Oh the Places You'll Go

[TessB]

Well, actually, I've been meaning to ask this of everyone even before Col brought it up.

Where have you travelled?

And more importantly, would you recommend it to others?

Where did you stay, what did you see, was it worth the trip?

Would you LOVE to go back? What was your BEST experience that you would say, "If you go anywhere, you should make it here."

The reasons I ask are simple.
We only have a finite amount of time on this Earth ....(at least this go around... but that's another bit of kindling for an horrid debate that needn't be started, eh?) As Col says, it's quite expensive for Americans to travel overseas. If I can only go to a very few places in my lifetime, I'd like some opinions on what should not be missed.

As a side note, this late May, we have a sprint to Vegas planned. We've never been, we're not gamblers. We want to see the Bellagio fountain and we're taking a day trip to the Grand Canyon. We don't have reservations for a hotel yet. We don't want to stay in a closet sized hotel room and we don't want to pay out the nose for anything either. We just want clean, comfortable and up to date lodging. I'm certain there are people who have been there. Any suggestions for a place to stay? We'll be there from Wed May 31 to Sun June 4.

Oh... and if you want to bump into me there, let me know.

 

[MrsGorilla]

The only places I've been out of the country are Capetown, South Africa with a day trip over to Gansbaai to go on one of the shark-boats. Could've gone down in a shark cage but haven't ever gove diving before so was afraid to. The last thing I needed was to freak out and start breathing wrong.

Also went to Helsinki, Finland and Calgary, Canada. All three trips were for world-level powerlifting competitions for my husband, so didn't really get to do a whole lot of sightseeing, except in South Africa. I got a sinus infection in Finland and didn't leave the hotel room for two days and I was pregnant while in Calgary so I was a bit tired.

So far, we've only been to places so Jim could lift in his competitions and haven't been anyplace just because we wanted to go, so haven't really run into a place where we've thought we would want to return even though we had fun everywhere we went. South Africa wasn't too bad and the currency exchange worked in our favor so everything there was very cheap for us. All of our family had an African Christmas that year.

 

[Brianwarnock]

Vegas

Having stayed in a cheap motel and a resort hotel (Luxor) I would go for a resort hotel every time, they are not that expensive as they make their money from the gamblers.

If you can fit in Bryce Canyon on your day trip to Grand Canyon it is worth it, my better half prefers it.

Brian

 

[TessB]

Vegas

Having stayed in a cheap motel and a resort hotel (Luxor) I would go for a resort hotel every time, they are not that expensive as they make their money from the gamblers.

If you can fit in Bryce Canyon on your day trip to Grand Canyon it is worth it, my better half prefers it.

Brian

Excellent tip, Brian. Thanks! I'll do some research on Bryce Canyon. Or... you can tell me more about it.... do they have an organized tour or that? We were actually thinking about taking a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon.

 

[selenau837]

Vegas

Having stayed in a cheap motel and a resort hotel (Luxor) I would go for a resort hotel every time, they are not that expensive as they make their money from the gamblers.

If you can fit in Bryce Canyon on your day trip to Grand Canyon it is worth it, my better half prefers it.

Brian

I also have been to Arizona and Utah. Made that 38 hr trips in one shot. We were going to get a book signed by our favorite author.

I'll post some pics later tonight, when I get home. They are breath taking. They were taken around the grand canyon. It was closed when we went through, but we saw the cliff dwellings, and took a back road that lead us through the moutians in Utah and by the navjo bridge.

I want to do it again, as well as go over seas myself.

 

[Kraj]

Great thread idea, Tess! Kudos

I haven't spent much time out of the country other than touristy locations (and I don't count those because you don't really experience another country as a catered-to tourist, in my opinion), but I do have some suggestions.

I went on my first cruise last November and it was absolutley awesome. Based on my comments above, it was obviously not an authentic experience of other countries, but it was a fantastic trip and I highly recommend them. Anyone interested in details should PM me If you'd like to visit an island in the Carribean, St. Thomas is absolutely breathtaking (I posted some pics).

As for Vegas, most anyplace on the strip will be expensive. You might check out the Stratosphere hotel; it's a bit north of the strip and usually has lower prices. I believe New York, New York is a decent value hotel as well. I'd stay away from lodging near Freemont Street. In fact, unless you really wanna see the cool canopy thing, stay away from Freemont alltogether - there's much more crime. I highly suggest dinner at the Top of the World restaurant at the Stratosphere. It is a bit pricey, but the food is good and the view is not to be missed. Try to get a reservation for sunset. If you do decide to gamble at all, go off the strip. In my experience, the strip casinos cater to higher rollers and regulars; ammateurs and low-stakes players are often treated with snobbish indifference. I had a lot of fun at the Station casinos (there's a bunch of them around Vegas that all are under that blanket name). They had the most laid-back atmosphere and most personable staff.

That's all I've got at the moment. Sorry to be so brief...

