An informal poll!

[mousme]

Actually, this is more of a request for suggestions, so I'm not actually going to make a real, coded poll. I just want to know what people think.

I'm getting some actual, honest-to-goodness time off in March, to the tune of 10 days total, somewhere in the neighbourhood of St. Patrick's Day (too lazy to go look up exact dates right now).

I haven't had paid vacation in so long, that now that I have it I don't know what to do with it. I want to go somewhere (within financial reason), since I haven't properly traveled in quite some time, either.

Where should I go? Suggestions are welcome and invited, but bear in mind I will not follow them all, and may in fact not follow any of them. :)

Comments

[toughlovemuse.livejournal.com]

What kind of place were you looking to go? In-country or out-of-country? Do you prefer sightseeing or amusement parks with rides? How many days do you want to spend travelling? Is plane in your budget or will you drive?

[mousme.livejournal.com]

Relatively inexpensive planes could be within my budget, although given the choice I'd rather drive, or take the bus or a train. I would like to spend no more than two days traveling (one day to get there, one to get back), and I am much more of a sightseer than an amusement-park goer.

I have no idea what kind of place I want to go to. Anywhere but here, I guess is my starting point. In-country is more likely, as I have to renew my passport, but if I manage to get said passport in time, out-of-country is good too. :)

Honestly, it could be anywhere as close as the Laurentians, and as far as an inexpensive (ie, $200 or so) plane ticket will get me.

[toughlovemuse.livejournal.com]

Ottawa is a great place to sightsee if you haven't been there in a while Lots of museums, fun little town to wander around in, relatively inexpensive to get to. Ditto for Quebec city, depending on how much you've travelled it - weather might be less nice, though.

If you're up for a bit longer travel, I'd say Halifax, though you might not find it at its best in March. Still, lots of museums, potential for exploring, visiting friends, wandering around on the waterfront is always fun.

If you ski, there's probably some good places to go and stay in the Laurentians to have a winter/outdoorsy type vacation.

[mousme.livejournal.com]

I meant to ask you (since Halifax is on my list of Places To Go To) what the prices on train tickets out there and back are like?

[toughlovemuse.livejournal.com]

Plane is less expensive than train, unless you plan to sit up all night in coach. It's also more than a 20h trip each way, so long.

If they were still using the old trains I'd tell you a berth is worth it for the fun of train travel. With the new trains, save your money. Fly or drive.

[joane.livejournal.com]

*cough* This is me sneaking online at my ILs to say GLEEE! I figured Halifax wouldn't be on the list for this one, and honestly, I don't know that I'd come out here in March - May would be a much better bet, or June once all the touristy stuff opens - but anytime you come is a time we'll have you. ;)

[mousme.livejournal.com]

Halifax is very high on my list of priorities, as it turns out. I'm not going so much for the weather as for the company. :)

[joenotcharles.livejournal.com]

We had lots of fun in Halifax last March, as it's a fine time to tour the local brewpubs and it's not very crowded.

[toughlovemuse.livejournal.com]

It all depends on the weather you get, really. March can be fantastic. It can also be abysmal, particularly if you hit snow/rain (or a combination of both) (though one can say the same thing of July and August!)

[toughlovemuse.livejournal.com]

One can say the same thing about July/August with the variable weather, I mean.

Halifax does not experience snow in July and August.

[silly-imp.livejournal.com]

If your passport comes in time and you're up for it, the train to New York City is relatively inexpensive and I know a good inexpensive hostel right by the station.

[fearsclave.livejournal.com]

Skydiving in Bhutan! GERONIMOOOOOOOOoooooooo!

You're always welcome out here, of course, if Bhutan is a little over the top.

[mousme.livejournal.com]

I hear good things about Bhutan. If only I had the money to go... :)

I am definitely planning a visit to the GHW, but imposing my sunny presence on you for more than a weekend would be taking advantage of your forbearance, methinks. :D

[fearsclave.livejournal.com]

Forbearance, shcmorebearance. It's always good to have you out :).

[mellybean71.livejournal.com]

In planning our getaway I discovered that you can fly out of Burlington very, very cheaply and Sultry claims parking at the airport is inexpensive as well. If I were you I'd play around on Expedia.ca and see where you can go.

Also bear in mind that Spring Break is mid-March in most places.

[taxlady.livejournal.com]

How about a Midweek Madness 2-day trip to Reykjavik, Iceland? You would have to drive down to Boston to catch the flight. I checked, there aren't any available flights from Halifax until April. Prices from $429 double occupancy and $527 single occupancy + you have to pay taxes (from the U.S. the airport fees are apparently $90).

[silly-imp.livejournal.com]

Wow, that's an incredible deal. (...checking her schedule...)Does it include food though. I hear Iceland is terribly expensive and something like a simple burger in a pub comes in at $30+

[taxlady.livejournal.com]

It only includes breakfast. But, it's a "Scandinavian breakfast". It's a smörgåsbord (buffet) with cold cuts, choices of bread, pickled herring and other fish, cheeses, and cold cereals. So, you can fill up pretty well at breakfast. Yes, everything in Iceland is expensive. We had a meal in a Chinese restaurant. We had two unimpressive dishes and two Tsing Tao (we didn't know that the Icelandic Viking Beer is really, really good) and it came to over $100! But, the next day we went to a lunch buffet for $30 each. Really yummy Icelandic food (lots of lamb and fish) and some other stuff. I think your best bet is to get up early and stuff yourself at breakfast. See how late you can go to the lunch buffet and stuff yourself again. Then have snacks for supper :D

[rowen26.livejournal.com]

I second Hilary in her suggestion that you come over in Halifax, but that you should wait until touristy season (June) to get the best experience.
Spring is very ... gray, cold and damp here. It's gorgeous in the summer.

Although anytime you visit is, as stated, very welcome. :)

Plane is definitely cheaper then train. And faster (1.5 hours as opposed to 20+ hours). Unless your can afford the leisure.

[pasley.livejournal.com]

New York. Definitely.

(I would also suggest Boston, except for it being a college town and it being spring break at around the time you'd be going.)

[luvenditti.livejournal.com]

sigh. I wish I could go on vacation.