So I'm asking nearly every single person I know (and some people I don't know): does anyone want to make some last-minute travel plans? Where do you want to go? When do you want to go? What can you afford?

Please throw out whatever ideas you have!

-- Anonymous, April 02, 2001

Answers

Somehow I knew Julia would not want to go to Alaska. Julia, you stink!

Everyone I've asked so far (except Caroline) lives on the East Coast. (The prices vary according to where the flights originate: Boston > NY > Chicago.) Caroline or I could invite people from Texas. So I think we may want to meet at our destination.

Road trip: This would be fun. This would probably be enlightening. This is something I must do before I turn 27. But my parents would kill me first.

Alaska and Hawaii: As beautiful as these places are, I think they're a bit pricey...somewhere between $800 and $900 for the flight alone.

Mexico: $400-$500 to fly! Plus it has everything we need. Pat and I can go kayaking, Julia can sleep or go shopping, and Caroline can party her ass off.

Pat and Frances, how does Mexico sound to you?

-- Anonymous, April 03, 2001

I like Minna's idea for Alaska. It is absolutely the most beautiful place in the world, however due to cost issues, I think road trips to closer places are good alternatives...like to the Adirondacks or some other place that's pretty and has mountains or a lake...ocean's okay to. We could go to Maine or something. Or the Jersey shore, but I always do that and while it's moderately entertaining...I think it should be a last resort. But I want to go some place where we can go kayaking or canoing...or jetskiing. I like water. Water and mountains...glaciers in the case of Alaska. Vancouver is also beautiful, but just as expensive as going to Alaska...hey, how about montreal...we could drive, drinking age is 18, they speak french (or english)...I've never been there but my friend goes practically every week so it can't be too bad...of course she goes for the alcohol so...

Where does everybody live though...East coast? It would be good if we could first specify a region to travel to.

This is a disclaimer for Minna: Minna is not responsible for any impending turmoil between incompatible travellers...You fight, it's your fault.

-- Anonymous, April 02, 2001

i'll make this quick since i have to get to class... i think a road trip would be nice... but i'm not sure to where... maybe be could go to cali and do the sf-la road trip :). i don't think i would like to go to alaska though. mexico would be fine with me though. i think the third or last week in august would be best for me, but i'm not sure when i stop work this summer. i think that one of those weeks would work though. laters...

-- Anonymous, April 03, 2001

Am I the only one in a starting point of the midwest? Bah. I like the Alaska idea, but seeing as how I just dropped a nice chunk of money going to Baltimore/DC for spring break (and will be working at a non-paid internship and attempting to pay rent over the summer), the cheaper the better. Personally, I was thinking of maybe visiting Boston or New York over the summer, which would simply make it a whole lot cheaper for anyone currently on the east coast :)

That said, Mexico sounds good to me.

-- Anonymous, April 03, 2001

I've never been to Alaska, I'd love to go there. I spent last summer in the midwest (Michigan) and other than Ann Arbor, I thought it kinda sucked. Hawaii sounds nice too, but it'll probably be really expensive. I can't wait till summer break, 8 more weeks!

-- Anonymous, April 03, 2001

I don't even know yet if I'll be available (available worfenstein!) to go on this trip, but here's my vote for mexico, the low-cost alaska alternative, tastes great too, the kids will love it! Uno dos tres I speak bananish!

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2001

Mexico sounds good! I almost went there when we went down south last spring break (I'm from N.CA) but then decided not to cause of time constraints, but I'd like to go there too.

-- Anonymous, April 05, 2001

I just thought of something (amazing how 6.001 will clear the mind) Remember that guy who got killed in mexico? yeah. The greek MIT grad student. Where exactly would we go and how safe would it be?

-- Anonymous, April 05, 2001

Funny, I thought 6.001 was the reason you were sounding so...sleep deprived.

