Warm weather, Beaches, and Gambling?

It has been very cold in Las Vegas this past week and I am ready for a small vacation. I would really like to get away in January for a week with my wife and we want to go to a nice beach. The problem for me is that airfares have been high for the dates I checked, and I am frugal when it comes to plane tickets.

I would appreciate it if anyone can recommend somewhere warm, with a nice beach, and cheap airfare. Gambling is a nice benefit because I will be able to write off some travel expenses. Last year we did St. Marten and I wouldn't mind going back but the travel is so expensive.

I live in Tampa,
Lots of beaches in the area by Clearwater and St Pete
Seminole Hard Rock casino Tampa
Horses will be running at Tampa Bay Downs
3 poker rooms in Town.
Southwest flies nonstop Vegas to Tampa

weather is iffy in Jan, could be nice and warm, could be chilly.

Mexican Riviera?
Cuba?
Puerto Rico?
Florida?

Quote: DRich

It has been very cold in Las Vegas this past week and I am ready for a small vacation. I would really like to get away in January for a week with my wife and we want to go to a nice beach. The problem for me is that airfares have been high for the dates I checked, and I am frugal when it comes to plane tickets.

I would appreciate it if anyone can recommend somewhere warm, with a nice beach, and cheap airfare. Gambling is a nice benefit because I will be able to write off some travel expenses. Last year we did St. Marten and I wouldn't mind going back but the travel is so expensive.

Come to Cocoa Beach, FL, or to ensure it's warmer, make it Ft. Lauderdale. January is the cheapest month, with most beachfront hotels under $50 (in Cocoa Beach, anyway; not that knowledgable about Ft. Lauderdale pricing, but in Florida, post-holiday pre-Canadian spring break is a very cheap time). From there, get on a cruise ship for 4 nights in the Bahamas; both have cruises during that time for less than $60/day per person on board, and they go to Nassau and Freeport, both of which have casinos and beaches. Or stay in the US; Victory Casino cruise goes out 2x daily from Cocoa Beach/Port Canaveral with Vegas-style gambling, and you can earn hotel comps "stay and play" - call them about a package.

My wife and I plan to hit Florida in mid-January, and maybe Cocoa Beach -- we did that in Spring 2012 before a cruise. But then in February we will be heading out to Las Vegas. I guess I don't know whether I'm running to or from the cold!

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm going to be in Ft. Myers Beach for a week in June so I probably won't be doing Florida in January.

I found cheap flights ($350 RT) to Panama but it doesn't look like there are many nice beach resorts near Panama City. I am also keeping my eye on Cabo and Cancun but haven't found any great deals yet. Cheap flights are available for Aruba but the dates aren't working for me. I'm trying to limit it to 5 days from Friday to Wednesday.

Quote: DRich

I would appreciate it if anyone can recommend somewhere warm, with a nice beach, and cheap airfare. Gambling is a nice benefit because I will be able to write off some travel expenses.

Punta del Este, Uruguay.

Quote: Wizard

Punta del Este, Uruguay.

A country that recently legalized all growing of and possession or sale of "pot". I wonder if this will increase their tourism or not.

This summer I spent a week in Aruba, plenty of casinos and 88 basically all of the time.