vacation destination ideas

[ezcc]

A group of friends are trying to plan a 50th birthday trip for next summer. We are looking for a rental house/villa for a week probably in June. Not interested in something that is just the beach. Would probably prefer a small/medium town with some things to do, nice restaurants, maybe a house with a pool. Would prefer to not have to manage the cooking so would love to find somewhere we could get someone to cook for us. Only a week so something not terribly challenging to get to. International or domestic destination fine. Options we are considering are Mexico, California wine country, Italy, France, Ireland. Any ideas? Anyone done a similar trip and can recommend a specific destination or even better a house? TIA!

[SnuggleBuggles]

Well, my idea of somewhere like Savannah or New Orleans doesn't sound grand enough if you are looking internationally. :)

[ezcc]

I love both of those ideas! I wonder if too hot in June though, I don't mind the heat but a couple of them are New Englanders... Just thinking about travel is getting me so excited :)

[SnuggleBuggles]

Montreal would be fun too and far less muggy.


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[JustMe]

I don't have any suggestions, but mostly wanted to say that this sounds heavenly! What a great vacation with friends.

[gymnbomb]

I love both of those ideas! I wonder if too hot in June though, I don't mind the heat but a couple of them are New Englanders... Just thinking about travel is getting me so excited :)

I love Bermuda, and it's a quick flight from the east coast (about 2-2.5 hours nonstop from Boston). Weather is similar to North Carolina, so hot but not too hot in June. But it would depend on what kind of stuff you wanted to be able to do once you get there.

[AnnieW625]

Lake Tahoe would be fun. You would want to stay near Tahoe City or Stateline, Nevada if you wanted any casinos. It will be a good mix of relaxation and fun. It is a 2 hour drive from Sacramento or about 3 hours from Oakland/San Francisco if you also wanted to see the city. It is also less than an hour from Reno, which has a major airport.

Monterrey/Carmel or Santa Cruz would be fun too. Santa Cruz is about 45 minutes from San Jose and Monterey is also about 2 hours from San Jose but there is also a smaller airport there.

FB Friends of mine have also done girls trips to Santa Monica and San Diego. Both are very easy to get to from any city.

Also you might find some deals in Palm Springs but it may be hot. The nearest airport is Ontario, CA and about an hour west.

Weather in June will be pretty tolerable. Palms Springs is crap shoot as to whether it will be super hot or not.

ETA: if you are considering the Napa Valley avoid early to mid June as that is usually when the Napa Valley Wine Auction. There are no dates currently posted for this year and next year but keep that in mind.

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[pinkmomagain]

A group of friends are trying to plan a 50th birthday trip for next summer. We are looking for a rental house/villa for a week probably in June. Not interested in something that is just the beach. Would probably prefer a small/medium town with some things to do, nice restaurants, maybe a house with a pool. Would prefer to not have to manage the cooking so would love to find somewhere we could get someone to cook for us. Only a week so something not terribly challenging to get to. International or domestic destination fine. Options we are considering are Mexico, California wine country, Italy, France, Ireland. Any ideas? Anyone done a similar trip and can recommend a specific destination or even better a house? TIA!

US: Hamptons, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket

Italy: Positano, Taormina

[PunkyBoo]

If you're willing to go international for a one week trip, Barcelona. So much to see and do, so much good food, and a beach if you decide to veg out

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[gatorsmom]

Southeast France anywhere around Nime all the way down to the coast. Tiny towns with gorgeous scenery, friendly people and great restaurants. Tons of Roman ruins to explore in excellent condition. In May and June the weather is perfect mid60’s-mid70’s (not humid), and not crowded because school doesn’t get out until end of June. The closer you get to the Mediterranean, the pricier itgets but then you’d have the beach. Check the VRBO listings but do it soon. It books up quickly. Fly into Marseille.

[mmsmom]

There are houses in the Caribbean that come with chefs... I have seen them in the British Virgin Islands and Jamaica specifically. In Napa/Sonoma you can get a chef to come for certain meals (this can usually be done in most US locations).

I am also planning a 50th and we are doing Charleston. Charleston does not allow short term rentals and we wanted to stay in a house together so we are staying at a beach nearby. We were planning to do Napa/Sonoma but decided to go closer because we are just doing a long weekend so wanted to maximize time together instead of a lot of travel time. For me personally, I appreciate destinations that are a direct flight and not a long drive to/from airport after you arrive.

[mom2binsd]

I would stay in the US, only because you will waste a lot of time traveling for a week, and it's just easier. Napa (look for a place up near Calistoga which is my fav), with maybe two nights in San Fran at the beginning (esp if not everyone can arrive at the exact same time, gives you a day to collect everyone then drive to Napa). Spa days/wine tours/biking/hiking. June will still be warm but not super hot like anyplace in the south will be. Santa Barbara might also be fun, same deal, wine tours, hiking etc, and comfortable temps along the coast.

