Inspire me. The world is your mollusc...

[MrsTerryPratchett]

Places I've loved:

China
Italy
Nicaragua
Lao
New Zealand
(yes I know they aren't similar)

Places I've hated:
LA
(That's it, literally nowhere else. Just LA. It's awful.)

I want to go somewhere with my elderly but adventurous mother (can't carry a back pack but still much fitter than me) and my DBro. It's probably a last hurrah in some ways. Last chance to indulge a shared love of slightly shitty, minorly scary travel.

Mum doesn't want anywhere with really shit food, beds as hard as China or too touristy. DBro needs culture, architecture, likes people who don't engage too much (he's very much high-functioning spectrum). Me, I need adventure, weather that is neither too sweltering nor too cold (24-27 degrees is perfect!), interesting people who aren't too focused on tourists (so China good, Thailand bad).

Suggestions so far, ranged from maybe to hell no:
Patagonia
Mongolia (I want to save it for the TransSiberian with DH one day)
Montenegro
Albania
Sichuan
Tibet (already been sort of)
Uzbekistan
Iran (Southern, not the scary bits)
Pakistan (fancy it but you know)

I'm very jealous, I'd love to go back!

Azerbaijan sounds great. I will need to learn to spell it without Google help!

Bhutan I really fancy but expensive.

Iran still on the list.

Peru sounds good.

I will admit that if I can get a two for one, that would be great because I'd like to average as many countries as my age and I'm about 4 short.

Could you do Bulgaria - Albania - Montenegro?

That sounds doable...

What's the driving like in Albania? Bearing in mind I drive in Italy!

The central Bulgarian roads from Bansko to Plovdiv were insanely smooth and empty - EU funding I expect

Iceland hot spas and can self drive or tour bus. Legends if you like reading

Purchase interail card for Europe or sections of eg north

UK eg England, Ireland, Scotland or Wales lots of history, castles, National Trust, museums, festivals, coach, drive or train or combine road trip

I am dying to go to Iceland but that's a DH and I trip.

Bulgarian roads are good? Who knew?

How about Colonial Mexico or Chiapas ? (Also in Mexico)

For inspiration: www.journeymexico.com/custom-travel

Have done Iceland. If I'm really honest Norway is more beautiful (and cheaper). But I think the most beautiful beach I have ever been on was in the Gower. Bliss x

Argentina, Chile, southern Brazil.

Iran is breathtaking, some of the nicest people in the world, they are very friendly and hospitable, just as a heads up, they will invite you to their homes before they know your surname. But we lived there so probably different for tourists.

How about Jordan as another option?

Mexico is possible. My Dad was obsessed with Norway, he lived there for a while so maybe another trip including him.

I really fancy Argentina and Chile.

Glad to hear Iran is friendly. I've already visited Jordan - really beautiful.

The world is too big

Tasmania. Australia's best-kept secret.

I love Japan and have travelled widely through the country. Away from the really tourist areas (which are still great) there are stunning places to see and unusual places to stay.

History, culture, food excellent transport, great roads and really on the whole not that expensive.

Booking for Christmas and New Year in the snow in Northern Japan, been before but really looking forward to it. It will make a change to the hot humid monsoon area where I currently live.

You could not pay me to go back the the US,

Another one for Chile. I have been a few times and particularly love Valparaiso.