Somewhere hot for Christmas

Chimaera

Thanks everyone for all the comments so far.

Del - how much would need the budget to be for Hawaii or similar?

miamoo - OH and both said we didn't fancy Egypt (no reason other than being irrational!) and thinking we could take advantage of the good $ exchange rate if we went somewhere that uses that currency predominantly.

delwynshd

Hawaii would cost your more like 3.5K upwards

And your looking at BB/RO not AI over there

Del

Miró

Can I tag onto your thread please OP???

Also looking for somewhere warm at Chrimbo. (Also not Egypt as did this last year)

Similar budget but for 7 - 10 days.
Prefer Manchester of Leeds/Bradford depart. (Would do London if something special)
2 adults (main problem = 2 single rooms required!)
Would Cuba be a possibility?

Many thanks for any help

Chimaera

miamoo and Glyn D your posts crossed with mine. Thank you so much for the info - for taking the time to look things up and taking the time to post it - much appreciated. Will look into Grenada! :T

AuntyCat

GlynD wrote: »

Grenada in the Windward Islands (Caribbean). As warm as Barbados but outside the hurricane belt (not that hurricanes are a problem in December). It's half the price of Barbados but it's the same sun, sea and sand. The people are charming. AI is available.

I recommend this hotel http://www.rexresorts.com/grenada/grenada-hotels-grenadian-by-rex-resorts.html we have stayed there. It's on a very large site with extensive gardens and open spaces. The beach is miles long and unspoiled. There are apartments on the beach if you want to spend a little extra.

Don't be put off by the fact that it is very close to the airport - there is no airplane noise.

That looks lovely - just had a quick look at the prices & they're a bit steep for me. Unless I'm missing somthing?
How would you book this?
As a package somewhere or direct with the hotel & book flights seperatey?
I always book packages, prob as I'm a bit of a wimp!! but would love to know how to book directly & get a good deal safely.

GlynD

AuntyCat wrote: »

That looks lovely - just had a quick look at the prices & they're a bit steep for me. Unless I'm missing somthing?
How would you book this?
As a package somewhere or direct with the hotel & book flights seperatey?
I always book packages, prob as I'm a bit of a wimp!! but would love to know how to book directly & get a good deal safely.

The hotel prices do look steep but you can get a super deal AI on a package. Try Thomas Cook's, or even BA and you could finish up as we did with a very acceptable package of £1,150 each AI for a fortnight. That was from Gatwick. I think all the major tour operators list Rex Hotels.

GlynD

One of the things which got me about Grenada was the virtual absence of sunloungers on the beach. They are there but the beach is so large it's hard to see them. One day I decided to take pictures to remind me. I stood in one place and took a photo in each direction.

Here's the two pictures.

torbrex

Not package holiday but have you thought about the southern states of America (California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana etc).
I have been all round that area at that time of year and just done them mostly as self booked fly-drive tours, I also did a 10 day stop in New Orleans and its not as expensive as you might think.

If you want a sun soaked lie on the beach type of holiday, I cant suggest anything but if you are just looking for sun and a little warmth in the air, I can definitly recommend that part of America, loads of sights to see and easy to get around.

Incapuppy

GlynD wrote: »

It's half the price of Barbados but it's the same sun, sea and sand.

In what respect? Certainly of you are comparing like for like star ratings then the same package holiday in Grenada is nowhere near half the price of Barbados, far from it!!

I see you have been posting while I have been writing this and if you think the OP will get two weeks AI at the Rex Grenadian over Xmas/New Year for much less than £2k per person then I will eat my hat!

OP, a quick look on Virgin Holidays suggests 11 nights room only in that hotel on Grenada over Xmas/New Year is around £1900pp, similar hotel in Barbados (same group) £2300pp.

If you are looking at anything longhaul for 2 weeks AI over Xmas/New Year then I would suggest you increase your total budget to £3.5k at the very minimum. Your original budget of £2k total should find you something nice on Egypt's Red Sea coast if you avoid Sharm but do check temperatures and remember it gets dark rather early and can be quite chilly at night.

GlynD

Incapuppy wrote: »

In what respect? Certainly of you are comparing like for like star ratings then the same package holiday in Grenada is nowhere near half the price of Barbados, far from it!!

I see you have been posting while I have been writing this and if you think the OP will get two weeks AI at the Rex Grenadian over Xmas/New Year for much less than £2k per person then I will eat my hat!

OP, a quick look on Virgin Holidays suggests 11 nights room only in that hotel on Grenada over Xmas/New Year is around £1900pp, similar hotel in Barbados (same group) £2300pp.

If you are looking at anything longhaul for 2 weeks AI over Xmas/New Year then I would suggest you increase your total budget to £3.5k at the very minimum. Your original budget of £2k total should find you something nice on Egypt's Red Sea coast if you avoid Sharm but do check temperatures and remember it gets dark rather early and can be quite chilly at night.

In Barbados we stay room only at the Bougainvillea Beach Hotel. It's £3,500 to hire an aprtment there RO for a fortnight. That's a 4*. First time there we booked through Thomson but after that we used BA.

In Grenada we stayed at the Rex for £1,150 each AI for a fortnight. The Rex was a 3 1/2*. We used BA for our only stay there.

I can only post what I know to be true.

Of course Cuba and the Dominican Republic produce even better bargains AFAIK and it comes down to the same thing again - same sun, same sand, same sea. Even the drink is the same; Bank's Beer and Mount Gay rum.