If you could choose only one destination for a dream vacation where would it be?

Ana

Hey, Ana! What a fun question! My answer is Greece. Specifically, Athens, and the islands of Mykonos and Santorini! Have been blessed to have been to Europe several times, and it was absolutely fantastic every time, but our best trip was to Greece!

I would be right there with Darlene, I have always wanted to go to Greece and the Islands. I have a friend that goes there a lot and raves about it every time

This was tougher than I thought it would be. I thought of Greece and the Holy Lands for the history but I think it would have to be the Galopagos Islands to try to put myself in Charles Darwin's shoes and experience the wonder of animal species found nowhere else.

New Zealand for me.

Thanks God I leave in Greece
Mexico I think.

There are so many unique and beautiful places it's hard to choose just one, but I would love to see and explore the Great Pyramids of Egypt!

Ah given the scenery in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, the Hobbit trilogy and the Chronicles of Shannara it would have to be New Zealand

...and I'm not sure I would come home

My first thought was Italy, my family is from the Northern area but Ana, that is such a difficult question for me for I want to go to so many places. What is your dream location?

Terri, I left my heart in Kauai 27 years ago this month. I would give anything to go back again.

Ana

I'm with ANA! I got married in the Fern Grotto on Kauai in 1974. Kauai is awesome. Laid back, so lush and green. Loads of out of the way places to see (the hidden suspension bridge behind the church). Ohhhhh. Let's get packing Ana.

One of these days Sorta! I say it every year, but I'm starting to resign myself I will never have the funds to return. I was pregnant when I went the first time. It was my last real complete getaway. I spent a week in Maui and a week in Kauai. I loved both and would love to redo both islands but if I had to choose only one, it would be Kauai.

Ana

A good topic but may I add a cursory note. My dream holiday for years had been to visit to the South Sea Islands. Three years ago my dream came true on a three month round the world cruise part of which included island hopping around the South Seas.

The beaches are breathtaking but the few hotels and motels are primitive as are the meals they serve and the few shops sell tourist trash at high prices. Not that these are my views, just a consensus of those who actually holiday there, we could and did return to our cruise ship. But even so my dreams of the South Sea Islands are somewhat shattered.

I think the lesson is if you are actually planning a dream holiday is to put the travel posters to one side. A good idea is to ask the forum members who live in the country you wish to visit or have taken a holiday there, for advice on the pros and cons.

My choice has already been mentioned twice------ New Zealand without a doubt.

Reading this thread gives me travel fever.

I think it would be The Pyramids for me but I'd never survive the heat. Anything warmer than 20C and I'm a goner

I would like to visit all the game locations in the "Capri" series. That fellow who ran the stand on the beach promised me a free drink if I visited him. True story.

Although I must say that right here in the good ole USA... is pretty impressive. When I was younger I took six months off and traveled in a van all across the USA in and out of state and national parks saw and met many beautiful places and people it was wonderful... wouldn't mind doing this again.

I think I'd like to go to Paris.

New Zealand, hands down! But don't think I can get the dogs in, so I'll just have to watch movies set there....

Cari,

My experience at the South Sea Islands we visited is memorable and beautiful. We stayed in a nice small hotel at Papeete and a glass floor hut over the ocean in Moorea. The cost of the places and the local food we tried are as expected.
We also went to the North and South Island of New Zealand. I love the South Island and the people there were very friendly. The geology, scenery, fjords, flora and fauna are outstanding - really awesome. I bought carvings made from local wood. The prices are also as expected.
I would highly recommend the South Island for memories, adventure and sceneries.

Andrea - luv2travel might correct me on this.

Maybe our difference in experience is because - I came on a plane and made my own itinerary. I chose where I stayed and where I go. I did research before I went.

Also - when I was in Venice (also flew in); I was informed by the taxi driver that the cruise passengers are limited in where they go and shop. They were brought to a mall that caters only to them. We toured it and saw items-souvenirs made in US and China, etc...
I sort of deduced that the cruise lines have permission only at limited places - maybe for passenger control.
I didn't have that control at the Caribbean cruise we did. Maybe also, the cruise line I chose are the smaller number of passenger type - (not the family type).

