Favorite country to visit and why? (1 Viewer)

[Dentist]

Brazil - just a beautiful country with so much to see, amazing people and an energy like no other.  The one country that really changed my life and way of thinking.  If you're single, definitely go here before getting married.  Crime is overrated.  Felt safer there than many parts of the US. 

Can you unpack this a bit?

I hear these things about places like Brazil or even Australia where if you're a dude you can just go there and slay chicks.   I figure you have to already be a relatively attractive dude to pull this off, in which case you probably can slay here also...

How did Brazil change your way of thinking?

I mean, I went to Africa and it changed my way of thinking a little... but only in a depressing way of how bad the poverty was there and how our poor people have it made comparatively.

 

[The General]

I'm going to cheat and say Europe. You can hop around on a train and see a ton of variety. Germany apparently is underrated. Love it there, especially Bavaria.

If you like camping and driving US is hard to beat.

 

[Dentist]

Did you ever wind up going?

Aruba by a mile over Jamaica. Cool island to explore.

no, I hate wind and after reading account after account after account on trip advisor of high winds, I knew I would hate it.

 

[jamny]

no, I hate wind and after reading account after account after account on trip advisor of high winds, I knew I would hate it.

I didn't find it too windy at all. The breeze was refreshing in the heat.

 

[msommer]

I didn't find it too windy at all. The breeze was refreshing in the heat.

I haven't been to Aruba but Curacao which is right next door and did not experience any high winds at all. Just a refreshing breeze. Even when we went diving

 

[Buddy Ball 2K3]

What is cave tubing?

We hiked up this mountain in a jungle with a tube in sweltering heat. I was hating it. Then we came out into this little opening that was absolutely beautiful. Ahead of us was this crystal blue stream/river that was coming out of a large cave. We swam around in the pool there and then jumped into our tubes and tubed through caves and open water for about an hour and a half. It was an absolutely incredible experience. 

 

[massraider]

Can you unpack this a bit?

I hear these things about places like Brazil or even Australia where if you're a dude you can just go there and slay chicks.  

Wow, Australia?  Someone is lying to you.  

Americans going to Australia planning on women throwing themselves at them are in for a shock.  A lot of Australians barely hide their feelings of superiority.  

Brazil, yes.  Brazil, you go in a bar, and make eye contact.  Brazilian women are to sex what German engineers are to car design.  

 

[jamny]

I'm going to cheat and say Europe. You can hop around on a train and see a ton of variety. Germany apparently is underrated. Love it there, especially Bavaria.

It must be so amazing to have so many great options to travel to in like a 2 or 3 hour flight.

 

[Scoresman]

It must be so amazing to have so many great options to travel to in like a 2 or 3 hour flight.

And having 6 weeks of vacation every year to actually go to those places.

 

[massraider]

It must be so amazing to have so many great options to travel to in like a 2 or 3 hour flight.

This never really occurred to me till I lived there.  It's more amazing than you can imagine.  

Everyone has the SkyScanner app on their phone.  People get three days off, they #### off to Spain, or Dubai, or Croatia for a couple days.  Everyone jokes about taking RyanAir, or someother crappy airline, but these flights cost less than some cab raides I have taken, it is amazing.  

 

[The General]

It must be so amazing to have so many great options to travel to in like a 2 or 3 hour flight.

Only had a couple vacations there, taking the train and watching the country side go by getting out hours later and being in a new country was my favorite part. 

 

[Sludge]

I just returned from a trip to London and parts of Germany.

We rented a flat on top of a pub in London for 5 days. Walked around the city every day and closed the pub every night. The regulars at the pub were fantastic. They gave us tips to do an see and not a single negative remark about America.

We then flew to Berlin to visit my wife’s uncle. They took us around and showed us all of the sights.

Then it was off to Munich. Most Germans speak English, but it was very helpful that my wife speaks fluent German. Before we left we went to visit Dachau. It was a somber place, but a must see. Of course there was a d-bag family walking around. A father, mother, and 2 young children. The parents let their kids run, scream, and throw rocks at people. The dad topped it off by taking a smiling selfie with his son in front of the crematorium.   I have no idea what their nationality was, by they were not American. I’m thinking they were Turkish.

The last few days of our trip was spent tin the Rhineland for the wedding of my wife’s Godson. They own a vineyard and the wedding was on top of a large hill. The area was beautiful and we toured a few castles and surrounding villages.

Best vacation I ever took.

 

[Jobber]

Iceland - Beautiful, great people, interesting food (love me some horse, whale and puffin), extremely safe

Do they speak some English over there? My wife and I may go at some point.

