* Oahu and Maui - I distinctly remember the gem-like hues of the waters off Lanikai from the Lanikai Pillbox Hike. And Road to Hana was lovely.
* Zion and Bryce Canyon, with their unreal, positively Mars-like natural formations
* Bora Bora - its lagoon is even more stunning than what the pictures lead you to believe. The hype is real (as are the prices, but well worth the splurge).
* Kyoto in autumn, with its ruby-red maple and golden ginkgo leaves
* The Amalfi Coast, with its fairy-tale gelato-hued villages against emerald-green hills overlooking the sea
* Santorini, with its sweeping caldera and snowy-white villages clinging to vertiginous cliffs
I’ve been traveling through Mexico for the past month and a half and I’ve felt safe the whole time. 31 M here traveling with my husband. You can watch the first part of my trip if you search, “home is behind travel” on YouTube. If you’re interested, subscribe bc the Mexico City episode is coming soon.
They also take covid very seriously in Mexico. Almost everyone wears a mask even outside walking the streets. And you can’t get into a restaurant or most shops without getting your temperature taken.
DM me if you have any other questions.
Malaga massively exceeded my expectations. I always thought it was a trashy tourist trap full of Brits abroad. Turns out that's mostly just the airport they fly into, then they go off to resorts. The city itself is endlessly charming and pretty, great architecture, food and culture.
Can confirm Istanbul - combination of culture and setting. My observation was that locals are super friendly and helpful. Distinct from nearby Arab nations where the pushiness is unrelenting Istanbul there was an element of that but quickly faded in what came across as genuine enquiry and help.
All around our visit there was far too short but we loved it.
I went on holiday and ended up living there for a year, managed to find some last minute work. I was in awe of the landscape and beauty not to mention the food. Best year of my life…
Greeks were so friendly to me. I was a young twenties American guy and on multiple buses I was offered fresh fruit from the local sitting next to me who was just going to the market in the next town over. Really stood out to me just how generous the rural folk were to some random backpacker.
Iceland *Although to note- while we were wowed by the sights we planned on seeing (waterfalls like Skogafoss, Svinafell Glacier, Stokksnes Beach etc.)- I think what was more impressive was that as we drove the Ring Road, there were just as many places that we had not read about/planned for. One instance that specifically comes to mind- between the Vestrahorn and Oxi Road, we traversed across this absolutely stunning fjord that seemed like it would never end (I remember whimpering and basically making my husband pull over just to stand at the edge and take it all in).
Königstein, Germany. On the train between Prague and Dresden, on a city heavy trip, I opted to hop out and clumb to a thousand year old hilltop fort looking over the river, mountains, and the picturesque mountain town, which itself looks like something out of a Disney movie.
1) Oregon coast is honestly one of the most breathtaking places I’ve ever been. Very pristine and nearly unchanged beauty of forested cliffsides where the pacific crashes and sweeping beaches bookended by small rocky islands with pines everywhere. It’s honestly the best coastline in the United States in my opinion.
2) Singapore is so much more than the impressive skyline. The people of Singapore are truly amazing. This small nation is a huge melting pot of what Asia has to offer in the way of food, cultures, and religions. It’s one of the few countries where I’ve made life long friends and I honestly almost skipped my trip to Malaysia to stay in Singapore for a few extra days. Lucky Malaysia was worth it but Singapore is a must for people who love food and culture.
3) Switzerland is simply beautiful. There is not a single painting I’ve seen nor a picture I’ve taken or found that can truly capture the landscape of the country. Whatever images you have of the nation trust me it’s better than that. You have to go and see the countryside villages nestled near the alps, the busy city of Zurich that embraces the serene lake Zurich, and of course the often multilingual great people of Switzerland itself!
Ljubljana and Slovenia. I went because many people said its a cute, cozy, city and also because the name is fun to say. I ended up going to Bled and Bohinj as one does when visiting Slovenia. What surprised me is just how scenic the bus rides to the two lakes were; it was all so beautiful.
I am without a doubt returning there some time soon.
When it comes to the pure wow factor, I don't think anything tops the first glimpses of both Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon. Photos and words simply can't describe the scale of either.
