Favorite Destinations (not in order of preference):

Wildlife Viewing:

1. Botswana (Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park -- incredible wildlife viewing)

2. Kenya and Tanzania -- wildebeast migration in Masai Mara and visit to Ngorongoro Crater

3. Uganda and Rwanda -- gorilla treks in Bwindi and PNV

4. Indonesia -- Komodo Island

5. Galapagos -- stunning!!

6. Nepal -- rhino viewing from elephants in Royal Chitwan

Cities

1. Havana -- go before it becomes too popular

2. Cairo

3. Sydney

4. Cambodia (Angkor Wat)

5. Beijing

Thit Cho,

Thanks for the response. I would never have imagined that Havana and Cairo would top your list, but it does make me very curious to visit these places in the future.

Best route to Havana? Through Cancun? Through Canada?

How was the lodging in Havana and what were your activities like? Did you also visit the ritzy beaches elsewhere on the island?

I am looking for a good place to spend 7-9 night in late December/early January, and with airfares the way they are right now, I wouldn't mind keeping it local. Plus, in my younger more rebellious days I used to promise scaredtodeath that we were going to Cuba, and every now and then it gets thrown in my face, so that would be a great way to get that monkey off my back.

I visited in July 1997, and at that time, an easy route was via Nassau, Bahamas. But you have to clear US customs in Nassau on the return, and they were very suspicious. Fortunately, I had fedexed my purchases from the Fedex down the block from the Nassau Airport, so they didn't find anything. If I were to visit again, I'd go via Cancun (you can enter Mexico using a birth certificate and photo ID so Mexico won't stamp your passport -- the problem with using a passport is that you have an entry, exit and another entry stamp so US customs, if they really look, can tell you went someplace when you got to Cancun). The Cuban gov't won't stamp your passport.

We only went to Havana and we stayed in an older hotel (the Sevilla which was where Graham Greene stayed when he wrote "Our Man in Havana"). There are now better hotels.

Its worth considering, and its a very inexpensive trip. But bring cash -- no US travelers checks or credit cards, so if you have a problem, you can really be f**ked.

Those were just some of my favorite cities, aside from the European capitals (I think I've been to almost all of them and they are great, but everyone has visited some of them).

Some off-the-beaten path cities in Europe that I really enjoyed:

1. Krakow, Poland
2. Oporto, Portugal
3. Valleta, Malta
4. Vilnius, Riga and Tallin (Baltic capitals)

I can't say Africa has been the best holiday destination I've ever visited since "best" implies that it's better in all respects than all other destinations.

I can say it's the only place that's created such an intense pull in my heart to return - the withdrawal symptoms are very different to the normal post-holiday blues. Even coming back from Kenya knowing I'm about to leave for two months in Southern Africa I felt such a pang on leaving and the trip is still on my mind a great deal.

I love France, absolutely love it, but I don't get those pangs because it's so easy to just jump in the car and drive there for a weekend. I know I can return and return easily.

But there are many destinations I have enjoyed very very much.

India - both because of the family ties and because I truly think it's one of the most fascinating and incredible travel destinations in the world. India assaults all 5 senses like few places can.

France - I love the people, the language, the food, the values of the society... I really do enjoy visiting very much.

Tallinn - a city I'd wanted to visit for 10 years, finally got there a year or two back. Really enjoyed it. Some have dismissed it as a disneyesque jewel within a concrete jungle. To me it's a fascinating insight into a complex history - I love the contrast between the preserved Old Town and the communist era suburbs surrounding it.

Barcelona - a city that invites tourists in a way that some tourist hot spots such as Paris don't bother to do anymore. Paris KNOWs she will get visitors - individuals can still be welcoming but Paris as a whole is not so friendly. Barcelona is the opposite -dynamic, exciting, fresh.

Alaska - astounding natural beauty and low population density. Also found British Columbia appealing in a similar way. It's been a long time since I visited Vancouver so don't know whether it's improved or lost charm since my visit.

Of course the destination I'm usually most excited about at any given moment is either the one I've just returned from or the one I'm currently planning a trip to!

Who would have thought two votes for Tallin? Kavey, glad you agree. Vilnius is likewise as beautiful, and Riga a bit less so, but Riga is equally interesting. A visit to all three capitals is a great one-week trip, and you can get between them easily by bus, which is how we traveled.

I loved South Africa and loved going on safari..enjoyed touring the diamond mine in Pretoria and the scenic beauty of the Sourth Africa coast lines and standing on the Cape of Good Hope...but my most favorite experience/a life altering memory and top destination..Standing on top of the Aigulle du Midi in the Swiss Alps. That was the ultimate unforgetable holiday experience...

