Hi All,

I have been planning to go to SE Asia (Thailand/Cambodia) for a while, but a very good friend wants to start travelling and wants to tag along on my next trip- problem is, she's a teacher, which means she can only travel in the summer.

I know SE Asia is not a fun place to be during the rainy season (and I do NOT like rain), my other destination on my list was Morocco, but I have a feeling it will be too hot as well!

Any ideas?
We're based in Dallas, TX. I have done Europe rather extensively, and would like somewhere a little more off the tourist track, especially in the summer.

Thanks!

Well you could try reading a 'world guidebook' I suppose. There are as many choices as there are countries in the world obviously. You have provided no real information that would narrow it down much.

What is the budget per person and what does it have to cover? That will elimate some countries perhaps. How long does the money have to last will eliminate some more. How do you want to travel? Hotels? Five star? Hostels dorms? More places eliminated. Your friend absolutely insists on eating western style food? More limitations.

The more relevant information you provide the more relevant responses can be. Otherwise all you get is a list of places someone ELSE would go that may or may not have any relevance to where YOU would go. That's a waste of everyone's time.

You have said nothing whatsover about you and your friend's interests. Does she want a beach? Cities? Architecture? History? Nightlife? Tell us why California would not fit the bill as well as anywhere else in other words. It is after all a fine summer destination.

Budget: unlimited

Timeframe: 2 weeks

A mix of sightseeing and maybe a day or two relaxing at a beach would be nice, but not necessary.

Nightlife is not important, but we are in our mid-20's so we don't need to be hanging out with Grandma and Grandpa either.

She has no restrictions on where she does/does not want to go.

I would like to try SE Asia, was wondering if there were any places that somehow didn't get affected by monsoons/rainy weather. But I am also open to other continents.

Thanks!

We went to Bali a few years ago in june. It rained some but was mostly clear. I ddon't know if that is normal or we just got lucky

When you say you have done Europe "extensively" does that include the Baltic area? The Balkans? Ukraine? Russia? Scandinavia? How about somewhere in the southern hemishpere?

It's the perfect time for safari in South Africa. The winter is the dry season; in the Kruger National Park area, it's in the 70s F by day and 40s F at night. No mosquitoes, most trees are bare so the wildlife is easier to see.

Pick August if possible and add a few days in Cape Town and on the west coast an hour or two north of Cape Town, for stunning early spring wildflowers. Or head south an hour for penguins, or to Hermanus for whale watching or maybe some shark action.

It's by far our favorite time to visit SA, in numerous trips.

Panoramic Route, near Kruger National Park - http://gardyloo.us/africa10J%20027as.jpg

Blue skies and leopards in the trees - http://gardyloo.us/aug1718j%20077a.JPG

Wildflowers on the west coast - http://gardyloo.us/aug24b%20044s.JPG

Winelands near Cape Town - http://gardyloo.us/902JS%20071a.jpg

Bo-Kaap district, Cape Town - http://gardyloo.us/903JS%20019a.jpg

Still nothing to narrow it down much foggybridges. There are still hundreds of places people could list just like reading a world travel guidebook would give you.

But I'll give you an off-the-wall suggestion. National Geographic suggest the best place for an 'out-of-the-ordinary summer vacation' is the Muskoka region of Ontario, Canada.

http://travel.nationalgeographic.com...r-2011-photos/

You never know who you might bump into in the supermarket.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/16/re...anted=all&_r=0

South America?

The reverse seasons make this a lovely time to visit the Southern Hemisphere. I've had great weather in Australia, Chile, and Peru, for example, but I also visited Vietnam, Cambodia, and China in July and had non-rainy weather.

I went to Cambodia and Vietnam last August and the rain wasn't bad at all. Most days I didn't see any rain at all but on the few days it did rain, it lasted no longer than 20 minutes.

If you're not convinced, why don't you try Africa? Summer is the best time to go on Safari East Africa and see the migration of the wildebeest.

That's the best time to see Scandinavia or the Baltics.

Thanks for your help!

I'll look into SA safaris, I've done most of Eastern Africa, but not SA, which is on my list!

I'll have to look more closely at the weather in SE Asia too I guess!

Iceland or a safari in Southern Africa

South Africa was incredibly beautiful in July...although I do have to say that the road to Kruger at 5AM is a bit chilly!

While I haven't been myself (yet) Iceland seems like a great place to visit. I was thinking of going there this summer myself. Iceland Air has a stop-over on my way to Munich. When booking with Iceland Air, extended stay lay-overs are no extra cost. Booking hotels or hostels should be done sooner than later though.

Perfect time of year for Peru, most people have Machu Picchu on their wish list but there is so much more to the country. Two weeks is a good amount of time.

Thanks all, I think we've narrowed it down to a few ideas- Nepal/Tibet, Vietnam/Cambodia or South Africa!

Thanks again!

SA safaris, I've visited most of Eastern Africa, but not South Africa, which is at top level in my list.