Dream Vacations

I

IrvineCommuter_IHB

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<p>Since it is somewhat cold and cloudy here in the OC today and I saw a beautifully printed ad in the OC register for Sandals resorts, I got think about where I would want to go on vacation if money was no object. Here is my list</p>

<p>1) Bora Bora-Tahiti </p>

<p>2) Phuket, Thailand</p>

<p>3) A Mediterranean Cruise (Spain, Italy, France, Greece, Croatia (ABC123 was right, I mean Croatia)...)</p>

<p>4) Bali, Indonesia</p>

<p>5) Tie between Hawaii and one of those Sandals Resorts in the Caribbeans</p>

<p>BTW: Lawyerliz, since you are in FLA, I am guessing that you are/were a frequent visitor of the caribbean islands. Which one is your favorite? Are those Sandal Resort deals all they seem to be? Thanks</p>
 
Serbia? That's an interesting choice. Maybe you meant Croatia or Montenegro.





I would like to have two months to explore New Zealand and Australia.





I've also always wanted to take the trans-Siberian train across Russia.
 
<p>Bora Bora is in my top 5 too - friend went there on her honeymoon and the pix were incredible. </p>

<p>I also would like to go to Egypt to see the pyramids, Greece, Easter Island and St. Petersburg</p>

<p>I have been lucky enough to have seen most of the major sites in NZ - very beautiful and tons of variety! they call it the worlds national park. I do have to say though, our national parks are quite spectacular too!</p>
 
The wife and I honeymooned in New Zealand. We flew into Christchurch on Christmas Day 2004 (which is their summer). We had a hotel for the first night, a rental car, a voucher for a flight to the North Island, and a flight home from Auckland 19 days later. We made up the rest as we went along, using last minute discount hotel sites to set up lodging for that night. It was awesome!



Yesterday, we flew home from our New Years sojourn to Singapore (2 nights), and Bali (6 nights). I think that we will definately go back! And the pricing was reasonable - about $2.000.00 per person, including airfares and hotels - and we didn't stay in low end hotels (in fact, they were pretty good - the swissotel in Singapore, and Bali Spirit and Tandjung Sari - the latter being the best beach hotel I have ever stayed at, just like the Corona commercial.)



We did Atlantis in the Bahamas in the summer, and it was so-so.
 
<p>I went to Bora Bora last September for my honeymoon. It was incredible! You can't imagine how nice the island is. I spent 4 nights in Mo'orea (another island close to Tahiti) and 5 days in Bora Bora. I tried the beach bungalow first and over-water bungalow after in Bora Bora, both are great. Nice little dinners, no tourist at all, mostly honeymooners. Excellent diving. Best honeymoon I could ever have asked for! But don't ask about the price!</p>
 
The wife and I looked at the Society Islands (Tahiti, Bora Bora, and Mo'orea) for New Years, and the price did scare us off.
 
<p>I always wanted to see England (especially English countryside), Wales, Ireland, and Scotland on one tour. </p>

<p>ABC123: and please don't ride Transsiberian railroad! I grew up there and rode it several times (for transportation purposes, not for fun). I would not do it again even if somebody paid me for this. You are not equipped to deal with everything you'd encounter there, trust me on this. Limit your visits to Russia to Moscow & St. Petersburg or any other big cities, you'll enjoy it so much more. </p>
 
Blackacre,



I spent the month of July '92 in Surrey, which is just outside of London. It was a great trip. Wimbledon was going on (Agassi won that year) and the Olympics were happening in Barcelona. I took great trips into London, Portsmouth, Windsor and Chichester. The history there is incredible. One day I was in a bookstore in Chichester that seemed a bit dated. I asked the clerk if she knew the history of the building. She replied that it was originally a chapel, and was pre Norman (William the Conquerer - 1066 AD).



Just walking through Westminster, and seeing the names of the people interred there is amazing.
 
<p>yeah, I hope to make it there one day... I also wanted to see Eton College in Windsor, heard it is pretty amazing...</p>

<p>hey, can anyone recommend me which island to go in Hawaii? I'm looking for some family-friendly hotel/resort, since my toddler is coming too :))</p>
 
<p>blackacre-seeker,</p>

<p>You can rent a very nice condo in Maui. Look for one in the Kihei area. Very toddler friendly.</p>

<p>I prefer Maui or Kaua'i. Maui is good for snorkeling and Kaua'i is good for hiking. Maui has more kid-friendly</p>

<p>amenities. If you choose Kaua'i, the Holiday Inn Sunspree is perfect because you can walk out onto the only protected beach </p>

<p>where kids can swim and avoid high surf.</p>
 
thanks for the tips profette, I'd definitely prefer to go to a place that has no surf at all or no high surf. I really miss swimming in the Black Sea that has 1-2 ft high waves max :))
 
<p>Sounds like you would like Maui better. I stayed at Kihei Alii Kai a couple of times and was delighted. It has a good location, too. </p>

<p><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&rlz=1T4ADBR_enUS233US233&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=Alii+Kai&near=Kihei,+HI&fb=1&cid=0,0,2675758289743898858&sa=X&oi=local_result&resnum=1&ct=image"><img height="185" alt="" width="270" border="1" src="http://mt.google.com/mapdata?cc=us&Point=b&Point.latitude_e6=20720240&Point.longitude_e6=-156443924&Point.iconid=15&Point=e&zl=3&w=270&h=185" /></a></p>
 
cdm, I own a House just outside Chichester in a Village called Barnham, I love west sussex.



I think my Dream vacation would either be New Zealand or spend a month or so driving around/across the US, we have some Australian Friends from Sydney who just spent the last 7 weeks doing just that, they drove from LA to the East Coast and back and loved it...it was probably really cold though.
 
<p>Aside from Maui, one of my favorite place on earth is Banff. The Chateau Lake Louise is <em>the </em>place to stay...</p>

<p><img alt="" src="http://z.about.com/d/gocanada/1/7/h/1/-/-/LakeLouiseFairmontExterior.JPG" /></p>
 
Blackacre,



You may also want to look at the New Otani in Waikiki. It is out past Kapeolani Park at diamond head, so it's not in the husle and bustle. The beach there is well protected, very quiet, and you have the advantage of Honolulu if the kids get cabin fever and you need to distract them for a while.
 
<p>Maui is great with kids. Banff is one the most beautiful spots on earth. If you have kids, I would recommend an extended USA road trip in an RV. America is amazing and the people are the most amazing part.</p>

<p>My wife and I are going to London in a couple weeks. It will be the first time we have been away from our children. </p>
 
<p>Blackacre - I have been wondering the exact same question about Hawaii - where to go with young kids!! My husband wants to take advantage while we are living here and go to Hawaii! So glad you asked it! </p>

<p> I was told Hanalei on Kawaii is really nice - anyone been there with kids (or without)?</p>
 
<p>profette started the picture comparison, so here is my dream vacation spot.</p>

<p><img alt="" src="http://www.ultramarine.ro/romana/Luna%20de%20miere%20Bora%20Bora_files/borabora_pearlbeach_ariel.jpg" /></p>

<p>BTW: I visited Lake Louise and ate at the Chateau about 6-7 years ago. Very beautiful and serene.</p>

<p>Awgee, have you gone on your Hannah Montana trip yet?</p>
 
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