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01209: Long Weekend Getaway Ideas from Florida

My boyfriend will be home on leave in May and I'd like to plan a three-day getaway for us. I live in Miami. We're very active and enjoy outdoor sports. Do you have any ideas for us? Thanks!

Thanks for your email; how romantic that you’re planning a getaway for the two of you on your boyfriend’s return! You’re located in a good city for getaways whether you’d like to drive or fly. Here are a few suggestions for a long weekend:

• The Keys. Hop in the car and head south to Key West; there’s a small town, island atmosphere here with fun bars and restaurants downtown. Hemingway’s home is just a few blocks away and you can end the day watching the sunset, a real Key West experience. Some of the other Keys are also popular; there are some very nice resorts (albeit pricey, such as Little Palm Island). Key West has a variety of price ranges for accommodations.
• St. Petersburg. The Don Cesar Hotel is a favorite with romantics; it’s an historic hotel that’s often compared to a wedding cake.
  
• The Bahamas. It’s just a short trip to either Grand Bahama or Nassau. Grand Bahama is closer and smaller; the biggest resort there is the Westin Our Lucaya. There’s a beautiful beach on Grand Bahama, some markets, gardens, swimming with dolphins, etc. Nassau is home to Atlantis Resort with a huge casino, waterpark, lots of restaurants, etc. Nassau has some very historic spots, dolphin swims, gardens, and good duty free shopping.
• Jamaica. It’s a little further but you’ll find numerous all-inclusives in Jamaica if you’d like to go that route. May’s an economical time; you’ll miss high season which ends in mid-April. Each resort area has attractions: Dunn’s River Falls, Rose Hall plantation house, lots of snorkeling, bike tours, ATV tours, etc.
• Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic is one of the most economical places in the Caribbean. It also has many all-inclusives in all price ranges and many ecotourism activities: hiking, biking, snorkeling, scuba, etc.

If you’re thinking of something further afield, just let us know but we tried to think of places you could squeeze into a long weekend. Happy travels! Paris & John

Labels: Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Florida, Jamaica

posted by Paris & John /Click for permalink 8:12 AM 0 comments

Altos de Chavon, Dominican Republic

Dear Love Tripper,
We really want to get married in St Stanislaus Church in Altos de Chavon (we visited 5 years ago). How do I contact the church? Please help - any advice would be appreciated.

We love that little church! We visited while staying at Iberostar Hacienda Dominicus (809-688-3600, www.iberostarcaribe.com). St Stanislaus Church is a beautiful spot for a wedding. We talked with the hotel and they said that the local wedding planners can make arrangements for weddings at the facility. Are you going to be staying at one of the nearby properties (Iberostar or Casa de Campo)? Both have onsite coordinators to help with the paperwork. If you need more info on the requirements for weddings in the Dominican Republic, you'll find a rundown at the end of this article of ours. Best wishes...and let us know how your planning goes!!

Labels: Caribbean weddings, Dominican Republic

posted by Paris & John /Click for permalink 7:40 PM 0 comments