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[lraleigh]

I'm wondering about people's favorite and least favorite places. Where would you recommend someone to go visit and where would you tell people to avoid at all costs.

As someone who hasn't travelled to too many countries, my limited experience would say to go to eastern Tibet, where you can avoid the hassles of a travel permit and in some areas, the Cultural Revolution didn't really reach too much. The canyons, mountains, forests, and rivers are amazing, sometimes with three vertical miles between river and summit.

[Barrett]

My favourite experiences in Asia were in Nepal. All the Himalayan adventure you can handle and the nicest people I met in 2.5 years of travelling. But I tell you New Zealand and Laos were pretty close too! Happy to talk about it if you want to know more.

Least favourite? ARRRGGHH The backpacker circuit in central India. I apparently transformed into a walking ATM. And the eastern end of the island of Java, just after you get off the ferry from Bali. A grimy little hole.

[technotrekker]

My favourite would be Laos, my least favourite Myanmar. Just because ;-)

[mahmud]

Visit Bangladesh, I think you will also add Bangladesh name as favourite name.

[Izzie]

Favourites: Ethiopia, Mozambique and Indonesia. Least favourite - Kenya (corruption)

[whereshegoes]

I would say that New Zealand, Argentina, South Africa, Scotland, Hawaii and Spain are all high on my list.

My least favorites would be Greece and Easter Island.

[Barrett]

Why don't you like Easter Island? I've never been there but it seems cool; big heads, green island.

Spain - Everyone seems to like Spain but I think its kind of second-class. The art, fashion and architecture are the trailer park cousins of Italia.

[uncle_davros]

India, you either love it or loath it.

I am both of these. As I became pretty ill here, I missed parts down south. I want to come back, but it is the walking bank thing.

I loved Myanmar. One of my favourite places. Tunisia is great also. Don't really have any places I hate, because every place has good and bad points about them. Infact, I always tell people to stay away from Aus, but then again I am biased and can see the bad things about it !!!

[dym888]

Favorite places: Japan, Thailand, and Switzerland


Least Favorite places: England and Hong Kong

[Spandextastic]

Favorites: Ethiopia, Malwaii, Bolivia


Least Favorites: Kenya, Chile

[whereshegoes]

Why don't you like Easter Island? I've never been there but it seems cool; big heads, green island.

Spain - Everyone seems to like Spain but I think its kind of second-class. The art, fashion and architecture are the trailer park cousins of Italia.

I guess part of it is just what your experience is in the place. I didn't enjoy Easter Island because I had some negative experiences with locals, bugs, not to mention I was sick. I don't necessarily blame Easter Island but I don't think I would go back anytime soon.

[peacefrog]

Barrett,

although I often curse the spaniard tourist invaders north of the pyrenees, I don't agree with you on spain beeing second class: it has been an interface between the christian and muslim "empires" for centuries. This has shaped a truly unique culture.
The few times I've been there, I could find influences from french and italian renaissance, similarities in culture and habits, but also lots of bits and pieces remaining from the arabic rulers.
I've been to morroco and algeria too, where you can see the influence of spaniards, when they were invaders and rulers of the african north coast.
The spaniards have other things in common with other mediteranean people, like greeks for example. And spanish, being a latin language, still keeps a lot of words in common with north-african arabic.
In the end, you can always find similarities, and once you have found them, you can start to see what makes a country and its people different from another.
Then I understand that being just between italians and spaniards, I can see the difference more easily

And the best european party grounds are definitely in spain


And my favourite up to now is Canada.

Won't sound exotic to many, but it was really a great time to be there.

I'll try to go back later with a job, as it is not really suited for budget travel

[beardsley]

This is a bit difficult to quantify, but my favorite nations to visit are the UK for the sheer beauty of the trails I have wandered, and the pubs. Thailand for the food and the beaches. Poland for Krakow and Zakopane, Slovakia for the southern half of the Tatrans, and to some extent for Bratislava. Laos for the people, it is such a welcoming place, and for the sleepy charm of VT and the quiet peace of LP, and the misty verdance of Oudamxai. Nepal for the violent beauty of the Himalayas, and the charm of the sherpas, and the solitude of the best parts of the trails, though I have to admit that Kathmandu is a pestilential S*$#-hole, albeit a charming one.

