What is the best vacation you ever took? 

Two weeks in Maui in a condo on Napili Bay with Bobby and the boys Dec 1999 - Jan 2000 ringing in the new century.

ETA: What about you, Ginny?

I can't think of one that's really epic.    It was making me kind of sad.  So I was thinking about places to go and thought I would ask where people went that was really great.

Plus, I feel bad that I let one of my crazy friends ruin the last vacation for poor Guitar Boy.

Bermuda- cruise was pretty cool.

I went on a ski trip to Vail and Beaver Creek once. That was pretty awesome.

And I went to Seaside, FL once. That was relaxing but I wasn't there long enough.

I think I want to go to Aruba. I've heard only great things about Aruba.

Aww that makes me sad, Ginny. You need an epic vacation with Guitar Boy. Are you still considering heading up north?

Grand Cayman... Dating my husband at the time and we'd reached that stage where you either take the next step or break up. He suprised me with this trip and we truly fell in love. It's the best time I've ever had.

Had a great time the last two times I went to the Big Island. (Plus - bonus - you could chill with Jiggy)

The last family trip to NYC last year was also fun.

Id love to go to HI. Jiggys pic threads have sold me. It's so far from the east coast tho. My friend was telling me it takes a couple of days just to get over the jet lag. Guess it will have to be a two week trip.

I think you should fly to SFO and spend a couple of days. Sort of acclimate to the time change. Then pop on over to Hawaii from there.

Ive only ever been to sfo airport, would love to visit that part of CA.

You should go to Tahiti, isn't that on your side of the world?

I was in montego bay, it's beautiful but so poor.

I second the Tahiti idea. I really want to go to Moorea (sister island).

You should, Appy! You could hunt Fairy Doors!

Bora Bora looks pretty interesting.

One night in tahiti and four in Bora Bora in one of these.



For 3 grand. pretty good.

I ha e friends who honeymooned in bora bora in those water huts and just raved and raved. DOOOO IT!

Ditto. I have a friend that honeymooned there as well - only she did Moorea too.

DO IT!

Well, this is a long term vacation goal. I'm not pulling the trigger on anything now, but all the package deals leave from LA so that's nice - no extra airline tickets to buy. I think I will definitely feel like I went someplace!

Yes, that is a really nice, added bonus for you. I miss living in Phoenix as a hub city. Sure made things less costly.

Now my desire to go to the Tahitian islands has been ratcheted back up to high.

UGH!

I think squids had some epic vacas, he should be weighing in.

Anny I'll add it to my list of places to go. We dreamed of getting married in grand cayman, but it didn't happen, I'd like my next big trip to be there for vow renewals.

Ginny, remember people who spend their money on experiences are happier than people who spend on things! I try to keep that in mind myself.

St Marten's Orient Beach was killer.

Tried earlier and got waylaid.

I really haven't had many bad vacations. So some highlights:

I'd go back to Peru in a heatbeat, as well as Costa Rica or Belize.

From your coast, you've got quicker access to Asia and Oceana. Not to mention Hawaii! I loved OZ and I loved Thailand.

I totally want to do the South Pacific islands too! Survivor makes me crazy for it every season they're there. My friends who honeymooned there loved Roratunga.

GO while you can! GO GO GO!!!

I don't get the jet lag thing. I left from ontario to go to hawaii, the first day is rough, you push through, go to bed early and you're fine. Same thing when I went to London and another time greece from Vancouver; Day 1 rough, rest of the time you're good.

For beachy vacations, Hawaii was freaking amazing. It's paradise. I yearn to go back. And yeah, hanging with Jiggy was awesome.

I haven't done much else in terms of beach vacation (Although I went to the island of Majorca in Spain for a weekend, i don't think that counts)
And seriously, don't let the distance scare you. Squid mentioned the south pacific, it takes longer to get there than it does to get to europe. Italy is fantastic and hot. Florence and Rome are my favourites, but I haven't had a chance to go through the Cinque Terre yet.

South of France - Nice is more than nice. ~rolls eyes at self~ Where I was the beach was rocky, but I'm sure there are sandy parts.

Greece was good. Of course I was also robbed, followed (twice), caught in a riot, and had plans changed because of strikes.

Away from the beach, Prauge was amazing. the culture, the people, the buildings everything was fantastic.


ETA: ok, i just looked up flight times from LAX to Australia and then Italy... both come in at about 15 hours.

Italy is high on Guitar Boy's list. Especially Scicily, his grandmother is from there. I'd like to see Capri.

*Sicily.

I highly recommend Italy. Cinque Terre is amazing!! Also did Venice, Rome, Florence, Milan, Lucca, Pisa, Lake Como.

Spain - Barcelona is incredible. As was Madrid.

I would go back to Costa Rica for sure.

Australia/New Zealand are on my list. Fiji. Greece. Portugal.

Loved London. Very easy to get around.

Alaska is something else. Beautiful!

The East Coast of the states and Canada are both highly recommended as well.

"Me and my tampon, just kickin' it." Cornbread McIncest

Arwen just totally dissed the West coast!!

