I really want to go to the beach for Christmas,

[Timefortruth]

There are four of us. Price is an object. The desperate nature of this situation cannot be overstated. Please advice. We can leave from Dallas, Kansas City, Oklahoma City or Tulsa.

[Timefortruth]

1. Shameless bump in the name of sanity.

No one has even a little suggestion to share. A web link, a super secret beach place at an affordable price that you want to pm me about, guys the situation is very very poor.

[mlawson]

2. Folly Beach, near Charleston.

Semitropical island 9 miles from downtown. One hotel, "Charleston on the Beach", used to be a Holiday Inn. All rooms oceanfront, frig, microwave, fishing pier next door. I *think* the rates over the 25th are about $69/day.

It could be sunny and 75, 40 and cold rain, or anything in between. I am going to spend 21st and 22nd there, before continuing to FLA.

[KoKo]

3. Folly Beach! I know Folly Beach!

When do you know Folly Beach from, m.lawson? A "general time frame" or PM, me!

[mlawson]

5. Been going there 10 years.

But the last 5 I was taking care of my mother, so I couldn't leave town w/o worrying. Now I can. I was there again last Sept. More condos, sadly, Island Gorcery is now closed, but otherwise, it's the same.

[KoKo]

6. So, where in Fla. is good after you leave Folly?

Folly was "THE BEACH" when I was a kid. I was down there recently riding around. What you might not know is how much of what was Folly is under the Atlantic Ocean. At least 15 blocks! But it still remains an exceptional beach. Particularly by the Coast Guard Station.

[mlawson]

7. Which end of the island is sunken??

No, I didn't know this. I do worry that sometime a hurricane will destroy it all.

As for FLA, I have been invited to spend 2-3 weeks there Dec-Jan, by my cousin, who is also alone this year. She has a condo at Cocoa, a place I have never been. When asked what I want to do on the 25th, I answered, "Walk on the beach all day, and forget what day it is". 'Works for me', she said. :-)

[KoKo]

13. Folly has been washing away so many years it's hard to keep track. You've

been going after Hurricane Hugo took off the last big chunk of it....but it's always heading out to sea! I've not been to Cocoa Beach, Fla....but it sounds wonderful. Nothing like the beach to clear your head and give one a fresh view. I'll probably head to one this TG myself! I'm NC so I'm close enough....but know the SC Beaches because I was born there.

Enjoy!

[KoKo]

4. What do you want to do when you get to the "beach." And, how far are

you willing to travel? Also, have you ruled out FLA and are you flying (looking for cheap tickets, or driving?)

On Edit: are you all single, or family or traveling with "live in's?"

[Timefortruth]

8. We are the stereotype, Mother, Father, Boy, and Girl

The boy, 12, and the girl, 14, get along well but she has reached a stage in life that privacy is an issue. We can fly if it’s cheap enough, but driving is likely what will happen. We live near Tulsa, so we are about as landlocked as one can be. The weather sucks here and I need warm and costal, really bad. I have begun to despair that Bush is going to win and need sun to revive my optimism (that or some coverage of what is really happening in the news).

[KoKo]

11. Well, if you're a family sounds like Texas Beaches or Alabama beaches

are the closest for you to drive. Airfairs...who knows....you're kind of late for good fares for TG but maybe the aqirlines are desperate.

You'd need DU'ers from Texas or AL. to tell you about the beaches there, but if it's just a "get away" they would be closer than flying into Charleston, S.C., I would think.....which is where Folly Beach is.

What about Florida....they are always running specials...but still it's a little late. Do a Google...I think Alabama has some places you might make it in a drive....if not the Gulf Coast of Texas doing a Google would be good.

Here, in NC I'm near enough beaches....I can understand why you need to get there to "take your mind off it, and enjoy your kids and see the ocean to restore."

[KoKo]

12. Also you might check out fares to Myrtle Beach, S.C. given the age of your

kids....there's lots to do that they might like...and yet there's still the beach. You might get some discounts.

[KoKo]

15. Here's a Google Search Site for Myrtle Beach Discounts...there are others

if you do search on Discounts/Myrtle Beach. There's also the Florida Panhandle, like Tallahassee and Destin Beach on West Coast you should do a search on. Nice Beaches....not so far plane ride for you.
http://www.myrtlebeachairport.com/

[radwriter0555]

9. Playa del carmen, mexico, south of Cancun.

Stay at the hotel del sol.

Rent a car.

Enjoy.

[Timefortruth]

10. Won't airfair be a little high?

Otherwise......

[radwriter0555]

17. CHECK the airfares. They're far more affordable from the east coast

and mid west than from out here in Los Angeles. Also look for last minute deals on Skyauction.com... If you do that, look for the add on prices, but typically, they're very good deals.

[Ilsa]

14. Dominican Republican used to be pretty good.

Cheap. Not too much paper work getting there. Don't know if there are any travel advisories there anymore.

South Padre Island should be cheap right now. Still warm. Water temp is about 74 degrees.

[Timefortruth]

16. Dominican Republic. Now that's interesting.

I'll check it out.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

18. Key West

I haven't been there in years, but I remember it as one of the most beautiful places on earth. I guess you'd fly to Miami, rent a car, and head south til you can't go south no mo'.

If you're much farther north than Miami, you run the risk of water that's too cold for swimming.

[Don_G]

19. Take Your Cat Along

What's Christmas without "Sandy Claws."