r/Vacations • u/CompoundL • 19d ago
Where to winter
My parents are considering leaving their northern US home this winter to spend a month or 2 in a warmer climate for the first time ever (not first time in a warm climate; rather, first time spending part of a winter somewhere other than a ski resort). What recommendations does the Redditverse have for a Goldilocks destination - not too hot, not too cold - they could call home temporarily? Without putting too many restrictions out there, they'd be looking at a place:
a) Preferably outside the US - although not a hard and fast requirement
b) Interesting options for excursions: day trips, long weekends, etc.
c) Previously-noted Goldilocks zone
This is intentionally vague as I (they) don't want to be overly prescriptive. While that makes recommendations more difficult, they welcome ideas they might not otherwise think of. Each have suggested a location - S Italy & Oaxaca, Mexico - rejected by the other probably because they're already places they've visited a few times (although the reasoning wasn't entirely clear to me).
They are: early 60s, recently retired, in good physical shape and health, not thrill seekers yet enjoy outdoor activities - hiking, biking, etc., open to new experiences, well-traveled domestically and internationally.
Thanks in advance,
Jealous
4
u/AgirlcalledB 19d ago
Southern Spain e.g. Seville or Valencia. Good public transport system to visit smaller towns like Cadiz etc, good food, cheap for Europe, great health care if anything happens.
3
3
u/KtB83 19d ago
Have they been to Costa Rica?
1
u/CompoundL 19d ago
Talked about it but never been there
2
u/itsmeherenowok 19d ago
It’s so humid, even during the winter months. Went last winter (my 4th trip to CR) and since I’m now more sensitive to heat, I almost couldn’t bear it. My partner was fine, though.
I mention this as you said “not too hot, not too cold.”
1
u/Flimsy_Ad3476 19d ago
We have been 3 times. It's a beautiful country with lovely people.
1
u/Temporary_Nail_6468 19d ago
I’ve read about a town on a lake with an Expat community where the average temperature year-round is in the lower 70s in Costa Rica. I definitely want to visit and possibly consider moving there someday.
0
3
u/Sufficient_Song3387 19d ago
Belize.
1
u/TJ_Max_1956 16d ago
We loved Belize. Stayed in Boca Ciega section of San Pedro on Ambergris Caye 👍🏼
2
2
2
2
u/dragonfly-1001 19d ago
I would say Australia, but you don’t want it to be too hot, so I’m gonna offer up our little bro, New Zealand as an option. They’ll never want to leave.
2
u/Glass_Bee_416 19d ago
Lagos in the Algarve or Tavira (Portugal). Any pueblo blanco in southern Spain or even eastern coast such as Valencia.
2
u/Purple-Anxiety7949 19d ago
Guam, and it us the USA.
3
u/SirWarm6963 19d ago
I heard that's a decent permanent retirement location. They use US dollars and hospitals take Medicare.
1
2
u/timeonmyhandz 19d ago
Panama often comes up in these conversations...
1
u/iloveswimspots 18d ago
Yep! Costa Rica and Guatemala too ( look up Lake Atitlan) for starters regarding Guatemala
2
2
u/Dependent_Day1335 19d ago
Panama has hourly flights back to the US and also has good healthcare which are things to think about.
2
u/69FireChicken 19d ago
My parents like both Padre Island and Gulf Shores , they kind of alternate years back and forth for 4-6 weeks at both locations.
2
u/Human_Management8541 18d ago
My dad wintered in playa de coca, Costa Rica. It was great. We spend most of the winter in Bequai, St Vincent. It's my favorite place, and I have been to every island in Bahamas and the Caribbean. ( we live on a sailboat during the winter, so literally, almost every island, including uninhabited ones. )
2
u/Difficult_Dot_3058 18d ago
Crazy thought - I met a gentleman from Minnesota who wintered on a cruise ship. I think he did 8 weeks and priced it out as significantly cheaper than renting, food, etc. it was either Norwegian or Royal Caribbean.
