misslindsey

SO, I asked for help with a thailand possible vacation, and after receiving very nice advice i thought, "where is there in the world, that is just like what you see in movies and pictures on pinterest (ha), but it slightly unknown to the tourism industry?" Because I asked about the james bond island and a forum member said, forget it, too touristy. Is there anywhere that's insanely gorgeous that doesn't include a ton of tourists? am i being too naive? the last time i went on vacation was two years ago, and i know we won't be people who can afford to go on vacation every single year. So when we do go, i like to make the most of it. The people on this forum have so much knowledge and experience with traveling, so i was hoping maybe you guys could share some destination secrets. Hopefully there are still some places that aren't totally punta-cana-ed. I hope i don't sound snotty, i would just love to go somewhere and feel as isolated as i can. I am into photography so I don't wanna have people meandering in the back or fore ground of every nature shot.

THanks!!!

Improviser

Generally speaking misslindsey, to stay ahead of the tourism popularity curve takes effort and often more money.

For example, 30 years ago, Cancun was a sleepy fishing village. Yet some travellers did go there. But to get there was not nearly as easy as it is today. So, more effort/money required.

People often think they choose where they will travel to. People are often wrong about that. Only a small percentage of travellers actually do. Most, go where the tour companies and airlines make it relatively easy for them to go to.

Again, using Cancun as an example. In 1987 when I first visited, there were perhaps a handful of other 'tourists' there besides myself. Today, how many? What changed? Certainly not the location.

You can also see the reverse in places like Nassau in the Bahamas. Big in the 50s and 60s, high priced hotels; then declining to cheap package holidays in the 70s and 80s; dying in the 90s.

Like most things there is a life cycle. While a city like Rome may remain a popular tourist destination forever, beach restort type tourism comes and goes.

So the question becomes just how much effort and money are you prepared to spend to get ahead of that curve? Today for example a place still in the early stages of beach resort development is the Cape Verde islands. It's got the airport and hotels as well as package holidays which makes it relatively easy to go there but hasn't peaked yet. So it's not really ahead of the curve but it's in the early stages of the curve.

To get ahead of the curve is simply too difficult for most people and too much of a crystal ball game. The way 'travellers' get ahead of the curve is usually by accident. They end up somewhere unplanned as part of a longer trip, not as a destination choice. They 'discover' a place of unspoiled beauty etc. Then 20 years later it gets discovered.

A great example is Cinque Terre in Italy. What was an unspoiled little area with 5 villages and a footpath joining them has become so popular they now have to limit the number of people allowed on the footpath per hour!

Most posters in this forum are not ahead of the curve people. Or even early in the curve people. They are mostly peak of the curve people.

Improviser

Just had a look. Cape Verde has been the topic of 12 posts in the last 16 years in this forum. What does that tell you?

Katzgar

does it have to be sunny tropically? if yes look at the atolls in belize. if no look at the boundary waters canoe area in northern Minnesota. use you tube and gmaps to help plan.

Katzgar

oops, I ignored the title of this thread.

Improviser

There are beaches in Boundary Waters Katzgar and some could ber considered idyllic.
http://www.google.ca/search?q=bounda...w=1280&bih=687

Katzgar

true but in spite of the pics they are rare and I assumed a rum drink with a paper parasol kinda beach.

Tabernash2

We were in Molokai many years ago, and it had gorgeous uninhabited beaches. I am not sure if it is still like that.

And Lanai has a very high end resort, but not much else, so far as I know.

Try those two Hawaiian Islands?

misslindsey

improviser, thanks for the thoughts and the advice. I hadn't really thought of it that way. i looked at cape verde, it is quite beautiful. i am gonna look into it more.

katzgar, atolls looks friggen gorgeous. only concern would be, would you get bored? if the water isn't that deep we could go snorkeling maaaaaaybe scubadiving...but i recently discovered i am very very scared of seeing endless vast ocean depths in my sight or peripherals. went snorkeling in jamaica....scared the crap out of me, haha. but there weren't many fish to see so maybe if there was amazing sea life i would be distracted from the endless all encompassing ocean...

tabernash2. while i can see the beauty that molokai has, i am freakishly picky about the color of the water. i live in south jersey, so ANY ocean water that is dark or slightly resembles the jersey shore, completely turns me off lol. i want to see what is swimming around me due to fear of the unknown but also because i am fascinated by the fish.

thanks guys!

Tabernash2

The color of the water at Molokai is different than the other islands?

Katzgar

ok, you need to step up here. the title of your thread is idyllic beach vacation which is by definition boring.....or relaxing. what is it you want? use gmaps and youtube to look at stuff.

Improviser

Now you are getting into 'have your cake and eat it too' country misslindsey. As katzgar says, you need to step up an make some firm decisions re what you want.

For example, you make quite a point about your fear of open water. That would indicate that the perfect place for you to snorkel and scuba would be Xel-Ha near Akumal, Mexico.

It's a lagoon inlet that has a shark net across the mouth of it (removes your fear); clear water; teeming with fish.
http://www.google.ca/search?q=xel+ha...w=1280&bih=687

But again, as with Cancun, what the area was like 30 years ago differs from today. Akumal had one hotel with no tv or telephones and staff spoke only Spanish or Mayan. The local Mayans lived in dirt floored shacks. It was in fact an 'Idyllic' and nearly unspoiled beach.

Today it is part of the 'Mayan Riviera' and has been built up considerably. Tulum which is to the south and the site of a signifigant Mayan ruin had nothing there at all except the ruins.

It is also possible to day trip to Chitzen Itza from Akaumal if you are interested enough in Mayan culture.

But it is height of the curve misslindsey, not ahead of it. Xel-Ha is not a water 'theme park' in all respects whereas before it was just a parking lot at the end of a dirt road with one little stand where they rented masks, fins and snorkels for a few pesos and charged you about $1 to park. I have no idea how much they charge today but I'm sure it is a lot more.

Nevertheless, the beach at Akumal is what most people picture as an 'idyllic' beach if a lot more crowded than it was. Xel-Ha would provide you with snorkeling etc. in a 'safe' environment. Basically, it's a large natural swimming pool.

Improviser

Should be, 'Xel-Ha is NOW a water theme......