So my wife and I never took a honeymoon. Too much going on around that time. Well now her and I desperately need a vacation!!! Our budget is $2,000 or so, higher if it seems worth it, but as low as possible is always best! I have my passport but she does not so we have to stay here in the US. Wouldn't mind taking a road trip if we were able to rent a Mercedes but will most likely fly somewhere, rent a Mercedes, and then sight see in a few hours radius. I thought my fellow Mercedes owners could shed some insight on where to go, what to do, where to rent said Mercedes, etc.

We live in Lansing, Michigan and the Detroit airport is a short drive for us. We were planning on Arizona earlier in the year but things got busy at the office so we pushed it off. Now it is waaaay too hot to go there in both of our opinions. So with all of that in mind where would you suggest going?

Thank you and drive on!

__________________
Join the organization at VintageBenz.org

Current vehicles the wife and I are restoring:
1966 W111 230S - near completetion
1976 280C - the wife's toy
1981 300SD - is already a beauty

Del Mar, Ca.



My family has been all over the world, and this has been a consistent stop for us for over a decade now. It got its legendary start from the Hollywood elite of the 50's-60's as their escape, and its still maintained the quaint seduction.

Its only 20 miles North of the San Diego airport, and about the same short distance to Sea World and the world famous Zoo. Starting in late July going through September is horse race season in Del Mar as well.

http://www.delmar.ca.us/visitors/Pages/Activities.aspx

Book this hotel if you want to splurge, though there are plenty of other beachside options:
http://www.laubergedelmar.com/

__________________
1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

Also, Hertz rents new Mercedes C, E, and GLK class vehicles. The C and GLK are pretty reasonable, IIRC.

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

Come visit us in Kentucky, there is a lot of nice places to visit.

__________________
For the Saved, this world is the worst it will ever get.
For the unSaved, this world is the best it will ever get.

Clk's Ebay Stuff BUY SOMETHING NOW!!!

Puerto Rico. Caribbean beaches, island atmosphere, easy to get to, relatively cheap, U.S. dollar (obviously no advantage with value, but you don't need to worry about conversion), and best of all, no need for a passport. There's something about getting to an island to help to get that disconnection feeling, the one that lets you feel like you're "getting away from it all."

For a little over your $2K budget you could get yourself a roundtrip flight out of Detroit for the both of you plus a week in the Ritz-Carlton. Lower your hotel level just a bit and that same budget gets you $500+ spending cash for the week. Go a block away from the beach and have another couple hundred to spend.

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

A romantic visit to the Olds museum is in order, I think...

__________________
-Evan


Benz Fleet:
1968 UNIMOG 404.114
1998 E300
2008 E63


Non-Benz Fleet:
1992 Aerostar
1993 MR2
2000 F250

If you're into the "outdoors" northern Arizona is still do-able this time of year. Grand Canyon area is not as hot as the lower deserts like Phoenix. Of course accommodation might be a bit tricky there this time of year. But the area around flagstaff is great for hiking and riding the ski-lift up Mt. Humphries, or even climbing to the top if you have the stamina.

- Peter.

__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

Freeport, Bahamas
The whole pace is a huge duty free shop, it is clean and the place is beautiful...

__________________
"I have no convictions ... I blow with the wind, and the prevailing wind happens to be from Vichy"

Current
Monika '74 450 SL
BrownHilda '79 280SL
FoxyCleopatra '99 Chevy Suburban
Scarlett 2014 Jeep Cherokee
Krystal 2004 Volvo S60
Gone
'74 Jeep CJ5
'97 Jeep ZJ Laredo
Rudolf ‘86 300SDL
Bruno '81 300SD
Fritzi '84 BMW
'92 Subaru
'96 Impala SS
'71 Buick GS conv
'67 GTO conv
'63 Corvair conv
'57 Nomad

I think it all depends on what you and your wife find enjoyable. If we had $2K for a vacation in the US I'd probably do a 4 day weekend in NYC to hit the museums and eat at some great restaurants, and maybe take in a show. We'd be on the go most of the time, which some people like and some can't stand. We're not much for sitting on a beach, but some people love it. Can you tell us more about what sorts of things you like?

