Travel?

[spinner]

Any of you travel as a hobby???
Lets hear some good and bad places you have been and reasons they were good or bad along with some photos.

Len

[Robja]

Len,

I don't travel as a hobby. I travel some for business, some for pleasure, and once a year to fish. Been to Maui which was nice but way too expensive. Only way I would go back is if it is free. I like the Bahamas and Puerto Rico. I love Vegas and enjoyed Lake Tahoe. My preference is Central America. Love going to Costa Rica, Panama, and Guatemaula to fish. Ecuador was nice but the fishing wasn't the best. My dream trip is to go to Galapagos fishing.

[lowtide]

If traveling to different whore houses counts - well yes, I travel - beware of the whore house on 18th st in Philly - their dirty fithy whores their - my favorite spot.......

[marine4003]

Condo in Snowmass..Islands here and there and the local Tackle store...hhhhmmm...gotta get out more.

[longfisher]

Condo in Snowmass..Islands here and there and the local Tackle store...hhhhmmm...gotta get out more.

It's always been dirt cheap to fly into Mexico, Central America and even northern S. America from Texas. I've spent many a wonderful day in tropical sunshine south of the border.

It's funny the feeling you get when you know you're passing out of U.S. air space. I guess it's the freedom of knowing the IRS can't track you anymore and you won't face a burgeoning bureaucracy down there. Down there it's like Texas used to be when I was a kid...free as all get out.

But with the recession and college expenses for the kids even inexpensive trips south have had to be put off. Instead, we fish locally in Texas but sometimes I think it's just as expensive to do that as to go south.

I'm also put off, REALLY PISSED OFF, at how the broder with Mexico is so dangerous now. There's no way I'd go into Mexico at all. But the danger is on the border too.

That's a real bummer because the fishing off Cozumel and Cancun was terrific. I surely miss those places. In the 70's and 80's those were the most peaceful and beautify if raw places in the western hemisphere. It's a true shame they're off limits now due to self-imposed good sense about protecting my family.

I've also traveled mostly all over the world when I was in the service. Saw much of the Pacific, Europe and the Mediteranean. Never had the chance to go to central Asia or Africa but didn't miss it either.

I think travel is the most important thing a kid can do after college. So, I've put away a little money for my son when he graduates in 4 so he can travel. I hope he travel for at least 2 - 3 years.

I tell him all the time, if you want to be a dope and act like a central Texas bohunk just stay in Harris County all your life. Seeing and perhaps living in other cultures is the second most important thing you'll ever do to rid yourself of U.S. predjudices and hatred of others. So, I'm going to give him to money to complete his "education" through travel.

LongFisher

[Squidnation]

I travel quite a bit to fish and a little for business. my favorite spots are typically in central and south america. Mainly because I am fluent but also because of the cost and sevice. I think american business as a general rule forgot about the customer and how to provide a decent friendly service. I traveled to china a few years ago and hated it. The food was aweful, the air stunk and it seemed that everyone on the street was the next picasso and wanted to sell you a painting depicting the ying and the yang. BUT. I doubt you could find the level of service I found in china anywhere are here. From the time I stepped on the airplane to to the hotel, resturants the service was impeccable.

Costa rica and guatemala have been a blast for easy fishing and fun times. Guatemala is more for the all-inclusive lodge type stay and Costa Rica is more for the hotel and go out to dinner stay. Venezuela is my favorite place to fish but not a big fan of the the area. Still not nearly as dangerous as all the people who haven't been there will tell you it is. Galapagos was fun but most of the boats suck. Great fishing, fun diving, decent accomodations. Brazil was the same way. Probably the best combination of great fishing, food, accomodations and service for me was Isla Mujeres, Mexico. Also for great family fishing destination and world class billfishing I would highly suggest Ocean City, MD in august and sept. The fishing has been well worth the trip to OC over the last three years.

[spinner]

wings were seriously clipped when we had a kid.
She is 14 now.

This spring gonna go somewhere.
Not sure where. Daughter coming with.

[tetepare]

Always travelling though not for the last 2 years. For pleasure, only staying in cheap hotels ($5-10 in asia), eating local food and drinking way 2 much. Surfing when younger, a few over seas fishing trips but mostly just travelling to see new places and meet new faces.

Favourites would have to be sri lanka, france and indonesia. Want to do 3-4 months in india before i get 2 old. Only ever been to europe the pacific and asia. Been to Hawaii but that dont count as US. 6 months in central and south america would be nice.

The biggest pos i have ever been to is DUBAI and ABU Dhabi, give me a bed bug infested asian brothel over that pile of dung.

[mvsusaf]

Teleparer: If you think Dubai is a POS don't even think about India. Been to both and prefer Dubai by far and away. Dirtiest place in Asia.

[tetepare]

Teleparer: If you think Dubai is a POS don't even think about India. Been to both and prefer Dubai by far and away. Dirtiest place in Asia.

I can deal with dirty, infact i thrive in it. In Asia i nearly aways eat street food as i can see the food cooking. Thailand, cambodia, vietnam, laos, sri lanka and indo the only place i have been really sick is bali and i got that from a nice restaurant.

I hate the UAE for its fakeness, its total reliance on air con, the fact that the only people who you meet are guest workers from bangladesh, oil workers and airline hostesses. It has nothing of real value other than oil. IMHO the place should never have been built, but its their money. Its like las vegas with no sex, drugs or gambling (though i have never been to Vegas).

If i ever go to the middle east gain it will be to Beirut, the Paris of Arabia.

If i want to go to the desert to see camels we got plenty of both in oz.