After traveling many times to Africa, Europe, USA, Canada, Central and South Americas I have to admit that ALASKA wins hands down.
I agree with Kavey about Alaska's astounding natural beauty and animals are spectacular. Just go to Katmai National Park and Preserve for a day of secluded bear watching and you will never forget it.
We loved our safaris in Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana but Alaska has a very special place in my heart.
Galapagos was amazing for wildlife, Costa Rica for birds and friendly people, Greece for history and scenery, Andalusia for Moorish architecture and hiking oportunities, Dordogne for prehitoric cave art, Crete for scenery, Patagonia for seclusion and beauty, Southeast Arizona for its desert scenery, Poland for great hiking in Tatras Mountains, Paris for being Paris, Corsica for astounding vistas, Maldives for snorkeling, Hawaii for its exotic feel, North Carolina for its flowers and greenery, New Hampshire in October.
There are many more places. I have to admit there are more places to admire and love than Africa. And I love Africa! If I focused only on Africa I would never know how many more amazing places are all over the world. Good question, Rocco

Thans for all the wonderful responses. I definitely need to add Alaska, Galapagos Islands and Tallin to the top of the list right next to Botswana. I also need to figure out how to take six weeks of holiday per year to allow the timely visit to the many beautiful places this green earth has to offer.

Another curiosity, how many weeks per year does each person that answered above and each future respondent travel per year? So far, I am stuck at about 3-4 per year, allowing only one major trip and a couple smaller ones, or a couple two week trips.

Officially, 4 weeks per year, but I travel often for business (I'm going to Miami in next week and will be in Madrid in May and Warsaw in June and August) and I usually add a few days to each overseas trip to visit someplace new. So, when I visit Warsaw, I am already researching a visit to Ukraine.

And as a partner in a big New York law firm, I can usually take more than my alloted four weeks.

Rocco we spent a whole 5 nights/ days in Tallinn but that's our travelling style - we like to settle in and take it easy.
Others who visit for only 2 or 3 nights/ days might well tear around so fast that they tick off more sights than we do.

As for time off per year - up until two years ago I received 24 days annual leave (on top of the UK's 8 national holidays).

In the UK sick leave is separate and NOT used as extra paid vacation as it is often used in the USA.

I would try and book my trips to include national holidays so that, although prices were higher, my annual leave allowance went further.

We mainly did numerous shorter trips such as 5 day self-drives to France, the 5 nighter to Tallinn, same to Barcelona. We did a few week long trips such as Madeira and India and a very few two weekers such as USA and Africa.

This year is completely screwy as we'll end up taking about 16 weeks leave! Not to mention the unintentional leave I take when I haven't secured work - my job is not one for which I can get nice 5 day/ week contracts - it's much more project based and can be anything from 1 or 2 days for a client to several days to 3 days a week over several months.

I have three weeks vacation. I usually take two holidays each year..one major one, and one smaller trip. However, when we planned the trip to South Africa/Swazi we planned for three weeks. The enormity of just those two places made three weeks seem short.

Roccco - for Cuba, friends on the West Coast have gone thru Mexico; and from here in NY (or between Wash DC, and west to ORD) many go via Toronto or Montreal. I believe you have Flight Center travel offices out there on the west coast. If so check if they have brochures which include Cuba??? Then, maybe not! Otherwise, check this site:

www.airtransat.com

out of Canada,they do travel South for the winter, then off to Europe in the summer (charters), but their site might have information on the various accommodations throughout Cuba. Very nice indeed.

But as thit_cho mentioned, it's USD only, and you've got to watch yourself returning to the States. Big Brother is watching in Mexico, the Caribbean and even Canadian points of entry from Cuba for those passengers who head for a flight into the US - and that's the "gotcha". It's actually better to gather your bags, leave the airport for an overnight, then onto the states the next day; or just leave the airport and recheck yourself in as if it's your initial flight.

As to best holiday destinations:

Egypt
Turkey

- can't visit the two above and have enough history of civilizations, upon civilizations; wherever they dig, they find history; in fact anyplace in the Middle East is fascinating.

Thailand
Siem Reap (Angkor)

- if they could only do something about the heat and humidity, I'd be only willing to return again.

France and England are easy trips from he East Coast and I've enjoyed both. Have no interest in Italy; Amsterdam is fun. There are some great islands in the Caribbean and don't forget, lots of great adventures right here in the States (off the tourist route).

For me it's not a matter of "the best" - they're all different and are visited for their differences.

But, as Kavey says, something pulls at you when you leave Africa, it's the one place that takes the longest to get back to yourself once home - the one that really touches your soul.

Although I've been to many places, the overall BEST are, not in any particular order:

- Egypt
- The American West, particularly the mountains
- Safari in Africa
- London

Aaw NoFlyZone, nice to see my home town (London) listed in there...

When my father took me to Botswana and Zimbabwe in 2001, I fully expected it to be the "trip of a lifetime," never imagining that I would become so passionate about Africa, needing to return every year. So, yes, Africa is the best vacation place I've ever been. Why?

