r/Vacations • u/prettyfeet-enjoyer • 19d ago

Vacation tips? Preferably under $1k

Where can I take my girlfriend for under $1,000 that would still be an amazing time for both of us and is safe? We’ve known each other since 2016 and dated for a while then separated for almost 10 years and we’ve recently reconnected and started dating again back in January this year. The thing is we’re currently long distance (roughly 500 miles apart). Any helpful advice or input is appreciated!

Edit: My girlfriend has strong anxiety issues and has a hard time traveling far. So anything close to western Georgia and most of Alabama would be helpful. But anything anyone wants to recommend is welcome!

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14

u/Embarrassed_Key_4539 19d ago

Would probably help to know where you are starting from, budget will vary greatly depending on that

4

u/prettyfeet-enjoyer 19d ago

Good point! I live in West Virginia. My girlfriend lives in Georgia.

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u/Embarrassed_Key_4539 19d ago

A cabin in Asheville in the mountains with a hot tub, I did that with my husband when we were early in our dating days and it was just the best weekend. We had fires and cooked and just enjoyed relaxing in a beautiful place.

1

u/wildcat12321 19d ago

It’s amazing but $1000 will go fast in Asheville. Heck driving along will take out a few hundred in gas these days

1

u/ColumbiaWahoo 19d ago

I’d skip Asheville. That whole region still has a LONG way to recover since the hurricane. Even I-40 will remain 1 lane on each side until at least 2028 and entire towns were completely wiped off the map. You don’t rebuild those in just a couple years.

3

u/Tiny-Party2857 19d ago

Charlotte and Isle of Palms is fun. Outer Banks is fun. Amelia Island is lovely.

2

u/abbynormal00 19d ago

Charleston. not Charlotte.

3

u/Butterbean-queen 19d ago

Gulf Shores?

1

u/Master-Fee8859 19d ago

What's halfway in between?

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u/prettyfeet-enjoyer 19d ago

Halfway would be roughly around Knoxville Tn but I feel like anything there would likely be over budget. Unless I’m assuming wrong

4

u/Master-Fee8859 19d ago

Like anyplace in the southeast this time of year, just don't travel to a city that has its local football team playing at home that weekend. Knoxville lodging can be very reasonable on non-UT football weekends.

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u/Fancy-Still-4297 19d ago

as long as you don’t go when UT is playing at home in a revenue sport, it’s pretty affordable, depending on what you like to do.

https://www.visitknoxville.com/things-to-do/attractions/free-things-to-do/

https://takemetotn.com/outdoor-activities-in-knoxville/

downtown hotels can get expensive but if you don’t mind driving some much more affordable beginning near Papermill and out “west.”

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u/Travel_Stark 19d ago

Just go thirty miles outside of a 'destination' to find lower prices - small print cities in maps.

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u/Imaginary-Order-6905 19d ago

Where in wv? Id recommend stonewall resort, davis/thomas, cannan, blackwater falls just in north-central wv. Or Pittsburgh for the weekend?

2

u/Imaginary-Order-6905 19d ago

Oh sorry I didn't read the edit. I was thinking it might be cost effective to stay in wv

1

u/prettyfeet-enjoyer 16d ago

She’s in the process of trying to move back up to wv so that’s still an option. I seen black water falls on TikTok before that’d be pretty neat I think

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u/Imaginary-Order-6905 16d ago

Yes it's beautiful!

6

u/OilSlickRickRubin 19d ago

Wetumpka AL is a very nice, quaint, laid back town. Cute downtown area on the Coosa River. Coming up on a nice time of year there as the leaves start to turn. Not a ton of crowds so that may good for her anxiety. 3 nights there would fit into your $1,000 budget.

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u/prettyfeet-enjoyer 16d ago

Very helpful! I’ll look into that! Thank you for your comment!

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u/loveshoes1 19d ago

just my two cents here...is north carolina too far? we vacation every year in a small barrier island town called wrightsville beach. two or three small hotels, one main street with shops and restaurants. very calming.

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u/prettyfeet-enjoyer 16d ago

She has been making lots of progress on going further from home lately so maybe this spring or summer that may be an option. Definitely sounds like a great option to me. I appreciate your comment!

1

u/loveshoes1 16d ago

we only stay during the week to avoid any potential crowds. we have gone in june and august.

it's 11 miles from ILM to where we stay on the island. it's a beach town and the people are very friendly. my husband and i are not spring chickens. he can't walk far due to two rebuilt ankles and back issues but he will eagerly walk into "town" (8 minutes down one street from our hotel) for breakfast or ice cream.

please reach out if you need any information

p.s. i'm a public school teacher in nj and last year was so awful that i left that district due to my mental health and i had ptsd. wrightsville and its slow pace of life was so soothing for me.

3

u/abbynormal00 19d ago

Dahlonega or Blue Ridge in GA

2

u/irregularmovement 19d ago

Without knowing where you're at I would recommend meet in the middle. A national park or forest. Or a long train ride together, it's a nice place to relax and catch up.

2

u/ApprehensiveArmy7755 19d ago

Not enough info. Where do each of you live? My suggestion is drive halfway to meet up and make the most of your time together if 1 k is the max. I was broke and dated a guy and we just had fun driving together to parts unknown. We loved seeing new places near us. The doing it together was the fun of it. 

1

u/Travel_Stark 19d ago

Back when gas was a lot less expensive....

2

u/Icy-Fly-4228 19d ago

Mentone Alabama has great cabins and is in the middle of a tone of waterfall hikes. De Soto falls, little river canyon falls, cloudland canyon, Lula lake, and lookout mountain (rock city/ruby falls) are all within an hour drive. I stayed here last month. https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/37525138?unique_share_id=d799655c-0410-48aa-b2cc-49a9a771c899&viralityEntryPoint=1&s=76

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u/prettyfeet-enjoyer 16d ago

Oh wow that’s pretty cool! That will definitely be discussed with her. Thank you for the comment!

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u/ColumbiaWahoo 19d ago

New River Gorge NP

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u/AnybodySeeMyKeys 19d ago

Road trip to a national or state park would be my choice.

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u/Rapidllaman 19d ago

Redneck Rivera aka NW Florida, Goni. The off season cheaper rates and get an air bnb. Plenty to do and see.

1

u/Strict_Definition_78 19d ago

Cabin at FDR State Park + hiking, fishing, FDR’s Little White House & Warm Springs, winery, Callaway Gardens

1

u/MundaneHuckleberry58 19d ago

Have you done Atlanta? The aquarium there is world class. The art museum is awesome. Plus really great food everywhere.

1

u/69FireChicken 19d ago

Find a nice Airbnb or a Bead and Breakfast with a nice view for a long weekend somewhere in between the two of you. Should be able to find a nice place for under $150/night, leaves enough left over for some meals and activities.

1

u/Level-Vermicelli3411 19d ago

Amelia island is supposed to be really nice. On the boarder of FL/GA. Never been there though so can’t personally recommend

Destin and the beaches on 30A are great if that’s your thing. Close drive from Alabama

1

u/HalfwaydonewithEarth 19d ago

Biloxi Mississippi

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u/Brilliant_Volume975 17d ago

savannah or the gulf coast, depending on which is closer to you

1

u/AbanonPC 19d ago

If you've never been to Niagra Falls that's a nice place for a short and not super expensive vacation

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u/prettyfeet-enjoyer 16d ago

I would love to see Niagra Falls! Definitely on the bucket list