ticked off, but I'd have some respect for them.
Anyway, my wife and I have a babysitter for the last week of April. We'd like to book a pleasant, low-stress vacation for just the 2 of us. Any suggestions? I don't mind driving, even long distance. I might even think its fun. I live in the Philadelphia area. Any suggestions on ideas on nice, quiet vacations some of you have taken that can be planned quickly and easily. |
| 1 | Boxman
ID: 571114225
Mon, Mar 16, 2009, 19:36
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Do a tour of bed and breakfasts. My wife and I love going to those places. You get to see these smaller towns and the pace is a lot slower. I would imagine Pennsylvania has some excellent ones with good scenery and history. Just print out some ones you like and then go for a drive. These towns usually have some good places to eat, a local watering hole and something interesting to see.
If it were me I'd go to NYC from Philly, but you said you wanted quiet.
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| 2 | Khahan
ID: 486552412
Mon, Mar 16, 2009, 19:51
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Actually Boxman, the B&B has some real appeal to me. I may want to travel further away than PA. But definitely not NYC. Getting out to the country may be just what I need.
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| 3 | KrazyKoalaBears
ID: 186321620
Mon, Mar 16, 2009, 20:42
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If you want country, Virginia has a lot of it and is just South of you. You could spend a lot of good hours driving Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway. In April, the greenery should be out in full force.
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| 4 | Perm Dude
ID: 252431615
Mon, Mar 16, 2009, 20:46
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Virginia is cool. Or, you can come up here to the Poconos. I'd be glad to take you around.
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| 5 | PuNk42AE
Donor
ID: 036635522
Mon, Mar 16, 2009, 20:49
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Do you like history, or are you going for a 'on the beach' type?
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| 6 | judy
Leader
ID: 7771722
Mon, Mar 16, 2009, 21:15
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2-3 days in williamsburg on a VA swing would be very nice. It is about a 5 hour drive
from Philly (Be sure time it so you miss DC traffic.)
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| 7 | PuNk42AE
Donor
ID: 036635522
Mon, Mar 16, 2009, 21:24
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I was going to suggest the same place Judy.
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| 8 | Khahan
ID: 486552412
Mon, Mar 16, 2009, 21:59
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heh, skyline drive was a few years ago (proposed on a hiking trail down there) and williamsburg was last y ear w/ my parents and brother and his family.
PD, may look into the poconos. I'll look ya up if we do.
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| 9 | PuNk42AE
Donor
ID: 036635522
Mon, Mar 16, 2009, 22:03
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Great Smokey Mountains?
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| 10 | BigBobE
ID: 3630217
Mon, Mar 16, 2009, 22:28
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Mrs BBE and I enjoy the Florida Keys. It's as relaxing as you want it to be... I suggest the middle key's around Marathon.
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| 11 | ChicagoTRS
ID: 591302518
Mon, Mar 16, 2009, 22:47
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Hilton Head South Carolina...
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| 12 | Seattle Zen
ID: 402241610
Mon, Mar 16, 2009, 23:06
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Camden, New Jersey ;)
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| 13 | blue hen
ID: 8115717
Mon, Mar 16, 2009, 23:17
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Let me tell you a story about Camden...
Might I suggest Cooperstown, NY?
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| 14 | JeffG
ID: 47112621
Mon, Mar 16, 2009, 23:18
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Just brainstorming a variety of road trip ideas for all tastes from Philadelphia.
Outer Banks NC
Niagara Falls and Toronto
Cooperstown
Cleveland (Rock and Roll HOF) and Canton
Cape Cod and/or Nantucket/Vinyard
Cape May NJ
The Greenbriar WV
The Hamptons
Atlantic City or Foxwoods/Mohegan Sun
Congrats on reaching the sales goal FWIW.
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| 15 | Great One
ID: 46215212
Tue, Mar 17, 2009, 10:11
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I gotta tell ya, I've been to most of the places and lived in some (near Camden! and went to high school in Hilton Head)... Niagara Falls was a REALLY fun vacation. There is obviously the falls which are amazing - but there are gorgeous brand new casino's, really good restaurants and shows and then all the fun stuff on that hill which is boardwalk like. I'm in Jersey again now, and it took us like 7 hours to drive there which isn't bad. And you can hit up the Finger Lakes wineries on the way too. Maybe catch a minor league game in Buffalo.
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| 16 | Great One
ID: 46215212
Tue, Mar 17, 2009, 10:12
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And I just got a pre-wedding gift of a weekend in Cooperstown so thats pretty cool too.
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| 17 | BayAreaBlueJays
ID: 10219923
Mon, Mar 23, 2009, 05:06
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Whay about a cruise?
I know the Carnival Pride is gunna start cruisin' outta Baltimore some time in April.
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| 18 | barilko6
ID: 582391514
Mon, Mar 23, 2009, 16:27
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I work for Princess Cruises, and I can say that crusises are amazing. Tons to do, lots to see.
Also check out VRBO.com . It is a website where people rent out homes/apartments/condos in every area of the US and the rest of the world. We have rented houses at a fraction of the hotel cost and have stayed in some very nice places.
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| 19 | Pancho Villa
ID: 42220236
Mon, Mar 23, 2009, 19:00
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I went on a cruise that I won from a manufacturer last November.
They flew us from Salt Lake to Ft Lauderdale and put us up in a beachside Marriott for the night.
The next afternoon we set sail from Ft Lauderdale, which was amazing, seeing the skyscrapers of Miami slowly fade into the horizon.
Our ship had two ports of call. The first turned out to be a deserted island in the Bahamas owned by Carnival called Half Moon Cay. When the ship arrives, crew depart to the island and man the snorkel boats, gift shop, bar and BBQ.
A little disappointing for someone who had never been to the Bahamas hoping to experience some local culture, but the water was bluer and clearer than any I've ever seen, and the sand on the beach was like none I'd ever felt, it was so soft and silky.
Our next port was Grand Turks, which at least has a little town. When we arrived, we were unable to dock because of high winds. I imagine the locals were freaking out watching that big ship and all the money on it turn around and sail away. About an hour later, the captain came on the intercom and announced that the next day he had arranged for an alternate port - Nassau. Some people were bummed because they had been to Nassau numerous times, but I was estatic, having never been there. We toured Nassau and the Atlantis resort, shopped, ate and drank in a locals pub and had a great time.
To be honest, the time on the boat was only so-so.
There's not much to see when you're out on the ocean except ocean, and the food was quite average, even the 'fine dining' semi-formal dinners. If I were to actually pay for a cruise, I'd choose an Alaskan cruise, where there is scenery the entire way.
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| 20 | Great One
ID: 4425722
Mon, Mar 23, 2009, 19:42
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my Princess Cruise honeymoon in Alaska starts May 9th
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