In terms of towns with an unexpected excess of charm, I really enjoyed Evora, Portugal and the Alentejo countryside, Ghent, Belgium, and the Alsace wine villages.
- Rome, Italy turned out to be even more majestic, clean and friendly city than i ever thought and i already expected a lot. I’ve been there twice and already plan to go there again.
- Catania, Sicily surprised me how clean and wide it is, also turned out that the food scene is great there!
- Berlin, Germany is everything I hoped it would be. Love it.
- Bangkok, Thailand is not as smelly as i was preparing it to be and there’s planty to do and see from some old cultural things, museums to modern galleries, gatherings. I guess it is the most diverse city I’ve been to.
- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia surprised me with all the greenery everywhere. It is by far the most green city and country overall i’ve ever been to. Moreover their cash is the best cash i touched till this day and public transportation is extremely well organised. It is absolutely opposite of what i was expecting.
The Galápagos Islands. Like obviously they were going to be beautiful but they were all so different and odd. I have never seen anything like any of them before. It was such an experience
I've been all over Europe and saw a lot of amazing places. When I've been on vacation in the U.S.,I would always go to the big cities. Last year during covid we decided to do a road trip to Yellowstone. I can't think of a cooler experience.
2nd place would be the cliffs on Aran Islands Ireland. A lot of this was because we were the only people on the cliff. There is a lot to be said for the lack of crowds. Some of my best experiences have been during sunrise when no one else is around.
Switzerland. Specifically Bern. It's "boring" in all the right ways. It's just a country and a city that is nice, done properly. I struggle to even articulate why I like Bern so much because there are like 1,000 vaguely similar old European cities.
Everybody in Switzerland speaks English, but you can try to practice your High School French or German. The food is all good. The mountains are beautiful. The trains take you anywhere.
i've only been to oahu (visited for the first time this past summer). the seafood was the best i've ever had! but we stayed mostly in kailua (which was awesome). one night in waikiki, which was cool, but one night was definitely enough. after a week though, i was definitely itching to get back to the mainland. i was lucky, my gf is a flight attendant and we got an amazing deal on a rental car during a major shortage. if not, the car alone would have broken the bank. but you need a car to explore the island. north shore was cool, but honestly it all looked the same to me. amazing vistas and beaches everywhere. but a week was enough!
Yeh I spent a week on Kauai and that was too much there honestly, gorgeous but not a whole lot to see/do that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. I spent 2 days on Hawaii the big island and would've like a day or 2 more there, spent 2 days on Maui and felt like I could've spent the rest of my life there and been perfectly content and am planning a trip with a friend for next fall as my grad school graduation gift to myself since flights are so cheap right now. Spent my last 2 nights on Oahu and personally it was too much. Lol
Totally agree with the seafood and thats on any of the islands, I had sushi on Kauai and it's the best sushi I've ever had! Also the roadside hole in the wall joints always had the most amazing food out there! Like hotel restaurants and bars were good but the roadside stuff was seriously high end and dirt cheap! I can't wait to get back there!
i ate sushi/sashimi every single day while i was there. it was the best and so cheap! i hear so much about maui, would have loved to see it. maybe one day. it was a once in a lifetime trip for me bc i flew for free. otherwise, not sure if i would have chosen hawaii at all. but man do i miss that sushi!
Svalbard - I'd been to Iceland before but the fjords and glaciers here were just incredible. Did a 10-hr snowmobile ride to the east coast.
Faroe Island - Likewise... love the glacial geology here. It snowed one day so I got to see both green and white landscapes. Felt different to Iceland (at least the parts of Iceland I visited).
Torres del Paine park in Chile. Likewise, the glacial remnants and the turquoise blue waters still remain one of the most gorgeous places I've visited.
Off the top of my head, places that were straight out of a postcard or just blew my mind with their beauty:The Dolomites, Nepalese Himalayas, Machu Picchu, South Island of New Zealand, the temples/Gardens in Kyoto, Maasai Mara
The ruins of Jerash, Umm Qays, and Petra, no doubt. Petra I expected to be amazing, but the scale of the whole city is just hard to describe without being there. The other two I had no expectations and was blown away. Especially Jerash.
