It’s that time of the year – where you have to use your vacation days or lose them – and why lose them? WHY? You worked your butt off all year and deserve a break. Besides, with this weather we’re having, you might just go crazy if you don’t skip off somewhere. Consider this a Public Service Announcement…. Broad style!
Because it’s last minute, I’m thinking cheap, fun and NO STAY-CATIONS! Especially not when it’s snowy out. Unless you live by a ski resort.
After the jump, the best last minute deals:
1. Nicaragua
Go for an amazing horseback ride with Rancho Chilamante – leaving from San Juan Del Sur – to deserted beaches.
Do yoga and learn how to surf with Julie Speier – my childhood pal who runs the San Juan Del Sur Day School.
Sample itinerary for Nicaragua includes:
Sunday: Fly into Managua and take a taxi, shuttle or car to Granada. Spend Sunday walking around the city and arranging our other day trips.
Monday : We’ll have to do some Granada centered activity — maybe a bike ride or something.
Tues: Go to Masaya and hit the Market and the Laguna or the Market and the Volcano. Stay the night in Masaya or go back to Granada.
Weds: Masaya — either the laguna or the volcano, whichever we didn’t do the day before. (Btw, the volcanoes in Nicaragua appear to be for extremely fit experienced climbers only as they’re 8 to 9 hour difficult dangerous climbs, some even over night. More realistic is rides up the volcanoes and some hikes on parts of the volcanoes. Seriously. Plus, it’s illegal to climb without a guide because it’s so dangerous.)
Thurs: Mochambo tour and canopy tour in the afternoon
Fri: to SJDS then to Omepete for the day, for a lagoon and possibly a waterfall? You can see the volcanoes on the island and there are petroglyphs (can get a tour).
2. Guatemala
I wrote about Guate-Hollah yesterday – but for more, full info, check it out here. It’s cheap. it’s fun and easy to get to!
3. Egypt
It’s cheap, historical and pretty much the best deal going right now – what the hell are you waiting for??? [Ed note: Stick with a good reputable company that has security and be careful as THIS just came out. The group threatening to attack tourists is based in the Sinai Peninsula but has tentacles elsewhere].
4. Santa Marta, Colombia
Santa Marta is the cheap alternative to Cartagena – and is within a 20 minute drive to Taganga Beach and Tayrona State Park.
Hotel: La Casa del farol; Calle 18 #3-115, Santa Marta, Colombia; (+57) 5 423 1572
Boutique hotel run by Sandra and Angel – large, amazing air conditioned rooms. A sanctuary.
Hotel: Casa de Isabel; Carrera 2, #19-20, Santa Marta, Colombia; Tel: (5) 431 2082 or 484 679 6305
Slightly cheaper than the la casa del Farol, but beautiful.
Restaurant: Lulo; Carrera. 3 #16-34, Santa Marta, Colombia; Tel: (5) 423 2725
Run by American Melissa Ford, Lulo has amazing Colombian food including ceviche and arepas.
5. New Orleans!
I mean come ON! NOLA rocks! And not just because Sallie Ann Glassman is there… it has the troika of greatness: food, music, history. And let’s not forget the booze, the architecture and some pretty awesome reasonably priced hotels. Jet Blue flies there and it’s warm. So get to going!
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