Budget Travel - Beach location with cheap easy flights




hindukid
Apr 23, 07, 5:04 pm
My fiancee really wants to have a destination wedding. I have been looking into this some and see some good points. The invitees are spread all over the country so almost everybody will have to fly anyways. Therefore there is really no location in the US which is all that convenient. I have also seen that wedding reception prices seem to be as low or lower than I would expect in Chicago or even the suburbs.

One thing that really concerns me is the airfare and hotel cost. You can fly to Chicago from almost everywhere for $200. I'm thinking that will not be true anywhere in the caribbean or hawaii. Also most likely many of those flights will involve connections.

So, I'm thinking of places that will have reasonable priced flights, reasonable convenience and nice beaches. So far I think the leading candidate in Cancun. A lot of flights. However I am still seeing that booking now for dec. yields 400-500 fares from most of the US. even IAH was 425. I think that we are asking people for a lot at those prices. I guess SJU might be another option, but for some reason it does not appeal to me all that much.


obscure2k
Apr 23, 07, 7:36 pm
hindukid I have a strong feeling that the nice folks in the FT Budget Travel Forum will be happy to give you some pointers.
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator

sfducati
Apr 23, 07, 7:58 pm
How about MIA?


emailkid
Apr 23, 07, 10:58 pm
I guess SJU might be another option

SJO, and more specifically the beaches around Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio. Actually met a couple who were there to get married, and saw several brochures promoting such activities. Gorgeous beaches, other stuff to do, though it won't be as cheap as getting to Chicago. OTOH, it's not Chicago ... and I love Chicago .... well not so much in the winter, but it's a great city to visit.

EmaiKid

choster
Apr 23, 07, 11:17 pm
Some friends of mine had a very nice wedding in Santa Barbara, Calif. SBA (or OXN or SBP) fares are not always the best, but it is only 2-3 hours' drive from LAX. It will not be tropical beach weather, but it will be beautiful in December.

I wouldn't consider SJO convenient-- to get from SJO to the nice beaches entails longish drives and ferry rides or connecting flights.

As for the Caribbean, the low season is the autumn-- corresponding to hurricane season. You may find good deals on all-inclusive resorts; some friends of mine took an all-inclusive package in the Dominican Republic at $900 for a week. And I was able to get an IAD-SXM nonstop for New Year's for only $415 round trip. But I would not expect to get anywhere interesting in the Caribbean for $200 in December.

bkramt1
Apr 24, 07, 8:46 pm
I've attended a couple destination weddings in Vegas. Lots of fun for wide range of budgets.



SEO by vBSEO 3.2.0