 

[msommer]

Do they speak some English over there? My wife and I may go at some point.

Most people under 40 should have some command of the English language

 

[Chemical X]

Malta - I love falcons.

 

[cstu]

We rented a flat on top of a pub in London for 5 days. Walked around the city every day and closed the pub every night. The regulars at the pub were fantastic. They gave us tips to do an see and not a single negative remark about America.

Biggest eye-opener on my trip was how positively* America is viewed - Tanzania (no surprise having a black President), England, Scotland, and even Paris.

*Besides Trump.

 

[Dentist]

  Brazilian women are to sex what German engineers are to car design.  

overpriced, expensive to maintain and much less reliable than a Japanese counterpart?

Sounds bad

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Jo'burg is bad, no doubt about it. Durban can be bad in places. Even in Cape Town every house has a plaque that says 'Armed Response' and they mean it.

That said I had a period for about ten years from 2002 to 2012 where I travelled to South Africa extensively (granted predominately Cape Town) both for business and pleasure and I've never even had a slight issue.

So like the crime in Brazil it seems to me to be localized and also tends to hit those that do stupid stuff

I spent a few weeks in Pretoria and actually stayed with a family which was great. Love Pretoria, probably about as safe as any American big city. Saw it from the perspective of the locals too. 

Jburg and Durban no, and there were incidents in both those places while I was there another time. They perfected car jacking in South Africa, and violent crime is still very high. 

The villages north of Durban to Mozambique are cool, spent a few nights up that way. It's a beautiful country with great people, but it's not a place for anyone who isn't prepared to be aware for their personal safety. I think most tourists go to Cape Town or one of the parks on guided tours anyway, those people are cool. 

 

[Buddy Ball 2K3]

Do they speak some English over there? My wife and I may go at some point.

Every person we encountered spoke English, some better than people we know.  

We did a 3 day tour and at the last minute our guide had to attend to a family member so he had one of his friends do the tour for him. The guy turned out to be a sheriff in some town up north. Along the way the other couple we were with went ape #$% on the guy because he left the van unlocked while we are out looking at waterfalls. and they had left their passports and wallets in the van. He just looked at them sort of confused as to why the worry. After some explaining to him he just chuckled and said "no worries everything is safe, the only people that steal here are in the government."

 

[Brony]

I've enjoyed many countries, but it's tough to beat Italy.

 

[cstu]

I mean, I went to Africa and it changed my way of thinking a little... but only in a depressing way of how bad the poverty was there and how our poor people have it made comparatively.

Same here.  I'm back from Tanzania for the fifth time and every time I get back my tolerance for whining Americans diminishes.

 

[Sludge]

Biggest eye-opener on my trip was how positively* America is viewed - Tanzania (no surprise having a black President), England, Scotland, and even Paris.

*Besides Trump.

Yeah, I should have mentioned everyone that I talked politics about in London and Germany hates Trump. I never talk politics, but they asked where we were from and we are from Philly and the DNC was in town that week. 

 

 

[Doctor Detroit]

People always ask me what my favorite place is, it's a hard question. I guess I'd have to tier them. 

Tier 1: places I would live in without hesitation

-Italy (lived 5.5 years)

-Canada

-France

-Switzerland 

Tier 2: places I would visit frequently if I had time/resources

-Sweden

-Northern Ireland

-Finland 

-South Africa

-Tanzania 

Tier 3: places I would really like to go back to

-Ethiopia

-Lithuania 

-Pakistan

-Poland

-Slovakia

Tier 4: good places but I've seen enough

-Germany (lived 9 years)

-Spain (lived one year and visited many times)

-England

-Ukraine 

-Morocco 

Tier 5: places I would never go to again

-Tchad

-Iraq

-Sudan

-Nigeria 

-Saudi Arabia

underated places: Croatia, Portugal, Slovenia, Moldova, Namabia

overrated places: any island nation, Egypt, Luxembourg 

Still have a lot of places to go, Australia and New Zealand only thing I would call mandatory. Argentina, Kenya, Vietnam, and China would be the others. 

