Holiday travel? Any Ideas?

[mentalsolstice]

My spouse and I went to Banff, Alberta last year Dec. 23-Jan. 2, and loved it! We'd like to do something again this year during the same time period. My spouse's employer has a generous holiday policy, so he can get a lot of time off without using up all of his saved vacation days. I'm finding that choices are getting slim or are already booked up. We'd like to stay basically on this continent, N. Am., Central AM, or South Am.

Anybody know of anything exciting, unique, etc.? We've considered Newfoundland, or viewing the northern lights in the Yukon Territory...

cross-posted in the travel forum...

[Zywiec]

1. Went to Belize a few weeks ago

It was amazing. Spent a lot of time on the beach, then time on the mainland caving and touring Mayan ruins. That's my recommendation. Good luck and enjoy.

Cheers

[mentalsolstice]

5. Belize has always sounded hip!

I could do a beach with a lot of shady palms.

edit for clarification

[Reciprocity]

2. If I were you I'd go to New Zealand where in Dec. and Jan. it's Summer.

When we went there it was winter (June of 97) but felt like spring. I would love to go back.

[pitohui]

3. my choice would be panama, central america

are you aware that panama's christmas bird count has one of the highest species count of any in the world, if not the highest? there is a beautiful resort called gamboa resort near the soberania (spelling?) national park and the famous pipeline road

you could potentially see hundreds of bird species, both tropicals and winter visitors from the united states and canada

it is not like banff -- a beautiful place but a BIG wildlife place, there will be no elk or bear, but there is a richness of smallest wildlife such as the colorful birds, parrots, caimans, slothes, lizards, and a very pleasant temperatore

malaria medication and shots are not required for the canal zone of panama, and the people are super friendly

i loved it, wish i could move there! good roads too, unlike costa rica, which would be another choice pick

there is even a rainforest park in panama city itself!

wonderful place

oh, and december is part of the panama "summer" too, their seasons don't work like ours, their "winter" is rainy season (around june), december is dry

and no jet lag, unlike the new zealand suggestion, altho i'm sure new zealand is super cool too

good fishing too if you like fishing

here is the website for gamboa resort, there are also less expensive options:

http://www.gamboaresort.com/principal2.htm

oh, and also the famous canopy tower, the old radar station, but you really need to book in advance for that one!
it is possible it would all be booked by the bird tours at that time of year but here is their link--

http://canopytower.com/

toucans aplenty! i say go for it! i'm a budget traveler so i haven't been able to visit these during the prime christmas season, rather i visit off-season, but one day it will happen

[mentalsolstice]

4. This sounds cool!

We've wanted to go to Costa Rico for awhile...and when we looked recently, it was all booked up.

So this would be cool...I'll look into it...if not for holiday 2007, then maybe 2008. We've had enough stressful family holidays, we're going on our own from now on.

[JackBeck]

6. If you like the sun

Dominican Republic.

And try and book the all-inclusive joints.

Big thumbs up.

[SPKrazy]

7. I'd go with the Belize thing...

I'm going to go there someday.

maybe even take Rev Acts 04 :rofl:

she said she'd go...

:hi:

[mentalsolstice]

8. I'd better go to Belize soon!

After the two of you go, it'll never be the same again!

:hi: