What are your favorite vacation destinations? And what are your dream destinations?

Favorites
Here are places where I've enjoyed the best vacations:

County Line Park on Kerr Lake in NC... perfect place for camping + super cheap!
Puerto Viejo de la Talamanca, Costa Rica... great for backpacking amid gorgeous scenery
The Bahamas, via a Royal Caribbean cruise... relaxing on the ship is the best part (great value for this trip)

Dream Destinations
African safari + South African wine tour
Backpacking Europe in the summer + Wimbledon + French Open tennis tournaments
Backpacking South America during the American winter + wine tour



What are your favorite travel destinations? And what's on your travel wishlist?

5/29/2012 11:22:45 PM

I want to go to wherever the coolest place in Asia is

I <3 Asians

I like Japan

5/29/2012 11:23:39 PM

Oooh yes. Would love to backpack in Thailand.

When I go to Asia, I'd want to be able to stay for several weeks. Seems like a nice in-between-jobs destination.

5/29/2012 11:25:29 PM

Dream List:

Iceland
Peru
Japan
Australia
Patagonia


Favorites:

Lake Tahoe
Carmel, CA
Napa Valley
Chile
Colorado

5/29/2012 11:26:03 PM

Favorite places:

Munich

Dream destinations:

Bouvet Island
Mars

5/29/2012 11:29:23 PM

Good list, Wolfy. South American countries intrigue me. Would love to do Peru and Chile simultaneously. My liver would be pickled within the first 3 days due to wine consumption.

Am weighing the benefits of going with a travel group, with one friend or going at it alone. The groups are a bit pricey, but for some destinations, probably worth it for the added safety. :/

5/29/2012 11:31:26 PM

I also would like to revisit Boston

as an adult I would have more appreciation, but I went when I was 17 so that doesn't really count

5/29/2012 11:34:09 PM

I've been to 40 states (still need AK, HI, most of New England, and some rust belt states) and I think a total of 13 countries (not counting place I've just connected in airports and stuff)...besides America, been to Canada, Mexico, Bahamas, U.K., Greece, Italy, Azores (Portuguese territory), Iraq, Afghanistan, Qatar, Kuwait, and Peru.

Favorites:

-San Diego, NYC, and Key West
-NC OBX
-driven across the U.S. twice...this is enjoyable to me even if I didn't even stop to visit anything. Want to do it on a motorcycle next, and also in a light civil airplane.
-Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and the Amazon in Peru were really cool. Lima was OK; Cuzco was a nonstop party.


Places I want to go:

-Moscow & St. Petersburg
-southern hemisphere skiing in Chile or Argentina (during our summer)
-Alaska and Hawaii
-Germany--I want to rent a racer and drive the Nurburgring, hopefully go there during Oktoberfest, and see Berlin (to include stuff like Brandenburg Gate) and maybe Munich...and then I want to go ski the Alps; maybe over to Switzerland to ski the Matterhorn (Zermatt resort or something).
-Australia...want to see Perth and Sydney, and maybe Melbourne, the outback, and go dive the Great Barrier Reef.


Everybody's either married or broke or both, though...I have 63 days of leave at work and enough money saved up to travel, but it's tough to find anyone to go with.

[Edited on May 29, 2012 at 11:40 PM. Reason : and the Rocky Mountains are fantastic skiing. Vail is probably my favorite.]

[Edited on May 29, 2012 at 11:41 PM. Reason : motorcycle XC]

5/29/2012 11:37:02 PM

^ I will go!

Have you heard about this program BMW does? You pick up the car in Europe, drive it around then drop it off somewhere & they send it to the US as a used car (you get it in the US) someone was telling me about it

I have spent some time in the Villars in Switzerland but never during the winter, fall only. I'm not a great skier so it would be wasted on me but there is much of Switzerland I'd still like to see-- waiting for my friends who lived there & moved to the UK to move back so I have a place to stay.

