I'd check out Somalia - I hear the locals are really friendly

Africa checks off all the boxes for my next vacation.  All-inclusive deals, beautiful wildlife safaris, genocide, parasitic urethra leeches, and more deaths from hippo attacks than heart disease.  

My bosses bosses boss went to South Africa a few years ago and did some safaris a little north of there. I know he joked that the camera they bought for it cost more money than he and his wife's travel expenses

 

I’d love to do a safari. And Egypt is a big bucket list trip. We were planning on staying in Luxor by the Valley of the Kings right on the Nile for our honeymoon - but my mom got super anxious about our safety and I didn’t want to spend my honeymoon worried that she was worried 🙄 and then we were going to head to Cairo and see Giza. 
 

We were planning to stay here - it looks like a beautiful resort and at the time it was extremely reasonable on our hotel points. 
 

https://www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/egypt/hilton-luxor-resort-and-spa-LUXHITW/index.html?WT.mc_id=zELWAKN0EMEA1HI2DMH3LocalSearch4DGGenericx6LUXHITW

 

 

On 6/25/2020 at 12:31 AM, mr_hunt said:

what's the longest flight you folks have been on? 

 

since our vietnam trip for next month was cancelled due to the trump flu, we're now shooting for 2022 hoping things will be back to normal by then.  we've looked at some flights & it will take around 22 hours to get there...that's with 1 layover.    i'll probably have to take something to help me sleep since i have trouble sleeping on planes. 

The trick is to book a 7 am flight and finish packing at about 3am the night before. You will be so tired you'll just sleep through most of the flight. That's what I did anyway 

On 7/23/2020 at 10:20 PM, xzmattzx said:

I'd love to go to Africa some time.  Any input on the "easiest" place in Africa to go to?  What would be a good place in Africa to go if you want a cheap and relatively short flight, and also want a safe location?

 

Other things the same, Tunis, Tunisia is on my bucket list.  Nairobi, Kenya has been on my bucket list for a long time.  I've heard good things about Dakar, Senegal.  I also know people from Accra, Ghana, that say it's very nice.  Lagos, Nigeria, could become the most-populated city in the world in the future, and it very dynamic, but Nigeria is not a very safe country either.

South Africa safaries are amazing.  They are some of the most unique travel experiences I've ever had.  

Heard they are something else South Africa safaries

21 hours ago, eagle45 said:

South Africa safaries are amazing.  They are some of the most unique travel experiences I've ever had.  

 

I want to go to south africa to do that plus this:

 

 

Literally a bucket list item.  And my only bucket list item 

the wife keeps bringing up going to africa for safari...and some place where giraffes roam free & you can feed them while you dine or some sheet like that.  and i keep reminding her that i don't want to go to any countries that have a history of killing or holding americans for ransom.     

13 minutes ago, mr_hunt said:

the wife keeps bringing up going to africa for safari...and some place where giraffes roam free & you can feed them while you dine or some sheet like that.  and i keep reminding her that i don't want to go to any countries that have a history of killing or holding americans for ransom.     

Like schmoopie said... that's what derailed our original honeymoon plans.  We were planning spending a week and half in Africa.

 

Rome, Venice and Dubrovnik was a good compromise.  A hell of a lot more expensive but a great trip. 

yeah, ireland was our compromise. the wife kept suggesting countries where fearing for one's life is listed as a top attraction.

11 minutes ago, mr_hunt said:

yeah, ireland was our compromise. the wife kept suggesting countries where fearing for one's life is listed as a top attraction.

I hear you.  I wanted to smuggle weed out of Turkey but that got shot down real quick. 

2 hours ago, mr_hunt said:

the wife keeps bringing up going to africa for safari...and some place where giraffes roam free & you can feed them while you dine or some sheet like that.  and i keep reminding her that i don't want to go to any countries that have a history of killing or holding americans for ransom.     

But... you're going to Vietnam

recent history.  i should've said recent history.  

vietnam loves americans now...their money, anyway. 

3 hours ago, mr_hunt said:

the wife keeps bringing up going to africa for safari...and some place where giraffes roam free & you can feed them while you dine or some sheet like that.  and i keep reminding her that i don't want to go to any countries that have a history of killing or holding americans for ransom.     

I have a buddy that stayed here years ago.  Sheet is expensive, but it looks insane.  

 

 

1 hour ago, mr_hunt said:

recent history.  i should've said recent history.  

vietnam loves americans now...their money, anyway. 

Vietnam evacuates 80,000 tourists amid new Covid-19 cases in Danang

11 minutes ago, Shepard Wong said:

Vietnam evacuates 80,000 tourists amid new Covid-19 cases in Danang

yeah, they don't play when it comes to covid-19.  3 residents in that area tested positive...first locally transmitted cases since april...and they get everyone the f outta there. 

My traveling days may well be over.  I spent more time driving in the car today to get 5 miles home for lunch.  It consumed my whole hour.  The one  way I go due to 1 detour today now has posted a sign they will be closed for paving.  While I'm glad everyone is hard working on the roads, they obviously didn't coordinate these projects right as they are creating a bit of gridlock around here.  Not sure if East Penn Railroad shows on my map, but they stop traffic at least 3 times per day.

Happy travels everyone.  I have a handmade wooden mug from Ghana.  Closet I'll ever get to Africa.

 

1 minute ago, mr_hunt said:

yeah, they don't play when it comes to covid-19.  3 residents in that area tested positive...first locally transmitted cases since april...and they get everyone the f outta there. 

I had no idea it had become a vacation destination.  Some of the pictures online look amazing.

What were flights to South Africa and Egypt priced at when you guys looked at them?

West Coast Sweden between Gothenburg and Norway. Place called Fjällbacka. Heading out in a boat now in the archipelago. 

View from our bed n breakfast balcony. 

What are your favorite little historic towns in Sweden, @DrPhilly?

On 8/1/2020 at 6:52 AM, DrPhilly said:

West Coast Sweden between Gothenburg and Norway. Place called Fjällbacka. Heading out in a boat now in the archipelago. 

Bless you!