Best place you've ever travelled to?
Discussion
troika said:
Lots and lots of stunning places, but probably the Vic Falls (flew over it in a microlight).
With Batoka? I also did a helicopter flight with them. Stayed at the Royal Livingstone, right on the river/falls, utterly fabulous having a sundowner or three on the decking right on the river, watching hippo and crocs, with zebra and giraffe wandering around the hotel grounds. Also had a couple of days down in Botswana at Chobe doing jeep/boat safari. Had a mental night out in Livingstone.That's my favourite place visited. Followed by Japan, Thailand, Taiwan, China.
Lake Toba (Danu Toba) located on the Island of Sumatra, bit of a pig to get to. Lake Toba is located in one of Indonesia’s most populous provinces, North Sumatra, in the middle of the northern part of the island of Sumatra, lying at an altitude of 900 meters. It is the largest lake in Indonesia, formed in the caldera of a supervolcano
I went in 99, the scenery was breathtaking, also a very relaxing place to stay. Although, while I was there, they were in the midst of a civil war which gave it a bit of an edge.
Vietnam, fascinating country and superb scenery. The local food is outstanding with a lot of variety.
I went in 99, the scenery was breathtaking, also a very relaxing place to stay. Although, while I was there, they were in the midst of a civil war which gave it a bit of an edge.
Vietnam, fascinating country and superb scenery. The local food is outstanding with a lot of variety.
Thailand. Bangkok feels like a second home. Perfect SE Asia hub. So many famous islands ruined, mostly catering to mass, and I mean mass Chinese tourism. Still plenty of unspoilt gems to be found. Off there again at Xmas.
Bali - less spoilt Thailand. Much smaller. Lovely. Just lovely.
Italy - nicest people in Europe (excluding Pisa!). I lived there, they are that welcoming. Rome is mind blowing if you appreciate history. Food is amazing, culture is superb. Avoid Venice other than spring or late autumn. Stupidly busy.
Namibia, Botswana. Amazing. Okovanga Delta in Botswana is a lifetime memory.
South Africa not to be missed but edgey.
USA brilliant. Don't let the TV set an impression. Apart from Florida . Every state is like a different country. Where else can you ski, beach, pop over to Mexico, and watch a space ship launch. It's no surprise most don't bother with a passport.
Egypt - again, for history - mind blowing.
Cambodia - Angkor Wat is probably my best travelling memory ever. It was around 15 years ago. Madly full of Chinese tourists now.
Many others but those are the "best" that spring to mind instinctively.
I will add I have nothing against Chinese , I'm going there soon. It's just they have mobilised now that they are considerably better off and they can totally swamp tourist destinations. The destinations then cater specifically for them.
Bali - less spoilt Thailand. Much smaller. Lovely. Just lovely.
Italy - nicest people in Europe (excluding Pisa!). I lived there, they are that welcoming. Rome is mind blowing if you appreciate history. Food is amazing, culture is superb. Avoid Venice other than spring or late autumn. Stupidly busy.
Namibia, Botswana. Amazing. Okovanga Delta in Botswana is a lifetime memory.
South Africa not to be missed but edgey.
USA brilliant. Don't let the TV set an impression. Apart from Florida . Every state is like a different country. Where else can you ski, beach, pop over to Mexico, and watch a space ship launch. It's no surprise most don't bother with a passport.
Egypt - again, for history - mind blowing.
Cambodia - Angkor Wat is probably my best travelling memory ever. It was around 15 years ago. Madly full of Chinese tourists now.
Many others but those are the "best" that spring to mind instinctively.
I will add I have nothing against Chinese , I'm going there soon. It's just they have mobilised now that they are considerably better off and they can totally swamp tourist destinations. The destinations then cater specifically for them.
The point about Chinese tourists is fair. They tend to rush around just taking photos of everything and then leave without trying to appreciate what it is they are looking at or experiencing. They also tend to do highly organised trips so coach loads of people at a time. They also don’t seem to understand that tranquility is beautiful, everything has to be done at a million miles an hour and very loudly. Personal space and queuing are areas that could be worked on too. I guess as they become more worldly they’ll adapt. We met a few Chinese couples on our Australia holiday who weren’t travelling in big groups and they seemed lovely and polite so there is hope!
djc206 said:
The point about Chinese tourists is fair. They tend to rush around just taking photos of everything and then leave without trying to appreciate what it is they are looking at or experiencing. They also tend to do highly organised trips so coach loads of people at a time. They also don’t seem to understand that tranquility is beautiful, everything has to be done at a million miles an hour and very loudly. Personal space and queuing are areas that could be worked on too. I guess as they become more worldly they’ll adapt. We met a few Chinese couples on our Australia holiday who weren’t travelling in big groups and they seemed lovely and polite so there is hope!
Rather like the Yanks then.......
djc206 said:
The point about Chinese tourists is fair. They tend to rush around just taking photos of everything and then leave without trying to appreciate what it is they are looking at or experiencing. They also tend to do highly organised trips so coach loads of people at a time. They also don’t seem to understand that tranquility is beautiful, everything has to be done at a million miles an hour and very loudly. Personal space and queuing are areas that could be worked on too. I guess as they become more worldly they’ll adapt. We met a few Chinese couples on our Australia holiday who weren’t travelling in big groups and they seemed lovely and polite so there is hope!
