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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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 !!!

Favorite places: Japan, Thailand, and Switzerland


Least Favorite places: England and Hong Kong

Favorites: Ethiopia, Malwaii, Bolivia


Least Favorites: Kenya, Chile

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

Being a star in this countyr, that is what you are. Kind of like Myanmar, but 100 times more. We were there during the recent Australian tour, and a friend of mine turned up who has only lived in the UK and Ireland. HE was amazed at the friendliness of the people. Especially, when he became sick, and all of a sudden, four doctors appeared from nowhere to look after him

love every place I've been to, and you're right.....you gain to learn from anywhere you go. I'm from Malaysia, so I really like SE Asia, but found myself being hassled rather a lot in India. Still, a smile and polite "no", usually works. Usually!

Top picks so far: Turkey (Cappadocia is fabulous - go horse riding there!), Canada, Thailand, Finland , Australia and Malaysia!

Allen, we all travel differently, but it is all still travel. Not everyone travels on the cheap.
Look at all the people who discuss India. They either love it or hate it, or both. Is this incorrect then? To have different opinions of the same places? This is what makes us humans and not robots. We all have different experiences.
Get over yourself.

One of my biggest annoyances when traveling is when people tell me a place is S*$# and I shouldn't bother going there. To quote Paul Theroux, "All places, no matter where, no matter what, are worth visiting."

Sometimes I think a place is almost irrelevant to how much you get from it. So much of it is your current mood and what happens to you while you're there. I almost think of places and sights as more of a backdrop than the focus.

Having said that, I think the USA is one of the greatest countries in the world to holiday in. I also loved Australia, Fiji, Cambodia, China and Hong Kong.

I certainly did not "search long and hard" for your comments. I happen to have many interests and read most of the threads on this site. I'm not trying to 'do better" then anything. I am also not trying to make an example of you. I read. I disagreed. I replied. I am not in any competition. Are you? I was not, whatsoever, making any comment about your travels, or how you spoke about them. Not. At. All. Your comments don't upset. What I have is called an "opinion". Simple as that. Allen, I am not disputing that most TP'ers travel on the cheap. I myself have never had the luxury of not watching my budget when I'm travelling. However, just b/c I choose to travel cheaply, I should not assume that every single person does this. I was merely stating that I think it is inappropriate to judge someone, WHOEVER it is, on how much $$ they spend on a trip, whether it's a guest or a member, or whoever. Or to assume that someone is lying about a story b/c you don't agree with it. People have bad times in places, whatever the reason might be, it does not change the fact that they had a bad time.
And Simon, I agree with you, I like to make my own mind up about a place.

Allen, all I am saying is that b/c you, or anyone else think that the $$ spent on Italy is alot, it is not a reason to judge. Some people spend more, some less. It just doesn't matter how much $$ anyone spends. It is not a reflection of their intelligence nor ability to travel, merely a reflection of their pocketbook. It does not mean they travel worse or better then anyone, does it? Why must they be temprarily insane? Maybe this is a trip where they have the ability to splurge. No one knows their reason but them. And this applies to everyone, not just that particular person who spent $8000- on their trip to Italy. So b/c I may choose to stay in a cheap hostel and someone else chooses a 5 star hotel, this lessens their experience? Well, we don't know that. It may, and it may not. Who knows? You don't, and I don't, do we? I can stay in a cheap hostel and still not truly experience things for what they are as well. I am not taking a cheap shot. All I said about India was some people love it, and some hate it. I can appreciate both opinions.There are merits to both. Same with the guy and Italy. He hated, you liked it. Case and point. It just pisses me off that anyone would choose to judge another b/c of $$ spent. That's all. I am not about being an amateur or an expert. I am about being myself. No axe, no grinding, no dancing around anything. Well, maybe dancing around, but not right now.

Nah, I don't think you understand me at all. That's ok tho. Good luck to you as well Allen.

I don't think it would be that difficult to spend $8000 in Italy, especially if you're coming from the US and that includes flights. I had my honeymoon in Italy and probably spent $5-6000. Only the flights were much cheaper because we were coming from the UK. Did I enjoy it? Hell yeah, Italy is a fabulous place and the Italians are nice people (maybe a bit more closed off in the South to the North, but I've had great experiences all over Italy). If you got nothing else out of Italy the food alone is worth the trip.

As for countries I like and dislike; particular favourites are Thailand, Vietnam, Australia and Spain, but I've got enjoyment out of most of the forty or so countries I've been to so far. The only country I've had a really bad experience in was Morocco, and although I've been back since for a short visit I don't think I'll ever get over my initial dislike, but I know plenty of other people who love the place.

so far i've traveled 23 countries (i know, it's nothing compared to some of the extreme travelers on this site, lol).

i prefer to say "best experience" and "worst experience" rather than "most favorite" and "least favorite" - because a lot depends on the personal experience, and i do not want to come across as rude and ignorant when i talk about my "least favorite".

best experience:

- korea: an amazing twist of modern and tradition, best food, great parties, friendly locals and some of the most stylish and sophisticated women you'll ever meet.

