would love to hear your stories if you've traveled to any of these places.
did you go all inclusive? could you walk to most things or did you need to use transportation?
what excursions did you enjoy and how much $$$

i am kind of flying by the seat of my pants and have to figure out PDQ
what the heck i am going to do... preferably on the cheap! was going to
do hostels in hawaii but it's looking like i would have to do all inclusive.
and i have no idea about hosteling in mexico or costa rica!

tell me your stories, oh org travel people

I've never been to any of 'em...

but I know several people who have been to all those and I've heard the best things about Costa Rica...

If you want to go cheap, even with the dollar in the toilet as it is, Mexico is the spot. My last trips, all inclusive to Mexico was 1300 per person, Hawaii was 5000 per person. My dad booked a quickie trip to mexico 4 days at 400 bucks just last fall.

Mars23 said:

Those were base prices, all excursions stick it in your butt, and not in a nice way. Out of about 10 I have been suckered into 2 were worth it.

i have a travel voucher to use up. so am searching
usairways.com under vacations and am not seeing anything
for san jose in costa rica leaving from PHX

got my passport about a week ago
if not for the voucher i wouldn't be doing this either
but i will kick myself if i don't use it.

Mars23 said:

i'm from canada so that plays in my favor
lol but thanks, i think all inclusive is going to
be the way to go for mexico. it's just going to be
a quickie trip so if i have sand, access to a kayak,
and close proximity to downtownish area then i think
that's all i really need, right?



i've just never done this before

emm said:

I agree. There is no way in hell I would stay in a hostel in Mexico in any of the cities I have visited. The crime rates are very high. I can't speak for all, but I have been to several.
A nice thing about the resort areas is that cabs are cheap so a downtown area is always a few bucks away by cab.
The best sand is on the gulf side, but the weather is so nice on either side, the grittier sand is hardly noticed. Puerto Vallarta is a decent choice for cost and fun.

how many nights were you staying for the $1300/$400 trips?

emm said:

1300 was 7 nights, that was 3 or 4 years ago. I would not have had to spend another dime if I didn't want to. That place had 5 restaruants, countless bars, private beach, shopping...and that included airfare. Puerto Vallarta

The 400 was also all inclusive but with limited choices for dining (a big thing for me) that was 4 days. That was last year. Cancun

Mexico from Arizona. I miss that.



I wish I could give you advice. It's been more than a decade since I hit Mexico from AZ, going from Nogales to Nogales.

I'm not jealous.

I'm not jealous.

I'm not so jealous.

I'm not very jealous...

$366 from denver but $606 from phoenix? same hotel, 3 nights.


don't be jealous thready, unless you want to keep me company
and hey! why can't you tell me about your story? what did you do?
what did you see? how long did you go for?

emm said:

I can't go with you. Hey, it's Tuesday!!!

I was in Tucson for a summer, and my accommodations were arranged; I took only a few trips to Nogales, AZ, and only one daylong excursion out to Nogales, Mexico.

So, I've no details for a would-be tourist. Only growing amounts of envy.

do not include a federal excise tax of $3.40 per segment (a segment is defined as a takeoff and a landing), the September 11th Security Fee of $2.50 per enplanement, and Passenger Facility Charges of up to $18 per roundtrip itinerary. Seats are limited and may not be available on all flights. Prices may vary significantly based on departure dates. Prices valid as of November 6, 2007. Sample prices for Mexico are valid for December 3, 2007 departure. Sample prices for Manzanillo and Ixtapa are valid for December 15, 2007 departure. Prices do not include international air transportation taxes of $20.50 each way, foreign departure taxes, customs and immigration fees, airport improvement fees, health inspection and tourism fees from $38-$47 per person. Blackout dates may apply. Packages purchased through our Call Center incur additional fees of $10 per person.
that's $111 in fees they could attach an amount to let alone the ones they didn't.

Hawaii

please take me

If price is the main factor then probably Mexico is the way to go. I'd worry about stomach sickness though (my dad has been there five times and got really sick every single time ) and Costa Rica might be better for pure beach-and-relaxation purposes. Hawaii is too, but it's not as "exotic" or interesting.

It's great that you're not letting this opportunity slip away!

wouldn't that be nice? to be able to just say yeah, i want these dozen people to come vacation with me... a whole different kind of org invasion! that would be great on the beach, in the club...
mach i think we would have to find a nude beach

retina thank you babe that's too bad your dad has had such bad luck! i will really have to remember to be careful. about hawaii, that's kind of why i had it in mind. and it's still pretty exotic but for a first time traveler some advantages to it being less so. cost rica would be very cool. but since there are no packages i don't think i have the time to properly sort out where to stay.

my pudgy self and i are going to try on bikinis later