South Africa would be cool too. I know 2 people living down there. Unfortunately I don't know them well enough to make a trip to stay with them on my own but I'm hoping to tag on to a trip with a friend in common who does know either of them well enough

5/29/2012 11:44:09 PM

^^ Berlin is an awesome city. If you're a history geek it's amazing.

5/29/2012 11:45:21 PM

Yeah, I'm a combination history geek and bar hopper. Berlin didn't find its way onto the list accidentally.

^^ Yep, most of the German premium manufacturers (as well as, I believe, Volvo and maybe a couple of others) offer European delivery programs. BMW and Porsche supposedly have 2 of the best. You buy a new car through your normal American dealer, and you get it for a lot cheaper because they basically give you all of the kickbacks and incentives instead of giving them to the dealer...it's supposed to financially be a wash or close to it, but you get to pick up your new M3 or 911 or 135i or Cayman S at the factory, where you'll get a tour and nice treatment, and then take a vacation in Germany, with your very own fine new Teutonic automobile at your disposal for transportation...

...then they clean it all up and ship it to America for you (for the same delivery fee that would get tacked on at the dealership, anyway). If I ever buy a new BMW or Porsche, I'll do it for sure. I just can't quite stomach buying a brand new car with that kind of price tag on it...

Yet.

[Edited on May 29, 2012 at 11:58 PM. Reason : ]

5/29/2012 11:56:01 PM

^ yup that's it

It's an incredibly unique experience. Even a wash makes it a fun thing to do!

Oh my car? Yeah, picked it up in Europe, drove it around & had it shipped home. Nbd

If you can afford it, which me thinks you can. I don't care about cars so for someone like me it's a waste. That & I couldn't afford it

5/30/2012 12:11:28 AM

I could buy it. I could not afford it, at least by my interpretation of that word.

[Edited on May 30, 2012 at 12:13 AM. Reason : maybe if I score a job with a fat salary when I get out of the Marines in a couple of years...]

5/30/2012 12:12:55 AM

I'll actually be departing for Shanghai on July 7th for a personal vacation of mine.

5/30/2012 12:17:55 AM

Favorites
Here are places where I've enjoyed the best vacations:

Miami
San Diego


Dream Destinations

Prague
Germany
Austria
Brazil
Czech Replublic
Isle of Mann
UK
Japan

5/30/2012 1:26:53 AM

Favorites:
Marthas Vineyard
Nice, FR
Monaco
Ibiza
Cozumel
Bahamas

Dream:
New Zealand
The Alps
Hawaii
South Pacific

5/30/2012 7:16:40 AM

Quote :

"Everybody's either married or broke or both, though...I have 63 days of leave at work and enough money saved up to travel, but it's tough to find anyone to go with."

I'm looking for someone to hit tomorrowland and the IOMTT with this year or next. The friends I see on the regular are poor Wouldn't mind flying in to ireland (cheapest way to europe) catching some of the IOMTT and then moving to england and using a rail pass.

favorites:
barbados - im there 5+ times a year
atlanta
san diego

goal destinations:
brazil
egypt
china
australia
the rest of the caribbean now that I have a residential visa throughout




[Edited on May 30, 2012 at 8:05 AM. Reason : theDuke866]

5/30/2012 8:02:37 AM

new mexico.

5/30/2012 8:11:42 AM

^^Flying in to Iceland is actually cheaper now. Much cheaper.

5/30/2012 8:21:39 AM

too many favorites - have a few of the dream vacations coming up fairly soon - going to fiji for 5 days in july for my 30th - doing a live aboard dive boat for 3 days in september - also taking my wife to hong kong for her first trip to asia the weekend of the 8th - i've been there before but she's pretty excited

feel fairly lucky that i have been living in one of the dream spots that a bunch of people have put for the past year

[Edited on May 30, 2012 at 8:23 AM. Reason : .]