The (more) older I get - I wish I made more memories before I can't do the things I used to do. I urge you all to do what makes you happy. Do it NOW before it is too late. Love you all.

Well I am glad you had a better experience but isn’t Papeete the capital of Tahiti, which is a rather large island which perhaps explains why you enjoyed the experience rather more than the holiday people I met on the smaller more distant islands.

If anyone who is planning I trip to England and is a Potter fan don’t miss the Hogwarts experience at the Warner Bros studios, never been myself but an American student told me she spent seven hours there, it was sooo awesome.

Whenever I travel, I prefer the non-touristy locations. I don't see as much of the main attractions that people go to, but I see more of the pristine, quiet areas. That is what I like on a vacation. I'm a nature, mountain and beach kind of person.

Darn Ana, I didn't realize you were that old. I hope one day soon you can go back.

I'm a grandma Terri! But I can run circles around the younger crowd!

Hawaii for sure...

I feel compelled to say that anyone planning a trip to England could find MUCH more interesting places to visit than a "Harry Potter" experience

Our country may only be small but it makes up for that with its extremely rich history and there are interesting "real" places to explore in every little corner

I also agree with soot. I think I would love to see the beauty of New Zealand as well as the great pyramids of Egypt as I said before. Certainly each is spectacular one by nature and one by man!

Mad,I was speaking specifically to Potter fans and obviously not everyone one is. England has so much to offer for all tastes and all ages and is an excellent jumping off place for the rest of Europe, two hours from London by fast train and you are in France.

There are pros and cons in most places, so by getting good info before booking is a sensible thing to do. For example even small things can take the edge of a holiday. The hotel looks to have everything you can ask for but what is not shown in the glossy brochures that its located half way up a very steep hill and you have walking difficulties.

I'm glad you concur that everyone isn't a "Potter" fan, Cari, because I, for one, am not. But I certainly AM an England fan

I try to look at my country through the visitors eyes because, like any other country, England has its pros and cons, for example: if I could escape from our long dreary winters I would grab at the chance but language is not a problem for English speakers and most people you will meet will be polite and helpful, even our police, well, most of them.
But if you are looking for days of endless sunshine, sandy beaches and palm trees then England is not for you. Also the city of London will be expensive for American visitors on limited funds and London is not England no more than New York is America. Visit London by all means, it has so much to offer but I would think twice of staying in a London hotel for a couple of weeks and I am London born and brought up.

I wouldn’t call myself a ‘fan’ of England, just content to live here, though the green English countryside in the early summer comes pretty near to paradise.

We all have different tastes and what we consider paradise. Some love the hustle and bustle of the city and others a cabin in the middle of nowhere. The purpose of my question was to see where folks would choose as their perfect destination not to sway them in one way or the other.

There is no right and wrong answer.

Ana

Of course it is my idea of paradise and others will have their’s, it’s an individual thing. But I do have Shakespeare on my side.


This royal throne of kings, this scepter'd isle,

This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars,

This other Eden, demi-paradise,

Richared 11-

If you're not a fan of England, despite living here, I don't see what quoting Shakespeare is supposed to do - for you or anyone else !!

Anyway, getting back on topic ....

Another destination for me would be Africa but again temperatures rule it out

Africa has been my dream since I was little Mad. I wish many parts of the world would be without conflict. It really scares me to travel to some places if I did have the funds to do so.

Ana

Mad, I am not a fan of England because it’s not the word I would choose to describe the appreciation I have for the country of my birth. The definition of word fan is a shorten version of the word fanatic and I’m not a fanatic of any country, including my own.
Hope this clears this up.

I spent 2 years way back in Africa as a weapons instructor and no, I wouldn’t advise anyone of fifty or over spending a holiday near the equator. But Africa is a continent and a large one and in the south temperatures cool down considerably. The best months are June and July which you will find more comfortable.

But you are right Ana, Africa is a turbulent place on the whole and you have to be very careful on where you go. Such a pity as it’s a fantastic place to visit. The lesson is to do your research before you go and you should be Ok.


Cari.

I would love to go to Australia or South Africa. My Sister-in-law went to South Africa many years ago and loved it.