Where should we go for our honeymoon?
 

So, we are poor students, with not much to our names. We are having a DIY "wedding" and "party" but I would love to go on a nice vacation.

Our dates for our vacation would be the 27 December until the 1 January. He wanted to go skiing, and that sounds like a good idea too. However, that's not set in stone. I'm a huge Francophile, as well, and I love any sort of new culture. We live in Northern California, so nothing really in Cali...

Anyway, any ideas at all?

its not real france but go to Quebec or Montreal... they are both beautiful cities.. quaint and romantic


while you said no california- there are some beautiful bed and breakfasts and small inns in napa... you wouldn't have to travel far and it's incredibly beautiful...

I also recommend Quebec - there are some really nice places.

One of my favorite hotels in the world is pretty close to you - Calistoga Ranch in Calistoga, CA. All the rooms are suites, they all have outdoor showers (as well as indoor if its too cold out) and there's a fair amount to do.

However, to show that I can actually follow instructions, here are some other suggestions:

New York City - it's expensive, but there's lots to do and see. You can find pretty much any culture you want since it's probably moved to NYC at some point. Plus all the Christmas decorations will still be up, and most of them are pretty impressive.

Vancouver - there's lots of good skiing there, and doesn't Canada count as another culture?

I'm not going to recommend the Florida Keys at that time of year because the chances of warm weather aren't that great. You certainly wouldn't want to get into the water in December. However, my favorite American hotel is down there, and it's a great place if you have the money for it and the desire to eat 5-star food and do absolutely nothing.

East Tennessee/Western North Carolina - there are a bunch of bed and breakfasts, inns and hotels. If you need a list of hotels, let me know. There is some skiing in the area and great things to see like the Smokeys, the Biltmore Mansion and lots and lots of natural beauty.

I'm not going to recommend New Orleans either, although two of my favorite New Years Eves ever were there. From what I'm hearing from family and friends, the French Quarter still has major problems and crime is an even bigger problem than it used to be.

It doesn't sound like warm weather is a big draw for you guys, so I'll forgo my Mexican recommendations. I'll also stay away from skiing recommendations since I don't know what you're looking for.

I want to go to Roan Mountain, TN for my honeymoon. Their cabins and the park are amazing. Perfect place to spend some time together. It's beautiful. Buuuut looking at the dates, it'd be hard to get there, unless you want to deal with lots of ice and snow on the trip up the mountain...lol.

My parents toured Europe on a very tight budget, stayed in student housing.

What about a cruise? It's not that expensive, and especially since you're on the west coast (jealous btw) you could take the one to Alaska.

It also occurs to me you're closer to Australia than I am. That'd be fun. It's summer there though, atm. I hear the southwest coast is beautiful.

What about a bed and breakfast tour of the northeast? Like go to Maine, Vermont, etc. I bet there's skiing there too.

can you give some budget parameters? there's lots of good budget travels to be found but I'll need a starting point or at least a ceiling.

The downside to that - and new england is beautiful - but once you are outside of boston....a car is required and at their ages - tehy'd have a tough time renting a car :D

It's less than a 50/50 chance that Roan Mountain will have ice and snow that time of year. East Tennessee just doesn't get the snow fall that it used to. However, if East Tennessee cabins are now in play, let me know - I grew up there and have some ideas.

...good point. I didn't see her age. Don't you have to be 21? I think I remember that I wasn't allowed to drive a rental car we got, and I was 20.

Really? They had all these pictures of snow and the mountains in the cabin...I assumed it'd be covered! It's so cold there compared to SC, and we were there in October.

These are all great ideas. Thanks guys.

Also, you have to be 25 to rent a car. How ridiculous.

...huh. That is rather blatantly ridiculous. lol. Gah, and I assumed that'd be one of my "Congrats you're FINALLY 21" privilages. :|

Definitely Vegas for you guys.

Actually, I think you can be under 25 to rent a car, but you have to pay a higher rate or some kind of flat fee on top of the regular rate. Although it may still be that you have to be 21 or something like that. *shrug*

If you want skiing, why don't you try going north into the next state or two? I hear it's beautiful up there, and if you do decide to drive up, you can spend a day or two driving to the nearest city where there are nice cultural things to do. Seattle or Portland or something. I keep hearing wonderful things about this region, though I've never been myself.

I rented a car at 18 when I lived in LA from a small company. You can find them out there, just aren't the majors like Hertz and yes they cost much more.

according to the NYTimes.com from June 4, 2006:

*waves her hand*

I'm 23, and currently renting a car from Enterprise. I have to pay an additional
$10 a day - however, if I had rented from the airport, it would have been an additional $25 a day.

Don't discount Seattle - Since I arrived on Friday, we have had nothing but snow. it is snowing right now!

Okie dokie, thanks for the heads up on the rental car thing!

Amonkie, that's awesome that it's snowing! Is it heavy, or just sprinkles?

Tahoe maybe? There are some really nice places there you can spend a week at or whatever. And you aren't far from home, or Reno in the event that you can't stand each other and have to get a divorce