[Andre Cardinal]

Went to Maui last year....what a place. I would imagine these Polynesian Islands to be somewhat similar.

I'm open to any suggestions, and any opinions and experiences anyone has had anywhere.

[trevor]

Anybody ever gone in the other direction? Such as Japan, China, Thailand, Australia, Vietnam, etc. etc.? I have a friend that travels down to Sri Lanka twice a year, and loves it.

Also, I've heard New Zealand is just amazing.

So many places, so little time.

Don't know why I didn't see this thread before but I can suggest a couple. Just got married in Scotland three weeks ago. Beautiful but expensive! Loved the mountains, people, history. Basically what Chris has already said.

In the summer of 2002, right after graduation, I went and spent 20 days in Japan, specifically Tokyo and Kioto, then spent 2 months in Thailand. Both were fantastic and created lifelong memories for me. Tokyo is really the Technological capital of the world so if you are interested and intrigued by that kind of stuff, along with some crazy hustle and bustle, then that is the place for you.

...watch your head if you're tall.

Thailand was another experience altogether. They love Canadians there. Very third world country-ish and I suggest that if your wife isn't into squatting over holes in the ground or showering in really cold water, and I mean colder than the ocean is outside of your bungalow, you might want to rethink this option. On the flip side, if you don't have any problem with that, then Thailand (specifically the islands like Koh Pha Ngan & Koh Samui) are the place to go. Great shopping, beautiful beaches, nice places to stay, etc. etc.

....and of course, watch your head if you're tall!

Cheers!
Trevor

[surferguy]

well what kinds of activities do you want to do? How long is the vacation and how old are you? Give me a brief summary of what types of experiances you want and I will help you choose a destination...

And the survivor is just a coincidence...

[chicagoblackhawks77]

Go check out Macchu Picchu in Peru. I was ambivilent at first, but it was cheap, so I decided to go with my buddies... Completely blown away!!! It was unreal. Cheap, friendly people, tremendous history with Incan Culture and Spanish Conquest. Awesome!

Italy was also cool. I was fortunate enough to go for free by taking a group of 45 of my High School students... which sucked, but I'd still highly recomend Florence, Venice and Rome... if you get the chance go check out Asissi as well... it was beautiful. If you go to Florence, check out this restaurant called Trattoria Carabaccio, it's a little off the beaten path, but super authentic, and not too pricy... if you go, I can get you the info, I still have the card somewhere.

Those are my top two by far... but that said, I think there are a ton of cool things to check out in NA too. After college I went to Isle Royale - this 59 mile island out in Lake Superior- for some hiking and camping. It was amazing. Some of the only remaining primary growth - pre-columbian forest left in this contintent. Really cool, plus, there are two wolf packs that live on the island!!

Okay, that's what I've got..

[sherpahigh]

New Zealand is amazing. Beautiful country with incredible scenery. Lots of great outdoors stuff to do there as well.

Australia was great as well. Super easy country to travel in so probably okay to put off for travel with a baby. New Zealand's easy as well.

A couple places I'm glad I've gone to without a baby or kids are China, and the Caribbean. Specifically the BVI's. Incredibly relaxed, beautiful place. China was great and for me it was relativley easy going since I was travelling with my cousin's wife who speaks fluent manderin. Shouldn't be too hard without that though.

Sweden and Denmark are fantastic but very expensive.

South East Asia is a great place to travel for cheap. I've not done a lot of it myself, just Maylasia, but I've got plenty of friends who've told me all about some great travels there.

And of course there's always your own back yard. Canada and the US have some great places to visit. I know I've neglected a lot of great stuff right here for the more "exotic" travel locations.

[chicagoblackhawks77]

New Zealand is amazing. Beautiful country with incredible scenery. Lots of great outdoors stuff to do there as well.

Australia was great as well. Super easy country to travel in so probably okay to put off for travel with a baby. New Zealand's easy as well.

A couple places I'm glad I've gone to without a baby or kids are China, and the Caribbean. Specifically the BVI's. Incredibly relaxed, beautiful place. China was great and for me it was relativley easy going since I was travelling with my cousin's wife who speaks fluent manderin. Shouldn't be too hard without that though.

Sweden and Denmark are fantastic but very expensive.

South East Asia is a great place to travel for cheap. I've not done a lot of it myself, just Maylasia, but I've got plenty of friends who've told me all about some great travels there.

And of course there's always your own back yard. Canada and the US have some great places to visit. I know I've neglected a lot of great stuff right here for the more "exotic" travel locations.

Stockholm and Copenhagen were pretty cool... but I found them a little dull, and VERY expensive...

[MattyM]

Well, other than a wek in New York, I've never set foot outside Europe, so my experiences will be a little different from most others who've posted here.

For European cities, I would suggest combining no more than two or three ina fourteen day period.

You might try Paris--->Brussels/Bruges--->Amsterdam

or

Prague--->Budapest--->Vienna

or do the different parts of one country, for instance Milan--->Rome--->Palermo

or Barcelona---> Madrid--->Seville

If you want any info on Amsterdam, Paris, Budapest, Barcelona, Rome or Prague feel free to message me or ask in the thread and I'll elaborate on their various good/bad points

[Andre Cardinal]

I will be asking for help....I'm taking this all in. I come back to the thread and take someone's opinion and research it in my spare time. The big trip probably won't be until next fall, so I have lots of time.

I will be taking some of you up on your offer for more info at some point.