Upcoming trips - vague intentions - half-done plans

[TravelMusings]

Can we have a general travel chat thread? Somewhere to discuss trips we're looking forward to or places on our radar that we've started to loosely plan for?

For me: Moldova is pretty well planned but waiting to see what happens in the elections next month then happy to go asap.
Monaco just needs to be booked for early summer.

I have relatives in Syria whom I haven't seen in a long time and would love to go back. One relative who lives there says it's relatively safe these days but I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has been there more recently, as my relative tends to dismiss Western safety concerns.....

Regardless of the situation on the ground, my thoughts are: what passport would you be travelling on, are you a dual national (if so of where) and do you look/sound local?

FCO advises UK citizens against all travel to Syria so if you are on a UK passport you would need specialist travel insurance and you'll not have consular assistance should you need it.

British passport but Syrian ancestry, so not worried about getting in. I'd have to enter on the British passport. Lots of relatives there who speak Arabic and would make sure I was kept away from harm, but I do sound like a foreigner...

It wasn't getting in I was worried about, it's the getting out. Although, as UK pp holder you would still need an entry visa.

You've no consular support if anything goes wrong and appearing Western whether in mannerisms, speech or looks increases the abduction risk. A firm no-go imo, no matter how much your relatives swear they can keep you safe. They're being overconfident.

What a great thread! I used to be an avid traveller, but for now it's bucket-and-spade holidays, since I've small kids.

To a previous poster, I really recommend Iran. Amazing scenery, culture, food, etc. Syria was also one of my favourite places, but seems not safe to go right now. I've travelled many times in South and Central America, and especially loved Bolivia and Guatemala.

For future trips, I'd love to go to Venezuela, the "stans", the Andaman Islands. Closer to home, I'd love to see more of Greece - lesser known islands and parts of the mainland. I've never been to Croatia or Slovenia, so they're high on my list.

I feel very "untravelled" compared to some of you, very envious of your plans/bravery. I promised my teens a post exam treat next summer. Was meant to be BC, Canada but I think its going to be too expensive, flights alone are coming out nearly £3k. So I'm here for inspo. OH and I have tossed around slovenia/Croatia/montenegro, Azerbaijan/Georgia, Scandinavia (OH more keen than me) and Latvia/baltics around today. I am not a planner and OH hates a fully planned/booked trip as he likes to follow the weather, option to move on or stay on depending how we find places.
Usually we go to France, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium in our small camper, avoid big tourist sites and aren't sunbathers so theneed to book up has never really been a problem. Love lakes, mountains, wildlife and pretty towns. So need something different and special, but still in our comfort zone!
Just don't know where to start or how to narrow it down, usually we just book a crossing and have a vague plan of where we want to head.

Oooh this seems a good thread to test out my embryonic planning of getting the train to and around Slovenia and Croatia next summer, but I’m worried about it being rammed with tourists (hypocritical I know!) I can’t wait until I can travel outside of school hols

any thoughts or experiences?

Latvia is great and very easy.

Although Slovenia is well-liked (i.e. there will be a few tourists), Croatia is definitely a bit of a hotspot. I'd go for Slovenia...and then report back to the rest of us 😁

@Jumbojem The Baltics are a good shout. Alternatively, Montenegro has a few old cities/towns and is big on natural beauty. It's got quite a bit of hiking if you like a mountain or a national park. It also isn't hugely popular but does have a growing tourist infrastructure so is easy enough to get around. The mix of towns and natural beauty means you would have the flexibility you and your OH desire.

I'd maybe skip Georgia and Azerbaijan purely based on what you said re comfort zone.

https://www.visit-montenegro.com/ <<< start here

Thankyou! I was considering Scandinavia but the costs are putting me off

maybe we‘ll just stick to Slovenia but do proper stops along the way

Thank you for the feedback! I spent an hour this am on Google maps bookmarking places of interest. Mainly in Montenegro and Bosnia Herzegovina. I pinned lots of white water rafting/zip line type things to keep the teens happy, and loads of lakes for kayaking/paddle boarding. I love mountains/hiking but the kids will moan if that's the only activity.
I will do the same exercise for Baltics later!

@Citygirlrurallife one of DSs friends went to Croatia and back by train last year. Down through Belgium/Germany on an overnight train.They didn't travel around once they got to Croatia, just had a week chilling, but from what I heard the trip was a success.

