"Been There, Done That" vs "Must Return"
Feb 28th, 2009, 06:40 AM
#41
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I read travelerjan's post so figured that I should my 2 cents worth.
Crete 9
Athens 5
Hydra 7
Corfu 6
Varenna 10
Milan 6
Sicily 3 (although it has the best food)
Paris 9-10
Florence 9
Burgundy 6-7
Loire Valley 5 (once was great but once was enough)
Cairo 2 (I lived there for 2 months and while I think every American should live in a third world country for a while, 2 months was enough for me.)
Jerusalem 10
Haifa 4
Tel Aviv 3
California 10 (Good thing I live here.
Crete 9
Athens 5
Hydra 7
Corfu 6
Varenna 10
Milan 6
Sicily 3 (although it has the best food)
Paris 9-10
Florence 9
Burgundy 6-7
Loire Valley 5 (once was great but once was enough)
Cairo 2 (I lived there for 2 months and while I think every American should live in a third world country for a while, 2 months was enough for me.)
Jerusalem 10
Haifa 4
Tel Aviv 3
California 10 (Good thing I live here.
Feb 28th, 2009, 09:17 AM
#42
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Knoxvillecouple, when are you going to the Baltics? We're on a Princess cruise starting Aug. 24. Though we always try to travel independently, for St. Petersburg we decided to book a tour guide--but from the city not the ship--so we don't have visa hassles and problems with the language/signs, etc.
Feb 28th, 2009, 11:54 AM
#44
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Hi JulieVikmanis -
Our cruise is on Azamara Journey starting June 18 from Copenhagen - we'll be in St. Petersburg for "white nights." We're also independent travelers for land trips, but quite often for one-day cruise excursions I'll identify/hire a local guide to get us around more efficiently to see more. We'll have 3 days in St. Petersburg but, like you, have engaged a local tour guide to take care of visa hassles, language, etc. - local companies are also less expensive than ship-sponsored excursions and many fewer people (I think we have 7 in our St. Petersburg group as compared to an average of 40 for ship excursions).
Here's to good vodka, good ballet (hoping to experience the Kirov at the Maarinsky Theater), and good times.
Sam
Our cruise is on Azamara Journey starting June 18 from Copenhagen - we'll be in St. Petersburg for "white nights." We're also independent travelers for land trips, but quite often for one-day cruise excursions I'll identify/hire a local guide to get us around more efficiently to see more. We'll have 3 days in St. Petersburg but, like you, have engaged a local tour guide to take care of visa hassles, language, etc. - local companies are also less expensive than ship-sponsored excursions and many fewer people (I think we have 7 in our St. Petersburg group as compared to an average of 40 for ship excursions).
Here's to good vodka, good ballet (hoping to experience the Kirov at the Maarinsky Theater), and good times.
Sam
Feb 28th, 2009, 01:29 PM
#45
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I've thought about this very thing many times...to return or to try something new. It is almost impossible to tug myself away from places I have loved, and I find great joy in revisiting wonderful restaurants, staying in predictably good hotels, and walking streets I have loved before.
When I first started my list of travels, I thought, compared to those I've read on this forum so far, mine were woefully limited in number. Once I wrote down every place I have been, I was shocked to discover a rather long list! I've pared it down to major cities and areas.
In the U.S.:
Denver 8 - Brown Palace followed by a drive in the mountains.
Los Angeles, Malibu 9 -Musso and Frank; Leo Carillo beach.
Dallas 7 - Highland Park Tearoom and shopping Neiman Marcus.
Phoenix 5 - The Biltmore
New Orleans 9-Frette linens at the Ritz, Brunch at Commanders.
Chicago 9-Art Institute,caramel corn on Michigan, Le Ciel Bleu
Kansas City 8- Plaza, barbeque, Nordstrom
Sarasota 9- Siesta beach
Captiva and Sannibel 7- Sand too shelly but lush vegetation.
Florida Panhandle 10- Grayton Beach and Seaside..white sand.
Memphis 5 - Best downhome food at Buntyn's.
Sedona 8 - Red rocks take your breath away.
Europe:
Paris 10- Hands down favorite, 4 visits, need more!
