Ideal Holiday Destinations

[naxalite0906]

So if money was no object, what places would you visit and what hotels that you have seen that you have always wanted to visit.?

Ok.. so for me money is still an object. But, I am looking for ideas of somewhere to go and it is a good opportunity to over indulge slightly and do something I might not always have the chance to do. As some of you are aware, I have been on many "city break" type holidays over the past few years, mainly to the USA, and this time I am thinking somewhere with beautiful scenery, golden sands, clear sea and secluded hotels/villas. If you have a suggestion, then please share it. If you just have another idea of a dream holiday that is different to what I mentioned, then share it too Im sure everyone else would love to hear any thoughts/dreams that someone has.

 

[the captians wench]

See, I'm just the opposite, when I think of the perfect holiday, I think rainy country sides.

I get emails from Irish Landmark Trust. They take historic buildings, restore them, and then let them out for a weekend, mid-week get away, or week long stays. They have a gatelodge that looks like a small castle. I'd love to spend a week there. It would be even more awesome if I could spend the week in period dress. I also have one building picked out that has a magnificent garden that I would love to find some modles and photograph some of my work.

I want to see London as well, but I haven't looked into that as much. I do know I want to see the Tower of London, and I want to visit the national museum (specifically the exibit that has clothing dating back to the Tudor period). But other than that I'm not sure.

I'd love to see Rome, Greese, and I'd have to look it up but there's a castle in France that still does live jousting which would be amazing to witness in that setting.

I'm sure there's lots more, but that's what pops into my head off the bat.

 

[FurryFury]

Warm tropical places flip my switch too but I also just like to explore in general.

 

[intothewoods]

Oh wow. There are so many places I want to go back to and visit for the first time.

There are beautiful places in Italy and France. I would love to go to Thailand, Cambodia and Japan. Israel. Practically every country in South America...oy, I don't know where to begin!

If you want to head to the U.S., Northern California, particulary Big Sur, are spectacular, and very different in scenery from, say, the English countryside. Parts of Oregon and Washington are amazing. I also loved Victoria, British Columbia.

 

[Yasashii_Kaze]

I would love to go to the Mediterranean. I've always wanted to see Greece and Italy. I also wouldn't mind going to Japan. I'd like to see England, Ireland, and Scotland all in one trip. I've been to Australia but it was entirely too short. I've always wanted to go back for an extended period of time, maybe even a couple of years.

In the US, I'd like to spend a summer in Alaska, studying wolves. I want to visit Hershey, PA, and go to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park in Orlando, FL. I'd also like to go on a fishing trip. Anywhere.

 

[intothewoods]

I would love to go to the Mediterranean. I've always wanted to see Greece and Italy. I also wouldn't mind going to Japan. I'd like to see England, Ireland, and Scotland all in one trip. I've been to Australia but it was entirely too short. I've always wanted to go back for an extended period of time, maybe even a couple of years.

In the US, I'd like to spend a summer in Alaska, studying wolves. I want to visit Hershey, PA, and go to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park in Orlando, FL. I'd also like to go on a fishing trip. Anywhere.

Ooh, yes, Alaska. I really want to go to Alaska! I admit I kind of want to go to that Harry Potter theme park too. I'm sure it will be kinda lame though.

Hershey PA? Eeehhyeahhno.

 

[Yasashii_Kaze]

Ooh, yes, Alaska. I really want to go to Alaska! I admit I kind of want to go to that Harry Potter theme park too. I'm sure it will be kinda lame though.

Hershey PA? Eeehhyeahhno.

I'm not a theme park fan at all. In fact, I've never been to one. Not Disney World, nothing. I've never even been to anything like Six Flags. But Harry Potter world is just too irresistible.

And there's actually a hotel and spa in Hershey that I'd like to stay two or three days at.

 

[midwestyankee]

San Francisco, Paris, Venice, Casablanca, Hong Kong, and Kuai. One right after the other.

 

[DeepGreenEyes]

San Francisco, Paris, Venice, Casablanca, Hong Kong, and Kuai. One right after the other.

I like this list. For me, I'd add Rome, Amsterdam and Brussels. I've never been to Vienna - I'd love to go there!

 

[sb2009]

right now, I want peace and quiet. Massages and facials and yoga. I would even take a week at a silent monastary if they gave massages and facials.

For the family, I'd want a nice tour of Europe, taking trains, etc,.

 

[CurlyKat]

My next actual vacation will be around Greece and Croatia, which both have stunning coasts. After that, next up on my really really want to do list is some travel in South America. I've done Europe quite thoroughly, so now time for something different.

There are so many awesome beach locations to pick for vacation, depending on what continent you want to be on. I'm sure with a little research, once you've picked a country, you can definitely find your secluded resort or villa.

