what kind of travel locations do you like ?

on_way_to_fame · Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Posts: 15

I have always loved to go to places which provide an ideal mix of adventure and natural beauty, like i mentioned Kathmandu in one of my posts. What kind of places do you like to go to, and on what factors do you decide your ultimate location choice ?

cocodrilo · Joined: 12 Apr 2004 Posts: 494 Location: Western Japan

Historical value, natural beauty, unique culture, great food, places that offer World Heritage Sites, non-touristy(sorry, I just don't go for amusement parks), non-war zone.

Laura · Joined: 16 May 2004 Posts: 446 Location: San Francisco

I'll go pretty much anywhere. Well, I'm not big on places like Orlando, Branson, or Las Vegas, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't ever go there in my entire life. I'm kind of "never say never" about things.

Oh, I don't generally go back to places I've already been, but that's really because I still have a VERY LONG list of places I haven't been that I want to see. The world is a huge and fascinating place. About the only places I wouldn't go right now are places where travelling on a US passport and looking like an American are an EXTREME liability...like Iraq, for instance.

Muchacho · Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Posts: 27 Location: Newfoundland

Three of my current requirements:

- Location must have palm trees and be warm;
- Cost of living must be substantially cheaper than at home;
- Destination must be safe.

That's what I look for. There are no palm trees where I live, and we get about six months of cold weather per year (shiver). The cost factor is also important, as I like to stretch a trip as long as I can. The farther my money goes, the longer I can travel. And I don't like places notorious for danger/violence.

Aer · Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Posts: 3

Safe environment - As much as can be provided and I will feel confident and comfortable in.

Different culture - Preferably different from what I'm used too in many ways. That way I will notice the odds and ends of a country and it will leave a better and longer lasting impression on me. It is also one of the purposes of most vacations, to go to places that are all new and ready to discovered by you.

Further, I don't think I care much about where to go. The temperatures can be absolutely killing me, but because it's vacation I feel no resentment towards mosquito's or anything that normally would get a groan out of me. I tend to be more enduring to situations during vacations :) My preference isn't really something I can pinpoint. I can adore Finland, but can cringe at the thought of going to Greece, as example. I want to do a variety of different countries in different area's. And preferable countries that are not 'standard issue', like France, Spain, California and so on. The countries/states can be great, but for in the future, after I have travelled all the countries I considered a must ;).

cocodrilo · Joined: 12 Apr 2004 Posts: 494 Location: Western Japan

Laura mentioned that she generally doesn't go back to a place again. For me, I DO- I get hooked on some places that have offered me so much fun, inspiration, shopping, etc (Hong Kong 13 times, Korea 19 times, Hokkaido, Greece, Germany & Austria twice, France 3 times, etc.). Sometimes I like to visit the same places in each country, as places do change, but my trips are generally lengthy enough to allow me to get off the beaten path and explore new places as well. You also get a better insight on the culture(if the place you are visiting mor than once is abroad!) if you've seen it several times. I would like to go back to every country I have visited up to now! They have alll been great places for me!

Laura · Joined: 16 May 2004 Posts: 446 Location: San Francisco

I'm just afraid if I keep going back to places that I'll never get to all the other places that intrigue me. :) It kind of sucks being in California in that it's equally inconvenient to everywhere. Tokyo? 9 hours. London? 9 hours. Taking a three-hour plane ride gets me to where...Dallas? Seattle? Sorry, neither are as interesting as Asia to me. (I used to live in Austin, so I've done the central Texas thing already.)

I wasn't able to start doing any appreciable amount of travelling until I was in my mid-30's, so that's about 10-15 years lost as compared to people who started earlier. Also, I don't wipe whole countries off the list just because I've been to one area. When I went to China last June I stayed in the northeast. When I went last January I stayed more in the south. Next time I'd like to go to other areas in the southern part (Guanxi Province, for instance) -- and I'd never pass up a chance to pass through places like Hong Kong, Tokyo, or London on the way to someplace else. In fact, if Hubby and I go through with our idea of spending next December in Sri Lanka, I'm going to insist that we make a stopover in Hong Kong either on the way there or back. Ooooh, maybe we could even stop in Singapore going in the other direction...the possibilities are endless :) I like big cities, so it would be fun combining a kind of nature/history/culture trip to Sri Lanka with a more of a sightseeing/shopping fun stop in HKG or SIN.

Of course, the other problem we have is one of time. Hubby's job doesn't give him much time off, and a number of the trips we make are combined with work travel. Also, I'm an active competitive ballroom dancer so there's only so much time I can take away from training and practicing. My vacation schedule not only affects me, but it affects my dance partner. The only time I can really take off a big block of time (like three or four weeks) is December.

cocodrilo · Joined: 12 Apr 2004 Posts: 494 Location: Western Japan

I know what you mean about not being able to see all the places you want if you keep going back to the same spots! Most of my repeats are short trips(under a week) so I can go back for a visit every year if I want(like Korea!). Besides, a week there is cheaper than a weekend in say, Osaka, considering the cost of things here! Greece is way out of the way for me but I will visit that country again & again!

Have you spent any time in the Caribbean or Mexico? Those are some very cool places to visit, and not too far, especially the latter, from California. I will visit Mexico again and again. It is such a diverse country with a rich cultural heritage- and GREAT food! 8)

Laura · Joined: 16 May 2004 Posts: 446 Location: San Francisco

I've spent some time in the Caribbean and will be going to Aruba with my mom next month. It's not a quick trip from California though because there are no direct flights. Everything has to go through Houston, Miami, or even Atlanta or Charlotte depending on island. Cuba would be fascinating, but not just now -- the US Treasury has been directed to crack down on US citizens going there again. I read about some grandmother who got arrested upon return to the US. Maybe next time things loosen up a bit.

Mexico is an excellent idea. Mexico City is definitely on my list. If I hadn't come down with bronchitis so bad that I couldn't get out of bed last month, I would have spent my birthday there! I also would like to get out to the Yucatan. I went to Cancun once, but I don't feel that really counts. Merida is supposed to be a good base for visiting various ruins. People have also told me that I'd like the Guadalajara area, and then there's Copper Canyon.