 

[Dentist]

What's wrong with Islands?    If I had to pick somewhere to move, I'm heading to Turks and Caicos or Barbados...  but maybe i haven't thought it all the way through

 

[E-Z Glider]

What's wrong with Islands?    If I had to pick somewhere to move, I'm heading to Turks and Caicos or Barbados...  but maybe i haven't thought it all the way through

One of the most eye-opening things I ever learned on this board is that there are people who would rather spend a week in a European city than a tropical island beach. Different strokes 

 

[Scoresman]

One of the most eye-opening things I ever learned on this board is that there are people who would rather spend a week in a European city than a tropical island beach. Different strokes 

I like both.  Depends on the mood.  My wife and I usually alternate beach vacations with "cultural" ones.  This year we did France/Belgium/Netherlands, next year we have Kauai and the Caribbean lined up, year after that Spain/Portugal.  #nokids 

 

[jamny]

I like both.  Depends on the mood.  My wife and I usually alternate beach vacations with "cultural" ones.  This year we did France/Belgium/Netherlands, next year we have Kauai and the Caribbean lined up, year after that Spain/Portugal.  #nokids 

Same here. We usually do one of each every year. Next year is Hawaii in May and Vienna/Budapest in like September. I have no problem just chillin' out at the beach/pool for a week but I do actually prefer having more to do in a city. The beach resort we were at in Sicily a few months ago was one of the nicest places I've ever been to.

 

[The General]

come on pretty mama!

Get there fast, then take it slow.

 

[wikkidpissah]

The beach resort we were at in Sicily a few months ago was one of the nicest places I've ever been to.

Where was that? Loooove Sicilia. Kaos (near Agrigento) and Cefalu were my favorite resort-y spots.

 

[jamny]

Where was that? Loooove Sicilia. Kaos (near Agrigento) and Cefalu were my favorite resort-y spots.

It was called Verdura Resort, near Sciacca. Not too far from Agrigento.

Loved Cefalu too. So glad we went there instead of spending the day in Palermo.

 

[wikkidpissah]

It was called Verdura Resort, near Sciacca. Not too far from Agrigento.

Loved Cefalu too. So glad we went there instead of spending the day in Palermo.

Would have liked to seen Sciacca backinaday. Sicily's Baden-Baden

 

[E-Z Glider]

Same here. We usually do one of each every year. Next year is Hawaii in May and Vienna/Budapest in like September. I have no problem just chillin' out at the beach/pool for a week but I do actually prefer having more to do in a city. The beach resort we were at in Sicily a few months ago was one of the nicest places I've ever been to.

My favorite vacation of the year involves sleeping in a tent on an uninhabited beach for 4 days, so there's good chance I'm the one that's off here. 

 

[jamny]

Would have liked to seen Sciacca backinaday. Sicily's Baden-Baden

12 days wasn't even close to enough for Sicily. We're hoping to one year do a whole month in Italy and thought if we did a separate trip to Sicily now, we wouldn't have to include it in that month. But we liked it so much we'll probably have to include it now. Didn't get to see much of the east side except for Taormina.

 

[wikkidpissah]

12 days wasn't even close to enough for Sicily. We're hoping to one year do a whole month in Italy and thought if we did a separate trip to Sicily now, we wouldn't have to include it in that month. But we liked it so much we'll probably have to include it now. Didn't get to see much of the east side except for Taormina.

We in danger of hijacking but who cares? Taormina is an amazing place that's become entirely unamazing because of tourism. My Rhodes expat hippie pals tell me it was Ibiza before Ibiza at one time. My noni (me irish mum was orphaned @ 14 and taken in by a tiny sicilian lady in boston) was from just up the beach from there. Took my mother there for her 75th and the picture i have of her standing between her mama's hill village and papa's neighboring hill village contains the biggest smile my mama's ever given a camera. Thinking of retiring in the countryside near Agrigento cuz i still correspond w some people i met there and you can buy a house for 25K roundabouts.

 

[jamny]

We in danger of hijacking but who cares? Taormina is an amazing place that's become entirely unamazing because of tourism. My Rhodes expat hippie pals tell me it was Ibiza before Ibiza at one time. My noni (me irish mum was orphaned @ 14 and taken in by a tiny sicilian lady in boston) was from just up the beach from there. Took my mother there for her 75th and the picture i have of her standing between her mama's hill village and papa's neighboring hill village contains the biggest smile my mama's ever given a camera. Thinking of retiring in the countryside near Agrigento cuz i still correspond w some people i met there and you can buy a house for 25K roundabouts.

Awww, that's awesome that you got that pic! Congrats on getting her there.

Not sure if it'll ever happen but we've talked about retiring to Italy one day. Not likely but you never know!

 

[Dentist]

One of the most eye-opening things I ever learned on this board is that there are people who would rather spend a week in a European city than a tropical island beach. Different strokes 

Well I get that,  some people don't like sand..   some don't like lounging on the beach.

