Travel ? As I want to....

[LuckyLady]

I intend on trying to travel and see more places.

Australia is one day but not anytime soon

Where do you travel most frequently to and what have been your best experiences?

Did you book all inclusive trips? If so what have been your GREAT experiences?

How many times have you been there?

Do you use a specific travel agent? Agency? Site?

Also looking for some feed back on must see and to do trips of a lifetime?

Any and all feed back would be great along with re-assurance of someone’s recommendation and not that they just had the luck of the draw. I want good days.

Thanks in advance!

[Double D]

Wow, thats alot of questions. Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to travel (i.e. all inclusive or a more authentic experience). I have traveled a decent amount, so I'll give you some of my thoughts.

I always book all the arrangements myself. Easy to do with the internet. I have used agents in the past and found that I can usually do a better job for less money, since I know what I am looking for. That said, if you are looking for an all inclusive resort, an agent might be the way to go

I always book a house or condo as opposed to a hotel. Not only are they usually cheaper, having your own kitchen can save money. Even if you want to eat out most meals, you don't need to get dressed and head out for breakfast or a quick snack. Plus a fridge full of beers is a bargain compared to buying them in the hotel bar. A good site for houses and condos is www.vrbo.com. Also, many local realtors in vacation spots handle rentals. Search google with something like "maui condo rental"

Places I would recommend are Kauai, Costa Rica, Belize, Florida Keys. Out islands of the Bahamas are a favorite. If you like skiing I have been to quite a few. Have also been to Japan and China. Europe is next on the list

An excellent and cheap trip is a cruise to Bermuda from Bayonne or Philadelphia (and I'm not a cruise guy). In the spring and fall you can go for a week for $700 per person and includes everything except alcohol. One day at sea each way and 5 days in Bermuda, which is an incredibly beautiful island. Bermuda is very expensive, but with the cruise boat there you dont need to spend any money on the island. We usually rent a scooter for the week for $100 and you can see the whole island, which is only about 12 miles long. I have recommended this trip to a bunch of people, they always love it. Leaving locally saves buying a plane ticket and the associated hassle. Just a 2 hour drive and you are on vacation! We like celebrity cruises, check their website

www.site59.com is good for cheap last minute getaways

I like to travel with big groups of friends and family, and they always make me do the arrangements....

[Squidnation]

Similar to Double D, I also like to make my own arrangements. In the past I use to travel with my wife, we did the typical combo trip with a couple days fishing and a couple days doing other stuff. now I pretty much travel alone or with my son since Jen has lost the itch to travel.

One of the easiest getaways without really gettin away is the Florida Keys. I did this 3 times a year for 15 years until I finally had enough. we would stay at Ocean Pointe Condo in Tavanier. I can get you a beautiful 2 bedroom condo on the ocean for peanuts down their. I really only fish offshore but I certainly do understand the flats addiction. We typically fish with Scott Walker on the Tailwalker out of Hawks Cay. He never left us disappointed.

Another favorite Spot is Dominical, Costa Rica. I love this place because it is a bit away from the Fleet crowd. Dove Hunt and I found a nice captain down their with a 21 ft mako that would let us do whatever we want. He just came along for the ride and asked us not to sink his boat. His website is http://www.dominical.biz/mako1/index.htm. I have fished with him 4 times and caught lots of sailfish each time. I have recommended him to my brother who did not have the same luck but said Capt Marc was great. In fact he told my brother not to fish the second day and took them snorkeling instead since the fishing was so bad. they had a ball. A neat place to stay and also hoseback ride is http://www.bellavistalodge.com/. Very nice people and a clean quiet place to stay. But their are many alternatives in Domincal. check out www.Domincal.biz. I can't say enough good things about Capt. Marc on the Mako 1 though. I highly reccomend him.

Up the beach is Los Suenos and Quepos. I have not been to Quepos but I have been to Jaco and Los Suenos about 5 times. Good fishing most all of the time. The last time I fished the Pescadora out of Los Suenos. I stayed in a great little hotel on a small hilltop. I will find that hotel name for you later.

Another great place although not many people would reccomend it would be Venezuela. This is my favorite destination. Los Roques National Park is one of the most beuatful places I have ever been to and a great bonefish destination. This is not luxury by any means. but the fishing, diving and snorkeling are out of this world. Check out http://southfishing.com and ask for Herb Rosell. He can set the entire thing up for you. The billfishing is also premier especially in Oct and April. Don't know if that coincides with the bonefish bite but Venezuela is the best place in the world for a consistent marlin bite. Capt Butch Cox on the Primetime is one of the best their is down their. PM me if you are interested and I can get you his infomation. These two places in venezuela are not near each other. you would need to take a small plane to Los Roques. Be advised this is a fishing destination. Not much else to do unless you got to Los Roques for a few days after the billfish trip.

The next new place we will be going to is Ghana next april with whitey. So hopefully I will have some good things to say about their. Good Luck

One other place I would reccomend in CR is Golfito. This has to be one of the most beautiful places in Costa Rica. Google Capt. Bobby Mcginnis. He is the best their is in Golfito. Great Rooster, Cubera and sailfisherman. they have little cottages at Bananabay marina for rent. nice and clean. But I would get in touch with Bobby and ask him to reccomend a place since I don't think he is at banana bay anymore.

Another real easy trip is Cancun or Isla Mujeres, Mexico. This has become my son's favorite place. The sailfishing from Feb-april is incredible. The cool thing about these places are the phenominal accomodations if that is what you desire. In Cancun my buddy uses http://www.gonowvacations.com/ and always gets great deals on last minute all inclusives 4 and 5 star resorts. A short ferry ride away is Isla where some of the best boats are docked. We fished with Capt Brian Peele on The Big Hunter. A great guy and hell of a fisherman. PM me if you want his number. Another boat we fished on was the Obsession with Capt Jeff Ross. Can't go wrong with either captain. you can reach jeff on the Pirates Cove marina website. They are based out of Pirates Cove marina in Manteo NC. We preferred to stay in the more quiet island of Isla Mujeres. We stayed at the North End in Cabanas maria del mar. http://www.cabanasdelmar.com/. Nice quiet clean little place on the ocean. Nice clean beach and they have the swing bars which are great for happy hour. You sit on these big swings and enjoy the sunset at the bar. USA3000.com has great nonstop flights to Cancun from Baltimore and Philly.

[trollman]

The Tropic Star Lodge in Panama for one week of FISH FISH FISH, it is my second year in a row and we booked next year too. It isd on the Pacific side and the best trip I have ever taken. The places mentioned by Suidnation and others sound like they are very similar. We use a certain travel agent who specializes in this place. The guys I go with have been all around the workd fishing for 20 years and say this their best trip. If you want info i am glad to PM to you.

Happy Trails!