Where should I travel to next?

[47of74]

I'm trying to decide where I want to go next, having been to Italy this past March/April. I want to do something different than what I've done before (Italy, Turkey, Canada). I've been thinking of South America, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the UK, Spain, Morocco, etc.

Anyone here have any suggestions that I might not have considered? (I'm not interested in China or Russia right now).

[cbayer]

1. I've been in Mexico for the past 6 months and I really love it.

It's accessible, inexpensive, has great food and wonderful people.

I have driven all over the country, and other than the borders, have never felt unsafe in any way.

Did you do Istanbul on your Turkey trip? I loved it.

And even more exotic is Africa. Kenya is a great jumping off destination for going on safari and to the coast. It can be done either very inexpensively or not, depending on what you want.

If you haven't made a cross country US trip, you might consider that. Do an off-highway "no-chains" trip and you are unlikely to be disappointed.

On my list is southeast asia.

Tell me about your Italy time. I am probably going there in a month or so.

[47of74]

3. Yes

Yes I did get to spend a little time in Istanbul on my trip there. Not nearly enough though. If I do go back I'm going to have to spend more than a day there. I think Turkey was my favorite.

I've been on three trips to Italy. My first trip was in 2009. It was a seven day jaunt from Rome up to Venice, over to Florence, and then back down to Rome. I had a good time but it was in August when it is HOT outside. The following year I took a 12 day trip that in addition to the destinations in the first trip also included Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast, and Milan. That was in late September and early October so the weather was much nicer. My trip this year was down to Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast and from there down to Sicily. I then went to Rome and spent three days exploring the city on my own - I got to see what I wanted to on my own pace and got to see a bit of Rome that you wouldn't see on a tour.

I've done a couple cross country drives.

My thing when I go to see my sister in St. Louis is that we try to avoid chain places, and if we can't we at least go to chain places that aren't around where I live. (I just hope next trip down she doesn't want to get Papa Greaseball pizza. Mere mention of his pizza turns my stomach).

[cbayer]

6. Your times in Italy sound wonderful.

We are looking to get a small apartment outside rome and stay for a month or two (hurricane season in Mexico). I've never been to Sicily and would love to do that.

If Mexico makes your short list, let me know. I've got lots of suggestions.

[elleng]

12. Try Cinque Terre, if you can, cbayer,

when you get to Italy; train from Genoa. Might be more logistically feasible than Sicily, and is lovely.

[cbayer]

13. Thanks elleng.

I am going to have an extended time there and while I want to be primarily based in a small village somewhere near Rome, I also am planning time for some traveling.

I love traveling on the cheap and particularly love doing the research and planning to make that happen, so this is fun.

[elleng]

14. I used to spend lots of time doing the research for our trips,

had a great time.

Here are some articles: http://www.nytimes.com/travel/guides/europe/italy/cinqueterre/overview.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/06/travel/treasures-of-the-cinque-terre.html

http://traveltips.usatoday.com/lodging-cinque-terre-italy-55548.html

We, the family, visited there as part of a trip in 2000 begun by a wedding in Poland. And years before, did around France, took me AGES to plan that one, with 3 + 6 year olds. Italy honeymoon included driving around, NOTHING planned (but arrival in Rome, which my Dad booked for us.)

[cbayer]

15. I wish for you many, many more opportunities to travel.

[elleng]

16. Thanks, sweets,

that part of my life may have largely expired; grandchildren now, and living here near a new one, due in July!





DID do Road Scholar to Paris a few years ago, with a DUer!

[liberal N proud]

2. France & Germany are great but popular

Luxembourg might be cool.

Ever thought about Singapore? I travel there on business occasionally and enjoy it.

[47of74]

4. I'd like to see Luxembourg...

...because it's where my dad's side of the family is from. My mom's side is mainly from western Germany (but I think there's some Luxembourg in the mix too).