First and foremost--seeing the animals in their natural habitat. I have had a lifelong love for animals and have refused to set foot in zoos for over 30 years. I can't begin to describe the thrill when first seeing a herd of elephants on the shore of the Gache Gache River in Zimbabwe. Or, getting within five feet of the mountain gorillas in Uganda. For me, NOTHING can compare to those experiences.
I think, for me, Africa provides an experience that is so profoundly different from my day-to-day existence. I live in San Francisco and have lived here, in the heart of the city, for my entire adult life. While I've visited Paris, London, Rome, Florence, Venice, Brussels, New York, which all have their individual charm and beauty and excitement, they are, for me, just variations of all major cities. It was not until I visited Africa that I realized that I am no longer intrigued or even interested in spending my vacations that way--running around a city, going to museums, hanging out in cafes, finding restaurants, shopping, etc. etc. I can do all that home.

Africa allows me to just be....I am forced to relax and just look and listen and smell...No other place on earth provides that type of serenity.

Phernska,

Ditto!

I vote for Alaska as one of the best places to visit. It is largely untouched and unique.

I also vote for London, especially if your traveling with kids. A great, fun place with history that interests the little ones.

Best beaches - St. John USVI

We do two 'big' vacations a year. One usually being beach oriented and the other is usually Europe. We are going on our first safari this year.

The answer to the question for me is absolutely, completely, whole-heartedly, YES. I have been completely around the world over a period of 2 years, this was years ago. Went from east to west (starting in the states and then Hawaii, Japan etc.). Other times I have visited and lived in several countries. Out of all of these, Africa is my favorite. Africa is special.

Outside of Africa, the country that makes the deepest impression is India, however I will never consider it a holiday - it is an experience.

Some favorite cities - Kyoto, London. Crete was a wonderful holiday location. But for me, an animal lover, everything pales compared to Africa. Waking up in the bush and wondering what wonderful animals I'll see today...? Heading out to a new camp and wondering what interesting people I'll meet. Typically when we travel in other places we don't meet a lot of new people, at least not long enough to have a two-hour dinner conversation. In Africa you do. Wonderful, adventurous people that are also traveling and kind gentle people who live in Africa. I just feel that traveling in Africa was like nothing else I had done before and yes, it meant so much to me that I wish everyone I know could experience it. I never felt so alive as I did there.

Clematis,

I also enjoy meeting new people in Africa, and being able to enjoy a two hour dinner in the boma, with torches lit, armed guards sometimes standing by, and wine and good food being passed around.

I have been on a couple cruises where dinners are a shared event, and the same comradery is just not evident.

It is a thrill to see who the other guests in a camp/lodge are going to be. I swear, scaredtodeath and I, laughed for two straight days and nights with the British guests that we shared Kafunta River Lodge with last June.

Of course, it really is the luck of the draw, as during our stay at Djuma Vuyatela, there were two separate groups of seven people, one group made up of two families and the other group made up of (mostly Texan) flight attendants. The only other guests were friends and family of the owners, and that is it. I am sure if there were other couples there, it would have made for a better time. After that experience, I will be hesitant to stay at a place as commercial as Djuma.

Going back to 2002, I will say that I enjoyed the guests, for the most part, at each Singita and Matetsi Water Lodge.

The other guests are a very important component in the whole safari experience, but fortunately I think that mostly people going on safari outside the Sabi Sand are mostly a very well travelled group (as are most of those in the Sabi Sand, just too many children in the Sabi Sand).

Most destinations I have travelled to have offered an interesting experience as each is unique in its own right. Africa of course was one of my favorites and I look forward to a return visit as the land and people definitely made an indelible impression.

Others that remain memorable in my mind are Uluru in Australia and I know that a lot of people just view this as one big red rock in the middle of nowhere, but it was a special place for me. We did a driving trip around the eastern half of the country. Now we are about to return and experience the other half of this wonderful continent.

Patagonia in South America stands out as quite spectacular ( Roccco, I know you and I definitely differ on this destination, ha! ha! )

Going down the Amazon river was interesting and walking on the Great Wall of China was quite amazing. For relaxation I have enjoyed some of the fijian islands and those in French Polynesia. Have also enjoyed a few cruises on the smaller ships. I prefer the more intimate casual atmosphere of the smaller vessels.

Some of my favorite cities have been Buenos Aires, Sydney, Beijing, Florence, Berlin and others.

I have been fortunate on our many travels to have met so many wonderful people in so many places. This has always made traveling that much more enjoyable.