__________________
Jonathan

2011 Mazda2
2000 E320 4Matic Wagon
1994 C280 (retired)

Yup, it depends what you enjoy. We like mountains, hate cities, and find beaches "OK." I think the grand canyon is pretty cool if you haven't seen it. In general, I would check out some of the national parks for an inexpensive domestic vacation.

I agree that this is a very subjective matter, but I'd look into Glacier National Park, or maybe a drive down Skyline Drive/Blue Ridge Parkway if I were tethered to the US. In either case, I think I'd drive there and back in my own car, probably.

Too bad you need a passport to re-enter the US from Canada now. I really enjoyed BC for the brief time I was able to visit.

Vacation-planning is a blast. Have fun wherever you wind up!

EDIT: a trip I really enjoyed was from Texas back to IL on old Route 66. I stayed in the historic Munger Moss motel, and stopped at many of the surviving businesses (and the ruins of some of them that didn't make it) along the route. Lots of neat stuff to see!

__________________
1992 300D 2.5T
1980 Euro 300D (sadly, sold)
1998 Jetta TDI, 132K "Rudy"
1974 Triumph TR6
1999 Saab 9-5 wagon (wife's)

One of my favorite vacations was a road trip around the Jackson Hole and Cody Wyoming areas. You could get there going by Mt. Rushmore (Don't ask about tours of the ancient indian city of gold.)

The North Rim of the Grand Canyon is less congested and equally beautiful, the drive from Page AZ is something different; Vermillion Cliffs, bison, and Lake Powell.

The trip from Flagstaff through Monument Valley is something that everyone should do, long easy road, but spectacular formations.

Seattle is a beautiful city, our 20th anniversary trip was an Alaska cruise out of there, with an extra few days in Seattle for a bonus. We were able to stay in an old hotel downtown, and walk or bus anywhere we wanted; Pike street Market, Museum of Flight (Boeng Museum), the seafood is fantastic.

That said, Alaska cruises are worthwhile, but may be a bit more expensive than you want to go.

San Diego has a lot of attractions, the Zoo, Legoland, whale watching, mild temperatures, Catalina Island, and assorted tours and cruises.

San Francisco and the Napa Valley, Yosemite and the Redwoods of North Central California, are incredibly beautiful.

The Lake Tahoe and Reno, Nevada areas are known as beautiful getaway vacation areas.

I've lived only in the Western half of the country, so I'm only giving you things I have direct experience with.

Airline tickets and auto rental will probably eat half your budget, especially if you want to rent a Benz. Depending on where you go (NYC for example) you don't need any car, let alone a Benz. What are you going to do? Sleep in it.

5 days in Key West 2 weeks ago ran me something like this.
Air fare AC to FT Luaderdale including seat selection and 2 check in luggage about 450 total. (Spirit Air does not fly closer.)
Car rental.... (a Kia mind you, but it was a Memorial Day pickup. ). 350.00
Hotel in Key West (Southernmost Hotel) Monday to Saturday 1250.
Normal food & Ent. 200/day = 1,000.
About 3,100 bucks total. Great vacation.
http://www.southernmostresorts.com/southernmost_beach.html

Unless you plan on spending your vacatiion behind the wheel driving a car, skip the Benz. No one cares, really.

Pebble Beach/Carmel Valley (after this weeks US Open) . . . possibly in time to catch the concours car event in August?

Hawaii is rock bottom cheap right now, I'm getting offers for cars and hotels 50% off what I paid two years ago. If you need to do it on a budget, stick with the island of Oahu, there is plenty to see there and it will save you some island-hopping bucks.

I think the best bargain in travel is to San Antonio, it is a beautiful, historic city, and everything is cheap.

However, to avoid summer heat and see some tremendous scenary, I'd consider Maine/New Hampshire, get a bed and breakfest in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, rent a car and just drive around the Maine coast, you will be astounded at how beautiful it is.