 

[selenau837]

Beautiful pics greg, also you need to post that one of you in the thread for pics of us, our kids or pets. Don't you have some pet pics too?? *winks*

Add to our collection.

 

[Brianwarnock]

I'll do some research on Bryce Canyon. Or... you can tell me more about it.... do they have an organized tour or that? We were actually thinking about taking a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon.

The Bryce/Grand canyon trip was by fixed wing, so if you are happy flying in a chopper, some people aren't, then what you are planning is great, are you going to land on the canyon floor? My youngest has done that and we planned to on our second trip but the Indians were on the warpath and wouldn't let us land .

Oh and as regards the fountains of the Ballagio the view from the Eillel Tower gives a different perspective.

I would certainly bow to local knowledge on gambling hotels well anything actually.

Brian

 

[Brianwarnock]

Great thread idea, Tess! Kudos

I haven't spent much time out of the country other than touristy locations (and I don't count those because you don't really experience another country as a catered-to tourist, in my opinion), but I do have some suggestions.

Whilst this is true you would have to live in a country for some time to really get the feel for it, even when you travel by yourself you are still treated as a tourist.

Brian

 

[selenau837]

My youngest has done that and we planned to on our second trip but the Indians were on the warpath and wouldn't let us land .

Brian

The native americans? Is that canyon located on a reservation? Is that why you couldn't land.

While we were taking back road into Utah, we wound up going through some reservations. It was beautiful, but very sad at how they lived.

However, just the landscape and such was soo breath taking. Again, once I get home, I will zip the pics and up load them.

I can't wait to back out West. I want to do a tour of haunted hotels in that area. I think that would be fun.

 

[FoFa]

Egypt, Cairo was relativly inexpensive and just assume.
Maine coastline (summer), just beautiful.
Canada, Prince Edward Island (summer), breathtaking.

 

[Brianwarnock]

The native americans? Is that canyon located on a reservation? Is that why you couldn't land.

Apparently the Native Americans (see I can be PC) have the rights to the Canyon floor and were haggling over prices, what's new

I nearly started to go on about the past but hey lets not divert a good thread.

Brian

 

[selenau837]

Apparently the Native Americans (see I can be PC) have the rights to the Canyon floor and were haggling over prices, what's new

I nearly started to go on about the past but hey lets not divert a good thread.

Brian

My ex is part native american and therefore my children are too. So, it is a habit to correct that term. I'm sorry.

No lets not derail a good thread.

Wow, I didn't know that about the canyon floor. See you can learn something new everyday in this forum. I hope you at least had fun.

The sky out in that area was just breathtaking. We often stop the car and just stood and stared at the skyline. I had never seen anything like that before. I still can't describe it. Once I post the pics I you will see what I am talking about.

 

[ShaneMan]

About anything in the Rockie Mountions, but one place that just made me stand and stare, without saying a word, for about 30 min., was the Grand Tetons. Maybe the prettiest sight I have ever seen.

 

[Brianwarnock]

About anything in the Rockie Mountions, but one place that just made me stand and stare, without saying a word, for about 30 min., was the Grand Tetons. Maybe the prettiest sight I have ever seen.

We were a little disappointed with the Grand Tetons, but with scenic views the light plays such an important part that one can have good and bad luck.
We visted Ularu (Ayers rock) for a sunset and were told how lucky we were to see it raining on it , however my luck turned the following evening when I caught a view from the air of the evening sun catching it, breathtaking.

My luckiest was probably when the plane banked towards Beijing and i saw the early morning sun on the Great Wall through a misty light, that view is implanted on my brain.

As to the Rockies my favourite was the total quiet and isolation of the Edith Cavell glazier, awesome.

Brian

 

[ShaneMan]

We were a little disappointed with the Grand Tetons, but with scenic views the light plays such an important part that one can have good and bad luck.
We visted Ularu (Ayers rock) for a sunset and were told how lucky we were to see it raining on it , however my luck turned the following evening when I caught a view from the air of the evening sun catching it, breathtaking.

My luckiest was probably when the plane banked towards Beijing and i saw the early morning sun on the Great Wall through a misty light, that view is implanted on my brain.

As to the Rockies my favourite was the total quiet and isolation of the Edith Cavell glazier, awesome.

Brian

I guess our luck was good at the Tetons because not only was the view great but later that evening, when the sun set, it looked like the sky was on fire. People where pulling over just to look at it. Just awesome.

I also went backpacking in the Bob Marshall Wilderness for a week, in Montana, and wouldn't take anything for the experience.

 

[Rich]

I've been to hell and back, does that count ?

 

[Rich]

As to the Rockies my favourite was the total quiet and isolation of the Edith Cavell glazier, awesome.

Brian

Jasper ?

 

[jsanders]

I've been to hell and back, does that count ?

They let you out?

 

[Rich]

They let you out?

No, I escaped