I dug through my stack of old Techs and found the article. The student was killed in Taxco while he was taking pictures in an alley. My dad and I talked about this last night. (He may be an Asian hippie, but he's still very protective!) He says the best thing to do is to use a tour operator; they travel regularly and they know what's safe and what's not.

Does anyone have any objections to that? You wouldn't be forced to travel with the group.

-- Anonymous, April 05, 2001

Does anyone have any questions or suggestions? I'll go down to Council Travel tomorrow and find out what kinds package deals they have. I'll definitely be looking at Cancun (they have the usual beaches and cafes, but they're also within 2 hrs of some ancient Mayan ruins--woo!), but is there somewhere else you'd like to go?

-- Anonymous, April 05, 2001

P.S. Taxco is about 3 hrs away from Acapulco. (Someone's been reading guidebooks.)

-- Anonymous, April 05, 2001

I just realized I never answered your question, Deb.

I don't know yet where we're going, but the coast is probably best. The interior is less populated and less tourist-friendly. I've been doing a lot of reading and haven't heard any horror stories yet, but I'll keep an eye out.

We'll have to be cautious, of course. We shouldn't travel alone or in remote places.

-- Anonymous, April 05, 2001

I agree that it would be safest to go with a tour group, but at the same time, I feel kind of jaded about the whole Mexico-being- exploited-by-America-(especially-American-tourists) bit... Although I do admit I'd love to see all sorts of ancient ruins.

I'm so fickle; I saw commercials for Disney World today and REALLY wanted to go on the Haunted Mansion ride!

-- Anonymous, April 06, 2001

I guess Mexico is okay and I understand that perhaps Alaska is too expensive, but just for the record...everyone would definitely like it. Granted it's not tropical or anything, it's not one big glacier either...Actually, it gets really hot in some areas...but it is certainly very different from Mexico. Also, with Mexico, we have to make sure the hotel or whatever we were staying in would be nice cause I know way too many people who go off, for example on those spring break student trips and they stay in shacks. I did that in Jamaica...a word of advice-never ever go to jamaica. It will be a traumatic experience...or at least mine was. Anyhow, it seems that everyone else is pretty much in support of mexico, so...

Um, does anyone know what there is to do in Cancun or wherever?

-- Anonymous, April 06, 2001

Caroline, how about I just buy you a funny hat? But I know what you're saying. I still want to go to Alaska, Hawaii, somehwere in Africa, India, China, the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and some other places too.

About Cancun specifically...it's known for its watersports and its party scene. Possible activities: snorkeling, scuba diving, windsurfing, swimming with dolphins, parasailing, kayaking, and on and on. Plus it's not far from some Mayan ruins.

You can find more info here. Click on Regions of Mexico to explore specific places. Here's what I've basically learned...

(The 1st 3 are close to each other, so you can take daytrips to wherever you want to go.)

Cancun
* most popular-->ENDLESS activities
* most commercial (I was looking closely at a photo of the area and noticed a hugeass Planet Hollywood--bleh!)
* watersports (everyone has watersports, but Cancun is renowned for them)
* unbeatable nightlife

Cozumel (it's an island)
* not exactly bustling with activity, good for relaxing
* some deserted beaches
* a snorkeler's paradise--the reefs are supposed to be absolutely incredible
* jungle outposts
* nature park

Playa Del Carmen (south of Cancun, west of Cozumel)
* Mayan ruins
* some lagoon

Puerto Vallarta (on the Pacific side)
* extremely popular, but still retains some of its colonial charm
* great nightlife

I'm going to start a new thread asking specific questions...this one has gotten kind of long.

-- Anonymous, April 07, 2001

Out of the list, I like Cozumel the best. Wow Minna, you've beome quite an expert on the tourist view of Mexico! :P

-- Anonymous, April 11, 2001

Just a random bit of news: Pipeline break leaks oil, saltwater on Alaska tundra

Sigh. We need to visit Alaska within the next few years, before Bush comes in and destroys it.

-- Anonymous, April 18, 2001