Dreaming of the Beach

This winter has been particularly long and cold here in DC. No, we haven't had any more snow than we usually have (it's snowed a few times, a few inches, but nothing big), and, yes, it is bright and sunny outside today (with a high of 35, I might add), but it just seems like we've had unrelenting cold and wind for quite some time now. Add to the fact that I spent a week in Chicago back in January and four nights in Berlin earlier this month, and part of me thinks that my bones will never warm up again outside of a gym.

Even though I just got back from a mini-vacation (Berlin), I feel like I desperately need to break away for a few days to a warm locale ... one where I can lie on the beach and do next to nothing but read and listen to my iPod. I've been shopping for award seats in the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America. I found seats to Costa Rica for next weekend, and I've been seriously considering it. However, I have no one to go with (not a problem for me, obviously), and frankly I'm trying to really cut back on expenses with my impending home sale this summer in Atlanta. Which is why I targeted Costa Rica to begin with. Other destinations in that region (Caribbean in particular) don't offer basic hotel rooms for under $100. I found seats to St. Thomas, but you can't do the USVI on the cheap. Hell, I'd be happy going to Ft Lauderdale or Key West, but a decent hotel room in a decent location will cost some coin. And having used Marriott points for Berlin, I don't have enough to use for a hotel in Florida that isn't 30 miles from the ocean. Not to mention I couldn't find award seats there (and buying a ticket at this stage of the game is out of my budget).

So I guess I will continue dreaming of the beach and warmer weather. After all, I'll be heading down to Charleston for the bridge run in a month, and even though it won't be lying-out weather, it will still be a helluva lot warmer than DC is right now!