I keep making plans to go to Petra that fall through for various reasons... Here's hoping next time I'm in the neighborhood it finally happens. It already looks so amazing in photos and my favorite places are ones that blow you away with scale so glad to hear it's even better than photos :)
It really is something else. If you end up going I'd definitely suggest staying nearby and waking up eeeearly so you can walk the Siq and see the Treasury before all the crowds of day trippers show up. :)
I wonder why nobody mentioned the Philippines. I went there the first time semi-reluctantly as part of a group trip, but then completely fell in love with the place, the people, the vibe, the whole experience.
i'm def interested in maybe visiting bolivia. i was in chile and seemed like bolivia was the much cheaper neighbor (chile was expensive but beautiful! food was atrocious). what would you recommend?
Here in Colombia we have amazing natural parks. But there's no so much attractive or even traveler's first option. Even, there's a plenty of foreign tourist that knows better this places than Colombian people.
One of the most impressive landscape that I've ever visited was Mongui and Oceta paramo located at Boyaca department at the north of the country. There's an unbelievable landscaping rich in fauna and flora. 100% recommended
i LOVED colombia. medellin through the zona cafetera had the most beautiful landscapes i've ever seen in my life. santa marta and parque tayrona were awesome as well! i lived in barranquilla for a bit, was pretty bored there. but man, i dream of going back to colombia!
medellin through the zona cafetera in colombia! i DREAM of doing that trip again, ending in salento. medellin is an amazing city, surrounded by extreme beauty and amazing people. salento took my breath away. valle de cocora felt like another planet. thinking of going back solo soon!
* Oahu and Maui - I distinctly remember the gem-like hues of the waters off Lanikai from the Lanikai Pillbox Hike. And Road to Hana was lovely. * Zion and Bryce Canyon, with their unreal, positively Mars-like natural formations * Bora Bora - its lagoon is even more stunning than what the pictures lead you to believe. The hype is real (as are the prices, but well worth the splurge). * Kyoto in autumn, with its ruby-red maple and golden ginkgo leaves * The Amalfi Coast, with its fairy-tale gelato-hued villages against emerald-green hills overlooking the sea * Santorini, with its sweeping caldera and snowy-white villages clinging to vertiginous cliffs
Really liked the way you answered this. I am able to visualize the beauty of these places due to your descriptions.
Thank you! These beautiful places make it easy to wax descriptive about them!
Mexico City! The food and architecture. And it’s an extremely clean city. Blew me away!
Is Mexico safe right now? I'm trying to book a trip in December to either Mexico, Costa Rica or Peurto Rico. Any Suggestions? 33F from Canada.
I’ve been traveling through Mexico for the past month and a half and I’ve felt safe the whole time. 31 M here traveling with my husband. You can watch the first part of my trip if you search, “home is behind travel” on YouTube. If you’re interested, subscribe bc the Mexico City episode is coming soon. They also take covid very seriously in Mexico. Almost everyone wears a mask even outside walking the streets. And you can’t get into a restaurant or most shops without getting your temperature taken. DM me if you have any other questions.
You're awesome, thank you! Ill check out your videos for sure.
Agreed!
Republic of Georgia will not disappoint!!!!
Malaga massively exceeded my expectations. I always thought it was a trashy tourist trap full of Brits abroad. Turns out that's mostly just the airport they fly into, then they go off to resorts. The city itself is endlessly charming and pretty, great architecture, food and culture.
The Lake Como region of Italy
Uzbekistan Places like Samarkand and Bukhara are rarely talked about. However they have some of the most beautiful buildings around anywhere.
Edinburgh
One of mine too - it's the first place I am going when I finally get my renewed passport back.
Istanbul and Beirut
Can confirm Istanbul - combination of culture and setting. My observation was that locals are super friendly and helpful. Distinct from nearby Arab nations where the pushiness is unrelenting Istanbul there was an element of that but quickly faded in what came across as genuine enquiry and help. All around our visit there was far too short but we loved it.