Kavey...most people in the States use sick days as vacation time because they get so few vacation days..unlike the UK. We also do a fair amount of travel with business, but usually manage 3 weeks otherwise..in one country. My favourites are..
Peru(without a doubt)
Italy(especially Cinque Terre)
Jordan, Egypt area(not sure if that would be the case at the moment)
France
Kenya

England would of course be on my list..but we go back home to visit family mostly.Hope South Africa will be on this list after our visit later this year.
Hope Africa

DJE,

I may have had a different impression of Patagonia if I didn't pinch pennies and would have instead stayed at Explora, as I believe you did.

Plus, I did start out that trip with a marathon in Vina Del Mar, then abused myself further in the Atacama Desert (a lot of activities, many above 10,000' elevation) before finally making it all the way down to Patagonia. I was defeated before I got to Patagonia and then staying at Las Torres instead of Explora didn't help matters out any.

I would like to give Patagonia another shot in the future, although with the current economies of Chile and Argentina, I would visit the Argentinian side instead.

Mincepie
Yeah I know, I have American relatives...

Roccco,

I do hope you give Patagonia another chance as you have mentioned you would like to do. It does sound like you were quite exhausted by the time you reached this spot. It may have made some difference if your accomm. had been more pleasant. The picturesque setting out the large dining room windows of the Explora were quite spectacular especially on a clear day. The glacial water in the foreground with the Andes and towers in the background were impressive to me.

Yes the dollar would go a lot further in Argentina right now and I think you would definitely enjoy the very cosmopolitan feel of Buenos Aires. I thought it was a very vibrant exciting city and I can see why it has always been described as the Paris of South America. Having been there before all the serious economic problems of the past few years, I would hope that the country is on the rebound upward.

Still have to get to the Atacama at some point as it is still on our list of places to visit.

By far Africa wins hands down. That's why we are going back this year again. We loved the whole experience and found ourselves trying to buy a winery at the end of it! Highlights were: 4 days private safari and the wonderful staff at our lodge, the amazing restaurants in Cape Town, the friendly people, I could go on and on!


Other favorites:
Stockholm (our favorite city in Europe, amazing in the summer)
Bali (love the white water rafting and the people)
Sardinia (ooh ohh ohh)
Santorini (but only at Katikies, where you can feel like you have the island to yourself)
Utah (skiing - sorry, but European skiing cannot hold a candle to the slopes there)

Still dying to tackle Australia, Uganda for the gorillas, and the islands of off Sicily. Actually we had planned on Australia this year, but that darn Africa bug bit us pretty hard. Luckily living in Europe we have a ridiculous number of vacation days (like 42 or something).

6 months still Africa and counting! Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Interesting thread! For me it is a tie for top choice,between my South Africia/Victoris Falls trip and Alaska. Spectacular wildlife in both places.I also love wildlife and both of these places are some of the best for that.

The highlights in Alaska, for me was spending time among the brown bear at Brooks falls.Also having Humpback whales breaching very close to the boat we were on in Homer; was a great thrill.A couple whales came up along side our boat to people watch; very National Geographic. And of course the scenery is breathtaking.

The wildlife and the people are what I loved the most about South Africa. Both are amazing and wonderful.

I also liked Austrailia, with Sydney as my favorite city.Kangaroo Island was my favorite place for wildlife.

Still on my list of places to visit before I die, are Costa Rica, Italy and England(England,because of all the wonderful people I have met from there).

No doubts......African safaris are my absolute favourite trips.....Botswana in particular.....that's why i am returning for my 3rd trip in as many years later this year. However, next week i go to Krabi, Thailand.

But there's other places i have enjoyed also.......amongst them.......NYC,Paris, Barcelona, Belgium, San Francisco, Sedona,Arizona stand out.

My wish list includes, Namibia, Alaska, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Southern Tanzania, Morocco, Maldives, Galapagos, Costa Rica and Sri Lanka.

But right now, i think my hunger is to travel to Africa at every opportunity i get.....

No. 1 African Safari- beautiful animals in the wild, the ultimate adventure.
No. 2 The USA Southwest. Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Canyon deChelle, Zion, Bryce, Utah. Breath taking scenery, magic, like another world. Canyon deChelle is not as "famous" as the others but it is a Navajo reservation in a valley that is perfect, like the best movie set you could imagine. Here's a photo (not mine) that just hints at it - http://www.pbase.com/rvision/image/26558451
regards - tom

This is a tough one. I can honestly say that I have loved every place I've ever been and there's not a single place I wouldn't want to return to - be they cities with their wealth of history, architecture, culture, or places of great natural and unspoiled beauty such as Alaska or the Galapagos.
Some experiences I'll never forget are swimming with sea lions in the Galapagos and hiking among the clouds at Machu Picchu.
For many years my favorite trip was Morocco because it was so different from any place I'd ever been. It still ranks among the top.
All that being said, no matter where I travel, my next trip to Italy is never far from my mind.

