<p>Y I have a fair amount of travel experience but only recently started traveling outside of the US, besides Mexico and Canada, again. Tuitions for kids were done in 2012 and no loans. So it is now time for H and I to take the money we paid for tuition and travel more broadly or elaborately while we can. We are not getting any younger or more flexible.</p>
<p>H and I plan to travel somewhere warm in the winter and somewhere outside the country in the summer. We went to Spain this summer and Key West last winter. I’ve been to the “usual” European destinations. France, England, Ireland , Italy, Switzerland , Amsterdam, etc, etc,</p>
<p>So we want to do a lot more traveling and I would love to hear your suggestions and experiences. Where do you think we should not miss? Thinking of Iceland next summer for instance and an all inclusive this winter.</p>
<p>I am not as well traveled as some on here but we did go to Argentina when dd did study abroad and it was wonderful. I would go back again and see different places. Iguazu falls is incredible. Our dd went out to the western part of the country and down to Patagonia and said it was amazing. Food, wine and lovely people. We even took a side trip to Uruguay and really enjoyed it. The main down side is it is a long flight.</p>
<p>You could spend a long time exploring our islands–a few weeks on Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the Big Island of Hawaii, as well as a few days on Lanai. </p>
<p>South Africa and Botswana. I really loved Mala Mala, a private game reserve in South Africa. The animal viewing was amazing. In Botswana, we stayed at these tiny luxury camps far, far away from civilization. It was very expensive, but worth it for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We also went to Capetown, which was sopped in with fog when we were there do we didn’t get to experience the natural beauty that is a hallmark oc that location. We did enjoy the penguins, however, and the magnificent botanical gardens.</p>
<p>Next on my list are Turkey and India. I’m dying to go to each. Never been. </p>
<p>Ignore my last post – i saw right after I wrote it that you have been to the usual European destinations. Sorry about that. The editing function dies not consistently work for me.</p>
<p>I am in Alska right now and it is WONDERFUL. Yep both kids done with our tuition payments, they are on their own grad school $$ . Anchorage is a very nice city and there is lots to see around it. thinking hard about air taxis so we can cover more ground. Definitely glad we came.</p>
<p>@nottelling, I don’t think that South Africa counts as a usual destination! That would be my TOP recommendation for everyone. I just got back from two weeks there. Unbelievable. We saw a pride of 15 lions sprawled out in a sandy creek bed lined with palms. The two adult male lions were lying down right under the setting sun! We also saw a pack of hyenas killing an adult male leopard, TWO dens of wild dog puppies, and a cheetah. Each of those viewings is pretty rare. We saw two different leopards in trees with their kills. We were in the middle of a herd of elephants, and drove through a herd of over 1,000 Cape buffalo. A herd of elephants appeared across the narrow creek from my hut one afternoon. The camps weren’t enclosed by fences. It was OK to walk outside during the day, but at night we had to be escorted by rangers. The accommodations and food were luxurious. Yes, it’s expensive, but not as bad as you would think, since the exchange rate is so favorable (about 10.5 rands to the dollar). We tried ostrich, kudu, and warthog meat. I think the most expensive entree we ordered anywhere was about $16. The name of the camps we stayed at are Simbambili (“two lions”) and Kambaku (“solitary elephant”). We thought both were wonderful.</p>
<p>We also went to Cape Town and were lucky to get great weather. It is winter in South Africa now, but the temps were almost exactly the same as they are in a Maine summer! Table Mountain towers over the city. I have been to S.A. twice before, but forgot how huge the mountains are that are right next to the ocean. We then drove east to the Garden Route, and stayed in Knysna, a town with a beautiful lagoon and several parks and nature refuges.</p>
<p>I could go on and on. I’m already trying to figure out how to get to S.A. again. I went with my parents - this was their 8th trip! Even at 75 and 77, they want to go back.</p>
<p>If you go on a safari, I would recommend a private park rather than self-driving through Kruger National Park. In Kruger, you can’t leave the main roads, so if you see a lion behind a bush, it’s too bad. The private parks abut Kruger and animals come and go freely. The rangers are in radio contact with each other, so if one sees something great, they all know about it. But they limit the number of vehicles that go look at animals. Only ONE vehicle was allowed at the wild dog den. If the tracker thinks an animal is off the road, the driver immediately plows through the bush in the Land Rover, literally running over trees and bushes. It is bumpy but exhilarating.</p>
<p>Iceland was a wonderful surprise and well worth the trip.</p>
<p>New Zealand is great. My husband and son went on a “Lord of the Rings” flavored itinerary I set up for them. </p>
<p>Looking at my nephew’s travels in Brazil and South America has put that on my travel bucket list.</p>
<p>China. Instead of the usual, go to Kunming where it’s less congested (still a lot of people because this is China). I want to go to Harbin, in Shandong province.</p>
<p>South Africa…go to Capetown, and the surrounding area. Make a trip to the Stellenbosch wine region…gorgeous and makes Napa look tiny. Arrange a three day trip to one of the game parks…fabulous. </p>
<p>Everyone I know who has been (including me) says it is a trip not to be missed.</p>
<p>I haven’t been to South Africa, but have been on similar safaris as MaineLonghorn in East Africa - I agree it’s a not to be missed experience.</p>
<p>Two years ago we spent a week in Jordan. It’s just amazing. We spent an entire day in Petra. There is far more to see there than just the Treasury building from The Raiders of the Lost Ark. <a href=“Petra - Wikipedia”>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petra</a> I really liked hiking in hills and discovering built in homes and temples around every corner with none of the crowds of the main site. </p>
<p>Turkey. DD lived there for 5 years, and was a great tour guide. Go to the south and stay in little guest houses, ride the domishes (sp?) and travel like a turk. It was wonderful!</p>
<p>Turks and Caicos is absolutely amazing! It has some of the best beaches in the world. Not really a place to take the kids, but you don’t have that problem. It’s a great place to go with a spouse.</p>
<p>Some of my dream spots:</p>
<p>Dubai
Abu Dhabi
The Maldives
Boracay Island</p>
<p>We were in Botswana this summer. It was amazing. We stayed in small camps run by Wilderness Safaris which were beautiful and isolated from civilization. We saw more animals doing more things than we could have ever imagined. The accommodations were first rate and the Botswanans were welcoming and helpful and patient teachers about their wonderful country. I’ve been many places in the world but I’ve never had a vacation like this. </p>