She totally did! la dee dah, east coast!

I agree with the Alaska description. My Mom worked in Anchorage for GE there for a bit. I was able to get there every season and was really amazing.

Well, if you're looking for chowder, the East Coast does it best. Hands down.

I was assuming that if Ginny wanted to do the Pacific Coast highway, she would just do it since she lives in California.

And just so you know, smarties, Oregon and Washington are two of my favourite states :P

"Me and my tampon, just kickin' it." Cornbread McIncest

That really didn't sway me, how about you, Rory?

You know, there's seafood on this coast too, right Arwen? East coast has the upper hand on chowder... ha!

Yes, Anny, I know the West coast has chower

Having travelled up and down both coasts

- from Georgia to New Brunswick on the East
- from Alaska to California on the West

and sampling all available chowders as I went, I declare the winner to be a small town in New Brunswick that made an AMAZING fish chowder that I still remember almost 10 years later.

On the whole, the East Coast won hands down.

I was happy to be a part of this scientific research on your behalf

"Me and my tampon, just kickin' it." Cornbread McIncest

San Fran has some pretty epic chowder, though, I must say! I've never had it on the east coast so I can't compare. DC is the only east coast city I've really spent time in. Well, and Florida, but I hated it.

I will fly to Rome for pasta, but I will not fly to the east coast for soup.

You should have gone with the fall foliage as a reason... you missed your chance.

Rome for pizza vs pasta is my recommendation

Fall foliage in Vermont. It is MORE beautiful than anyone could ever describe or any photo you have ever seen.

"Me and my tampon, just kickin' it." Cornbread McIncest

I would really like to take a foliage trip. That was one of the reasons I was thinking about pacific NW in October. I know there may be places that are better, but keep in mind I live someplace with NO seasons whatsoever.

I have never done fall in that area but I don't think you will be disappointed

Maybe PG has a different experience in the fall, but I would warn against coming here to see fall colours. Most of what we have here are evergreens. And the trees that do turn, mostly just turn yellow.

I know you weren't thinking of coming up all this way, but my experience is similar for seattle. Portland/Oregon may be far enough south to get some different foliage going.

I've heard the Columbia gorge gets pretty in the fall.

Lancaster County, Pennsylvania would be very nice but in a "fields in the fall" kind of way vs "trees in the fall."

Oregon has some fall color, but nothing that competes with the east coast. The Gorge is more pleasant for the lovely weather and the harvest festivals and such in the fall.

And the penguins.

Exactly. We're much further south than Canadia.

Capri is the most beautiful place I've ever seen in person ~

best vacay ever was one of my trips back to England. It had everything. I can't do 'do nothing beach vacays' or be shuffled about so much that I'm exhausted.

This trip we did the old London theatres, ate at The Savoy, partied with the relatives, peed roadside on a stinging nettle when our car ran out of 'petrol', hung out with punks and Hare Krshnas, did High Tea in Devon while touring around the narrowest roads ever flanked by hedgerows keeping in sheep
and wild ponies, had a Concorde buzz us while driving over hills......awesome memories.

We stayed in this 14th century thatched roof Inn in Lynmouth. Poet Shelley stayed here as did Dickens, 'The Rising Sun'..don't think Jim Morrison hung here tho ..

Anyhoo, tiny crooked-so-you'd-tip stairwells. And no bathrooms in your rooms. Srsly. There was a very ornate pottery bedpan in each room, gah.



http://www.risingsunlynmouth.co.uk/

Yep, my ideal vacay calls for fun, culture, history, bit of luxury, bit of getting to know the locals and cakes. Never forget the cakes

"I can't do 'do nothing beach vacays'"

I think I might be able to change your mind about that, Jo. As long as nothing included the nothing that is the essence of beach - bike rides, good food, warm sun, surf, and sunsets.

Jeeze Louise I can't believe I forgot to mention Hawaii. LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! Would go back in a minute!

All I have to say is.... the best Vacation I have ever had is with my father befor he died . But I was 15 years old at the time and he rented a boat to go fishing at some Vacation place for the summer ! GOOD TIMES! ...I Miss you DAD!

How does Ginny ask for the best vacation ever and you list every single vacation you ever took? Tell the BEST!

If that was at me, OK:

Costa Rica. The surprise engagement/wedding/honeymoon in two weeks at the beach, in the rainforest, and swimming in volcano-heated hot springs beats the rest of them.

Go ahead and call me a sap again. Don't care.

Cuba.

jeeze ED thanks for all the details.

Squid...SAP? did you see my best vaca?... Sappy too

Cuba - interesting culture, history, architecture, cars, food, people, sights.

Oh, and California is always a treat.

I live in California, so no need to take a trip there. Although I would like to go to Yosemite soon.

Cuba... Yeah, I'm interested, but I think travel is hard enough without going someplace under embargo and for which I could technically be arrested for visiting. I do like Cuban food, though.

Oh I'm seriously LOLing

Best vaca for me was those four days I spent in juvie.

So surprised no one mentioned band camp. I have heard so many good stories about those vacations.