Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with destination

Where in the world should I go?

captainawesome — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:19:38 -0800

The last few years of my life have been fairly difficult for any number of reasons. But things are finally looking up: in May I'll finally graduate with my long sought-after PhD, and I have one firm job offer and a few tentative ones, any of which I'd take in a heartbeat. As a present to myself for making it through, I want to take a few weeks and do some traveling. I'm American and would like to go someplace new and exotic and international. The only question: where? Some details, helpfully laid out in list form:

1. I've been to England, Italy, Spain, and Guatemala. All of these trips were great. I'd go back if that were the best option, but it's a big world - I'd also love to go someplace new.
2. I'm reasonably adventurous. I'm not interested in packaged vacations; I want to wander at will and see local color and stay in weird places and hang out with the locals. All the same... I'd like to stay safe and have a suitably low risk of being robbed, murdered or jailed. (I realize that this depends a great deal on my activities and behavior, but I'm reasonably street smart in unfamiliar places.)
3. I'm trying to convince one or two people to come for all or part of this trip, but there's a decent chance I'll be traveling alone. I'm pretty OK with this. Even though I'm a hardcore introvert, I'm cool with faking it and meeting people now and then, and having a good time by myself the rest of the time. Never done this on vacation, though.
4. I should be able to scrape together a few grand for this - say $2K or maybe a bit more as a budget for 2-3 weeks. So someplace super expensive is probably out, but I'd hope that still leaves me with a pretty wide range of options.
5. This trip would be in May or June of 2010. I don't mind going someplace out of season, but I still want there to be enough going on that it's appealing.
6. I'm fluent in English, barely passable in German, and I know a few phrases in Spanish. Since this trip is 6-7 months out, once I decide where I'm going, I intend to learn some useful bits from the applicable language(s).
7. If it matters at all, I'm male, white, tall, and nearly 30.

MeFites seem like a well traveled bunch, so my question is: what jumps to mind? Where have you gone that was life-changingly cool, and what was so great about it? Where do you tell all your friends they need to go before they die? I realize this is a very vague kind of question, but I'm honestly open to all kinds of input. Thanks!

Help me plan my destination wedding in Italy (and avoid getting scammed).

mockjovial — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 10:19:44 -0800

Help me plan my destination wedding in Italy (and avoid getting scammed). My fiancé and I (thank you green team for helping to make it happen) are planning a destination wedding in Rome for June 2010.

We have been exchanging email messages with a planner through a site called http://www.italian-weddings.com.. This site is associated with a firm called World-Weddings LLC which is apparently based in Colorado somewhere. The specific planner who has been emailing us is from Euroevents & Travel, LLC. Even though she has been helpful so far, after some Google action, I think I am SCARED. of Euroevents & Travel, LLC.

My question is: Can you recommend any quality planners or firms (based on your or own experience or that of someone you know) to help us set up our dream wedding in Rome next year?

Mythical and mysterious places of the Northwest?

anonymisc — Thu, 14 May 2009 18:58:26 -0800

Have car, seek roadtrip and adventure! What are some secret/mythical/mysterious/epic places in WA state (or nearby states), that would be a destination fit for pilgrimage? Centralia / Silent Hill is in PA. The Abyss is in SC, Area51 is in NV, Mesa Verde is in CO, Barringer Crater is in AZ, etc etc. What mysterious secret places can be pried from the Northwest? I'm fit and able, so the destination doesn't need a road right up to the front porch (and is perhaps better if some element of challenge is involved), but the vehicle is a (very) low street-car, so the first challenge is not being able to use offroad/rough/4x4 routes. (Of course, if 4x4 is required but the destination is mysterious enough, then it will be appreciatively filed away for future adventure)

Driving times between destinations in Tanzania?

cookie googleman — Tue, 05 May 2009 13:27:11 -0800

Driving times between destinations in Tanzania? I'm trying to figure out how many hours it takes to drive between the following destinations in Tanzania:

Moshi to Arusha
Arusha to Lake Manyara
Arusha to Ngorogoro Crater
Ngorogoro Crater to Lake Manyara
Ngorogoro Crater to Serengeti National Park
Serengeti National Park to Arusha

Any help would be much appreciated.

