OOPS-posted my question on the US forum before I previewed-oh well twice the responses...

My favorite trip report so far is NorCalif's inexperienced traveler report-it was so entertaining.

I prefer the slice of life entertainment over micro details...

My other favorites are:

TravelGirls trip of a lifetime-I wish she would get back online!

dorkforcemom's May trip that she just finished reporting in August. She enjoys her wine and I love that!

MaiTaitom's blog complete with photos in the report-I love it when I can actually see what he is writing about.

Isabel posted some beautiful pictures from Portugal-I actually looked at all of her albums-gorgeous.

My all time favorite pictures are from SeaUrchin-she captures the essence of a place in way that just makes you long to go there.

Not that I need a reason to spend more time online but...what do you like?

murphy89's report of her greece trip is amazing

Anything written by FamousUncleArt is just classic.

Jules

Just read FamousUncleArt's Netherland's report-loved it. What a character. He sounds like my father in law...

I think all of the mentioned are super reports but it should not be a case of what is best. All the fodorites try their best and some of us do not write well but the spirit is there. Enjoy everyone without the comparisons. We all can read and know who is a superb writer or photographer. This is a travel site to all feel equal (I hope)

As I said on your post in the US forums, every day someone posts a great trip report on Fodors.
I think Elvira probably still holds the Gold Medal for Greatest Trip Reports but these forums are full of good reports and No Way am I going to start naming any..There are too many Brillaint posters here to try to pick favorites.

I had a friend who is in the travel industry send me a cut and pasted trip report about Turkey as he knew that we had visited there, turns out it was MY trip report cut and pasted from here !!! Scary small world it is !!

I think this question is a little off-putting.

Writing an effective, interesting, concise, humorous, intelligent, WHATEVER ELSE trip report is so hard to do, and I have the utmost respect for everyone who has accepted the challenge and done it.

Take me for instance...I just completed a 2-week trip to Italy with my wonderful family, but I cannot write a trip report (worthy) of posting on Fodors. I feel there has to be a "hook" to the story and it has to be entertaining, not too long, not too short, but just right.

So, I'll just crawl back into my hole and not post it. Sorry, but that's how I feel.

i am kane, please crawl out of the hole. Lots of us would like to read about your trip. Some like short reports, some long, some will like yours, guaranteed.

i_am_kane-just your description of your trip with your "wonderful family" was enough to interest me. Who doesn't like to read about a family adventure? It is the family stories that are the best for me. I bet if you wrote from your heart it would be great. I am just a sucker for a happy ending...

This is one of my all time favorites...
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34720147

ok I'm dying here-went looking for Elvira and stumbled on the Tennessee Trio's trip to Paris. Started at Part 3 and was rolling with laughter-going to have to track down parts 1 & 2.
Still have not found Elvira-I'm so easily distracted...

kybourbon-OH MY GOSH is all I can say...can't stop laughing-it's what I love!

thanks for bringin that one up, Lara, we mostly remember Elvira's or the joking how to tip the pilot or meet Vikings.

For those who travelled with "companions":

"This is Why I Will Always Travel Solo From Now: Trip Report -Rome and Sorrento"

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34698212

Hey Mimi! I'm in Cambridge! I'll call you tomorrow and see if you want to do something!

I agree with greg. I photo copied the many many pages and sent it with my sister-in-law on a "driving the southern USA" vacation she went on last winter. She loved it. I plan to get it to my 22 yr. old daughter for some fun reading while she lives in Georgia this yr. Barb's experience was so funny but the responding posts became a good read too!

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...&tid=85028

<font color="blue"> Meet Elvira </font>

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...&amp;tid=84973
<font color="blue"> Elvira trip report</font>

I understand the reluctance to mention specific contributors, as each and every trip report is valuable and you always find invaluable tips and recommendations not found anywhere else. And, way too few respond with appreciation.

But, I have to mention Rudy's River Cruise through Russia.

At the time I first saw it, we had already planned a trip through Ireland for the following year. Then, my Dad became critically ill and there was no time for research and planning, even shopping air fares. I showed Rudy's report to my husband, who nearly never reads anything I hand to him, and he said, &quot;Can we do this next year instead?&quot; We managed to get the last deluxe (per Rudy's recommendation) cabin on suitable dates, and left airline booking to Viking. We were booked on convenient flights with excellent connections and our river cruise was the trip of our dreams. We also found Olga, a private tour guide in St. Petersburg, here on Fodor's and could not have been more thrilled and pleased.

We had always wanted to visit Russia, especially to stand in Red Square, visit the Hermitage. We are not &quot;cruise&quot; people, but the river cruises are quite different and most advantageous for lodging, meals, even drinking water when visiting Russia.