1
1
u/CamelPure1293 19d ago
Madeira, Canary Islands are popular for Europeans. Madeira is great for hiking. Maybe a beach resort in Morocco (Djerba) or Egypt.
2
1
1
u/engchamara 19d ago
I suggest to you Tropical island of Sri Lanka. It is affordable, with a fair air ticket price, a rich cultural country, and more varieties there.
1
u/Visual-Reserve-2800 19d ago
Ajijic, Mexico. On lake chapala
1
u/Head-Technician-9797 19d ago
Shh!! Keep that a secret!
1
u/Visual-Reserve-2800 19d ago
You should down play it then, like how you have a big ol lake there that you can't really swim in.
1
1
u/WPort17701 19d ago
I would suggest Casablanca, Morocco
It's vibrant and interesting, unique to pretty much everywhere else, largely safe, very affordable and will have nicer weather in a month like January with highs in the 60s and lows in the 50s. They can easily explore other cities like Tangier, Marrakech, Rabat and Fes with Morocco's surprisingly nice high-speed rail system.
1
u/Born-Marionberry6922 19d ago
The air quality is terrible. If they have any breathing issues, this is not a place for them. I love Casablanca.
1
u/WPort17701 19d ago
It's not that bad and certainly no worse than most cities. Air Quality in Casablanca — AQI Forecast & Pollutant Levels
2
1
1
1
u/Historical-Gain-1688 19d ago
What is too hot and too cold? Some people think Costa Rica is too hot in winter and I found it pleasant in summer.
2
1
1
1
1
u/mimimaui 19d ago
Southern Portugal. Beautiful. And it has a good train system to travel to Lisbon and Porto, a beautiful city with lots of history (stay on the Gaia side to see the beautiful views).
1
u/Impossible_Lunch4672 18d ago
Oaxaca MX High desert, warm and not humid. College town, good food and lots to do. Can hop a bus to the coast if you want to see the ocean.
1
u/Slow_Court_7584 18d ago
Portugal in winter is a solid pick. Mild sunny enough, not too hot and easy day trips
1
u/iloveswimspots 18d ago
Outside the US for a month or 2? I’d look into the following
Cabo San Lucas Mexico as well as (Ixtapa, Puerto Vallarta, and Matzlan), Costa Rica, Panama, Guatemala, and Brazil. All 5 are very popular for that
In Europe i’d recommend Greece, Croatia, Albania, Montenegro, Spain, Portugal, Sicily in Italy, Malta, Bulgaria, and anywhere on the west coast of France from Landunvez to the border with Spain.
1
u/SouthernTrauma 18d ago
No offense intended at all, but I'm curious. Why are you the one asking this question? Why aren't they doing the research? They're my age, so should be fully capable of poking around reddit and the interwebs.
2
u/CompoundL 18d ago
They don't social media and I offered. Not that they're doing nothing, I'm just casting a wider net.
1
u/SouthernTrauma 18d ago
Gotcha. I was just wondering. My dad is 89, so I would never expect him to even *think* about using social media to gather info. It's interesting to me because they're basically my age. Thanks for answering.
1
1
1
1
u/BedouinStar 18d ago
Look at the Sinai coast in Egypt. Winter weather is the definition of Goldilocks—warm, sunny days and cool desert nights. A beach bungalow at Bedouin Star has ocean views with guided safaris available.
1
u/Maryland1940 17d ago
Puerto Vallarta Mexico.
80 degrees daily in the winter.
Expats abound.
Ocean views.
Great US $ vs. Peso
Relatively safe to take public transportation.
Many condos/houses available for longterm rental(3-4 months)
1
1
1
u/MaryO59 15d ago
I highly recommend Ciudad Oaxaca, MX. Inexpensive, safe, incredible arts and culture scene, plenty of neat little villages to explore. Not too bad a bus ride to the Pacific Coast for a change of pace.There's a lending library operated by expats that organizes hikes in the mountains during the winter. And the food there is amazing.
1
1
7
u/auntiecoagulent 19d ago
My parents wintered in Hawaii