Best place for an unplanned, take it as it comes holiday
Discussion
Is there anywhere left that's like the Greek Islands in the 1980's / 1990's? Somewhere where you can just turn up, find a room, stay a few days and then move on to the next village / island / country. Outside peak season obviously.
Must haves are:
Decent beaches with nothing in the water that wants to kill you or hurt you
Decent weather
Decent food
Relaxed vibe
Reasonably priced
It seems like the internet has killed the concept of spontaneity on holiday, as pretty much everything seems to be bookable on-line and therefore booked. It also seems like there are loads more people travelling off-peak so places are busier than they used to be.
Ideally, I'd like to be able to leave the return flight unbooked / open-dated, so that we can come back when we feel like it, rather than be away for a fixed period. Unbooked would be ideal, so that we're not tied to a specific airport.
I think you could probably get the spontaneity angle doing something like Inter-Railing and staying in cheap hotels in towns / cities. However, we want beach and relaxed rather than sightseeing and excitement.
Must haves are:
Decent beaches with nothing in the water that wants to kill you or hurt you
Decent weather
Decent food
Relaxed vibe
Reasonably priced
It seems like the internet has killed the concept of spontaneity on holiday, as pretty much everything seems to be bookable on-line and therefore booked. It also seems like there are loads more people travelling off-peak so places are busier than they used to be.
Ideally, I'd like to be able to leave the return flight unbooked / open-dated, so that we can come back when we feel like it, rather than be away for a fixed period. Unbooked would be ideal, so that we're not tied to a specific airport.
I think you could probably get the spontaneity angle doing something like Inter-Railing and staying in cheap hotels in towns / cities. However, we want beach and relaxed rather than sightseeing and excitement.
I always holiday like this. To an extent you re correct about the internet having spoiled it a bit, but it also enables you to research hotels before you get there. You can book before you arrive if you want or just check availability and wing it when you get there, often for a better rate than their online price.
Done it all over Asia and in Mexico. Thailand meets all your criteria.
Closer to home, a friend just did a trip round Poland, Bosnia, Albania and Montenegro without booking anything in advance.
I can’t see any reason why you couldn’t do it anywhere though, especially outside of high season, there’ll be plenty of empty hotel rooms.
Try a little test run now. Pick a place you fancy and look on booking.com for hotels available tonight. Just need to be prepared to either up your budget or lower your standards if necessary!
Done it all over Asia and in Mexico. Thailand meets all your criteria.
Closer to home, a friend just did a trip round Poland, Bosnia, Albania and Montenegro without booking anything in advance.
I can’t see any reason why you couldn’t do it anywhere though, especially outside of high season, there’ll be plenty of empty hotel rooms.
Try a little test run now. Pick a place you fancy and look on booking.com for hotels available tonight. Just need to be prepared to either up your budget or lower your standards if necessary!
Edited by Philplop on Tuesday 29th July 09:45
If its Europe then Albania would be the obvious choice, followed by Romania and then Bulgaria if you stay away from the most popular resorts.
Slightly further if you are willing to go via somewhere like Türkiye then Georgia and Azerbaijan could fit the bill.
Long haul Thailand is the obvious answer, although Cambodia is less popular and like Thailand was 30 years ago if you stay away from Siem Reap (great place but popular) from what I understand you can find some very rustic accommodation on their quieter islands.
Tioman islands in Malaysia are often overlooked as they are very quiet and you cant buy alcohol on the islands (bringing it with you is fine)
Never been but Goa?
Slightly further if you are willing to go via somewhere like Türkiye then Georgia and Azerbaijan could fit the bill.
Long haul Thailand is the obvious answer, although Cambodia is less popular and like Thailand was 30 years ago if you stay away from Siem Reap (great place but popular) from what I understand you can find some very rustic accommodation on their quieter islands.
Tioman islands in Malaysia are often overlooked as they are very quiet and you cant buy alcohol on the islands (bringing it with you is fine)
Never been but Goa?
RichFN2 said:
If its Europe then Albania would be the obvious choice, followed by Romania and then Bulgaria if you stay away from the most popular resorts.
Slightly further if you are willing to go via somewhere like Türkiye then Georgia and Azerbaijan could fit the bill.
Long haul Thailand is the obvious answer, although Cambodia is less popular and like Thailand was 30 years ago if you stay away from Siem Reap (great place but popular) from what I understand you can find some very rustic accommodation on their quieter islands.
Tioman islands in Malaysia are often overlooked as they are very quiet and you cant buy alcohol on the islands (bringing it with you is fine)
Never been but Goa?
So basically go take a European holiday anywhere thats got streams of asylum seekers fleeing to the UK from.Slightly further if you are willing to go via somewhere like Türkiye then Georgia and Azerbaijan could fit the bill.
Long haul Thailand is the obvious answer, although Cambodia is less popular and like Thailand was 30 years ago if you stay away from Siem Reap (great place but popular) from what I understand you can find some very rustic accommodation on their quieter islands.
Tioman islands in Malaysia are often overlooked as they are very quiet and you cant buy alcohol on the islands (bringing it with you is fine)
Never been but Goa?
or
Visit a developing war zone in Cambodia and Thailand
bennno said:
RichFN2 said:
If its Europe then Albania would be the obvious choice, followed by Romania and then Bulgaria if you stay away from the most popular resorts.
Slightly further if you are willing to go via somewhere like Türkiye then Georgia and Azerbaijan could fit the bill.
Long haul Thailand is the obvious answer, although Cambodia is less popular and like Thailand was 30 years ago if you stay away from Siem Reap (great place but popular) from what I understand you can find some very rustic accommodation on their quieter islands.
Tioman islands in Malaysia are often overlooked as they are very quiet and you cant buy alcohol on the islands (bringing it with you is fine)
Never been but Goa?
So basically go take a European holiday anywhere thats got streams of asylum seekers fleeing to the UK from.Slightly further if you are willing to go via somewhere like Türkiye then Georgia and Azerbaijan could fit the bill.
Long haul Thailand is the obvious answer, although Cambodia is less popular and like Thailand was 30 years ago if you stay away from Siem Reap (great place but popular) from what I understand you can find some very rustic accommodation on their quieter islands.
Tioman islands in Malaysia are often overlooked as they are very quiet and you cant buy alcohol on the islands (bringing it with you is fine)
Never been but Goa?
or
Visit a developing war zone in Cambodia and Thailand
If the OP wants destinations that are not overdeveloped from mass tourism then you need to consider places where people can apply the above assumptions.
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