Anyone ever been to a Sandals beach resort? I won 2 free round trip airline tickets ...domestic

[greenbriar]

I won two FREE fly anywhere airline tickets tonight


we can fly anywhere round trip and have until June 2009 to use the tickets...



was curious as to any warm resorts like the sandals type spots to check into



Thanks

[greenbriar]

1. oh I guess it can't be sandals ...it has to be domestic

any ideas???

[pokerfan]

2. Spring Training 2009

either Florida or Arizona. I'm not that big a baseball fan but that's what I'd do with free tickets.

[Callalily]

3. How about Vermont

and learn how to scull?

http://www.craftsbury.com/sculling/camps/info.htm

[Connonym]

4. too bad it's only domestic

Sandals in Negril is fabulous. Granted, I was there in the 90s and the whole world was a better place then but it was one week of heaven on earth.

So instead of a week in heaven you should come to Milwaukee and meet all the fabulous DUers here :-D

[NewJeffCT]

5. Well, you can fly to Miami or San Juan & then

take a quick short flight to Sandals in Jamaica, Antigua or St Lucia or wherever, no?

I think San Juan in Puerto Rico should count as domestic.

[greenbriar]

10. I actually think San Juan is domestic

is there a resort there?

[NewJeffCT]

11. a lot of nice hotels & beaches

but, you'd have to check the website on sandals' locations.

[greenbriar]

13. looks like they have casinos too

hubby would like that while I was lounging in the sun

[pitohui]

17. even if you don't gamble wander into the casino at el san juan and check it out

check out the mahogany carvings, most impressive -- if you're in luck, there will be a live band playing too, pretty cool, if you don't want to gamble, sit in the very large bar and enjoy a cocktail, it's the worth the price in ambience

this resort like many is minutes away from the airport at isla verde, however, if you chose to stay at isla verde section DON'T rent a car because it costs a king's ransom to park it :-) cabs are cheap and honest

we rented a car for driving out of the city, to the rain and dry forests, and to ponce -- once outside san juan the "autopistas" (spelling?) are really good and make for nice driving but in san juan itself a car IMHO is just a nuisance considering the lack of parking and the desire to consume the delicious cocktails

[GCP]

6. Does Hawaii count as domestic?

If so i'd head over there - heaven on earth.

[greenbriar]

14. I am not sure

it would be neat to go to Hawaii

[begin_within]

7. Yosemite National Park in May.

Fly to Fresno Yosemite Airport, rent a car, 2 hour drive to Yosemite Valley, get a campsite, or stay somewhere outside the park (town of Oakhurst or El Portal). The world's best park, period. No other park equals Yosemite in the spring. Go on a weekday in late May - the waterfalls are at full flow, the weather is starting to warm up, there are wildflowers all over, and the big crowds of summer aren't there yet. If you're lucky in late May, the road to Glacier Point will be open, (the world's best viewpoint that can be driven to), and possibly even Tioga Road into the backcountry will be open. But certainly Yosemite Valley will be open. Bring tire chains. See my pictures from this past May at:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x7770590

If you have time, drive over to the coast and drive down Highway 1 through Big Sur. Be sure to stop at Point Lobos State Reserve, just south of Carmel, in the late afternoon. The greatest meeting of land and water in the world.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

8. Little Palm Island

It's in the keys. It is beautiful, warm, and there are no distractions. Here's the link:
http://www.littlepalmisland.com/littlepalmisland_home.aspx

[pitohui]

9. what airline? what restrictions?

if you want real advice that you can use instead of just people fantasizing then you need to be more specific -- for example NW airlines has the odd idea that canada is "domestic" but hawaii is "international" in many situations (not saying this is the case for YOUR tix but it's something to be aware of)

i am not aware of any sandals in the domestic 48, on the other hand, i never waste my free tix on something as tedious as an all-inclusive

tell us the airline/restrictions so we'll know where to start, then perhaps share your interests -- "sandals" suggests only an interest in beach and drinking, which can be accomplished pretty much anywhere there's a bar, a hotel, and a beach


as a very general rule i look around at the tix i'm likely to need or want for upcoming travel and then use the free tix to book the most expensive possible trip i possibly can -- example, i booked tix worth $600 a piece to calgary (i know but NW thinks it's domestic) but paid for my $200 tix to vegas in the same month

but i can't really be too helpful w.out more information

how long do you have to use the tix? ok i see you have not quite a year, since they expire june 2009 (would that be june 1 or june 30?)

[greenbriar]

12. The tickets are AIR TRAN Good till June 30 2009

I would like to take a trip in December after Christmas

I am a teacher we are off from December 20 until Jan 4th or 5th

another option would be March


I want some place warm and romantic

hubby can't take much sun...he burns easily so we have to have things for the both of us


so Warm Beach Romantic fun but drinking some and good food too

[pitohui]

16. hmm i think if they allow puerto rico on this ticket (technically domestic) this would be my pick

unfortunately i have little experience w/knowledge of air tran but they do fly to san juan -- IF they allow puerto rico as a domestic destination this is my pick

wonderful food and drink (puerto ricans have a strong tie w. new york and are VERY sophisticated) plus beautiful history and beach -- san juan is a beautiful city, and the historic old town plus the city's fabulous forts are really mind blowing

december is "high" season, no chance of hurricanes, it's when the beautiful people/jet setters visit -- tons to do

for the outdoors person there is both the rain forest and the dry forest, plus there are beach areas, there is the bioluminescent beach where you go out on a boat at night and swim in the dark water and the bio orgasms make you light up green -- SOOOO cool

as far as the usa state dept is concerned puerto rico is a domestic destination, you do not need a passport since it is part of the usa, however, some airlines don't seem to grok this

i would call air tran and see if this destination is included as one of your choices

you may be way ahead of me, but if not, here is the page of air tran destinations:

http://www.airtran.com/cities/index_destinations.aspx

do not bring or buy agricultural products/spices because USDA reviews your luggage when returning from puerto rico, just as they do when returning from hawaii, v. important to protect the eco system of an island

if they do not allow puerto rico, as you can see, there are still some south florida destinations such as miami that will be ok in winter

many of the destinations are very nice in winter EXCEPT for laying on the beach -- a little too cold but still v. nice otherwise if you don't care to swim, we are talking about new orleans or gulfport/biloxi for examples here

congrats on winning a very nice prize!




BTW there's nothing like these puerto rican todies, these birds have no fear, you'll get eye ball to eyeball with them if you do any hiking, they are WAY chill

[GreenPartyVoter]

15. Gratz! So you are looking for a nice warm resortish place to go? What about the Florida Keys?

This could not have happened to a nicer or more deserving person! :hug:

[GoneOffShore]

18. Domestic only? Oh, so you can't go to Hedonism?

Negril - Jamaica - Nude beach, prude beach.

Otherwise, my lips are sealed.