Favorite 2-4 day escape from the city

So, I'm starting a new job in 2 weeks (yay!), but before I do, I want to go someplace and chill out.

I prefer a beach, and was considering flying to the Carribean, but now I'm thinking that I should just go someplace closer.

I have a car, so driving isn't an issue, although I hope not to be in a car for more than 3-4 hours.

So, any good suggestions? A beach, not too far away, quiet (not full of kids or tourists).......

I was thinking of Gurney's in Montauk, but that's a bit pricey. For that money I could go to the Carribean....

Closer Caribbean = Bermuda or Bahamas - JetBlue flies to both
Cape Cod/Nantucket/MV - nobody there, now that's school's back in
JetBlue to Florida - and go to the Keys or the Gulf Coast
JetBlue to Puerto Rico
JetBlue to the Dominican Republic

Thanks, LtT...I'm not sure that I'm going to fly anywhere.....

If I decide to fly, I've been to Bermuda, FL, and PR before. I've been told many times that the DR is not a good place for a woman traveling alone. This from somebody who spends at least 2 months there a year and knows her stuff.

I've been to Cape Cod, but not MV or Nantucket. Any hotel suggestions?

I've stayed at the Wesley in Oak Bluffs on MV - have just done day trips from the Cape to Nantucket. On MV it's really either Oak Bluffs or Edgartown. You could even take your car there on the ferry. Here's a great site to surf and to ask questions...
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g29528-i562-Martha_s_Vineyard_Massachusetts.html

Congratulations on the new job!

I take it you're looking to go by yourself? I've rented cabins upstate and in the Poconos a few times and you can sometimes get one on a lake with a private beach, but it might be hard to find something geared towards people traveling solo, and I don't know whether a lake beach would interest you. If it does, though, here are a couple of sites I've had good luck with:

http://www.vacationrentals.com/
http://www.findrentals.com/

Thanks for the suggestions (and the congratulations)!

Yes, traveling solo....I don't care if it's geared towards solo, but definitely don't want something geared towards kids/family vacations.

If its a solo trip I'd recommend Freeport, Bahamas. Its the quiet island, unlike Nassau which is full of casinos and the associated craziness. The Westin/Sheraton has a nice spread on the end of the island with a private beach, three pools, one small casino, four or five restaurants etc. Across the street is a small local marina with shops, local bars scene etc. Everything is there that you'd want but its all kind of close so that you don't need to worry about being a woman roaming around the carribean by yourself.

At different times of the year its a family spot, but now that schools in session I'm sure you'll find it to be mostly couples and folks like yourself down for a long weekend.

If that is too staid for you try Nassau. Plenty of things to do on Paradise Island which is home to hundreds of casinos with the whole high roller thing that goes along with it. Plenty of clubs and nightlife and jumping singles scenes. I haven't been to Nassau in about ten years so I can't recommend anywhere there, but pretty much every major hotel chain has a place there so it shouldn't be hard to find something.

Montreal. It's the closest yet most foreign place you can go on a short trip. Good food and nightlife, and just an all-around fun city. And it's easy to drive there, or you can fly and it's less than 2 hours. If you have frequent flier miles, it's only 15k miles for a round-trip ticket.

I ended up in Aruba....where I'm posting from right now....it's bee-yoo-tee-ful

i jealous

shishkab wrote:

i jealous

hahaha.....you should be...it's gorgeous! Really happy with my choice and cashed in miles, etc. so pretty cheap.....

Ah. I went to Club Med Cancun for my solo vacation a few years ago. It's good if you want to be busy, but it's not so restful because it's basically spring break for 30-year-olds!

Carnivore wrote: Montreal. It's the closest yet most foreign place you can go on a short trip. Good food and nightlife, and just an all-around fun city. And it's easy to drive there, or you can fly and it's less than 2 hours. If you have frequent flier miles, it's only 15k miles for a round-trip ticket.

I know this option wasn't mentioned, but in case you decide to go to Montreal and were for some reason thinking of taking Amtrack, DON'T.

Ahhhhhhhhhh...............Aruba............ A very nice trip! Great beaches, nice people, safe.........

Flexichick wrote: I ended up in Aruba....where I'm posting from right now....it's bee-yoo-tee-ful

good for you!! i am jealous. how is it traveling to beach solo?

my bf's mother was born there and hopefully we'll go next year.

fabulous - I love traveling alone. Aruba is friendly and safe and I met a ton of people to go out with

I won't believe any of this until I see pics.

(hah)

you want the one of the beach or the "please don't feed the iguanas" or the street sign with the number of fatal traffic accidents in 2007 (12 and counting), because you're not going to get the bikini shots, or the ones of me pouring tequila behind the bar

Curses, foiled again.

*tweaks mustache*

Okay, the beach shot. Make us jealous.

aight...once I get motivated enough to upload to flickr and remember how to insert pics....gimme a day or two