I think there's a time and place for many different types of vacation...   Heck, some people even enjoy boarding a huge boat and just floating around for a week and stopping at the hugest tourist traps in a bunch of different places.

I"ve done the big Euro city vacation... and when I got back between the planes, trains, automobiles, and walking.. I felt like I needed a vacation.

When I goto the beach I feel relaxed and come back with more energy!   And I'm not talking about the all-inclusive Mexican vacation where you just eat and drink and sun the whole time...    I still like to do things on islands..   snorkel, zip line, paddleboard, kayak etc.  

 

[Dentist]

My favorite vacation of the year involves sleeping in a tent on an uninhabited beach for 4 days, so there's good chance I'm the one that's off here. 

oh...   eff that.    Anything involving a tent doesn't sound relaxing.

I'm all for doing something a bit off the grid and remote.. on a day trip from the island...   but I hear uninhabited island and I think "tons of bugs and crabs and stuff"....   yeah, I need my 4 star hotel, premium dining, and combed beach

 

[cstu]

My favorite vacation of the year involves sleeping in a tent on an uninhabited beach for 4 days, so there's good chance I'm the one that's off here. 

I get the tent on the beach but I'm not into the luxury beach resort scene where you never leave the hotel's beach.

 

[cstu]

oh...   eff that.    Anything involving a tent doesn't sound relaxing.

I'm all for doing something a bit off the grid and remote.. on a day trip from the island...   but I hear uninhabited island and I think "tons of bugs and crabs and stuff"....   yeah, I need my 4 star hotel, premium dining, and combed beach

EZ's idea is a little extreme but there a places where you get the best of both worlds.  I stayed in a beach bungalow on Zanzibar with almost no one around for about $40 a night.  It was walking distance up the beach from a 5 star resort (La Gemma) when I wanted civilization.

 

[jamny]

I get the tent on the beach but I'm not into the luxury beach resort scene where you never leave the hotel's beach.

Me neither. I like going to the pool too.

 

[Major]

Can you unpack this a bit?

I hear these things about places like Brazil or even Australia where if you're a dude you can just go there and slay chicks.   I figure you have to already be a relatively attractive dude to pull this off, in which case you probably can slay here also...

How did Brazil change your way of thinking?

I mean, I went to Africa and it changed my way of thinking a little... but only in a depressing way of how bad the poverty was there and how our poor people have it made comparatively.

I don't know where you got your intel but Australia is very similar to the states.  The women are fun and like to get drunk but you still have to have game.  In Brazil, even the most non p getting friends I knew all hooked up and managed to have a great time.  It's not like all the women are sluts though.  Most won't f on the first night.  You can kiss in the first 5 minutes of meeting them however.  If you don't, they'll probably think you're gay.  Get their number, take them out another night and you'll likely  .  

As for it changing my outlook on life, there's something about the energy there but it's hard to put into words.  The people have a great positive outlook even the ones in the favela.   You really have to visit.  If I'm ever in a deep depression, I think Brazil would cure it.   The worst thing about Brazil is leaving it and I often postpone my departure b/c I'm having too much fun.  

 

[Megaton]

One of the most eye-opening things I ever learned on this board is that there are people who would rather spend a week in a European city than a tropical island beach. Different strokes 

Beaches make a good side trip.  Would not care to spend a week being at beaches all the time.  There are more interesting places to see and things to do.

 

[bueno]

Brazil - just a beautiful country with so much to see, amazing people and an energy like no other.  The one country that really changed my life and way of thinking.  If you're single, definitely go here before getting married.  Crime is overrated.  Felt safer there than many parts of the US. 

That's where my Avatar went. I'd go just to spend time with her.

 

[E-Z Glider]

EZ's idea is a little extreme but there a places where you get the best of both worlds.  I stayed in a beach bungalow on Zanzibar with almost no one around for about $40 a night.  It was walking distance up the beach from a 5 star resort (La Gemma) when I wanted civilization.

To be fair, it's a surf-fishing trip for red drum during the fall run, so its not like Im just sitting on the beach by myself doing nothing all day.

The Zanzibar thing sounds right up my alley. Sounds similar to this place in Tulum that we stayed at once. It was more like $100/nt, but we were right down the beach from a super hoity-toity place that was mentioned in People Magazine (or some such) as a place that the stars go for healthy/yoga retreats. Every morning, some dude that looked like an underwear model would lead a group of hot, young topless women down the beach right past my front porch for their morning workout. It was pretty awesome.