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Thought of your question again even though I replied to you a few days ago...thought the site below may be an interesting site to help you decide<BR>http://2goglobal.com/2GoChronicals/best.htm
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Teresa, you mentioned a nightmare trip to Akumel. We were just looking into going there. Can you elaborate. We thought we would go to Merida for a few days and then we want to go to a beach. Any suggestions?
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Ummm.... the last post was 3 years 2 months ago ...? Double check and see when the person was last on , or perhaps just post your own question with regards to this for quicker results . Good Luck ! Faith
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It was 2001 for teresa ..... best to start a new thread .
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I think the best family trip, especially with kids 13 and 15 would be an African safari. We've done it twice, and it just keeps getting better. We used African Travel to book both trips and were very satisfied.
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Definitely an African safari. We have traveled all over the world, and our southern Africa trip is the one we keep talking about. The Okavango Delta in Botswana is one of the premier wildlife destinations, and there are camps in a variety of price ranges. Check out CCAfrica.com
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We also have been around the world many times. Of course, opinions can vary widely, and luck plays a part in the overall outcome (for instance, I hated London on my first trip, then loved it on my next, mostly because of various circumstances). In any case, my favorites (for what it's worth, I'm a 40-something California beach girl who's backpacked around the world on $30 a day, and splurged as well):
For nature: Galapagos (on small sailboat, NOT cruise ship!) Diving at Sipadan Island, Malaysian Borneo Sitting with mountain gorillas, Zaire New Zealand's South Island For city pizzazz: Paris New York in the fall San Francisco For peace and getting away: Western Samoa (outside main island) Taveuni Island, Fiji Vava'u, Tonga Yosemite at least once, off season Worth splurging at least once: Mauna Kea, Big Island, Hawaii (that lobby) Highlands Inn, Carmel, Calif. Montage Resort, Laguna Beach, Calif. (summer or fall) A night or two at any Four Seasons Hotel at the end of a long hard trip! Ahhhh! |
gotta agree with Jim's post of 7/8/01
Peru - Macchu Picchu, Cuzco then over to Bolivia and Salar De Uyuni - or Rajasthan India Both amazaing (also recommend Himachel Pradesh in India) For a really compact, stunning country full of surprises I woudl recommend Lebanon For a beautiful largely untouched country I would recommend Syria |
I just returned from San Miguel de Allende and Morelia Mexico and both are my favorite places in the world. I return there every year even for a long weekend. The colonial city of Morelia is beautiful. San Miguel de Allende is very relaxing and charming.
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The drive form Nice France to MonteCarlo. Also sitting in a small cafe on top of Capri, Italy.
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Gramdma's house. No doubt about it.
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Cape St. Mary's, Newfoundland. A summer day at 'the cape' when the fog rolls out and reveals those splendid, teeming, cliffs and the amazingly blue north atlantic.
Friends who have visited have described it as a "religious experience" and "achingly beautiful", and I fully agree. Jerry |
Interesting question, I think, as long as it's taken as it is and not as a real, practical, planning sort of topic.
After living in various regions of the States as well as a couple of regions in Japan and here in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, and after repeated trips through Europe to various countries and locations, the place that still gets me the most is Sweden. I love the archipelago setting of Stockholm, which seems to me to be the finest example I've seen of an urban setting in harmony with nature: trees and greenery everywhere, water and bridges everywhere, and the water clean enough that people can eat the fish they catch even near the center of the old town. I've also spent time in the country in south central Sweden (Smaland) and the land there is refreshing. You also have the added attraction of the extremely long days there in the summer, where the sun just sort of takes a tour around the sky all day and you have such energy without even realizing it. (Never been there in a more wintery month than November, however, so I don't know how the winters would be with respect to light.) I may be genetically predisposed to like Sweden, however, as my grandfather immigrated from there. :-) Honorable mention for me would go to Santander, Spain, an elegant mixture of land types in a small area, with beautiful beaches and wonderful people. However again I may have been predisposed to like that given a long-ago romantic connection there before I even arrived there. I'm sure these personal matters get all mixed up in one's enjoyment of a place. FWIW... Steve |
Author: conch
Date: 12/09/2005, 03:16 pm Gramdma's house. No doubt about it. Conch: Your recommendation is truly the best! |
Were ever my beautiful Linda is!
