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.

Currently in Vietnam,then Cambodia & Singapore, for a month. I want a long stay somewhere this winter, but can only find cheapo companies like Jet2. Can anyone suggest a more upmarket company please?

We're off to Rome in early February for the Italy v Wales 6 nation match. We're on an organised trip for some of it but going independently for the other days. I'm totally shellshocked by the sheer amount of stuff to do.

Then April we're hoping to go away for DHs 70th, possibly Grenada, possibly somewhere else.

gosh, you are all adventurous. I am restricted to where we can fairly easily drive because we take our dog on holiday with us. So far we have done four trips to France in the last year, plus Devon, Yorkshire and Norfolk. I am currently looking at getting the ferry (overnight, dog-friendly cabins) to Bilbao and then driving to Biarritz area for a couple of weeks of villa/gite based holidaying to which we can lure our luxury-oriented DS with whoever is his plus-1 that year. I find this no hardship since I love France, and learning the language, and am happy to exchange deeper knowledge of one country for trips to many at this point. Also looking to escape to Bordeaux/Lyon for a long weekend with DH MINUS Ddog - relying upon DS to step up to the plate and dog-sit for that one.

However...we have travelled to Japan and Vietnam, Singapore and Hong Kong in the past, and I'd love to go further afield again. Will have to work harder at finding holiday dog-sitting though.

I highly recommend the Stans (although I'd never go back to Turkmenistan) and the Caucuses. Iran is high on my "must visit" list

Is it that you want a package? I tend to book separately because you can find nicer things.

Why never Turkmenistan again? It's on the list for me as it's such an unusual place but if it's not worth it, we would look at one of the others.

Don't go further, go deeper- that's my motto. There is so much to discover in the countries right on our doorstep.

We've just done a similar trip- ferry to Roscoff, drove down through France to Spain and got the ferry back from Santander. It was lovely. I can wholeheartedly recommend the Spanish Pyrenees- we stayed near Bielsa, on the edge of the Monte Perdido National Park, and it was stunning. Really liked Bilbao and the entire vibe of the Basque Country, too. did NOT like Spanish drivers

Long expeditions out of Europe can wait until the DC are grown and independent.

It was deeply uncomfortable in Ashgabat - we got locked in in the hotel because the presidential motorcade was coming past, and moved on over the street because we were walking too close to the parliament building.

In no other place in the region did I feel so watched. It was interesting and I'm glad I've been but I didn't enjoy it, if that makes sense.

Plus, once you've heard one ode to Turkmenbashi, you've heard them all!

The Gates of Hell was great though.

once you've heard one ode to Turkmenbashi, you've heard them all!

Maybe I'll suggest a shorter tour of Turkmenistan and longer in Uzbekistan. We have an Uzbek friend who's going to give us some tips.

@TravelMusings Farasans - we went snorkelling (I wore my gym leggings and short sleeve t shirt) as we weren't confident enough in the communication and safety to dive, we went out on a boat and explored the mangroves, and generally drove and explored the islands. The beaches look good, but most are not very accessible, and were covered with bitey sandflies. They were not the same in my abaya and fully clothed! We had driven from Riyadh to Jizan and you have to pass through an 'orange FCO area' so i think travel insurance is not valid as you drive from Abha to the ferry. When we were in Jizan the woman who made our ferry booking told DH he had to drive. It turned out when you prepare to load the car on the ferry, part of the scanning and security procedure was to pat down the driver as well as scan the car and this was only a male pat down for male drivers. I had been directed to go throught the terminal building for my security and a pat down by the female team. If you are on your own you may run into a difficulty with this (or it may have changed....)

I am presuming you are travelling independently and not on a tour?

In Riyadh, Najd Village is an experience to eat at - on the floor and traditional, an interesting experience. I think Riyadh Season will still be running- check out their website as it'll give you a taste of trying to plan. We never really managed to get to anything as DH used to have an early start which meant and early to bed, and things dont really get started until after we went back home. Tickets also seemed to sell out quickly. apparently a lot of trading goes on with people swapping tickets they've got for tickets they actually want.