Can I please join in?
Always go somewhere in jan/ feb to escape the grey weather but not feeling inspired as yet so hoping to steal some ideas here!
Happy to give any info on places I e Bern shoukd that be helpful

Anywhere lovely to recommend?

Boredom is a terrible thing.

On my break today I got fidgety and booked some stuff in Saudi Arabia and when I got home I booked Liechenstein. Guess I'm going to KSA and Liechenstein then. Any suggestions on where to eat?

I would like to go to Krakow, having had to cancel during the pandemic.

I'd also like to go to Croatia and Madeira.

There aren't many trains in Croatia, but you could of course take buses instead.

My knowledge of Croatia is limited, but I did go to a small inland town in Istria (Buzet) several years ago and it was amazing (like an Italian hill town, Istria used to be Italian), and definitely off the beaten track! With so much coastline and so many islands, surely there are parts that are relatively quiet? (possibly the parts not easily reachable by public transport? 🤔)

Just planning a trip away with the new man at the moment. I do feel for him- he loves to travel and has inadvertently ended up with a single mum who avoids flying and has limited childfree time 😬. So we're going to Paris and Marseille by train in my 5 precious nights at half term. I'm looking forward to discovering Marseille- I definitely have a thing for slightly gritty port cities (loved Genova), and I like the way you can walk from the outskirts of the city to Calanques National Park. Fingers crossed for good weather!

I can see that there's some interest in South America here. I did a really good trip to Argentina a few years ago . BA I loved it / fantastic city then flew up to Salta and drove down to Mendoza. I confess I like food and wine!
Really amazing scenery . Felt very safe . Accommodation was lovely and once you are there the cost of everything was very reasonable,
Thinking about Brazil or Chile maybe?

I love dreaming about and planning holidays. We are off to New Orleans for a week in February for Mardi Gras (no kids) followed by a cruise to Scandinavia and the Baltics after exams in July. Can’t wait for both.

Oohhh…..this sounds like my type of place.

i have vague itineraries planned for many destinations, just need the time and funds to get them booked!

I have a year or so until I can comfortably leave my young people to fend for themselves and hoping I will be confident enough to travel alone again.

Anyone else travel solo?

I had planned to go to Uzbekistan this month but something else came up and so will be taking an unexpected trip solo. Hopefully that’ll bolster my confidence and some of these plans will come to life!

Eastern Turkey, Georgia, Armenia. Iran. Central America (done some of South many years ago and loved Bolivia). Norway.

@TravelMusings whats your plan for Saudi? This is definitely on my list, but again, solo, not sure how easy it’s be. (I’ve not planned this one yet!)

I also loved Argentina! I have young children now so travelling is a bit more tricky.

Anyone have any ideas for a winter break which is ok for children and not skiing? Was looking at Krakow.

@Usernamechangeforthis12 off the top of my head, Jeddah, Riyadh, AlUla, Madinah, rock climbing in some place I saw in an article years ago, will see where else when I start to plan. It was a bit spur of the moment. Taif would be cool but I think it'll be out of rose harvest season so I'll tag Taif on to a regional trip another time.

Always travel solo. It seems vastly easier than travelling with others. Maybe offer for others to join for a few days or for specific things that are very costly for one, e.g. wildlife treks. Always with the proviso that you both be willing and capable of doing your own thing.

And ahhh Iran, I had that pretty sorted a good few years ago when travel was still okay. I can't go for now sadly. One day, one day. Wonder if any of the hosts I found will still be around. I had found them for a few places that didn't have much in the way of accommodation. It does look so rich in history and food, doesn't it!

@TravelMusings when do you head off for KSA? We made a bit of an error and visited Jeddah in August - #hotandhumid, poor old DH went for a run along the Corniche but I was dripping with sweat just walking. Fond memories though. Can recommend Al Ula - we really enjoyed it. Also the Edge of the World outside Riyadh.

I am not sure how familiar you are with the country but their travel tourism is not all that straightforward. At least it wasnt when we were there and we left 2 years ago. It took us a couple of weeks to book a room in the Farasans as we had to do it by phone and catch an English speaker. But with the pace of change in the country things may have improved.

I was severely bitten by the travel bug in my 30s and 40s and travelled extensively largely solo in Europe and Australia, and less boringly, lots of desert trips in North Africa.

I would like to go back to Morocco. Fascinating country, fabulous food and very hospitable people.

Any restrictions or would likes? Budget, distance etc?

@Specialnameforanoutingthread Going in December, I should have a free month so might as well pop off on a trip. Farasans you say? How did you spend your time there?