[Major Nikon]

7. I've been to Luxembourg

It's an interesting place worth spending a day or two, but I just didn't think there was a lot to see there. It seemed to be more about money and shopping than culture. It is kinda neat the way the valley that's in the middle of the capital city dips far beneath the bustle of he city and makes a nice little oasis.

I thought the Bavaria area of Germany and several areas of France are far more interesting.

[liberal N proud]

9. Have you ever been to Switzerland?

I and my wife love Switzerland. We toured from Geneva, the Neuchatel, Bern, down to Interlaken and then Lauterbrunnen. Then over to the Valais and around to Montroeux. The Swiss hospitality is great.

[greatauntoftriplets]

11. My mother's parents came from Luxembourg.

It's a beautiful country, good to combine with France and/or Germany. I'm not sure what your particular interests are, but Luxembourg City is lovely, especially the old city in the Valley of the Petrusse. There are houses built into the rocks and the old Casemates (fortress) are fascinating. Cafe life is quite lively and there's a great national museum. If you go, watch the changing of the guard at the royal palace. It consists of a couple of guys jumping off of a truck and the departing guards jumping on the truck. Very funny, especially in comparison to the one in England.

Once you get out into the country, there are castles (mostly privately owned, though), wineries along the Moselle that have tastings, the Ardenne hills in the north and some very pretty towns -- Esch sur Alzette is not one of those, however.

[TreasonousBastard]

5. Been to Germany many times, but...

you kinda have to know how to get around. It's easy, but some of the best places, like Rothenberg ob den Tauber, aren't that well known. And the Fall might be the best time when it's not overrun with tour groups.

Scotland is way cool. If they still have the ScotRail Pass, it lets you on any train, bus or ferry, which means you can go anywhere you want. And the train rides can be spectacular. They even have marked trails between some stations so you can get off and hike through the moors and get on the next train at the next stop.

Spain, France, and the Benelux countries I haven't been to in over 30 years, so I can't speak for them now.

You might also consider the Czech Republic. Had a great time in Prague.

In the end, it pretty much depends on what you like to do on a trip-- absorb culture, visit history, meet interesting people, eat, take in the scenery...

[Lydia Leftcoast]

8. The ScotRail Pass is a subset of the BritRail Pass, which I recommend if you go to the UK

because fares on trains in the UK are like airfares and can vary tremendously depending on when you buy them. With a BritRail Pass, you just show the conductor your pass when he or she comes by.

[TreasonousBastard]

10. I don't know if it's changed since I was there...

but I used the BritRail Pass to get from London to Edinburgh and then found out only the ScotRail Pass would let me on the ferries.

When planning the trip, I saved over 300 bucks flying into London, which more than paid for the pass, so I wasn't all that disappointed.

[DrDan]

17. I would suggest France - and check out the Gites

these are wonderful old buildings (barns, farmhouses, etc) that have been remodeled and are available for a fraction of the cost of a hotel.

We stayed in one an hour outside of Paris for 2 weeks last year - 4 of us - for about $800. We had a car and were about 10 minutes from a train stop that got us downtown Paris in an hour. Our hosts ran a working farm, spoke little English, but were terrific in helping us explore the area.

We will definitely do this again. So much more relaxing than staying in the center of the city.

[CTyankee]

18. Can you go to Paris for a week? I did that in 2011 and it was a great experience...

The Louvre, the Musee d'Orsay...wonderful for all the art...

It is a magical city. Exceptional. Go.

You will not be disappointed...

[greatauntoftriplets]

19. Also the Orangerie!

Monet Water Lilies are there.

[CTyankee]

20. The Orangerie is a great experience...you can't talk, only whisper and that music

is dreamlike...quite a unique place...

Those water lilies are immense...wasn't expecting such large tableaux...

[greatauntoftriplets]

21. I know!

I hadn't realized they were curved, either. An amazing sight.

[davidpdx]

22. Korea is nice in the early spring

Right around the beginning of April when it starts to warm up. May-September is too hot and December through February is too cold. If you can plan it when the cherry blossoms bloom it is wonderful. The end of March or beginning of October aren't bad either.