Hi everyone!
I am 21 and have traveled pretty extensively in China, both alone and with a partner. This January, I am planning on taking a ~15 day vacation, and seeing as it will be my mom's 50th birthday this year, I really want to invite her along. She has traveled a little bit with my Dad, mainly scuba diving trips, but nothing too adventurous. Also, she hasn't had a vacation in like 5 years!

I know she really likes beaches and laying out, but I would also like to take her somewhere a little more adventurous than a Caribbean resort.

So my question is, what is the best place you guys think I could take my mom for a 2 week vacation that would combine beach bumming, scuba diving, and some adventure?

I know I want to go to the southern hemisphere, or at least somewhere that is nice and warm in late January, and also the budget for this would be ~$2000-$2500 per person including flight.

Thanks for your recommendations!

O and PS we'd probably be flying out of Dulles in DC or BWI in Baltimore, if that has anything to do with prices...

Hmmmm...well there is always Brazil.
I took my mom with me for 2 weeks of one of my trips. Took her to Spain and Morocco. What was funny was watching her behave like a wreck in Spain and then suddenly getting her shit together as we boarded the ferry for Tangier. "I get where we're going now. I can handle it." And it was amazing. This woman, who'd get anxiety at crosswalks in Madrid was going out BY HERSELF and walking across the traffic like she knew what was up.
So dont sell your mama short. Seriously she may love beaches, and you an include a beach, but try to get her off the beaten path a little. Maybe she'll suprise you in a great way. Or go somewhere like Morocco or other such African countries where they have lovely beaches as well as a cultural and historical skew unlike that of western countries.

quote:

Originally posted by Haci Richard:
I'd take her down to Nicaragua.

So it's settled, Steve. Haci will take your mom to Nicaragua. You're off the hook.

Seems to me you've more pressing concerns, Haci. Like explaining to your wife why you'll be heading to Nicaragua with Steve's mom.

nicaragua and/or honduras! corn islands and bay islands. that's where i'm going in march/april to escape the nasty weather here. airfare for march is abotu $600 so i think it would cost just abotu that much in january.

Thanks guys for your recommendations! I've started looking at stuff about Nicaragua and it seems like it would be a really cool place.

Before I posted this questions, I was mainly researching SE Asia (specifically Thailand), but it seemed like no matter what, it was going to be pretty touristy if I wanted to go anywhere with good diving, so I'm really glad you all replied

Any other recommendations welcome!
Stevie

You might also consider Cartagena.



You can have her read this review.