 

[unregistered]

 

[JMohegan]

So if money was no object, what places would you visit and what hotels that you have seen that you have always wanted to visit.?

Ok.. so for me money is still an object. But, I am looking for ideas of somewhere to go and it is a good opportunity to over indulge slightly and do something I might not always have the chance to do. As some of you are aware, I have been on many "city break" type holidays over the past few years, mainly to the USA, and this time I am thinking somewhere with beautiful scenery, golden sands, clear sea and secluded hotels/villas. If you have a suggestion, then please share it. If you just have another idea of a dream holiday that is different to what I mentioned, then share it too Im sure everyone else would love to hear any thoughts/dreams that someone has.

Caneel Bay fits your description to a tee, with the added benefit of proximity to the Virgin Islands National Park.

 

[naxalite0906]

Caneel Bay fits your description to a tee, with the added benefit of proximity to the Virgin Islands National Park.

I have just briefly looked, but you are spot on with it being the type of place I am looking for.. Hell, I even looked at nekker island at one point, but that was wayyyyyyyyy too expensive!

Have you been to caneelbay before? I really want to go somewhere that I can enjoy and is worth splashing out on. Somewhere by the ocean, with added luxury and somewhere I know is worth the money without looking pretty in a picture but with the other details letting it down.

 

[JMohegan]

I have just briefly looked, but you are spot on with it being the type of place I am looking for.. Hell, I even looked at nekker island at one point, but that was wayyyyyyyyy too expensive!

Have you been to caneelbay before? I really want to go somewhere that I can enjoy and is worth splashing out on. Somewhere by the ocean, with added luxury and somewhere I know is worth the money without looking pretty in a picture but with the other details letting it down.

Yes, I've been, though roughly a decade ago. It was very secluded, with a gorgeous beach, understated elegance type of accommodations, lovely views. The staff was responsive and friendly, without being obsequious about it.

If you want to lie around on the beach all day, it will be tough to find a prettier spot. If you want to be more active, there are also outstanding opportunities for kayaking and snorkeling.

What time of year do you plan to travel?

 

[Keroin]

Caneel Bay fits your description to a tee, with the added benefit of proximity to the Virgin Islands National Park.

Have you been to the BVI, JM? I've been told it is far and away much better than the US Virgin Islands, (by some American divers who'd been to both places). Just curious.

L and I actually applied for a job in BVI. Came soooooo close to getting it. Darn it.

 

[JMohegan]

Have you been to the BVI, JM? I've been told it is far and away much better than the US Virgin Islands, (by some American divers who'd been to both places). Just curious.

L and I actually applied for a job in BVI. Came soooooo close to getting it. Darn it.

Nope, never been. And I'm too claustrophobic to dive.

 

[graceanne]

The UK. I'm really into genealogy, and K's family is pretty much English, Irish, Welsh, and Scottish. I would LOVE to see the places they've been and try to find their grave stones, and and and

I'd be in geek heaven.

 

[DeepGreenEyes]

Okay, because I want to see several posters here go into a long series of multiple orgasms, I'm posting a link to the Potter theme park artist's conception illustrations; the last slide is an actual photo of work in progress:

http://movies.yahoo.com/photos/collections/gallery/2493/harry-potter-orlando-experience

http://www.destination360.com/north-america/us/florida/orlando/images/s/harry-potter-theme-park.jpg

Okay, I'll admit it, I want to go. And central Florida has way better plastic pink flamingo statues than does Europe.

 

[sb2009]

as much as it pains me to admit, I want to go to.

 

[the captians wench]

The UK. I'm really into genealogy, and K's family is pretty much English, Irish, Welsh, and Scottish. I would LOVE to see the places they've been and try to find their grave stones, and and and

I'd be in geek heaven.

I'm actually thinking about doing a bit of this myself.

I'm in the process of tracing my family. The original story I heard from my grandfather was that it was 4 brothers that came from Scottland in the late 1600's. My mom says the same. My brother swears up and down that the brothers were from Ireland, and we've found a few who back him up as well. Now (after several strokes mind you) my grandfather is saying that the brothers were from England.

If I can trace it back to Ireland, many of the records are still kept in Dublin. I'd love to be able to trace back further if I could. I know we have some family ledgonds from "the mother land" but I'm not sure where that is or when.

Even if you can go back to the British Isles you might be able to find a lot more info in a town called Cohn (I think that was it, I'll have to double check), most ships going to the US from the UK saled from there. They still have ship registars there which are loaded with info. They also have a little history village that shows I think 4 different decades of cottages and gives you an idea of how people lived in that town durring those periods. And they have a ship mock up which shows how living conditions were on the ships.

Good to know I'm not the only one geeking on family history.