Rome 10 - Quiet walk on Sunday morning by river.Bells. Wow.
Florence 8- too many students, but lovely Duomo.
Sienna 8- Pottery, winding streets, needed to see at night.
Lake Como 8-Should have seen Varenna. Lake breathtaking.
Milan 7- Magnificent Duomo and adjacent shopping.
Brugge 8- Hotel Heritage and de Vlaamsche Pot..yum.
Loire Valley 8- Chenonceaux and La Roseraie favorites.
Beaune/Burgundy 9- Hotel Belle Epoque,drive to La Rochepot.
Lyon 8- Great quenelles, cheap Hotel la Residence.
When I first started my list of travels, I thought, compared to those I've read on this forum so far, mine were woefully limited in number. Once I wrote down every place I have been, I was shocked to discover a rather long list! I've pared it down to major cities and areas.
In the U.S.:
Denver 8 - Brown Palace followed by a drive in the mountains.
Los Angeles, Malibu 9 -Musso and Frank; Leo Carillo beach.
Dallas 7 - Highland Park Tearoom and shopping Neiman Marcus.
Phoenix 5 - The Biltmore
New Orleans 9-Frette linens at the Ritz, Brunch at Commanders.
Chicago 9-Art Institute,caramel corn on Michigan, Le Ciel Bleu
Kansas City 8- Plaza, barbeque, Nordstrom
Sarasota 9- Siesta beach
Captiva and Sannibel 7- Sand too shelly but lush vegetation.
Florida Panhandle 10- Grayton Beach and Seaside..white sand.
Memphis 5 - Best downhome food at Buntyn's.
Sedona 8 - Red rocks take your breath away.
Europe:
Paris 10- Hands down favorite, 4 visits, need more!
Rome 10 - Quiet walk on Sunday morning by river.Bells. Wow.
Florence 8- too many students, but lovely Duomo.
Sienna 8- Pottery, winding streets, needed to see at night.
Lake Como 8-Should have seen Varenna. Lake breathtaking.
Milan 7- Magnificent Duomo and adjacent shopping.
Brugge 8- Hotel Heritage and de Vlaamsche Pot..yum.
Loire Valley 8- Chenonceaux and La Roseraie favorites.
Beaune/Burgundy 9- Hotel Belle Epoque,drive to La Rochepot.
Lyon 8- Great quenelles, cheap Hotel la Residence.
Feb 28th, 2009, 02:07 PM
#46
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done normally want to go back
unless it is a local holiday
but
i will go back to switzerland ( even if it's just my ashes lol) 10+
canada -the rockies 10+
too many places to see in the world
so many off the beaten track places to get caught up in
but life is far too short and as cliched as it is - it is the truest of truths - damn lol
unless it is a local holiday
but
i will go back to switzerland ( even if it's just my ashes lol) 10+
canada -the rockies 10+
too many places to see in the world
so many off the beaten track places to get caught up in
but life is far too short and as cliched as it is - it is the truest of truths - damn lol
Feb 28th, 2009, 02:29 PM
#47
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Paris - 7
London - 9
Scotland - 6
Copenhagen - 5
Madrid - 6
Barcelona - 7
Switzerland - 1
Berlin - 5
Singapore - 9
Tokyo - 9
Kyoto - 8
Bangkok - 7
Amsterdam - 5
Boston - 7
New York - 7
San Francisco - 7
LA - 5
Miami - 2
Milan - 3
Normandy - 5
Alsace - 6
Lorraine - 5
Aruba - 4
Cancun - 4
Angkor Wat - 7
Hong Kong - 8
London - 9
Scotland - 6
Copenhagen - 5
Madrid - 6
Barcelona - 7
Switzerland - 1
Berlin - 5
Singapore - 9
Tokyo - 9
Kyoto - 8
Bangkok - 7
Amsterdam - 5
Boston - 7
New York - 7
San Francisco - 7
LA - 5
Miami - 2
Milan - 3
Normandy - 5
Alsace - 6
Lorraine - 5
Aruba - 4
Cancun - 4
Angkor Wat - 7
Hong Kong - 8
