Where are you going.. (Travel Thread)

[RichardGibbons]

Though it's worth noting that this chart is saying that the number of travellers in April 2025 is roughly the same as the number in April 2023.

[Gregmal]

Well, this is the trend now….claim rates are “soaring” and post a 5-10 day chart….gas prices are increasing because of a minor 2 week data uptrend , Vegas is “cratering”….against the Super Bowl comp. Inflation is “coming back with a vengeance” because CPI went up three tenths of one percent into the back end of last year…I don’t really get the point of such uselessly presented data, but whatever. 

[Charlie]

My wife told me today that for our summer holidays the U.S. is much cheaper than South Africa.

Since I don´t visit Trump, rather the U.S.A. my question is

what area is better for holidays for a family with 2 seven year old kids

Florida or California?

 

Trump seems to make U.S travel for europeans great again. 

[Gamecock-YT]

9 minutes ago, Charlie said:

My wife told me today that for our summer holidays the U.S. is much cheaper than South Africa.

Since I don´t visit Trump, rather the U.S.A. my question is

what area is better for holidays for a family with 2 seven year old kids

Florida or California?

 

Trump seems to make U.S travel for europeans great again. 

 

California easy. Rent a car and take 2 weeks driving around. Drive the PCH between LA and San Francisco. Maybe San Diego and Palm Springs. Visit the national parks like Yosemite, Sequoia, and maybe even Death Valley and Joshua Tree. Could spend time in around Reno/Truckee/Lake Tahoe or Las Vegas whether you'd want to spend time in the mountains or the desert. It's a great trip. 

[Charlie]

1 hour ago, Gamecock-YT said:

California easy. Rent a car and take 2 weeks driving around. Drive the PCH between LA and San Francisco. Maybe San Diego and Palm Springs. Visit the national parks like Yosemite, Sequoia, and maybe even Death Valley and Joshua Tree. Could spend time in around Reno/Truckee/Lake Tahoe or Las Vegas whether you'd want to spend time in the mountains or the desert. It's a great trip. 

 

@Gamecock-YT Thanks, we tend a little bit to Florida, because our boys are very active and 

we like to relax and be at the beach and not driving too much. Driving too much can be hell with our boys. 

[villainx]

7 years old you can find a week or day camp in either places to stick your kids there.  Can be activity based, surfing/golfing/football/beach camp, and you get some free time.  Then pick them up, go to beach and watch sunset and have dinner.  

 

 

 

[Jaygo]

3 hours ago, Charlie said:

 

@Gamecock-YT Thanks, we tend a little bit to Florida, because our boys are very active and 

we like to relax and be at the beach and not driving too much. Driving too much can be hell with our boys. 

 

Depends where your coming from in Europe and what your hoping for. SoCal looks a lot like Southern Spain, Norcal is like Northern Spain and the Alps but with larger trees. California is Amazing but not a park and chill place at all. I loved LA when I was 22, now with a family I would avoid it. The best is in the Sierra Nevada and up the PCH

 

Florida is pretty lame imo. So if your looking for beautiful beaches Id way rather the Caribbean, Turks is my favorite as lots of great activities for families. Aruba has incredible beaches too and Orangestad is a cool Dutch town to walk around in.

St. Lucia is the most striking of the ones ive been to but maybe not the best with kids. 

Bahamas is apparently a little dangerous these days but the outer islands that you can only boat to are insanely beautiful and entirely unique.

 

If you are absolutely needing Florida I would suggest Key West as a very novel place that has its own personality, Otherwise Fort Lauderdale if you want mid priced but very populated and then Cocoa Beach if you want a little cheaper and more "Americana"

 

 

[Charlie]

@villainx, @Jaygo, Thanks, we will check the recommendations.

Bahamas and Hawaii also came to my mind, but it should be a great place and affordable. 

[Dinar]

14 minutes ago, Charlie said:

@villainx, @Jaygo, Thanks, we will check the recommendations.

Bahamas and Hawaii also came to my mind, but it should be a great place and affordable. 

I disagree regarding Hawaii on two counts: a) it is not affordable but very, very expensive; b) locals really hate tourists and take every opportunity to show it.  There are also a myriad of new taxes and fees on tourists (parking on the beach is paid for tourists and not for locals - an innovation from the past 12-18 months).  There is also an attitude that you jerks come to spoil our paradise, so if you come, you need to: (a list of demands a mile long) + tip very heavily. 

