So my wife and I went to St. Barth's last year and had what was essentially the greatest vacation of our lives (top notch food, beautiful beaches, European feel, villa etc.). There is no way in hell I can afford that trip this summer. Does anyone have any great suggestions of places to go? I was thinking of going to NC's Outer Banks or maybe to the Hamptons. Feedback would be much appreciated.

There, I fixed this to better reflect reality. Quit puttin on airs.

Uhhh hello...the Greek Isles.

Yeah cost is a minor issue!

while we're talking vacations...i'm looking to rent a place on martha's vineyard for a week-maybe two-this summer. it doesn't have to be huge, just sleep four. anybody? hmm...i do love the outer banks, too.

chris, my kids (and i) are dying to go to greece. i really want to take them there when my daughter graduates from high school in 2 years.

Southern France, if price is no problem.

Otherwise, I hear the Cleveland shoreline is nice.

i more or less grew up on the outer banks at my grandparent's house, and as much as i love it there i definitely prefer going close to the end of, or preferably immediately after, the tourist season. a lot of the houses in duck and moving into corolla are these monstrosities that are designed to house 20 people. for something more private i'd look into southern shores maybe. any other outer banks questions i'll try to sort out.

go to charleston, sc. more specifically, mount pleasant. the beaches aren't busy, and i love the city.

Yeah I used to hit Duck all the time with my family. I was wanting to go back maybe b/c I heard that the restaurant scene has really moved up in the last 10 years.

Martha's Vineyard sounds interesting as well.

Charleston is truly only a weekend trip for us here in GA. Plus if I go there I will have to visit numerous different people. I don't want to seem like a cock but having to visit people often takes away from the relaxing nature of a vacation.

i was actually going to mention that, there's some great spots there now. when i was a kid there was trade winds chinese and pizza kitchen. the other great thing is, if you wait late enough in the season, those restauranteurs will fall all over themselves to please you.

Well, I'm planning on taking a much needed trip to Greece (probably my island Chios) after I graduate as well. Perhaps, we can arrange something together. We can stay at my house, which my sister has made a habit of living in it all year round, that bitch, so we'll have to share.

good suggestion

on second thought, how 'bout the Bahamas

Sorry, no way in hell you're gonna top St. Barth's

Maui

Playa del Carmen, Mexico

We went to Ixtapa over T-Giving, very inexpensive as a last minute booking. Try to get Las Brisas, they've got a private cove with a pristine beach.

If you can foot it, Tamarindo, Costa Rica is heaven on earth.

I have always thought of Hawaii as a great option on the West Coast but not so great out east. There are so many Carribean Islands (St. Kitt's, Nevis, St. Barth's) that I would rather go to. And if I wanted to go tropical I think I would just go all they way and hit up Fiji.

I had originally thought of Costa Rica but I am pretty sure that it is the rainy season all summer long.

i'd like to cast a suggestion for puerto rico, specifically vieques or somewhere along the northeastern shore. now, i may be biased because i am puerto rican, but some of those beaches are simply amazing. and it's not even been too expensive for me to visit.

Costa Rica is very inexpensive. But again, if you can somehow fit it in your budget, or perhaps raise your budget a bit, the Greek Isles are the way to go. Perhaps, I can give my sister a call and let her know you're coming if you decide to go this route.

my family has been going to the outer banks nearly every summer for 23 years, but we never stayed in duck or corolla. we've almost always stayed in avon, which used to be a pretty quaint little village with like one restaurant (the froggy dog). we stayed there last summer and it's gotten to be pretty built up, but not nearly as much as the northern areas. the point of all of this would be to agree with chase that if you want something more private, head south. you can always take the trip to kitty hawk or duck for a fancy meal.

Anybody ever been to Cuba? I would like to visit it before communism goes away.

i agree.
the architecture is magnificent.

I would love to go... I actually was looking on a website, as a friend is currently in Mexico and staying at an all-inclusive. The chain she and her husband chose also runs a couple of hotels in Cuba as well....

http://www.occidental-hoteles.com

I'm heading to Tulum (an hour south of PDC) in two weeks. I can't wait!

The Riviera Maya (the region south of Cancun along the Caribbean Sea) can be done relatively cheap, esp. compared to a place like St Bart's. Plus you get mayan ruins in addition to beaches. I'm psyched to go.