Favorites:
Kenya and Tanzania - I will never forget sitting quietly with all the different types of animals for hours at a time, the amazing guides and drivers, the diverse landscapes, ballooning at dawn over the thundering wildebeest herds and hearing their pounding hooves and labored breathing... Hoping to recapture some of that magic this year in Botswana and Namibia.
Antarctica - Seeing the hundreds of thousands of penguins stealing rocks for nests and porpoising in the water and tobogganning on their bellies and protecting their babies and screaming their ecstatic displays when mates come home - priceless...
Arctic Norway and Svalbard - beautiful fjords, charming cities, polar bears (with babies) on ice bergs in the middle of nowhere, massive walruses bobbing out of the water next to our zodiacs, kayaking and hiking and too much else to fit into 24 hours of daylight each day...

Most memorable--China in 1985 when independent travel first re-opened. Arrived by hydrofoil from Hong Kong with no set itinerary or reservations. I can still hear the ching ching sound of the bicycle bells in Beijing (very few cars then). [Also has worst trip memory when camera with 3 months of travel photos was stolen.]

Also, quite magical--Macchu Pichu (and coupled with a trip to the Galapagos--quite memorable.)

I just noticed that Rocco started this thread in 4/2004 and hari just revived it. Rocco--what has 2 years done to shape your opinion?

my turn.
Been to all continents (not antartica) that's on a to do list.

top 3 favorites in order:
Africa
Turkey
Indonesia

Sherry

1. India - Taj, Tigers, Ganges, colors, craziness.

2. Africa - Kenya/Tanzania: Classic safari. Rwanda: Gorillas and natural beauty.

3. Cambodia - great temples and I love the Cambodian people.

4. Italy - Rome/Venice/Capri/Sorrento: Simply glorious.

5. Peru - Machu Picchu, Cuzco

6. London - Westminster Abbey alone does it.

7. Alaska - Anchorage/McGrath Saw the Iditarod, got to mush sled dogs.

8. Bangkok - Only 1 day, but I loved it. The best suit I've ever had got made in about 10 hours.

9. Seoul - Walked through downtown for several hours while waiting for a plane. Would love to see more.

So clean and contemporary I was almost bored: Santiago, Chile Lucerne, Switzerland.

Would love to go back if I were a wealthy prince: Dubai.

While I've been to several other places and countries, my top three are:

Africa-
Wanting to come here since I saw "Born Free" as a child, it is everything I dreamed it would be and more (with the exception of Elsa not being around anymore!) Never-ending beauty and surprises at each new country and destination.
Continents...you mean there are other continents???

A toss up between the next two:

New Zealand-
About as pristine and as beautiful of a place as it gets. Pictures don't do it justice. Miles and miles of unspoiled beaches and majestic green hills dotted with sheep. The landscapes are magnificent.

Galapagos Islands-
Mother Nature at her finest. It's like traveling back in time when animals were not threatened and had no fear of man.
And the underwater world at Wolf and Darwin Islands is like the Serengeti or Mara of the marine eco-systems. Unbelievable!

I agree with DJE, each destination is unique.

Travel255a: Thanks for bringing in my homecountry, Norway. Being a bit biased I take my chances anyway and allow myself to agree with you. Fjords and scenery in northern parts of Norway is fantastic (living in the south myself).

Nobody has mentioned Istanbul... I found this city utterly fascinating. Chaos, people, history, location, smells, I just loved it. A experience for life being at a Galatasaray soccermatch with 40.000 crazy turks.

The Greek island Thassos. Just watching the slow life while sipping ouzo.

Prague. Arcitecture everywhere...

My reason for going to Africa the first time had nothing to do with all the reasons people are mentioning here. In 1980 I had no particular interest in wildlife, the third world, the history of colonialism, African politics, or any of the usual reasons for visiting Africa. My then fiance, now husband, had taken a short-term job in Johannesburg, and when his company asked him to stay on for another three months, he agreed only on the condition that the company bring me over.

So I went, and the combination of wildlife, history, politics, social contrast, -- all this heady stuff coming at us at the same time as the first intoxicating flush of being in love -- it meant that no place in the world can ever have the same kind of attraction for us. We've developed a huge and lifelong interest in the African wild, and in the history and politics of Africa. I even went back to school and did a couple of semesters of African studies.

We love going to Europe, for history and culture. We've been to beachy places like Hawaii and the Caribbean, but now that we're retired, we don't need R&R-type vacations; we travel for the enrichment it gives to our lives. We're starting to think about spending three weeks in France, Spain, and Italy next spring, and Eastern Europe and Greece are high on our list too, but it's always understood that these trips are in addition to, never in place of, Africa.

Absolutely fascinating reading peoples different impressions of places.

I am from London and have lived (worked) in France, Switzerland and Germany. We moved to Sydney, Australia 3 years ago.