[Jaygo]

16 minutes ago, Dinar said:

I disagree regarding Hawaii on two counts: a) it is not affordable but very, very expensive; b) locals really hate tourists and take every opportunity to show it.  There are also a myriad of new taxes and fees on tourists (parking on the beach is paid for tourists and not for locals - an innovation from the past 12-18 months).  There is also an attitude that you jerks come to spoil our paradise, so if you come, you need to: (a list of demands a mile long) + tip very heavily. 

@Charlie You could get everything you need from Hawaii by going to St. Lucia and Dominica and save a fortune a long flight.

 

I haven't been to Costa Rica but have also heard very good things if you want tropical rainforest and volcanic activity.

[villainx]

50 minutes ago, Jaygo said:

Florida is pretty lame imo. So if your looking for beautiful beaches Id way rather the Caribbean

 

If you are into all inclusive then yes, Caribbean might be better option.  If you want to stay near beach and have options and variety, FL is better (or other southern beach towns).  You can do Panhandles and look into JOE land, as well as visit New Orleans?  You can do Fort Lauderdale/Miami and add days in Keys, you can do Tampa/Clearwater area too.  I guess I like some variety and optionality when I travel. 

 

California is wonderful in same way. I suggest San Diego/LA mix for warmer beach environment.  

 

If I'm at a resort, I feel it gets monotonous after a few days and want local or ethnic flavors.  But then again, can definitely find resorts that have a good kids club and even ones that cover dinner time for the boys, so you can enjoy some grown up meals.

 

 

[Gregmal]

2 minutes ago, villainx said:

I'm at a resort, I feel it gets monotonous after a few days and want local or ethnic flavors.  But then again, can definitely find resorts that have a good kids club and even ones that cover dinner time for the boys, so you can enjoy some grown up meals.

Eh that’s how I feel about every part of South Florida, especially the Keys. You have the time of your life the first few days. Then it’s like ok I’ve already done the stuff I want to and I’m tired of paying $50 a person to have the same general variety of fried seafood cus the restaurant is “near the water” and in a tourist hotspot. 

[Jaygo]

5 minutes ago, Gregmal said:

Eh that’s how I feel about every part of South Florida, especially the Keys. You have the time of your life the first few days. Then it’s like ok I’ve already done the stuff I want to and I’m tired of paying $50 a person to have the same general variety of fried seafood cus the restaurant is “near the water” and in a tourist hotspot. 

 

10 minutes ago, villainx said:

 

If you are into all inclusive then yes, Caribbean might be better option.  If you want to stay near beach and have options and variety, FL is better (or other southern beach towns).  You can do Panhandles and look into JOE land, as well as visit New Orleans?  You can do Fort Lauderdale/Miami and add days in Keys, you can do Tampa/Clearwater area too.  I guess I like some variety and optionality when I travel. 

 

California is wonderful in same way. I suggest San Diego/LA mix for warmer beach environment.  

 

If I'm at a resort, I feel it gets monotonous after a few days and want local or ethnic flavors.  But then again, can definitely find resorts that have a good kids club and even ones that cover dinner time for the boys, so you can enjoy some grown up meals.

 

 

 

That's why the Caribbean is better imo. You can hike, snorkel, resort activities, rent jeeps, wind surfing etc and as you travel to different areas the culture changes

[villainx]

@Charlie I'm certainly looking forward to hearing about your plans!  

 

[Charlie]

53 minutes ago, Gregmal said:

Eh that’s how I feel about every part of South Florida, especially the Keys. You have the time of your life the first few days. Then it’s like ok I’ve already done the stuff I want to and I’m tired of paying $50 a person to have the same general variety of fried seafood cus the restaurant is “near the water” and in a tourist hotspot.

@GregmalThe Keys would have been my number one spot and affordable.

I was there thirty years ago with two friends and we were hunting girls. 

So I have good memories of the keys. Dolphins were jumping around and we saw crocodiles in Florida.

Time of my life sounds good, but $50 a person sounds expensive.

My wife likes this one:

https://www.airbnb.de/rooms/12182553?adults=2&check_in=2025-07-05&check_out=2025-07-12&children=2&search_mode=regular_search&category_tag=Tag%3A8225&photo_id=1393225505&source_impression_id=p3_1745249054_P3H0dNCDpndzaoMb&previous_page_section_name=1000&federated_search_id=9052a15c-3b79-426f-8e15-8ee850da5b66

 

Carribeans sound cool.

There are a lot of great places, like I see from your answers, but it has to be affordable, especially the flight. Miami seems to be cheapest flights.

Edited April 21, 2025 by Charlie

[bargainman]

On 4/21/2025 at 3:22 AM, Charlie said:

My wife told me today that for our summer holidays the U.S. is much cheaper than South Africa.

Since I don´t visit Trump, rather the U.S.A. my question is

what area is better for holidays for a family with 2 seven year old kids

Florida or California?

