Katie_H

I hope everyone had a nice holiday! Long time, no see! I haven’t been active in the forums for some time (my toddler has kept me busy!), but I peek in when I can to see where everyone has been heading.

I’m writing a blog post for the site that reflects on some of the interesting trips Fodor’s members have taken in 2011. While several come to mind, I wanted to take the opportunity to ask for your favorites. Which trip reports stand out to you? Which one did you find so engrossing that you couldn’t wait for the next “installment”? Has one inspired you as you look to your travel plans for 2012?

And while I’m at it, thanks to everyone who wrote a trip report this year. They are an extremely valuable resource for those of us planning our next adventure.

Femi

Welcome back Katie!

It's hard to remember who first planted the seeds of inspiration for any given trip of mine. I do wish there was a way to hand out gold stars to those exceptionally well written reports.

DebitNM

Great to see you Katie! You have been missed~

We have been invited to attend a wedding in Hong Kong and it is one of our Fodorites that is getting married! The wedding is in December 2012.

In doing some preliminary planning, I read a wonderful trip report that grabbed me and has become an inspiration for adding on to the trip for the wedding.

http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...nteer-tour.cfm

Amyb wrote such a wonderful trip report and captured my love of animals [I am a docent at our wonderful, local zoo]; we are now trying to see if this can be worked into our plans. Her report was excellent and an absolute motivator for our 2012 plans.

Deb

HappyTrvlr

Mr_go's Hanoi TR was helpful. Thanks agin Mr_go and family. I thought of how you survived crossing the street every time I attempted to dodge the traffic.

thursdaysd

Hi Katie. As I said on the Europe board, good to see you!

I wouldn't say there were any TRs this year that inspired me to buy tickets - I'm currently booking for a North American train odyssey and thinking of South America for the winter - but these came closest:

http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...-in-ladakh.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...-fall-2011.cfm

Honorable mention to:

http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...na-amazing.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...d-in-china.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...d-by-burma.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...e-in-india.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...-and-curry.cfm

mr_go

HT: Thanks agin Mr_go and family. I thought of how you survived crossing the street every time I attempted to dodge the traffic.

Ha ha... it's just like playing Frogger in real life, isn't it?! And you're very welcome, of course.

(Great to see you, Katie!)

Katie_H

Lots of names I remember here! Thanks for these. Great to see you too! Anyone else...?

Kathie

It's great to see you here, Katie!

I've been thinking about this question, and I realize that it takes time for travel ideas to incubate. There are lots of reports I've read that made me take note of places I'd like to go.

Here are several from the last year that come to mind:
http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...mans-style.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...-in-ladakh.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...an-sojourn.cfm

Kathie

Oh, and I forgot to mention one of HT's reports:
http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...-fall-2011.cfm

Marija

The most inspirational trip reports on the Asia forum in 2011 were those of Gpanda's last trip.

Mara

I don't always remember the name of the poster but I always love ht's Japan reports and Kathie's reports wherever she and Cheryl go....also there was a report of an Indian tour written by a woman who was afraid of snakes - I remember that as I share her phobia....
I find that often I have no intention of visiting a place but that doesn't mean a well-written report can't keep me interested...even though it doesn't change my mind about visiting....

althom1122

Mara, that was me (the woman afraid of snakes who did the Indian trip report)! Thanks.

I'd nominate the trip report done in sketches. (Can't remember the author... rather, the artist.)

Mara

So sorry, althom1122, I loved your report - I should have made more of an effort to search for your name.....you made India sound almost inviting....almost....I think they showed one of the places you were at on The Amazing Race.....not the most recent season....

silverwool

Does a mini report count? I was inspired by http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...rip-report.cfm by Offwego. I am planning a trip through that part part of Cambodia later in the year and it made me even more determined to head off the beatentrack.

kmkrnn

I always enjoy the trip reports written by dgunbug. We seem to go to the same countries about 1-2 months between us. She does a lot of research, and writes very detailed reports. This year they were in India ,as we were. It is great to follow her ,with notes in hand.

Happy New year Katie... we miss hearing from you.

Craig

I think robbietravels writes some of the best trip reports. We are planning an October 2012 trip to Bhutan based on this one:

http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...ia-bangkok.cfm

rhkkmk

i loved every one that i read and the more detail the better!!

Katie_H

I'm in the middle of yours now!

linawood

I'm bookmarking so I can find these for a lot of great reading.

ileen

Katie welcome back.
I am also watching with interest, so I can find these reports for my future travels.
Enjoy playing with your toddler in 2012.