 

[graceanne]

I'm actually thinking about doing a bit of this myself.

I'm in the process of tracing my family. The original story I heard from my grandfather was that it was 4 brothers that came from Scottland in the late 1600's. My mom says the same. My brother swears up and down that the brothers were from Ireland, and we've found a few who back him up as well. Now (after several strokes mind you) my grandfather is saying that the brothers were from England.

If I can trace it back to Ireland, many of the records are still kept in Dublin. I'd love to be able to trace back further if I could. I know we have some family ledgonds from "the mother land" but I'm not sure where that is or when.

Even if you can go back to the British Isles you might be able to find a lot more info in a town called Cohn (I think that was it, I'll have to double check), most ships going to the US from the UK saled from there. They still have ship registars there which are loaded with info. They also have a little history village that shows I think 4 different decades of cottages and gives you an idea of how people lived in that town durring those periods. And they have a ship mock up which shows how living conditions were on the ships.

Good to know I'm not the only one geeking on family history.

I traced K's family back to John Armstrong, who was (purportedly) Robin Hood. He had an estate in Wales, I think. I'd have to check my records to be sure. I also traced his dad's family back to the original pilgrims (Plymouth rock, thanksgiving pilgrims). And, for those of us from the Portland area, his moms family are also some of the original settlers of the sauvie islands, they came over via the Oregon Trail.

My aunts have done my family to death, so I didn't bother, but on my mom's side of the family we are descendants of William the Conqueror and Alexander the great. On my dad's side we're descendants of General Hooker (who hookers were nicknamed after) and a member of the James gang. (My great great (maybe another great in there) grandfather grew up with Jesse and Frank and actually named his children Jessie and Frank.

I can go on for DAYS about this stuff. I just love genealogy. There's story's there in the details. Like the ancestor who was one of the original pilgrims. He and his parents came over to America, then both parents died. He was 12. Or K's great grandmother, who's birth date is about 7 months after her fathers death date; rumor is that he got drunk and fell down the cellar steps.

 

[the captians wench]

I traced K's family back to John Armstrong, who was (purportedly) Robin Hood. He had an estate in Wales, I think. I'd have to check my records to be sure. I also traced his dad's family back to the original pilgrims (Plymouth rock, thanksgiving pilgrims). And, for those of us from the Portland area, his moms family are also some of the original settlers of the sauvie islands, they came over via the Oregon Trail.

My aunts have done my family to death, so I didn't bother, but on my mom's side of the family we are descendants of William the Conqueror and Alexander the great. On my dad's side we're descendants of General Hooker (who hookers were nicknamed after) and a member of the James gang. (My great great (maybe another great in there) grandfather grew up with Jesse and Frank and actually named his children Jessie and Frank.

I can go on for DAYS about this stuff. I just love genealogy. There's story's there in the details. Like the ancestor who was one of the original pilgrims. He and his parents came over to America, then both parents died. He was 12. Or K's great grandmother, who's birth date is about 7 months after her fathers death date; rumor is that he got drunk and fell down the cellar steps.

My grandfather has our genealogy maped out. I'd love to get ahold of his books again. With the strokes his just not there enough to be able to make sence of it himself.

I just think it would be really cool to come home with new stories for him. Hell, I'd be thrilled to find out we were a bunch of potatoe farmers in Ireland as much as I would to find out we were Viking roalty. I just love history.

 

[chy_girl]

Okay, because I want to see several posters here go into a long series of multiple orgasms, I'm posting a link to the Potter theme park artist's conception illustrations; the last slide is an actual photo of work in progress:

http://movies.yahoo.com/photos/collections/gallery/2493/harry-potter-orlando-experience

http://www.destination360.com/north-america/us/florida/orlando/images/s/harry-potter-theme-park.jpg

Okay, I'll admit it, I want to go. And central Florida has way better plastic pink flamingo statues than does Europe.

Yes, but will it have a working dungeon with a DomSnape available for recreation purposes? Or a SwitchSirius? Or a SubLupin?

Now that would make some money...
*shrugs*
Just sayin'....

 

[naxalite0906]

Yes, I've been, though roughly a decade ago. It was very secluded, with a gorgeous beach, understated elegance type of accommodations, lovely views. The staff was responsive and friendly, without being obsequious about it.

If you want to lie around on the beach all day, it will be tough to find a prettier spot. If you want to be more active, there are also outstanding opportunities for kayaking and snorkeling.

What time of year do you plan to travel?

See that was my next problem, working out the best time to go... I could maybe squeeze some time in june.. otherwise it would be september... Unless I kept waiting. When is best time to visit the caribbean as I know it rains more during certain parts of the year...

It was sort of the whole cliche "romantic getaway in paradise" i was looking for.. lol