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.