If you can all get direct flights maybe like someone said Bermuda/Caribbean etc, but June will be very hot and it's lot of time on the beach.

[flashy09]

Palmetto Bluff, SC. I would rent a house in Wilson Village rather than stay at the Montage.

Cotswold area of England.

Rosewood Mayakoba near Cancun...not a house, but they are all individual villas on water with a private (small) pool.

Quite expensive for the amount of bedrooms...but not charm....this "cottage" is wonderful. This area is such a hidden gem (and great for families...a kids camp, super safe for biking) and Harbor Springs is a great little town...the 4th of July parade is right out of 1950. https://bookings-grahammgt.escapia.com/Unit/Details/207953. Weather is perfect in the summer.

I will keep thinking! Sounds so much fun.

[flashy09]

Palmetto Bluff, SC. I would rent a house in Wilson Village rather than stay at the Montage.

Cotswold area of England.

Rosewood Mayakoba near Cancun...not a house, but they are all individual villas on water with a private (small) pool.

I will keep thinking! Sounds so much fun.

[truly scrumptious]

We had a spectacular vacation a few years ago with friends in Puglia, Italy. We stayed at a villa with a pool and multiple living areas and rented out the whole place. It was about 20 minutes from multiple beaches (we went to a different one every day) and from some quaint italian towns. It was a pretty rural setting, but absolutely amazing.
The hosts live at the villa (but in their own private space, so it is not intrusive) - each family had their own private bedroom with bathroom, that all opened into a common courtyard, with a shared pool and gorgeous outdoor eating area covered in vines - seriously spectacular. Breakfast was provided as a buffet style spread daily, and we were able to hire an italian cook to come and cook custom meals for us - we decided the menu, she shopped, and we paid for the ingredients and for her time - very reasonable and seriously delicious. They have a small farm in the back with a few animals the kids loved to visit, and our last night we had a gorgeous dinner on the farm made by our cook.
One day our host arrange for a private masseuse to come and anyone who wanted an ayurvedic style massage could get one in the privacy of their own room.
The only downside is that not a lot of folks speak English there, so communication can be challenging. Our friends spoke Italian so they did most of the discussion/negotiating. We also had to rent a car because it was a hike from the nearest airport, but that way we could get around and explore the area. My friends said the hostess was great and gave them lots of ideas for the area (including which beaches to visit.)
Truly one of our most memorable vacations ever.
Here is all the info I can find that our friend sent via email.

La Masseria Le Pezzate. Place is amazing...very rural, but typical of Puglia... lots of rooms , an amazing swimming pool and dining places (outside and inside). See the attached video that a group did few years ago visiting the Masseria and the surroundings.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Xgiu9QOeSWU

MASSERIA PEZZATE - SCORRANO (nell campagna salentina a metÃ* strada fra Gallipoli ed Otranto)

Incantevole masseria risalente al V-VIsec utilizzata fino all’800 per l’allevamento di pecore e capre, la Masseria Pezzate è situata in piena campagna a sud di Maglie, a metÃ* strada tra Otranto e Gallipoli. Recentemente è stata completamente ristrutturata con l’intento di conservare l’autenticitÃ* e l’atmosfera del passato senza rinunciare a tutti i comfort necessari per un soggiorno rilassante ed accogliente. La masseria si sviluppa a forma di “L”, attraverso il portone d’ingresso si accede al cortile, centro della masseria, dove si affacciano le 6 camere da letto.
Descrizione dettagliata e foto le trovare sul sito al seguente link: http://www.apulianobilis.it/struttura/masseria-pezzate/ (https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.apulianobilis.it_struttura_masseria-2Dpezzate_&d=DQMFaQ&c=IV_clAzoPDE253xZdHuilRgztyh_RiV3wUrLrDQYWSI&r=ALHtC55t7I-71GmkzVlkqnhPhv-BxNjwIkgWczrbZ7U&m=RquD3wr24O3AltvRpTCJG00A8gOWUAqvNkjThQhbmUY&s=wmFPcQMDG7VmM2yHlXmQM5BLdWi72ruzLWJB2bGs3N8&e=)

[DualvansMommy]

Are all of you traveling to the destination from different points of origin? Consider cities/destination that has direct flights to max time together and not travel. International travel to Europe lose a day at each end, so you essentially only have 5 days to relax. Not that much time for long travel.

Caribbean island, Napa Valley/wine country with a day or two in SF before driving up. Barcelona is a fantastic European destination that has a mix of everything; city, access to beach, maybe bit tough on pool attached with house (but doable) museums, great restaurants, and the city to walk around. Weather is good at that time of year too. Also many US cities provide direct flights there too.


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