Where to hike in March near Fresno for Snow and Fish

farmersckn — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 02:05:18 -0800

Where should we (Me +1) backpack next weekend (Mar 28/29) near Fresno, CA that has SNOW, WATER and FISH? My and my buddy want to stay at least one night - I suppose we could camp the night on Friday at the trail head if we need the extra time.
He wants to fish.
I want to build a snow shelter.
We want to be home Sunday night so we can work Monday.

We are both in excellent shape. He has backpacked several times and this will be my first experience.

He has gear enough for the both of us including snow shoes.

We have talked a bit about hiking somewhere in the Dinky lakes wilderness (island lake?) but I thought I would tap the hivemind to see if we are biting off too much or if there might be a better place to go for what we are looking for.

Thanks in advance!

I need a vacation, any vacation

cabingirl — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 10:38:15 -0800

I need some destination recommendations for a 9-day vacation in case my Gautemala plans fall through next week. Bonus points for relatively inexpensive and reachable by Northwest, Continental, or Delta from Minneapolis. My boyfriend and I are scheduled to leave for a vacation in Guatemala on Friday. However, our flight goes through Houston and I fear that Hurricane Ike could close the airport.

Under normal circumstances I would be trying to reschedule the flights to avoid that. However, this trip is somehow ill-fated. It was originally scheduled for May, but we cancelled after my boyfriend got seriously ill and both a family member and my pet rabbit died - all in the same week. Now we have this hurricane thing looming, and we've agreed that if our flights get cancelled, we're not going to Guatemala at all. But I need a vacation, so we're going somewhere. I just don't know where to even start looking.

The other caveat is that we are traveling on award tickets and so our choices will be limited, thus the restrictions to the big SkyTeam airlines. We'd like to get out of the US, if possible.

Things we like: Laid-back atmosphere, decent food, the ability to get by with mostly English (plus a little Spanish or French), interesting cities/towns/ruins/etc to explore, and (possibly) horseback riding.

Things we don't usually go for: laying on the beach, structured tours, flights longer than about 8 hours, stifling heat/humidity.

Ay Calibria!

felix — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 06:16:30 -0800

Spanish aggro rap sing-yelling over Alex Gaudino's 'Destination Calibria' horn hook. I heard this briefly, probably on LA's Power 108, as I scrolled through radio stations the other month and I can't get it out of my mind. Who's the artist and what's the song called?

Destination Wedding!

ghastlyfop — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 12:18:39 -0800

Can someone suggest a nice, funky location for a destination wedding? Our resources are limited, and we've (painfully) shaved our guest list down to about 70-80. I trust the collective judgement of Ask Mefi users waaay more than the mixed results my Googling has turned up. We just don't want something that feels like a wedding factory.

destination wedding etiquette

changeling — Thu, 31 May 2007 10:39:53 -0800

We want to hold a destination wedding in Central America. How do we go about this without hurting feelings? How do we go about this at all? After five years of dating, he proposed at last:)

We're big travelers, and we're dead set on holding a destination wedding in Central America -- either Ambergris Caye, Belize, or Roatan, Honduras -- since we both feel white sand beaches and lobster barbecues trump centerpieces and cash bars any day.

However, destination wedding etiquette is obviously different from regular wedding etiquette. I've read we're only responsible to pay for the ceremony, the reception, and maybe a couple activities like snorkeling, while airfare and accommodations are up to the guests. Is this true? What about the wedding party (if we have one)? What about close family? What is standard?

We're aware far fewer people will be able to go, so we’re allowing plenty of time for people to save. (How much time is sufficient?) But what about friends who want to come but can’t afford it? We’ll probably throw a casual reception back home, but we know it’s not the same. What do we do about his 90-year-old conservative grandma? How do I deal with other conservative, even slightly xenophobic family members?

When it comes to the planning, should I just call an on-island resort and trust them to coordinate everything? I’m not a resort traveler myself, but I don’t know any alternatives. Plus, it would be nice for the conservatives.

I’d also like to hear about any destination weddings you’ve been to, or been through (especially in Central America). Thank you!

$900 Ticket

bd — Sun, 10 Sep 2006 17:06:14 -0800

I have $900 to spend on a flight. Where should I got? Basically, Northwest screwed me so I have to fly somewhere for $900.

It is Northwest money, so only places that you can find through here.

Also, it is ok if I don't spend the full amount. I will have credit (so I could essentially go two places).