- turkey: friendly locals with big hearts and amazing architecture.

- vietnam: most honest people i've ever met in my life.

- usa: a country of many faces and different opportunities.

- ireland: charming, traditional, cool, friendly.

- italy: it has it's charme that can't be beaten.

worst experience:

- greece: i encountered rude locals, got ripped off and threatened. it appeared to me that locals had prejudices against foreigners. sorry, my greek friends, no offense but it's my personal experience. note: i lived in a greek neighborhood in new york for many years, and loved the greeks, it was just a bad experience when i visited their country. ps: food is good!

- switzerland: people i met were ignorant snobs, including the restaurant and hotel service staff.

Favourites: Scotland & Italy

Least favourite: Not any particular country as I think all countries have unpleasant and pleasant parts. I didn't particularly enjoy Dublin or Prague.

Why the Philippines? Here's Ten Reasons

1 )English widely spoken and Understood

2 ) Low cost of living and travel

3 ) Population very exposed to "western" cultures and family ties
which span the globe with 1/2 million in UK, 2M in USA, another
million in Europe and another 4 million overseas contract workers
employed as nurses, doctors, seamen, cruise ship staff and domestic
helpers.

4) Music Capital of Asia with most Filipinos being natural artist /
musicians. Singing is almost their national sport ( besides
basketball, boxing and chess ). Could be compared to Africans being
"born" with IT.

5) Simple, "happy go lucky" , friendly, local people who definitely
work to live rather live to work like so many people in highly
developed nations.

6) Racially, the "melting pot" of Asia with more percentage of mixed
races than ANYWHERE in Asia. So should you have children with the
local people they are almost elevated in status rather than looked
down upon as in most other Asian countries.

7 ) An incredible diversity of climate choices from mountainous alpine
to tropical, coconut palm tree lined beaches .

8 ) The only majority Christian nation in Asia being a big plus to
many foreigners but at the same time very open minded and tolerant
about other religions

9) Very relaxed or maybe the MOST easy going Immigration policies in
Asia and very flexible about the enforcement of laws.

10) Very practical and tolerant concerning age differences between
spouses, dates, or live-in mates.

I'll go against that and say most of the time the service I received in USA was piss poor, they were unwelcoming and they still expected to be tipped.

People generally say USA people are very friendly and welcoming, but for service - Thailand. If you are running a service industry somewhere in the world - send your staff to Thailand to learn - the Thais are great.

Slowly the culture is changing and I reckon in some places the natural service you get is diminishing, but largely the Thai culture is one of politeness, caring, being hospitable, etc and fits perfectly into great service. Efficient but not rushed/smiles, etc. Makes it hard to go anywhere else and be impressed

I've received good and bad service...I thin sometimes it gets pretty ridiculous in really touristy spots.

I did try ordering breakfast with no meat years back in deep south Tennessee and the cooks must've yelled back and forth to each other increduously about 6 times or so:

"Giiirllll dooon't waaaant aaannny meat?".....

"Noooo, she dooon't waaaant aaany meat!!"

" She reeeally dooon't waaant aaany meeat??"

I think I heard the banjo from Deliverance in there somewhere.

Thai's have their own way. You can't really place them up against N.A. service standards. They are in their own special class.The pace is pretty relaxed but the friendliness and conversations can't be beat. Oh, and the food ain't bad either! Mmmm.

When I was in Koh Pha Ngan there was this one restaurant we went to everyday. The staff were so friendly and they would come and sit/chat with us over dinner. They would wave at us whenever we walked passed. I loved that place! Food was good too

I'd really love to spend more time travelling thru Cambodia

Hmmm, Philippines would be nice. One day.

loved:
Argentina
Syria
Libya
Spain
USA (much to my surprise)
Cuba
India
NZ (I live there, but every time I go away it reminds me how good it is)


hated:
Egypt
Kenya
Cuba (yes, both categories, but it's that sort of place)
India (likewise, though for very different reasons)

I have not been many parts of the world, but Italy is my top destination. I even began to learn Italian!!! Italian people are mostly polite and very nice people. The only reason that you had a problem there might be that they do not speak English. But it does not really matter, bec. you can even understand from their body language if you really pay attention to what they say.

FAVOURITE

Turkey
USA
New Zealand
Japan
Ireland
Norway
Sweden
Hungary
Austria
Switzerland

LEAST FAVOURITE

Egypt (Cairo)
Portugal
Cuba
South Africa (Jo'burg)
Romania
Bulgaria

Favourite: Japan, Singapore, USA, Turkey
Places that I really didn't like:

Montreal (the city itself was gorgeous but the people were plain rude and hostile from the moment I stepped off the aircraft)

India: that place physically and mentally crippled me... never again, I guess it's a pretty common feeling.

I second you. every place has its own charm and becomes a memory. I have found a different thrill in my Cable car ride in Singapore, Dubai, the Thailand beaches, Kashmir, Australian wildlife sightings, and Caribbean cruises. Each was just as special