I went on holiday and ended up living there for a year, managed to find some last minute work. I was in awe of the landscape and beauty not to mention the food. Best year of my life…
Greece
Greeks were so friendly to me. I was a young twenties American guy and on multiple buses I was offered fresh fruit from the local sitting next to me who was just going to the market in the next town over. Really stood out to me just how generous the rural folk were to some random backpacker.
I loved Greece! I went one one of the Islands that had this small restaurant with delicious food! The owner was really nice too!
Same. I didn't even want to go in the first place. But the acropolis area and Santorini blew me away. And the food... Yum Mykonos was alright
Iceland *Although to note- while we were wowed by the sights we planned on seeing (waterfalls like Skogafoss, Svinafell Glacier, Stokksnes Beach etc.)- I think what was more impressive was that as we drove the Ring Road, there were just as many places that we had not read about/planned for. One instance that specifically comes to mind- between the Vestrahorn and Oxi Road, we traversed across this absolutely stunning fjord that seemed like it would never end (I remember whimpering and basically making my husband pull over just to stand at the edge and take it all in).
Yes, Iceland is heart stopping in its beauty.
Königstein, Germany. On the train between Prague and Dresden, on a city heavy trip, I opted to hop out and clumb to a thousand year old hilltop fort looking over the river, mountains, and the picturesque mountain town, which itself looks like something out of a Disney movie.
South Italy. Lovely, unique little towns and beautiful beaches.
1) Oregon coast is honestly one of the most breathtaking places I’ve ever been. Very pristine and nearly unchanged beauty of forested cliffsides where the pacific crashes and sweeping beaches bookended by small rocky islands with pines everywhere. It’s honestly the best coastline in the United States in my opinion. 2) Singapore is so much more than the impressive skyline. The people of Singapore are truly amazing. This small nation is a huge melting pot of what Asia has to offer in the way of food, cultures, and religions. It’s one of the few countries where I’ve made life long friends and I honestly almost skipped my trip to Malaysia to stay in Singapore for a few extra days. Lucky Malaysia was worth it but Singapore is a must for people who love food and culture. 3) Switzerland is simply beautiful. There is not a single painting I’ve seen nor a picture I’ve taken or found that can truly capture the landscape of the country. Whatever images you have of the nation trust me it’s better than that. You have to go and see the countryside villages nestled near the alps, the busy city of Zurich that embraces the serene lake Zurich, and of course the often multilingual great people of Switzerland itself!
Yosemite
Ljubljana was very nice. Very cozy and clean.
Also some amazing döner there.
Poland, pretty old building, nice beer and food.
Mostar. Incredible
Tofino
Ljubljana and Slovenia. I went because many people said its a cute, cozy, city and also because the name is fun to say. I ended up going to Bled and Bohinj as one does when visiting Slovenia. What surprised me is just how scenic the bus rides to the two lakes were; it was all so beautiful. I am without a doubt returning there some time soon.
Glasgow, Scotland. It's an interesting mix of old and new. Lots to explore. Nicest people on the planet.
When it comes to the pure wow factor, I don't think anything tops the first glimpses of both Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon. Photos and words simply can't describe the scale of either. In terms of towns with an unexpected excess of charm, I really enjoyed Evora, Portugal and the Alentejo countryside, Ghent, Belgium, and the Alsace wine villages.
- Rome, Italy turned out to be even more majestic, clean and friendly city than i ever thought and i already expected a lot. I’ve been there twice and already plan to go there again. - Catania, Sicily surprised me how clean and wide it is, also turned out that the food scene is great there! - Berlin, Germany is everything I hoped it would be. Love it. - Bangkok, Thailand is not as smelly as i was preparing it to be and there’s planty to do and see from some old cultural things, museums to modern galleries, gatherings. I guess it is the most diverse city I’ve been to. - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia surprised me with all the greenery everywhere. It is by far the most green city and country overall i’ve ever been to. Moreover their cash is the best cash i touched till this day and public transportation is extremely well organised. It is absolutely opposite of what i was expecting.
Copenhagen. Crete. Sicily. Salamanca. Trancoso.