The Globe for afternoon tea meant we overlooked the city by day and at night. The Kingdom Tower offers interesting view. Masmaq Fort is interesting. I can dig out the details of our rug man if you are interested. Nofa Resort is supposed to be excellent but we never visited.

Let me know if you are interested in more info.

@BigSkies2022 perfect trip.

@BigSkies2022 have you tried Trustedhousesitters.com? PIL use them for their dogs.

Has anyone been to Ithaca? It’s been on my list since I went to Corfu years ago.

@MinnieMountain - I haven't tried anyone! We've had Ddog nearly 6 years, since a puppy, and he's never been left with anyone else. I was less nervous with DS! I'm worried he'd run away if let off the lead with a stranger, be miserable if he's not allowed off the lead for days on end, that he would grieve and be forever nervous and more reactive after our return..I realise I have very much hoist myself with my own petard here, in not acclimatising him to sitters from an early age, but there it is. I will look up that site, though, many thanks.

@crackofdoom - I will look at Bielsa as well. thanks. And yes, go deeper - there's so much diversity and excitement on our doorstep. That said, I see the house I was looking at for next September is already booked, I think, so will have to push my planning out further still!

Great thread.

@BigSkies2022 I use trusted sitters for my cats - super easy and lots of choice. I got about 7 applicants even though it was very short notice.

I was also going to suggest them for @Georgyporky on the opposite way. A great way to do a long-term stay, there were some really interesting places offered!

@PrettyParrot you would struggle to get travel insurance for a trip to Syria.

@Apollonia1 nice to hear you're a fan of Guatemala - we've just booked to go there next year. I've been to Honduras & Mexico (pre-kids) and Costa Rica with kids so really looking forward to this. The only thing I'm finding a bit tricky is accommodation. Now that they're teens, getting 2 hotel rooms is so expensive. Not many places seem to have family connecting rooms. I'm thinking of doing air bnbs in Atitlan & Antigua.

@Jumbojem I think Canada and USA flights come up in offers a lot. Worth setting a price tracker on Google flights or joining Jack's Flight Club.

No experience of the middle East or the stans, but have travelled a lot in Asia & Europe.

@stowickthevast thanks, I will set a tracker but like you, I have two teens so it was also accommodation. Having to pay the cost of essentially 4 adults to go on holiday adds up in an expensive country!
OH has seen we can fly to Montenegro from our local airport and I have spent a long time looking at there and Bosnia. The money saved on cheaper flights can go on zip wires, rafting and kayak/boat trips which will keep the teens happy, and I can add in some hiking and sightseeing for OH and I.

I hear you @Jumbojem . You can also fly to Dubrovnik and drive to Montenegro if that's cheaper. We did it this way and I think it only takes a couple of hours.

@Specialnameforanoutingthread Yes, I'm an independent traveller, no guide except where required by authorities (or safety, hiking Himalayas solo? No, ta. Not in my skillset.) Your pictures are increasing my excitement for the trip!

Musmak Fort is already on my list 😀I love a good fort. Heck, I even like a bad fort!

Jizan had been tentatively on my list but it and Abha are orange on the FCO currently so striking it off. I'm a solo traveller as well so why add a risk.

Beyond my initial list I've thought about a few smaller places like Al-Hofuf for the oasis. I've "only" three to four weeks and I like slow travel so not sure how far I'll get beyond Riyadh/Jeddah/Madinah/AlUla and a couple of daytrips. Even that is pretty full on in my eyes. Ticking boxes and rushing around isn't my preferred style unless it's a city break.

Thanks for the info re Riyadh season. Didn't realise there was a whole hoopla! Explains the lack of accommodation options. Got a room sorted though and going to some concerts so that'll be fun.

@Jumbojem that sounds like you've got a plan forming! I love the planning stage. It can be overwhelming but it is also so fun: the prospect of what you'll see and where you'll eat and who you'll meet... Me, a dreamer? Never 😉

I'm an independent traveller, no guide except where required by authorities (or safety, hiking Himalayas solo? No, ta. Not in my skillset.)