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I've been to 50+ countries and would recommend the following:
Iceland in June. Sun never sets. Take 3 weeks and travel all around Torres del Paine, Chile - the crown jewel of S American parks. Greece - great mix of fabulous beach one day and ancient Greek culture the next! Turkey - Istanbul is a unique mix of east and west. Great cuisine. Opportunity to be in a Muslim country where you westerners don't stand out so much. Heard great things about the coast and Capadoccia (sp). Wish Jen would log back on and tell us where they went! |
Best place in the world?...having travelled 25000 miles in the last 18 months, I can say without reservation....its right here at home in Canada...its safe, its cheap, and no matter what you want to see, its here...mountains, hot springs, glaciers, skiing/golfing, depending on the season..incredible fishing and forests...
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For me, the best place in the world to visit (and among the most affordable places,as well)--Argentina. Want mountains? The highest peak in the Americas is here. Desert? Try Salta
Spectacular natural vistas? Try Iguazu Falls or the lakes region of Patagonia or the glaciars further south or whale watching off the coast. Vibrant night life in a people friendly big city? Buenos Aires serves up wonderful food, excellent wines and all-night dancing to work off the calories..... |
Sounds like you will find everything you are looking for at the Jaguar Reef Lodge in Belize. Goto www.jaguarreef.com. It sits on the Carribbean and the Rainforest (including Mayan Ruins) is at the back door. There is excellent snorkeling (as good as the north side of the Caymans), hiking, kayaking, tubing in caves, & much more. On some of the tours, you get to see the "real" country & animals etc - it is fascinating. We even had a Puma (red lion) run across the road in front of us). The lodge has a variety of tours available every day & great guides. You are in a small group on the tours which makes it even better. The place is very very nice (not plush but excellent) and the people are wonderful. Everyone we spoke with there raved about the value -- you got sooo much for your money! There are several packages - we got the activity one. A week is not enough time to do everything. We just got back last night & my hubby says it is the best trip he has ever been on.
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after all these replys can you tell us where you went?
I have narrowed my trip down to costa rica or berlize. Does anyone have any recommemedation of the best flights to these places pricewise and wheres a good place to stay, we will be traveling with kids over 10 yr old. like to be on a nice quiet pritty beach and to see the rain forrest, maybe stay in a nice villa or resort under $1200 a week! for five....is it best to go to the beaches up north like panama or coco beach? |
I do mean under $1200 for just the house rental, if it is all inclusive of course that will be more than that:) anyone been to costa rica recommend a place to stay for families:)
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I have only been in the US and Canada. But for what it's worth, Here's my faves: Maui and Kauai, HI. Victoria, BC, Canada. Anchorage & Seward, AK. Oregon Coast. :-)
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In North America: Banff and Jasper in Alberta, Canada.
In Latin America: Glover Reef Atoll in Belize or Roatan in Honduras In the South Pacific: Maldives and Seychelles In Asia: Borneo, Malaysia In Europe: Turkey http://uniqueplaces.blogspot.com |
I should have added that IF I could not go to Argentina, my next destination choice would be British Columbia, preferably Victoria and the entire Vancouver Island.....safe, relatively inexpensive and stunning!
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This list gets re-ordered when I'm hungry, or cold, but at this moment these are FOR ME my top 8 and why:
(1) Amed, Bali (clear water, great food, unspoiled feel, warmest people, lovely music, doing nothing) (2) Udaipur, India (food, shopping, history, art, people) (3) Chiang Mai, Thailand (food, night market, loveliest people, temples, elephant rides) (4) Tuscany (food, people, landscape, Florence, relaxation) (5) Venice (food, art, cafes, atmosphere, architecture) (6) Akumal, Mexico (snorkling, eating, lying around) (7) Paris (Latin Quater) (food food food, museums) (8) Zambezi River trip (honestly I've only seen Vic Falls from the shore - Zambia side - but hear the river trip is an incredible adventure) |
Akumal or Tabacon Hot Springs in Costa Rica - becaue they're comfortable, casual and beautiful. (I say this becaue of the teens - my answer would have been Paris for adults only)
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The best place in the world to me is anywhere in India..I love that country!!
The sites, the sounds, the food, the people.... And there is nothing like the Maldives and Santorini...for beauty.. And Thailand has such nice people.. |
I have travelled all over the world, so many place, but closer to home...coast of California...San Diego, Laguna Beach (artist colony with lovely scenery), San Juan Capistrano (outstanding mission and home to the famous swallows), Santa Barbara (Amazing, wharf, scenic channel bike path)San Simeon (Hearst Castle, a must-see.Book ahead.There is a lovely little hotel/golf course called san Simeon Pines.Across the street a nature walk.)Cambria (gorgeous little artist colony. Try a meal at one of the beachview cafes for views)In-between...the sea elephant natural reserve. (Look for lots of cars parked over on the beachside of the road with people looking down. There weren't any signs last two times I went. Morrow Bay (a tiny aquarium, peregrin falcon rock reserve on beach, a mini-sub and neach walks a British store, beachview restaurants.) The LONG and fairly slow yet very scenic drive along Big Sur is always safest when driving before dark as the mist rolls in and it gets dark fast. The safest way (collision-wise) is to head from South to North. We found that barriers were few from the even more scenic ride North to South, and we saw a few vehicles teetering over cliffs down to the ocean.Use washroom, get gas and snacks wherever you can before you head on Big Sur. I beleive there is a State Park, one gas/shop and one restaurant along the way and that's it.