 

Trump seems to make U.S travel for europeans great again. 

If you want to avoid Trumpians California is a better bet.

 

Also be aware of the following

 

https://www.aclutx.org/en/news/can-border-agents-search-your-electronic-devices-its-complicated

 

Edited May 22, 2025 by bargainman

[Xerxes]

Heading to Sabah and than the Java Islands in August 

[Vish_ram]

Hiking Mont Blanc (TMB) this June end. 
I did Dolomites last year and Haute Route 7 years ago

Edited May 22, 2025 by Vish_ram

[nwoodman]

43 minutes ago, Vish_ram said:

Hiking Mont Blanc (TMB) this June end. 
I did Dolomites last year and Haute Route 7 years ago

Half your luck, it looks like a great hike.  I did a section of the Alpine Pass Route years ago and your post reminded me I need to get back to Europe and the Alps in particular.  Enjoy!

[Red Lion]

On 4/21/2025 at 9:29 AM, Dinar said:

I disagree regarding Hawaii on two counts: a) it is not affordable but very, very expensive; b) locals really hate tourists and take every opportunity to show it.  There are also a myriad of new taxes and fees on tourists (parking on the beach is paid for tourists and not for locals - an innovation from the past 12-18 months).  There is also an attitude that you jerks come to spoil our paradise, so if you come, you need to: (a list of demands a mile long) + tip very heavily. 

Agreed on these points but I’d still pick Hawaii. The beaches are amazing and tropical jungle experience is equally fascinating. If you’re staying all summer you can spend a few weeks on Oahu, Hawaii, Maui, and Kauai. You’ll definitely spend some more money, but I feel like it would be a much more memorable trip especially if you’re not likely to do it again in the future. 

[Charlie]

On 5/22/2025 at 5:03 AM, bargainman said:

If you want to avoid Trumpians California is a better bet.

 

Also be aware of the following

 

https://www.aclutx.org/en/news/can-border-agents-search-your-electronic-devices-its-complicated

Thanks @bargainman, my wife found something nice in Toscana, Italy.

It is a little bit more peaceful. 

[Onefoothurdles]

Just returned from our family trip to Japan. 3 weeks, very satisfied, would go there again. Favourite moments: 

 

- The satisfaction of finally being able to sit down after a long day of walking/shuffling/standing with a hot bowl of Ramen and an ice cold pint of Asahi was the best thing ever. Men have simple needs!

- The chimes of the approaching trains and closing doors as well as the pedestrian signal tweets - 'why cant we have this here!'

- Japanese convenience stores live up to the word 'Convenience' in every sense. If Im ever going to suffer from post-travel blues its probably going to be when I walk into my local 7-11 in Sydney 

- Visiting Mt. Fuji area - I underestimated how visually striking Mt. Fuji is. Lots of folks go there for day trips from Tokyo and depending on weather its usually a hit and miss when it comes to seeing the mountain, we instead hired a car, and stayed in Hakone and Fuji area for 3 days. Having the car  added another level of convenience and pace to our trip. Next time, we'll commit a week there, that's how much we loved the area. 

- Stayed at a Ryokan in Hakone with a private onsen in our room and traditional japanese breakfast and dinner - Certainly stretched the holiday budget by a bit - but totally worth it

 

We arrived in Tokyo just after Golden Week and certainly well past the cherry blossom season - so you could consider this as Japan's 'less busy' period - I didnt mind the crowds but I certainly felt cities like Osaka and Kyoto had caught a serious case of over-tourism - observed more pushing, shoving, outlash behavior with locals in these cities than in Tokyo. Regardless, wherever we went, we enjoyed, but a small part of us also wondered "Gee, I bet this place wouldve been so much cooler a couple of years ago when it was less discovered" LOL!

 

Where to next? We'll certainly do a Japan 2.0 at some point. But I'd like to do South Korea next.    

[Gamecock-YT]

If you think it was bad in Kyoto now, imagine what it is like during the Sakura. Things were even crazy in Nara when I was there in the middle of January. I don't think I will ever go back to Kyoto at this rate. But good news is the tourist hoards seem to stick to the tried and true Tokyo - Osaka corridor, so if you avoid there you have more of a chance of avoiding fellow gaijin. 

[Saluki]

I'll be in Europe in a couple of Weeks. Flying into Paris, then seeing some of the Baltics. Riga, Helsinki, Tallin.  If anyone is one of those cities, message me. Cheers. 

[Vish_ram]

Really enjoyed the TMB (Tour du Mont Blanc) 6 day hike. 

Edited July 8, 2025 by Vish_ram