5/30/2012 8:22:02 AM

Favorites:
Ocracoke
Vermont
Asheville
NYC
Northern California
Saipan
Phuket
Ishigaki
Kyoto
Amsterdam

Dream:
Australia
Hawaii
Italy
Alaskan cruise
Costa Rica
Iceland
somewhere in the Caribbean
Egypt
Greece

[Edited on May 30, 2012 at 9:35 AM. Reason : a]

5/30/2012 9:34:39 AM

Favorites
Micronesia
Alaska
England
Hawaii
Puerto Rico
Key Largo

Dream Destinations
Greece
Italy
France
Ireland
Germany
Egypt
Belize
Costa Rica
Lake Tahoe
Denver
California

5/30/2012 9:38:37 AM

Favorites (I don't go on a lot of vacations, so this list should be short)

Going home for holidays. It's very relaxing and both places are very relaxing and picturesque:
- Mom's house at Lake Waccamaw
- Girlfriend's parent's house in Connecticut

Backpacking Europe was one of the best experiences I've ever had
One week stay in Kuaui with my mother and step-dad
I do New Years in Hope Town, Bahamas every year...it's awesome



Dream Destinations

Fiji
Patagonia
Thailand
Anywhere overseas for a World Cup
Virgin Islands (will be going next year for New Years)

5/30/2012 9:38:47 AM

all you people saying thailand,

fucking do it, it's cheap as shit and a blast...

you can get round trip air for ~$1k, and live like a king for another $500 for 2 weeks.

[Edited on May 30, 2012 at 9:49 AM. Reason : e]

5/30/2012 9:49:24 AM

^

Just make sure it's not monsoon season when you go.

5/30/2012 9:51:27 AM

favorites:

glacier national park, MT
maroon bells/snowmass wilderness, CO
pisgah national forest, NC

dream:

denali national park, AK
trek to everest base camp, nepal
new zealand (you'd have to sedate me for the flight)

5/30/2012 10:02:42 AM

I think I watched too many scary documentaries about thailand :/

Quote :

"- Mom's house at Lake Waccamaw"

Well at least you didn't say White Lake. I was always confused when people would brag about going to white lake every year since they were born. Sometimes they were even from out of state.


I loved England
Disney World was awesome when I was 6


I really want to rent a cabin in the Mountains near some awesome hiking trails during Fall.
Hawaii
Alaskan cruise
UK, Holland, Italy, France, Ireland, Greece
Australia and New Zealand.

5/30/2012 10:03:48 AM

Favorites:

Bavaria
Prague
Barcelona
West coast of Ireland
Switzerland/Alps (for the sights)
The Florida Keys

Dreams:

Japan
Greece
Croatia

5/30/2012 10:03:49 AM

Ibiza

5/30/2012 10:07:41 AM

Quote :

"Flying in to Iceland is actually cheaper now. Much cheaper."

Is it really? It used to be far and away the cheapest avenue into europe but over the last few years their prices have seemed to skyrocket. Last I checked, they were still pretty high (or at least high enough that it wasn't worth the extra time it takes to get to europe through them). That said, I was pretty spoiled flying them roundtrip from Sweden to the US for $400

5/30/2012 10:11:16 AM

Favorites:
San Francisco
Asheville

I'm taking first international trip in June: Costa Rica

Dream:
Brazil
Australia
Japan
South Africa
Thailand

[Edited on May 30, 2012 at 10:17 AM. Reason : completely forgot Thailand, was actually going to be my first trip but the opportunity fell through]

5/30/2012 10:13:23 AM

Quote :

"all you people saying thailand, fucking do it, it's cheap as shit and a blast... you can get round trip air for ~$1k, and live like a king for another $500 for 2 weeks. "

Oh definitely. I just need to find the time. I feel like it's a place you need to spend AT LEAST two weeks in. It might be a honeymoon destination (although the Virgin Islands and Fiji could also fall into that area).

5/30/2012 10:16:16 AM

Quote :

"Is it really? It used to be far and away the cheapest avenue into europe but over the last few years their prices have seemed to skyrocket. Last I checked, they were still pretty high (or at least high enough that it wasn't worth the extra time it takes to get to europe through them). That said, I was pretty spoiled flying them roundtrip from Sweden to the US for $400 "

I've seen dirt cheap roundtrip tickets to Iceland depending on the time of year. Ever since their economy crashed their strategy seems to be being a cheap vacation destination. One of our interns went out there for spring break this year and said her tickets were $300 roundtrip. My damn tickets to Seattle this summer were more than that.