Yep I have heard bad things about Chinese tourists, however when we went to Chiang Mai 2 years ago there were quite few there and pretty much everyone in our hotel (more of a B&B but looked like a hotel; breakfast only), were Chinese and they were fine but they seemed to be holidaying like us, as in doing their own thing as opposed to being part of large organised groups.I did almost lose it with a Chinese woman in the security queue at the airport in Bangkok though when leaving to come home, she had absolutely no concept of personal space or hanging back whilst I sorted myself and my stuff out to be scanned, I only didn't say anything as the wife would have got the hump with me for making a scene!!
Did make me laugh though with the young girls and their Instagram photo posing, god they spend literally hours just perfecting the perfect shots, it was quite funny to watch.
HTP99 said:
Did make me laugh though with the young girls and their Instagram photo posing, god they spend literally hours just perfecting the perfect shots, it was quite funny to watch.
The Russians win in this department! Hours on end, several outfit changes, hair and make up and many different locations! I would imagine they store the photos up and make out they are travelling year round? when in fact they have just gone away and spent all their time worrying about how people view them! Madness!!! In Bali, at any beautiful spot that has been Instagrammed by someone that is either famous, or big on Insta (same thing now!) there are wall to wall beauties flicking their hair in the water (as naked as is possible without showing beaver) whilst a pal takes slow mo pics.
On the famouse rice terraces, there were loads of air heads posing in their finest gear (in muddy rice fields), pouting, scrunching hair.
There are now a LOT of professional travellers who get all their money from product placement and resort reviews on Instagram. It is so sad it made my heart sink after a while.
They literally arrive, push everyone out of the way, pose / photo shoot. Leave. They don't even look around.
Judging by their physical appearance, they are a mix of career travellers (the prettiest), and just air heads who's ambition in life is to look great on social media (the rest) - which is terrifyingly common now.
Beauty spots are now, in Bali at least, called "Selfie spots" on all the signs (Or "Perfect Instagram here!").
The real crime is that no beauty spot is sacred - once someone famous pouts there, 1000's will follow. The waterfall with the pouting beavers was a tough climb down, but still, some of the pouters made it down, and yes, a fair few were Russian.
I made it a sport of swimming my fat balding self behind them , "in shot", so they had to keep moving the camera around :-)
Ahh. just remember the Vatican! - walking down the corridoors with all the sculptures/busts/statues (with penises covered up, by the last pope....) - so densly packed with Chinese tour groups (always following a screaming tour guide holding a flag aloft) that you could not stop, so the Chinese just held phones on the end of selfie sticks (idiot arrows) up above their heads and took photos of everything without looking, or stopping. Utter madness.
On the famouse rice terraces, there were loads of air heads posing in their finest gear (in muddy rice fields), pouting, scrunching hair.
There are now a LOT of professional travellers who get all their money from product placement and resort reviews on Instagram. It is so sad it made my heart sink after a while.
They literally arrive, push everyone out of the way, pose / photo shoot. Leave. They don't even look around.
Judging by their physical appearance, they are a mix of career travellers (the prettiest), and just air heads who's ambition in life is to look great on social media (the rest) - which is terrifyingly common now.
Beauty spots are now, in Bali at least, called "Selfie spots" on all the signs (Or "Perfect Instagram here!").
The real crime is that no beauty spot is sacred - once someone famous pouts there, 1000's will follow. The waterfall with the pouting beavers was a tough climb down, but still, some of the pouters made it down, and yes, a fair few were Russian.
I made it a sport of swimming my fat balding self behind them , "in shot", so they had to keep moving the camera around :-)
Ahh. just remember the Vatican! - walking down the corridoors with all the sculptures/busts/statues (with penises covered up, by the last pope....) - so densly packed with Chinese tour groups (always following a screaming tour guide holding a flag aloft) that you could not stop, so the Chinese just held phones on the end of selfie sticks (idiot arrows) up above their heads and took photos of everything without looking, or stopping. Utter madness.
Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 30th October 12:20
Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 30th October 12:20
JuniorD said:
I thought Bali was a bit of a dump, at least the bits I went to (Kuta, Nus Dua and Ubud). No doubt there must be some paradise-like spots but I can't be bothered to go back there to see them. The food was great though.
Well, Kuta is basically Magaluf for Aussie teens. Nus Dua is not much different and only 7Ks from the airport, and Ubud (which I really liked the vibe of - quite backpacker-centric) is basically the nearest day trip inland from where you were, to where everyone goes who haven't go the time or inclination to go an further. No wonder you thought not much of Bali.We scootered from one end to the other (top to bottom) across the mountain and it was just mile after mile of stunning jungle, villages, lakes, views. Stayed in different places over three weeks. It's not the beach haven the Thailand is, but for a tropical getaway it was superb, with lovely people.
Kuta we avoided like the plague after reading about it.
We did go on a luxury accomodation package over 4 locations, but I always rent a scooter and go explore.
Agreed it is far to far away to revisit, and it certainly isn't "Thailand". We found a lot of the public beaches to be a bit "harsh".
Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 30th October 16:01
Baffles me and depresses me that you can go to some of the most beautiful places in the world and 80% of the people spend the entire time taking pictures of themselves with mobile phones.
Artists Point in Yellowstone was just a sea of people doing that - mostly Chinese.
The internet has created mass tourism and it’s only going to get worse.
Artists Point in Yellowstone was just a sea of people doing that - mostly Chinese.
The internet has created mass tourism and it’s only going to get worse.
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