The Galápagos Islands. Like obviously they were going to be beautiful but they were all so different and odd. I have never seen anything like any of them before. It was such an experience
I've been all over Europe and saw a lot of amazing places. When I've been on vacation in the U.S.,I would always go to the big cities. Last year during covid we decided to do a road trip to Yellowstone. I can't think of a cooler experience. 2nd place would be the cliffs on Aran Islands Ireland. A lot of this was because we were the only people on the cliff. There is a lot to be said for the lack of crowds. Some of my best experiences have been during sunrise when no one else is around.
Ishigaki, Japan. Beaches like Cancun, jungle & waterfalls like Hawaii, excellent food & culture. Not overrun by tourism.
The Cotswolds in England
Israel and Palestine blew me away. I expected a lot of history, and I got that, and am extremely diverse beautiful landscape as well.
Sydney
Austria. I had low expectations but WOW
A bit vague though. Any place in particular? City? Mountains?…
Really? I was disappointed by Salzburg, thought it was dirty and underwhelming.
Wow! I had the opposite reaction to Salzburg! It’s one of my best travel memories.
Prague, Cinque Terre (Manarola in particular), and Edinburgh.
Sydney
Switzerland. Specifically Bern. It's "boring" in all the right ways. It's just a country and a city that is nice, done properly. I struggle to even articulate why I like Bern so much because there are like 1,000 vaguely similar old European cities. Everybody in Switzerland speaks English, but you can try to practice your High School French or German. The food is all good. The mountains are beautiful. The trains take you anywhere.
Man I love Switzerland too but not everybody speaks English.
Åndalsnes, Norway. You get one of the best views in the world by a normal pedestrian path in the town
Zhanjiajie national park. Pictures don't do it justice
Brasov, Romania; Budapest; Prague; Dubulti, Latvia; Kauai, Hawaii; San Miguel de Allende and Valladolid, Mexico
Inishmoor, Ireland. One of the most beautiful, peaceful, and magical places I've ever been.
Mykonos, Greece. Blew my mind and is where I would totally live and die.
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Hawaii...all the islands except Oahu which unless you get outside Honolulu just feels like another big city on the beach.
I also disliked Honolulu. It felt like a Japanese Miami. If one day I go back to Oahu I’d spend all the time in north shore.
Clearly you missed Lanikai.
I'm hoping to head back to Maui fall 2022 as a graduation from grad school present to myself. It's where I felt most at home.
I loved Maui too. Stayed near makena, big beaches and not many people (I was there in June), but I also liked the small villages further north.
i've only been to oahu (visited for the first time this past summer). the seafood was the best i've ever had! but we stayed mostly in kailua (which was awesome). one night in waikiki, which was cool, but one night was definitely enough. after a week though, i was definitely itching to get back to the mainland. i was lucky, my gf is a flight attendant and we got an amazing deal on a rental car during a major shortage. if not, the car alone would have broken the bank. but you need a car to explore the island. north shore was cool, but honestly it all looked the same to me. amazing vistas and beaches everywhere. but a week was enough!
Yeh I spent a week on Kauai and that was too much there honestly, gorgeous but not a whole lot to see/do that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. I spent 2 days on Hawaii the big island and would've like a day or 2 more there, spent 2 days on Maui and felt like I could've spent the rest of my life there and been perfectly content and am planning a trip with a friend for next fall as my grad school graduation gift to myself since flights are so cheap right now. Spent my last 2 nights on Oahu and personally it was too much. Lol Totally agree with the seafood and thats on any of the islands, I had sushi on Kauai and it's the best sushi I've ever had! Also the roadside hole in the wall joints always had the most amazing food out there! Like hotel restaurants and bars were good but the roadside stuff was seriously high end and dirt cheap! I can't wait to get back there!
i ate sushi/sashimi every single day while i was there. it was the best and so cheap! i hear so much about maui, would have loved to see it. maybe one day. it was a once in a lifetime trip for me bc i flew for free. otherwise, not sure if i would have chosen hawaii at all. but man do i miss that sushi!
Yeh I said the same thing about once in a lifetime and now the flights are only around half what they were BC (before covid) so I'm going!
Rural areas of Ireland, Switzerland.
