I live in Chicago and I'm frikkin dying over here. I moved here two years ago from the south and this winter has been brutal. Just the worst.
I'm starting a new job soon and am off for two weeks right now. I feel like I should take a short trip to MIA...I don't know when is the next time I'll have two weeks off. It would be soooo awesome to get a short break from this scenery, and to clear my mind before starting the next job. Also my depression is really really bad right now and I'm hoping some sun would help :(
My issue is budget...I have $700 total to spend. I'm thinking $300 for flight, $300 for hotel, and $100 for food/going out. I would mainly just chill on the beach. With this budget I can only do like 2 1/2 days. Does this seem not worth even doing for the amount I'd be spending? Also, I can't find any flights that cheap for the weekend. I'd have to do a trip where I leave on a Monday and come back on a Wed night :/
If you own a car, drive. Then camp -- a cheap tent will do for a few days and cost much less than a night in a hotel. Stay in state parks -- make reservations online so you're not stuck paying more for a KOA. The weather is getting warm enough down south now that you can get by with an airbed, blanket and comforter, so you don't have to have a sleeping bag, and you can get as far south as the Birmingham area in an easy single day from Chicago on I-65. As a bonus, you'll start seeing trees leafing out as you go.
Hang on to enough extra from your savings to buy a night in a motel (not hotel) if the forecast calls for temps below freezing. Take a sturdy pot, from the thrift store if neccessary; state park campsites generally have grills. They tend to be filthy, but if you're cooking in a pot and your food doesn't touch it, why should you care? You can get charcoal for the grill at the same grocery store you'll go to for the food. Or just eat peanut butter sandwiches and some grocery deli food if you don't want to cook. For $700, you can easily spend a week and a half. Or I could, anyway.