I also loved Macchu Picchu in the clouds at Dawn - it feels magical and it is mind bending to imagine how they could have built it all those years ago...

Santorini also stands out - particularly staying in the caves built into the rock face. Go late September when the European school holidays are over and the crowds and prices drop.

Uepi Island in the Solomon Islands wins hands down for diving and snorkelling. The school of Hammerhead sharks were very impressive (scary) and we loved the giamnt Turtles hanging out off the rref. They even had Orcas in the channel 2 weeks before we were there....!

Australia is also wonderful. Sailing in the Whitsunday Islands has been our highlight so far but you are spoilt for great beaches and the climate is simply unbeatable (especially for a Pom!)

I must also mention New Zealand which has beautiful scenery and mountains - particularly Milford Sound and the Franz Josef Galcier in South Island. The skiing is also pretty good.

My first love is skiing - I did a Winter season at Val Thorens in the 3 Valleys in France and nothing compares to being the first at the top of the mountan with blue sky above you and fresh powder waiting below.....

My overall favorites so far:

1. South Africa (Kruger, Cape Town, wineries -- my favorite combo for wildlife & city life)
2. Tanzania northern circuit (best wildlife viewing I've ever experienced, & welcoming people)
3. Australia (Sydney so lively & diverse & relaxed & beautiful, wonderful food & wine, warm people, amazing beaches, unusual wildlife, & best snorkeling Great Barrier Reef)
4. New Zealand South Island (most spectacular mountain scenery, fjords, hiking, friendly people, great wine & food, so affordable)
5. Thailand (Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Rai, most delicious food in the world, best shopping, best service, friendliest people, so colorful, gorgeous beaches, amazing hotels & spas, inexpensive)
6. Paris (my favorite destination for museums, incredible city for walking, cafe culture, wine, open air food markets, art, bakeries, and cheese).
7. Costa Rica (great natural beauty, monkeys monkeys monkeys, excellent hiking, lovely beaches, and my favorite remote ecolodge, Lapa Rios on the Osa Peninsula)
8. Santorini (most photogenic island I've ever been to, so relaxing, surprisingly great hiking, good food, lovely sunsets, nice wine, nice people)
9. Angkor Wat, Cambodia (spectacularly photogenic ancient ruins, sweet people, gorgeous weaving)
10. Northern California (my favorite drive in the world along the Big Sur coast, terrific hiking in Yosemite & other parks, great wineries all over the place, divine food, pretty beaches, good wildlife viewing...and San Francisco)
11. Italy (Rome, the Amalfi coast, Tuscany, Venice, wonderful food & wine, fascinating history, gorgeous ceramics)
12. St. Lucia (for my favorite small hotel, Ladera Resort, with the best views in the world from open-air rooms)
13. Canadian Rockies (Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper -- beautiful mountain scenery and excellent wildlife viewing, spectacular hiking, nice people, moderate prices)
14. New York City (the most vibrant city I've ever been to, Central Park, amazing museums and galleries, incredible food, great shopping, my favorite place for theatre, never get tired of it)

Other places I really liked a lot but feel less strongly that I absolutely have to return: Maui & Kauai, Alaska, Mexico's Yucatan, Maine, Salzburg, London, Munich, Amsterdam, Quebec City, Prince Edward Island, Vancouver, Santa Fe, Ireland, Belgium.

Places that are on my list to go to soon:
Botswana (end of this year)
Provence
St. John USVI & Virgin Gorda BVI
Galapagos
New Zealand's North Island
Italian Lakes, Dolomites, & Cinque Terre
Argentina & Chile
India
Krakow
Maldives
Prague
Bora Bora & Moorea
Spain
Madagascar
Turkey
Fiji
Egypt
Tasmania
Bali

In terms of vacation time, I get 20 days (4 weeks) plus federal holidays, so it works out to about 30 days in all -- so I really can't complain even though it never seems like enough!

Without a doubt, thats why I've been six times since Oct 2003, its nine weeks until I go again, and I just confirmed space at Mala Mala for next January and Mombo next September.

Matt, there's a big world out there.

Yes

At this point in time, my best trips rank roughly like this:

#1 Africa - South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana.

#2 Brazil - Rio and the Amazon

#3 Alaska - cruise on Princess followed by 4 days in Vancouver and Victoria

#4 Toss up between Italy (Rome and the Amalfi Coast) and cross country train trip to California, up the coast to Seattle, on to Yellowstone and then Rocky Mountain National Park.

Of course, there are so many other wonderful places on my list. I suspect that Australia and New Zealand will be there after July.

I am lucky as a high school counselor to be able to travel quite a bit (of course being in schools doesn't pay enough to travel to all of the exotic places I would like to go, but I do what I can). We usually do a spring break trip and then a summer trip of about 3 weeks.