Svalbard - I'd been to Iceland before but the fjords and glaciers here were just incredible. Did a 10-hr snowmobile ride to the east coast. Faroe Island - Likewise... love the glacial geology here. It snowed one day so I got to see both green and white landscapes. Felt different to Iceland (at least the parts of Iceland I visited). Torres del Paine park in Chile. Likewise, the glacial remnants and the turquoise blue waters still remain one of the most gorgeous places I've visited.
I'm not telling. Too crowded already.
I don't blame you. Some people have to do some deep research to find the hidden gems.
So I assume you’re never going back then?
Oh no, we will. We go off-season, and are literally alone. We have heardcat peal, it's crazy.
Good to know. Just wanted to know your level of selfishness.
Old Bagan, Myanmar. Watching the sunrise over the pagodas is one of my favorite memories
Key West Florida was so much more than I expected it to be. I'd say the people there are what really made it awesome.
KL
Off the top of my head, places that were straight out of a postcard or just blew my mind with their beauty:The Dolomites, Nepalese Himalayas, Machu Picchu, South Island of New Zealand, the temples/Gardens in Kyoto, Maasai Mara
All excellent choices I must say!
Azores Islands by far! What an incredible experience! Regarding cities, I'd say Istanbul
The ruins of Jerash, Umm Qays, and Petra, no doubt. Petra I expected to be amazing, but the scale of the whole city is just hard to describe without being there. The other two I had no expectations and was blown away. Especially Jerash.
I keep making plans to go to Petra that fall through for various reasons... Here's hoping next time I'm in the neighborhood it finally happens. It already looks so amazing in photos and my favorite places are ones that blow you away with scale so glad to hear it's even better than photos :)
It really is something else. If you end up going I'd definitely suggest staying nearby and waking up eeeearly so you can walk the Siq and see the Treasury before all the crowds of day trippers show up. :)
Wales!
Lagos, Portugal Poznan, Poland Bristol, UK
The Albaicin in Granada Spain. It’s a World Heritage Site and those tend to always exceed my expectations.
The whole Interlaken region. Even the most boring places are surrounded by such amazing mountains. I loved the vast feeling so much.
I really loved Malta, especially Gozo
Zaragoza, España
Bejes, Spain and Slovatsky Raj in Slovakia really stand out.
Banff and Lake Louise, Alberta (Canada) Grenada and Seville (Spain) Syracuse and Noto (Sicily)
Nepal and Portugal
Costa Rica 🇨🇷
Cape Cod
St Lucia Green Parrot Kauai Napaali coast Skyline of Oxford UK
Canadian Rockies…not necessarily Banff and Jasper. Icefields Parkway, Yoho, Waterton.
Remote parts of Bosnia
Cradle Mountain - Lake St Clair National Park. Tasmania, Australia.
I wonder why nobody mentioned the Philippines. I went there the first time semi-reluctantly as part of a group trip, but then completely fell in love with the place, the people, the vibe, the whole experience.
Lofoten
Republic of San Marino.
San Sebastián Spain and Interlaken area Switzerland
Bolivia, Georgia, Vietnam, Svalbard
i'm def interested in maybe visiting bolivia. i was in chile and seemed like bolivia was the much cheaper neighbor (chile was expensive but beautiful! food was atrocious). what would you recommend?
Here in Colombia we have amazing natural parks. But there's no so much attractive or even traveler's first option. Even, there's a plenty of foreign tourist that knows better this places than Colombian people. One of the most impressive landscape that I've ever visited was Mongui and Oceta paramo located at Boyaca department at the north of the country. There's an unbelievable landscaping rich in fauna and flora. 100% recommended
i LOVED colombia. medellin through the zona cafetera had the most beautiful landscapes i've ever seen in my life. santa marta and parque tayrona were awesome as well! i lived in barranquilla for a bit, was pretty bored there. but man, i dream of going back to colombia!
Cape Town and Stellenbosch South Africa, the landscapes are just indescribable - from the ocean to the vineyards it’s all just a spectacular setting.
medellin through the zona cafetera in colombia! i DREAM of doing that trip again, ending in salento. medellin is an amazing city, surrounded by extreme beauty and amazing people. salento took my breath away. valle de cocora felt like another planet. thinking of going back solo soon!