We spent a month traveling around NZ last year (in February, so yes summer) and it was very nice, but we won’t be doing it again next year. We may go back again at some point though.
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My daughter is leaving for a safari and to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro on Friday. I don’t even want to know how much it costs!
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Seconding/thirding Wengen (and/or Murren). Just amazingly beautiful. Lauterbrunnen also nice. Interlaken more touristy and not as pretty imo. We went in June and it didn’t seem very crowded. Left there for Cinque Terre, which was crowded but not uncomfortably so. Visited all the villages. Loved it. Vernazza was our home base and favorite town. Especially at night when the crowds leave.
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My daughter did this on her study abroad (not sure if she used this company). They went in April and also went kayaking and did a hike (the company they used did a bundle on the paragliding and kayaking). Interlaken was one of her favorite weekend trips.
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This sounds perfect for you guys, and you could still do something really cool by yourself too.
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My daughter did this too while studying abroad!
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The exchange rate does help, at least! When we went, it was expensive, but not gasp-inducing. Your daughter’s trip sounds amazing!
I do know that you can choose 5, 6 or 7 days to climb, and she chose the 5 (or maybe 4?) days. We live at 5,280 feet, and they climb 14ers here, so figure they’re in better position to do it faster than most. She’s more worried about the safari as it is in jeeps and she gets terrible motion sickness but she figured she couldn’t go all the way to Africa and not go on a safari.
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Ha– that’s like what I say about San Miguel de Allende, the DIsney Mexico (or, the “Santa Barbara” of Mexico). Undeniably lovely, but not terribly authentic. And also relatively expensive.
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That’s the vibe I’m getting from my friend who wants to move there. She originally thought her rent (in town) would be about $750/mo but once there on a scouting mission is it more like double that, and also more an expat community than a Mexican village. I don’t really get why she wants to move there because she is fluent in Spanish so could live anywhere, and by the ocean (my preference).
She had some fun pics of plazas and churches and even state office buildings that were nice, but if I’m traveling I want more authentic culture, or at least an ocean. She did say the weather is supposed to be nice all year. She said it is very clean and safe (Disney!)
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Okay, this isn’t the best ever, but it is a really good trip. I’m in Pamplona now, on a 9 day Rick Steves trip to the Basque region.
We learned all about the “running with the bulls” in Pamplona today. It lasts for about a week, where people run in the street and they release the bulls, the people are mostly drunk and they try to not get gored or trampled. Our guide said that the day after the running ends, those who are disappointed that they missed out, line up in the street and wait for the #14 bus to come along, and then they run in front of the bus. They call it “running with the bus”. He said, “Don’t judge us”.”
Maybe next summer, “running with the bus?”
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We’re still seriously considering your recommendation for Rick Steves Best of Italy 17(?) day trip. It sounds pretty good (but not for anniversary trip, just regular vacation).
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I have never done that one, but looking at it, it sounds like it really hits the highlights. I have never been able to convince my husband to go longer than 14 days.
Ah - good to know. Which did you do, and then do again with family? I thought that was it.
Thanks
Our first RS trip was the nine day Heart of Italy trip. We really enjoyed hiking the Cinque Terra. The second time we did it (July last year) it was brutally hot and crowded in the major cities. Many of us caught Covid at the very end, leaving me to consider, “Italy in July, what was I thinking?” That was a very busy trip, but I wonder if part of the fatigue was because we had Covid and didn’t realize it for awhile.
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OP here - Thanks for the recommendations everyone.
We have decided to call our trip to the Canadian Rockies in July our Anniversary trip. We will likely be there for 2 weeks, including staying 4 nights at the Moraine Lake Lodge, which is quite a splurge for us.
We have other trips to plan/planned, including a trip to Grand Cayman, a likely cycling trip in Italy (not sure where yet) and a possible trip to multiple places in Oregon. (We are in our “go go” years, and trying to do a fair amount of active travel while we can).
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Just wanted to share…I’ve taken a bike trip with Boat Bike Tours and loved it (Amsterdam to Bruges) - I booked another with them, for next year, Tuscany - they do a great job, small groups, great experiences.
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We were in Pamplona for Running of the Bulls. I felt sorry for the bulls , as several slammed into a wall at a curve on the course. Also, I was amazed at how gracefully they were able to jump over runners that had fallen in the street. Most of the runners were not drunk. Crazy, yes. Drunk, no. We watched from a balcony.
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Justamom, did you do the bike tour alone or with friends? And what was the group size?
Thanks. We have considered a bike and barge (or yacht or boat) kind of thing, but haven’t done it yet. We’ve done several “land only” bike tours though, and we always enjoy them.
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