The remainder of my "off" time is spent in my other favorite place in the world - the coast of Maine. We have a mobile home right by the shore that we go to for a week at Christmas and for about a month in the summer. My parents live there year round and so it is a partial visit of family and parital relaxation - lobster, sailing, boating, reading, etc.

jcasale, do you have any recommendations for Maine. I am embarrassed to admit that, even though I live in NY and have been many times to lots of foreign countries, I haven't been to Maine (or Vermont), and I plan to rectify that this summer. I have not been to 9 states, but I will visit South Dakota next weekend, and would like to visit Maine/Vermont in July, probably driving up from NY, and visiting the Maine coast, and driving via Vermont on the return. Any tips (especially lobster shacks) would be welcome.

Thanks, Michael

jcasale,

Any wildlife viewing recommendations for Maine? Feel free to email me personally since we are straying from Africa. Thank you.

Thit cho and Lynn,
My mom lives full time and sis has a weekend place in Ogunquit on the coast. I'm embarassed to say however, that I don't know of any lobster shacks because we cook them at home. Ogunquit is a beautiful place though, with a mile long pristine beach and a very pretty cliff walk. There's many excellant owner operated intimate resturants and B+B/Inns. I'll be happy to give specifics if interested.
Sherry

Thanks Sherry!

lynn, I'll e -u if ok.

Years ago my husband and I took a 5 day bicycle/windjammer cruise in Penobscot Bay in Maine. We would sail to different islands, then put ashore and bike around the island. It was probably one of the most fun holidays we've ever had. I think it was through Vermont Country Cyclers. (I don't think the company exists anymore.) The schooner we were on was the American Eagle (out of Rockland, I think).

Nevermind, sounds like a delightful trip.
Cybor, please email me if you wish.

Oooh, an old thread resurrected! I must now add Antarctica to my list as it's simply an incredible place to visit and one I long to return to, as I do to those parts of Africa I have visited.

If you do visit Antarctica, PLEASE find time to include South Georgia as well as the Antarctic Peninsula as SG is where it's at for the wildlife - Gold Harbour and Salisbury Plain rank amongst the top 3 wildlife experiences in the world, for me.

Can't really answer this since I live in Africa. Great continent though, and so diverse.
My top three would be :
Mali for its culture
Congo for its music and wildness (not to mention craziness)
Namibi for its deserts

Countries to avoid:
Sudan
Sudan
and Sudan

If interested in Africa, go to www.jeremierita.canalblog.com

Worldwide, my favourites:
China,
Nepal
Chile

Africa touches me to the core of my being! The "Africa Experience" that most of us have felt is indescribable to anyone who hasn't been there. I would say that my two favorite places in Africa are:

Botswana - The absolute wildness of the place is fantastic! I still dream of the night when I lay in my tent, watching a full moon come up over the flooded Delta.

Tanzania - The relative ease of traveling the Northern Circuit and profusion of wildlife here can't be beat. I also enjoy the warm and gracious Tanzanian people.

Other non-African favorites:

The Oregon Coast - One of the most beautiful coastlines in the world!

Little Cayman - World-class scuba diving.

Italy - Food, Food, and Food!

Egypt - The thrill of standing next before a Pyramid or Abu Simbel stays with me.

If I were somehow prevented from ever visiting any place in the world again, with the exception of Africa, I'd be disappointed.

If I were somehow prevented from ever returning to Africa, but had access to the entire rest of the world, I'd be devasted.

...whatever that is as well as devasTAted.

Hello everyone!

This is a very interesting thread. My husband and I love to travel ..so far we have covered most of the northeast by road - MA, VT, NH, ME, CT and NY of course considering we live in NY. I love New England in the Fall. For Maine, we went to Bar Harbor and did a lot of hiking out there. The coastline out there is so different.

So finally, this year circumstances have become conducive (economically!) to travel abroad ..and we chose Africa (Tanzania to be precise)!! We are leaving next month and are very excited about the trip. It's our first big adventure!

Anyways, I am already planning our next vacation this year. I will be able to get 11 days off either during Thanksgiving or Christmas time and would love to do some travelling within the US ..

Would like your expert opinions on the following options keeping in mind the time of year we will be travelling.

- California Wine Country Road Trip
- Arizona, Utah, Desert Road Trip
- US Virgin Islands / Puerto Rico??

Any other suggestions!?? We are looking for something "off of the beaten path". We don't hv kids yet .. and want to do something that we wouldn't be able to do once we settle down!

And, thanks a bunch guys ..this thread has already started my thinking about a vacation in Peru + Galapagos Islands next year!

Jeremie,
It may seem obvious, but what was so difficult about Sudan? I am especially interested because you are experienced with travel to more 'difficult' places.