We then come into Monterey (fisherman's wharf, cute little food places. One restaurant on the wharf you can sit and watch many pelicans perch right on the adjoining rooftop, cute little stores, Cannery Row, converted fish cannery buildings of John Steinbeck fame, lots of sea lions and the most incredible Aquarium that I have ever been to with interaction and with a small outside viewing section. Just hang out in the marina area and you will see sea otters swimming around. Next Carmel,Golf of course, Lovely quaint town with great shopping and cafes. Go have a drink or snacks around the outside fireplace at Clint Eastwood's really laid back Hog's Breath Inn. It is located at the back of one of the Lanes. Last time I was there he was at the bar but could only get a glimpse from afar. But the creme-de-la-creme is 17-mile Drive. Lovely beach view drive with the famous Lone Cypress tree hanging onto a rock.See the cute little rock squirrels. You have to pass through a gate, so times vary. Of course, next head up to San Francisco. Book ahead for the tour of Alcatraz. Great Shopping and beachview restaurants. Further up incredible nature parks and giant redwood trees. My next close to home blurb will be on Arizona. |
Edinburgh, Scotland.,
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Just returned from my "new" favorite place in the world, Peru. Flew to Lima and did a day tour of the city focusing on the colonial structures. Stayed at the totally modern beautiful Los Delfines Hotel in San Isidro where Yaku the dolfin swims beside you while you eat a delicious b'fast and swims above you in the under the aquarium bar. Flew to Cusco and checked in Libertador Hotel, toured the city and Incan ruins. Fascinating history and interesting city built on the remains of the Incan walls. Next day we went to the Urubamba Valley touring the Ollytaytamba ruins and visited the lively Pisac Market. Stayed at the fabulous Sol y Luna - a paradise on earth. Next day on the vistadome train through the beautiful, vast Andes Mts. to Machu Picchu. Visiting this ancient Incan "Lost City" was an indescribeable experience, truly a hightlight of my life. This has to be one of the most special places on earth. Your kids would love it. Stayed at the Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel in the cloud forest in Aguas Caliente at the base of Machu Picchu. The Hotel is a tropical paradise. Next day, back to Cusco. Spent the day exploring the town and enjoying the culture, shopping, visiting the San Blas area. Lots of interesting colonial structures. This was a great trip which has moved to the top of my list.
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Kachinadoll,
Your post brought back some wonderful memories. We did this entire area in 1976 for our first anniversary. Then again in 1992 with our 3 children--camping all the way. I remember having dinner at a little pizza place with red checkered tablecloths in Cambria--with the kids. It was a cool, rainy night--often the case in that area. You are absolutely right--some of the best stuff is right here under our noses. That entire area has got to be one of the most fabulous places on earth! Your comments about Hogs Breath Inn take me back to 1976 when we stopped in for a bite of lunch. It hadn't been open long at that time, and C.E. was at the height of his career. He wasn't there, but I remember tearing the ad out of a phone directory (now that I look back on it, what an immature thing to do!). I still carry that little folded up ad tucked away in a corner of my billfold. It's been there for 30 years now! Crazy, huh? But every time I run across it, it reminds me of our 1st anniversary trip up and down Highway 1! |
Having been around the world and stopped in many, many places...my vote goes to Bali.
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New York City in late September
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Ah, man, I bet! It pretty awesome in early November a couple of years ago!
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Best place in the world, to me so far, is Australia - with my family (including 7 year old daughter). She begs to go back & would love to live there. My son attended university there for 5 months & had a tough time coming home. Lots more travel to do, though, so I'm sure I'll find some new favorite places. China is our next trip!
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Without a doubt Vancouver, British Columbia |
not today!
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There are lots of places I have been to that I liked a lot but I wouldn't like to live in those places.
There is an old saying; Hell is being trapped in paradise. I would be happy where I live now were the weather better. |
Just wanted to comment on the Lake Louise/Banff National Park suggestion. I've only seen it in a friend's amateur pictures, and even those were enough to make me drool. Unbelievable.
The cheapest wonder of the world? Possibly... |
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