Nations that I have toured and felt a combination of love and disgust for, are many, with China and Russia being obvious examples. I skated over the surface of both, twice, but the 5 or 6 stops I made in each the two times I travelled through, were enough to make me both long for, and regret, the day I would leave. Food is important to me, and in both countries I can get much better versions of their food in the US, but obviously I won't see Yangshuou or PingYao in New Jersey, nor the summer palace, or Lake Baikal in Idaho or see the snow fall in St. Petersburg, and I admit that I would rather be in Russia or China than in the US, for the excitement of the moment, but other than the 'charm of actually being there' aspect of China/Russia, all in all, I'd rather be in North America... Despite missing the better individuals of Russia/China, the usual travel irritations are magnified to the point that after counting coup on their castles, I have to admit that the people and the food leave me cold. But for nations that just irritate the heck out of me, Malaysia and Indonesia both come to mind. Inevitably, the day I leave them I swear I will never go back, and yet, they are two countries I miss the most when I am relaxing at home.

[technotrekker]

If we're doing world-wide then I'd have to add Italy, Japan and New Zealand to the list of favourites.

Italy becase it has so much class, culture and ancient history; Japan for its austere refinement amongst a bizarre contemporary cyber-society (which really works so well there), and New Zealand for its amazingly diverse natural beauty and great beer.

To add to the not so favourites, have to agree wıth Carmella as have just been to Greece and in general the locals are not very welcoming, it's overpriced and unusually difficult to get around. Best left to summer or package tours I think.

And to elaborate on earlier comments about Myanmar as I know many people rave about it, whilst the locals are great I found it quite one dimensional (the only thing to see there is temples), you can't easily get out to see the countryside, the food was pretty poor and the spitting was somehow worse than in China! I'd recommend Laos over Myanmar any day.

cheers,
TT

[DAVID G.]

THIS APRIL I VISITED ITALY. I WENT BECAUSE OF ALL THE HYPE..
THIS IS ONE COUNTRY WHERE THEY THINK THEY'RE MORE SUPERIOR THAN ANYONE LIVING IN THIS EARTH..CUSTOMER SERVICE IS NOT A PRIORITY IN THIS FILTHY COUNTRY..AS A TOURIST IF YOU ASK A QUESTION TO AN ITALIAN OFFICIAL THEY GIVE YOU WRONG INFORMATION JUST FOR THE HECK OF IT..AND TREAT YOU LIKE AN IDIOT AND WITH SUCH HATE...AND THE LOCAL ARE NOT VERY WELCOMING

THEY DO NOT LIKE ANYONE FROM THE NEW WORLD--USA-CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA-- THEY ARE RACIST SOB'S

I REGRET SPENDING $8,000.USD FOR THE WORSE VACATION EVER
THEY ARE ARROGANT AND VERY UNPLEASANT PLUS THEY SMELL B-CUZ THEY DON'T TAKE SHOWERS OR BATHS OR MAYBE IS THEIR ATTITUDE

PLEASE SAVE YOUR MONEY AND VISIT OUR OWN HISTORY THE USA
WHERE CUSTOMER SERVICE IS #1
AND EVERYONE HAS A WELCOMING ATTITUDE
MAYBE THIS IS WHY ITALIAN AND MANY EUROPEAN COUNTRIES DON'T LIKE THE USA

[Ivealis]

Favorite countries for me include:Canada, Italy, Switerland, UK, then Ireland. Worst place to visit? none for me yet! I think its obviously a matter of personal opinion. In regards to Italy, I agree with the last post by Allen. Who ever spent 8,000 on a trip to Italy must have had temporary insanity. Italy is the one of the most beautiful countries I have ever been to. Italians were nice and kind. I had some mishaps on the Italian trains, but you know when you dont speak the language, expect the unexpected. Lucky for me my spanish got me through it and also a sense of humor is needed when travelling. But to bash Italy for no apparent reason seems silly to me. Its a great place.

p.s. There are stinky people everywhere-including the good 'ol USA!

-Michaelle Ivealis

[lraleigh]

India, you either love it or loath it.

I am both of these. As I became pretty ill here, I missed parts down south. I want to come back, but it is the walking bank thing.

I loved Myanmar. One of my favourite places. Tunisia is great also. Don't really have any places I hate, because every place has good and bad points about them. Infact, I always tell people to stay away from Aus, but then again I am biased and can see the bad things about it !!!

Hi David,

Glad things are getting better for you in Bangers. Hep can never be a good thing. Thanks for the recs on the countries. I hope to get to Myanmar some day.

best,

Lloyd

[uncle_davros]

There are actually to many places I love. Even the places I dislike, I still have a fondness in my heart

[will]

Bangladesh is amazing! What an amazing INTENSE three weeks I had there. Highlights for me, apart from the friendly hospitable people, were getting lost in old Dhaka, St Martin's Island, and the countryside near Barisal.

Everywhere you go, you are met with stares. I think I was a bigger attraction for the locals then the country was for me!

[whereshegoes]

There are actually to many places I love. Even the places I dislike, I still have a fondness in my heart

This is true. Every place has something to teach you.