Great Ideas--- People count

These are great ideas everyone! Just as a reminder, please leave your name at the end of the post.

Let's all chime in on cost. as I mentioned earlier, those who want to SCUBA will be adding more, so if we can find something for $700-900 that's a plus.

Also, given the nature of SCUBA, those who do it, must have a 24 hours before they board a plan or will be subject to nitrogen narcossis. So, that's why I though 5 days would be perfect. 1 day flight there, 2 days SCUBA or other activites, 1 day of activities before returning.
Here's the People Count
Expressed Interest:
Dave Burton
Ben Bennett
Sarah Spendlove
Ann Steele
rachel morrissey
sharyn hunt
alison beesely (maybe)

Out:
Duane Carling (duck)
Sara Steffenauer (no vacation)

No Reply:
melinda semadeni
jen warner
john curle
john smart
Jeremy Freeman
Travis Sorenson

Thanks,
-Ben

Grand Cayman

Grand Cayman has some great package deals that weekend, roughly $600-$900. The Marriott Grand Cayman Beach Resort (a 4 star property) is a good choice. The package with that hotel + flight (out of DCA) is only $778 per person. Here's some info.

Amenity highlights: A free-form pool stretches 85 feet where pool aerobic classes are held. Adjacent is a spa tub that holds up to 10 guests. A 100-yard beachfront features a snorkeling reef 50 yards off shore. A watersports center rents snorkeling and scuba-diving gear, personal watercraft, kayaks, speed boats, sailboats, and pedal boats, as well as arranges submarine, snorkeling, scuba-diving, and fishing trips; tube and banana-boat rides; waterskiing; parasailing; and scuba-diving lessons and certification courses.

Unfortunately, I can't make this trip since I don't earn any vacation days until mid-June. So don't have too much fun without me! :) But if you'd like to take another trip over Labor Day, I'm IN!

~Sara

Who's in and who has a passport?

So there are a couple of questions we need to decide right away before we can even start thinking about destinations.

1. As Ben notes in his headline the cost is going to be somewhere between $700 and $1500 per person. Since Duck seemed to hover right around $200 we're talking about a cost that is 3-8 times more expensive than Duck. So this brings the first question of who is in for this trip and do we need to set a price of what everyone is willing to pay or are we all cool with the $700-$1500 range?

2. As of January first there is now a requirement that you have a passport when traveling anywhere outside of the US including Canada and Mexico. Does everyone have a passport or do we need to keep this trip to the 50 states? I hear the Beaches in FL and GA are lovely that time of year.

Email from Sharon about Possibilites

Thanks for sending this out...I would love to go somewhere that >weekend...I can help look for vacation packages next week when I return >from my conference...There were some deals for Puerto Rico on Orbitz, but I >didn't look for specific dates.

> Sharyn
>

Email From Dave to Ben about Possibility

How much were you looking to spend on this trip? I just called expedia and she checked several options and the lowest she could find is about $700 to the Bahammas. Leaving Friday and coming back on Tuesday. That includes hotel and airfare. 2 people per room.

Dave

Memorial Day - Somewhere Besides Duck - Preferrably Tropical

I've been to Duck oh maybe 5 years and I'm ready to see something new for my Memorial Day weekend. I've recently SCUBA certified and am looking to try out my new hobby in someplace tropical. But even if you don't SCUBA, I want to plan a trip away around that weekend. Snorkeling is always fun and cheaper.

Right now the dates are May 24th- May 29th
I expect the cost will be somewhere between $700-1500.

I've put you on my exploratory committee for a Tropical Memorial Day Getaway. If I've forgotten one of "the friends" forward this email their address to me to put them on this blogsite. This is a private blog so only members I add can see it. I think this is the best way for us to communicate since we are all so busy. Please make comments on this site for the whole group to see.

Here are the desired criteria for suggestions;

At least Five day getaway to someplace warm and exotic. (Bahamas, St Thomas, Costa Rica, Key West) Moderately priced getaways, cheaper is better, but we all need some quality R&R as well.
Must include places to SCUBA/SNORKEL, for those who want to participate and things for those who don't. Might be fun to have a place where some could come for shorter days and others could stay the full length.