5/30/2012 10:19:39 AM

add to my topiks

5/30/2012 10:23:34 AM

i haven't been on a true vacation in so long i don't even know where i'd go

5/30/2012 10:25:27 AM

Anyone ever done WOOFing as a way to enjoy an extended stay in country? A few friends have done it and had positive experiences on cacao farms and whatnot. It seems less ideal if you're hoping to see a country as its primarily rural locations, but in theory it's a great way to immerse yourself in culture.

5/30/2012 10:32:38 AM

Has anyone been to Singapore?

I've got some friends I could stay with there...not sure about if the destination warrants it.

5/30/2012 10:50:04 AM

Favorites

South African trip-- Weeklong safari at Kruger national reserve, taking an overnight train from Joburg to Cape Town. Touring wine county in the Stellenbosch area. (3 week trip)

Weekends at Lake Gaston and Weeks at Marco Island Florida (helps having family who have nice shit I can't afford but can enjoy on their dime)

Steamboat, CO. One of the most epic ski trips of my life. Nothing like barreling down through narrow chutes in 29" of fresh pow.

Cross country road trip in 2004. Started in Portland, OR and drove down the PCH down to LA with 4 college buddies. Then cut across and drove back to Raleigh, stopping at random places along the way.

Costa Rica. Stayed in Guanacaste in a rented house with a cook, bartender, and maid dedicated to us.

Destination Wishlist

Glacier national park
Alaska
Croatia
Thailand
Skiing South America
The Exumas

5/30/2012 11:02:45 AM

Favorites

Brazil
Family US West RV tour (Vegas, Grand Canyon, Deserts, Hoover Dam)
Monte Treblanch, Canada
Assissi and Rome, Italy
Costa Rica
Bahamas
Thailand (should have gone more south away from Bangkok and bought a ticket for my gf)
NYC
Munich

Dream Destinations

Travel around China
Lake Tahoe
Hawaii
South Pacific / Fiji

[Edited on May 30, 2012 at 11:21 AM. Reason : all of my favorites I will try to get to again..]

5/30/2012 11:20:25 AM

st, Lucia is HANDS DOWN my favorite vacation ever.

I mean...



This was taken from our bed, through the operable walls, over the pool and hot tub, out over the bay.


Places i want to go... tahiti



and the rest would just be history stuff through europe & asia

I'd like to see brodic castle because i'm supposed to be related to former inhabitants.



[Edited on May 30, 2012 at 11:30 AM. Reason : .]

5/30/2012 11:29:01 AM

That looks awesome. Where is that first place?

5/30/2012 11:32:30 AM

Sandals Resort St. Lucia.

Had a private butler service, a free golf course and you were not allowed to tip.

so... didn't have to carry anything but the room key the whole time we were there.

I think it was 4 grand for the week but with all we did.. EASILY worth it.

And we got one of the most expensive rooms in the place.

5/30/2012 11:36:53 AM

Quote :

"Anyone ever done WOOFing as a way to enjoy an extended stay in country? A few friends have done it and had positive experiences on cacao farms and whatnot. It seems less ideal if you're hoping to see a country as its primarily rural locations, but in theory it's a great way to immerse yourself in culture. "

My sister has done it a couple of times. She said it can be really hit or miss. Some of the places she stayed at were awesome and she learned a lot. Other places it was just rednecks in a trailer looking for free labor to clear brush from their property or some other crap and a complete waste of time and money. So just make sure to do your research on a place before committing.

5/30/2012 11:38:38 AM

Quote :

"all you people saying thailand, fucking do it, it's cheap as shit and a blast... you can get round trip air for ~$1k, and live like a king for another $500 for 2 weeks."

Hmmm, I've never really thought about Thailand as a great destination, but it would be something really new and different, and I love Thai food. What am I missing?