My female friend and I, both very seasoned travelers, used guides on our last trip together, 100s of miles off paved roads! It was required in that case but it sold me a bit. They were local guides, homestay, trains and 4x4s kind of thing. Rather than big groups in mini-buses or trucks. I think there are ways to judiciously use guides sometimes.

Ooh my people. I love to plan. I want to see as many places as I can. Mostly a solo traveller, can't wait for others or deal with them moaning. My solo travel has been curtailed for now though as I've been my mams full time carer the past 4 year. Have taken her to Venice (again!) and prague in that time though. I have a (v expensive for us) 2 week cruise round the med booked for next summer. My 40th birthday and trying to get her to at least see many of the places she has always wanted to see but never has. May also be a last hurrah since we don't know how long she will be able to travel for (or even be around). Making memories.

I will be back to exploring when the time comes. And will continue to dream until then.

Absolutely agree, the guides in Borneo were invaluable. But I so rarely go places where a guide is needed or where I suspect the added benefits would outweigh the added costs, especially given it is already expensive enough going as one person. That's the real sticking point for me, it takes a lot of pros to outweigh the cost. I do find that people are quite friendly anyway and offer to be your guide or invite you places anyway, that could be somewhat regional though. South Asia, SE Asia and Eastern Europe are like that. Central and Western Europe much less so from memory. Americas variable.

I did treat myself to a guide for some cave monasteries, she was very cool and knowledgeable! I hired her at the actual site but I'd say that counts 😛

That's the fun thing about holidays and travel and the like. Not only is there a variety to see and do, there's a great variety in how to go about doing it, infinite options!

Are there any places you particularly suggest getting a guide for or is it too individual a thing?

Edit: I just reread your message and saw it was on your last trip that you used a guide so perhaps my last Q is difficult to answer!

Oh! You reminded me, I had a guide in Brunei of all places. Tiny place, totally safe, but I'd basically turned up with no real research. Was at a mosque when a chap asked if I'd like a boat ride. Sure. Was on a boat going round the mangroves spotting monkeys etc when the guide - completely unprovoked - started to defend the new sodomy and anti-gay laws, explaing how it has to be x number of highly-esteemed witnesses who saw things explicity...then he started miming what they had to see, hand gestures and all 😂I tried to look away and continue my original conversation of the beautiful, peaceful scenery but he kept saying "look, look, you must look" and making shapes with his hands. There we go, I've had two guides. P.s. The village on stilts we went to after the mangroves was lovely and free of sodomy talk.

@PotterHead1985 where do you dream of?

@TravelMusings - sounds hilarious! what is a 'sodomy' shape, btw?

My own travel planning is currently a bit tiresome - I got very excited about a beautiful villa, which claimed to be pet-friendly, only to discover, when about to book, that the owners proposed a charge of 50 euros PER DAY for each pet. I am used to paying a bit extra for potential extra cleaning costs incurred, and of course a damages deposit is also normal - but 700 euros extra for the fortnight??? on top of a considerable damages deposit? Why not just say sorry, no pets. They will surely rent the villa regardless.

So, off to a grumpy start, but things starting to take shape. And the ferry is alas, too slow and expensive, so we'll stick with Eurotunnel and spend at least one night on the road there and back - would much rather spend the money on accommodation than a ferry.

Yikes on that guide. I'd say it is good where safety is an issue, where the culture is very very different so having a navigator at least initially is good, and in cultures where having an introduction is good.

The other thing to do, which worked really well for me, is use italki. I learned a really obscure language online with a teacher in the country (via Skype/Zoom) and we met up while I was there. Bonus to that is leaning the language, making a new friend, and having a jump start on the culture. My wonderful teacher was funny. We were learning numbers and saying our ages. I joked, "I am 21" and she <deadpan> said, "oh yes, women in the West like to pretend they are young". We then had a fascinating conversation about women in her country being celebrated for their age and wisdom. Versus youth and beauty in the West. So much for us being the 'developed' ones! We're still FB friends and message each other.