Monday, April 26, 2010

To flee or not to flee...that is the question.

So I have a week of vacation that is as yet unplanned. Week 1 of the vacay has already been allocated to California. Week 2, however, is completely open to interpretation.

I've been thinking of a few things:
1) Fleeting trip to Peru (with main goal of seeing Machu Picchu) with the following itinerary: Fly into Cuzco/tour Cuzco (depart Sunday night/arrive Monday - Day 1), Machu Picchu (Day 2), Fly into Lima/Lima (Day 3), tour more Lima (Day 4), Lima/return to NYC (Friday night/arrive Saturday - Day 5). Yes, I have Fairmont/Swissotel hotel vouchers for Lima (hence the Lima-ness at the end there). I'd probably book a package for the Cuzco/Machu Picchu portion because that would be easiest in terms of hotel and getting my butt up that mountain. Total cost of flights (NYC --> Cuzco --> Lima --> NYC), hotel and Machu Picchu package, give or take a couple hundred, ~$2100.

2) Cruise. I know I know...a total cop-out. There's something to be said about having everything figured out for you and eating as much as you want, whenever you want, then going to lie on a deck with a book. Based on my available dates, it'd be a five day cruise from NYC up the Canadian coast to visit St. John and Halifax (never been to either). I've solicited cruise bids from this website and they are quoting ~$1070 for a balcony stateroom for just me, not inclusive of tips, etc.

3) Round trip to somewhere random, tropical, and not necessarily high on my list of must-see/must-do, but suitable for an escapist approach (e.g., Costa Rica, the Bahamas, etc.). Considering I've been to Belize and Fiji (not to mention the Omani beaches), I'm not sure if I need another beach vacation. Then again, there's something to be said about lying on a beach with a book - similar to the cruise escape idea. It does sound nice...and would be pretty affordable. I'm seeing under $1000 or so for flight and hotel, 5 days/4 nights.

4) Do nothing?

*shudder*

Pretend I didn't say that.

5) I'm open to suggestions. Anything from the night of June 13 to the night of June 19. Any ideas?