5/30/2012 10:26:39 PM

Dream destinations:

Vietnam
Cuba (if it ever gets easier/more legal)
Cape Town, South Africa
India (Goa, maybe?)
Jerusalem
Beirut

Favorite Destinations:

Cuzco, Peru. I'd sell the lot of you into slavery to go back there, if I could find a buyer. Even though I was sick most of the time I was there, it was awesome. And, naturally, Macchu Picchu -- the only thing I've ever seen that didn't just meet expectations, it blew them out of the fucking water.

---

There's a chance that I'll get to do some of the dream vacations after I'm done with Peace Corps in 2014. South Africa might be the easiest to swing -- same continent, plus it's a PC country so there's free places to stay scattered around. Vietnam is the prize, though, and I probably won't have the means to go until long after I'm back.

5/30/2012 10:43:19 PM

Cuzco is definitely a blast. Lots of hiking trails with some old ruins and stuff just outside the city, some good restaurants, and nightlife out the ass for a city that size. We'd go booming until 4 am on, like, a Tuesday, and finally call it quits and go home when we'd had enough, but the bars were still open and busy. They had a little wine bar there that I really liked, too.




Did you hike the Inca Trail, or take the train to Machu Picchu? I highly recommend the trail with one of the tour companies...the hike through the Andes and all the scenery along the way was, to me, probably more enjoyable than MP itself (although that was certainly impressive).

and yeah, I'd love to check out everything else on your list, other than I don't know that I'd be on fire about Vietnam.

[Edited on May 30, 2012 at 10:59 PM. Reason : I actually like the Middle East in a lot of ways.]

5/30/2012 10:58:42 PM

I was scheduled to do the Inca Trail but got dysentery right before departure, so I had to take the train like a pussy. I've regretted it ever since, and if I ever have the opportunity I'm going to hike the shit out of that thing.

I'm not sure I found the wine bar, but I did enjoy the "highest-altitude Irish-owned pub in the world."

Quote :

"I don't know that I'd be on fire about Vietnam."

Cheap living. Breathtaking scenery in the country, great architecture in the old cities. Fantastic food. Gorgeous women. The smug sense of satisfaction that comes with knowing that they're grabbing onto capitalism with both hands, I don't care how the war worked out. It's got a lot going for it.

[Edited on May 30, 2012 at 11:19 PM. Reason : did, I DID enjoy the pub]

5/30/2012 11:19:21 PM

Oh man, you missed out. If you ever go back, you HAVE to do the full 5-day hike.

We were the only 2 Americans in our group...the rest were Irish, British, Aussie, or Kiwis. Once we got to MP and saw all the rest of the tourists there--the ones who took the train--we noticed they were almost exclusively fatass Americans or Japanese tourists with gigantic SLR cameras. The stereotype fulfillment was uncanny.

Oh, and you mean this highest-altitude Irish pub?



I, too, enjoyed it.

5/30/2012 11:33:19 PM

Quote :

"Oh man, you missed out."

Yes. I'm aware. God-damn it. And not just because on the other extreme from "awesome" is "peeing out of your butthole thirty times a day for a week."

Sigh...I did climb up Huayna Picchu, the taller mountain next door to Macchu Picchu. I'm not in great shape generally and was still weak from the aforementioned butthole distress, but I got to the top -- and I'm proud to say that the folks I ended up near for most of the climb were fat non-Americans, dressed every bit as ridiculously as Yanks.

And yeah, that looks like the pub. It's been...Christ, seven years now almost exactly, but I'd recognize it anywhere. As soon as we got back from MP and I was ready (ravenous) to eat real food again, I said down at the corner table behind those blue doors and ate nachos and a burger. And drank many Cusquenas -- the first beer I ever liked, and which I recognize on the table because I've got empty bottles of it on the bookshelf right behind me.

[Edited on May 31, 2012 at 1:17 AM. Reason : God, I miss Cusquena]

5/31/2012 1:16:16 AM

I'm adding Taos, New Mexico to places I want to visit.

5/31/2012 9:16:43 AM