re: What's the most relaxing vacation you've ever had?

Two tie

Rented a cabin by myself in Gatlinburg Tenn. Five days. My Harley Dyna rode around the mountains for hours each day. So amazing. Fished for hours on end. No phone the whole time except a movie when I was about to go to bed.

Key West. Went by myself as well(women stress me out on vacation so I do my own thing as well). Just amazing. Stayed drunk for four days straight on island drinks.

Hmmm. Solo trips to Gatlinburg and Key West

While I get the Key West reference because of their gay parade. Not sure on Gatlinburg. Didnt see many rainbow fairies out there.

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Which services did you choose on your catamaran. I'm assuming skipper, but did you have anyone else?

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Grizz, we did absolutely bare boat - no captain, crew or chef. Like I said, I knew my way around the boat and have tons of hours logged in twin engine performance, sportfishers etc. It was just the particulars of traveling under sail that I was unsure of. Took a few sailing lessons before hand and did a fair amount of reading. Really wasn’t bad at all. Used the screws until we got out away from any obstructions and then raised the sails and tried our luck. It was a 4 stateroom cat so I had three other guys to help. That was actually the most relaxing portion of it - we weren’t obligated to follow a captain’s itinerary. We went through Voyage Charters, but I’ve heard good things about Moorings as well.

Currently in Railay Beach, Thailand. 10 out of 10. Previous answer would have been St. John.

Every year, I go to the Colorado rocky mountains for a week to do some fly fishing. My favorite destination is steamboat springs, Colorado.

There is a decent night lift and and there are also nice restaurants in town. I can be in a trout stream fishing within about 15 minutes of leaving my hotel room. There is also good variety of fishing spots (all public land) within 15 minutes of the ski hill. You can fish high mountain streams and beaver ponds or larger waters holding larger trout....just depends on your preference.

I go by myself and do what I want to do when I want to do it...sometimes I fish, sometimes I hit the pro rodeo that happens in town every night, or sometimes I just take a ride through the country side looking for new fishing holes and seeing what I can stumble upon.

The cool, dry air is a welcome relief after sweating my arse off in the south all summer.

Maui for me.

when i started a new job and the family and extended family went to disney world for a week and i couldn't go.

Yeah for complete relaxation I would choose an all inclusive in the Caribbean. Short travel distance, no worries regarding food, alcohol, and groceries. No traffic to battle.

Key West would be good too.

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So did you know the other guys that were on board prior to your excursion or did you meet them down there? Did any of them have sailing experience? Did ya'll do any diving, spearfishing, fishing? I can see myself going with bare food essentials and surviving off of spear and hook. I imagine yall did some of the same.

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Sorry, Grizz, haven’t checked this thread in a while.

1) Yes, knew the other guys. We put it together a year prior with three other couples, who are great friends of ours. No one had sailing experience prior. Voyage (and the others, I’m sure) has a captain’s resume’ to complete prior to sail, to see if you qualify. However, I’ve got a friend from Alec who is a urologist and knows zero about boats - he got approved on their first trip. My advice to you - lie!

2) We did a ton of snorkeling and one friend brought his dive gear. We typically had breakfast and lunch on board, and then dinner at a restaurant on shore. Now, a couple of the restaurants wanted our order ahead of time because they needed to send their guy out to catch what was necessary. That’s fresh seafood.

One other note, you’ll be tempted to over-provision. Don’t do it. We had plenty of rum and beer left over that we had to “donate” when we got off the boat. You can also stay aboard the boat the night before departure for a small fee, usually what amounts to the cost of a hotel room. It helps to get acquainted with sleeping aboard while still tied to the dock. We’re planning another trip for this summer and actually had enough people to fill two boats. Mini flotilla, if you will. Go ahead and book one - you won’t be sorry.