Where most chicagoans go for vacation in winter? (Paris, Madison: rent, hotels)

[mayhem_223]

I'm super bored and need to take a break early next year.
Probably mid January. I plan to take trip alone.

I'm thinking of these options:

London-Paris - bc my aunt lives in London and can stay some days free of hotel charges. I avoid motels if possie. Please no hostels. I like historical sites and musems. However it may be cold and wet, gray but should be warmer than Chicago. From London I'd take Eurostar to Paris. If be there for 10 or 11 days.


Cancun- 7 days, sun, warm beaches water, party life at night. I'd go to Mayan ruins at chechen and do bunch of other adventure activities. I could take either bus tur if its frequent enough or rent a car. It's cheap. But might be little uncomfortable outside hotel zone not knowing spanish.

Hawaii- 7 days beautiful islands, nice scenery, sightseeing, u stay in the US, no dealing with passport control, customs or language barrier. But this season it may be wet, it would be more expensive than Europe or mx. There is also probably not as much party scene as in Europe or cancun. I dunno about museums, historical sites. I'm sure they are there but I feel HI is more about relaxing in quiet scenic landscape. Ideal for couple but for solo travelers?

Other options: carribean islands, miami, L.A. ( been to Cali 2x already in sf, SD and enjoyed it but my friends might go to LA in may and I will probably join them), Austin, TX, Denver or Las Vegas.

[chet everett]

Vegas is cheap and warm, good for singles, guys /gals weekend out, couples, whatever. Last time I checked it was the number one destination for Chicago area travelers...

[Aleking]

Vegas followed by Mexico

[marothisu]

I go to the Caribbean (though I'm going to Hawaii soon instead). You can get relatively cheap airfare through American Airlines to various parts of the Caribbean/Costa Rica.

[JacksonPanther]

Originally Posted by mayhem_223

I'm thinking of these options:

London-Paris - bc my aunt lives in London and can stay some days free of hotel charges. I avoid motels if possie. Please no hostels. I like historical sites and museums. However it may be cold and wet, gray but should be warmer than Chicago. From London I'd take Eurostar to Paris. If be there for 10 or 11 days.

London in winter is not a vacation, it's a prison sentence. Hell, London during summer is liable to be chilly, let alone during the winter. I noticed a few days during Wimbledon and the Summer Olympics, and the spectators were wearing jackets/coats during some events.

Why go from miserable Chicago to miserable London? Don't do it. Go someplace that will improve your mood.

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by JacksonPanther

London in winter is not a vacation, it's a prison sentence. Hell, London during summer is liable to be chilly, let alone during the winter. I noticed a few days during Wimbledon and the Summer Olympics, and the spectators were wearing jackets/coats during some events.

Why go from miserable Chicago to miserable London? Don't do it. Go someplace that will improve your mood.

Exactly. London is just as miserable if not worse. Less sun too. If you are going to go to Europe for winter, then go somewhere warm or temperate like Spain, Italy, Southern France, Greece, or the Turkish Riviera.

If you want to go somewhere cheaper, then go to Florida, South Carolina's coast, Texas, Los Angeles, San Diego. There are always great deals going to the Caribbean too including Mexico and Costa Rica from Chicago.




Personally I recommend the Virgin Islands. There's the US Virgin Islands the British Virgin Islands. Scenery wise, there's not much
difference. The US ones are a little more liberal, more drinking perhaps, but I prefer the British Virgin Islands. Real easy to get into. Just show up with your passport. Some of the most protected waters on earth, amazing diving and great snorkling in places. Everywhere you go is white sand beaches. Nicest people I've met anywhere in the world. It's less touristy and more expensive perhaps (depends on where you go). Definitely more European and African influenced than other places like a lot of the Bahamas. The airfare there used to be expensive, but last I saw, American Airlines was really pushing it and lowered prices. Not sure if it's still there. US Virgin Islands can be cheaper to fly to. If you want to go to the British side too, they have ferries for like $50. We met a couple from Los Angeles who goes every year and just fly into USVI and ferry it over because it's cheaper. It might not be an issue anymore though.

Easily the most realaxing place I've ever been in the world.

[MassVt]

Funny--I go to Chicago, and sometimes I take in Madison, WI while I'm "in the neighborhood"...

NYC is always good for a weekend, and LA is great any time of the year...

[iliza]

So why does it matter where most Chicagoans go? Lol. Anyway, I think you'd be crazy not to go for Europe. Especially being that you are a history buff. And you can save some money. Those hotels kill ya!

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by iliza

So why does it matter where most Chicagoans go? Lol. Anyway, I think you'd be crazy not to go for Europe. Especially being that you are a history buff. And you can save some money. Those hotels kill ya!

Good advice, I agree.

[Drover]

I go to Wisconsin, but somehow I suspect that's not the recommendation you're looking for...