Solitaire

I can heartily recommend wine country at any time of the year, in Nov, Dec you do stand the chance of rain, but quite often we have beautiful sunny days with the temp in the high 60's and even low 70's. Hotel accomodations are much easier to get then, you can just walk into restaurants (not the French Laundry) and the tasting rooms are quiter, meaning you get a more relaxed, personal experience.
I may be biased in this recommendation.

If you plan on visiting Napa and Sonoma and want some more ideas, e-mail on mattwood22@yahoo.com

hi, havent read all this but-i am bewitched by africa. she refuses to let go since 1999. so much so-my life is about to turn upside down-and hurting some people here along the way.i hope to be in kenya at some point.that should be enough honesty i think.
thx, d

VASTLY the best. By far. NOWHERE I have been compares to Africa.

Firstly, I seriously dislike traveling in Europe. It's slow, inordinately expensive, predictable, dirty most of the time and all it pedals is 2500 years of Human history. I'm being blunt, but that's how I feel about it. Almost every trip I've had in Europe has been disappointing in most respects (exceptions; Amalfi - especially Positano, Switzerland - especially the Bernese Oberland).

Now AFRICA is clearly my favourite continent to travel in, by far. For sheer luxury, South Africa is nigh on impossible to beat. The finest meals I've ever had have almost all been in Cape Town, which is surely the most beautiful city on Earth (no offense to Rio, Sydney, Rome, Paris, Vancouver, Hong Kong etc!). The coastline there is the most beautiful on Earth I would say, even more beautiful than Amalfi or Big Sur. Even in terms of European history, there are 7 centuries worth represented there (from late 15th to present) and it's beautiful architecturally as well as scenically. Though I don't find North Africa nearly as amazing as Sub-Saharan (and Southern Africa especially), obviously Cairo and Egypt broadly has MILLENNIA of human history,

BUT, several centuries of history is NOTHING compared to the Millions of years of (pre)history you can find elsewhere in South Africa, and the African continent. One can FEEL that people came from Africa, and visiting "The Cradle of Human Kind" is amazing on that level.

The landscapes in Africa are mindblowing. I've already alluded to the astonishing Cape Coast, glorious, but how about the Cape Fold Belt Mountains nearby? For other amazing ranges on the continent, the Rwenzoris, Simiens and Drakensberg are astonishing. The Fish River Canyon, Blyde River Canyon and Tekeze? Astonishing. The Namib Desert and Sossusvlei? The floral display of Namaqualand? Virunga National Park in the DRC with its Lava lakes? The Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and Zambia (poor Niagra and poor Iguazu!), Kilimanjaro rising miles above massive open plains. The list is almost endless.

And this does not even count the astonishing wildlife, which NOTHING elsewhere compares to. Alaska? No disrespect, but it - as almost all of the Northern Hemisphere - is a barren wasteland. After all, only Africa escaped the majority of the Quaternary extinction event which has left Europe, North America and almost all of Asia comparatively denuded.

The greatest reserves in Africa are, IMHO, the most astonishing places on earth. The Kruger, Okavango, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Masai Mara etc. cannot possibly be explained - they must be experienced and are quite unimaginable. You cannot own them, as most other travel places allow you to think, they conspicuously own you. The private luxury resorts attached to Kruger - my favourite of all the great parks - are especially notable, the Sabi Sands being phenomenal.

SO, my favourite landscapes are found there, my favourite city is found there, the best food I've ever found is there, the greatest variety of things to do, the deepest font of human history, the most exciting activities, the most beautiful, astonishing and varied forms of life. How could I possibly say anything other than "Africa is the greatest continent, and the most amazing holiday destination on Earth". It is mind blowing. The cradle of life, civilization, humankind, all that we as a species hold dear.

So, original thread date 2004, latest previous reply 2006. Took you a while to catch up to us didn't it Teral

regards - tom

Of the places that I've been that have inspired the most longing to return, Botswana/Zimbabwe are up there. So is Greece; we did a 2.5 week trip and fell in love with some of the slightly off the beaten (American) tourist route. I'd love to return to Greece to go to some new islands. I have fond memories of visiting Portugal, especially Oporto, as a child and can't wait to return now that I'll be able to enjoy their famous product! I also love Vienna. There's something magical about being on those streets during opera season with women in ballgowns and men in tuxedos.

We haven't hit South America or Asia yet, but are moving to New Zealand in July (sight unseen) for the next year, so plan to travel NZ, Australia, and as much of Asia as we can in the foreseeable future.

A thread that is 8/yrs old is brought to life again... duh! And, that above says little about Africa.

The thread is on life support, but Resurrecting Rocco would classify as a miracle.

Yes! I noticed that Rocco has bubbled to the surface. Luangwa, your response is hilarious.

luangwablondes, you are being paid to work, so get to work and stop wasting your bosses money.

Mark
You must be thinking of yourself. As usual, you still can't get it right.