Big event coming up this summer for my wife and we are looking for another great spot to travel to. We will be on SBH in June for the 19th year in a row so throw out some ideas. We did Tahiti/Bora Bora for my big 50 and booked for Paris in Oct so those 2 are off this travel list.
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If not St Barths, where would you go?
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If you like St. Barths, you should definately check out the south of France or the Italian Riviera. You can't go wrong from St. Tropez to Portofino/Santa Margarita. In addition to the well established "larger towns/cities such as St. Tropez, Cannes, Nice, Monaco etc... there are some very nice smaller villages and towns that are worth a look. Its easy to drive or take the trains. Undiscovered, or off the radar is very relative in that part of the world, but you can find some of the same things that likely drew you to and keep you coming back to SBH. To be honest, with the overnight flighs from the US, the travel logistics are pretty simple. Be careful about going in August as its packed. September is a great time to go to that part of the world. July is also very nice.
In the same vein, take a look at Corsica. I prefer the southern most part - Bonafacio in particular. Plenty to discover there and Sardinia is only a ferry ride away.
Corsica is also much less expensive than the south of France.
If you like the seaside atmosphere, Amalfi Italy and environs are also good choices. Tons of very romantic hotels and great small towns.
Of these choices, it sort of depends if you favor Italian or French culture....
All of the places mentioned have the benefit of urban amenities and a sea side atmosphere.
Lastly, if you want something that is an alternative to France or Italy, consider Croatia and or Montenegro. There is a well evolved ferry system and a string of great coastal resorts. Tons of culture and still relatively affordable - at least in the context of the rest of the Med. You are also fairly close to Venice and could go there coming or going.
If Europe is not your thing, some of the best beach resorts I have seen are in Thailand. Long flight, but the land portion is no more expensive than SBH and the resorts are stunning. Again, you can do a nice mix of urban and beach sorts of experiences. There are also some interesting places in the mountains north of Bangkok. If you have the time and want the combination of a high end beach experience and a culture that is completely different, its worth a look.
Congratulations and good luck.
In the same vein, take a look at Corsica. I prefer the southern most part - Bonafacio in particular. Plenty to discover there and Sardinia is only a ferry ride away.
Corsica is also much less expensive than the south of France.
If you like the seaside atmosphere, Amalfi Italy and environs are also good choices. Tons of very romantic hotels and great small towns.
Of these choices, it sort of depends if you favor Italian or French culture....
All of the places mentioned have the benefit of urban amenities and a sea side atmosphere.
Lastly, if you want something that is an alternative to France or Italy, consider Croatia and or Montenegro. There is a well evolved ferry system and a string of great coastal resorts. Tons of culture and still relatively affordable - at least in the context of the rest of the Med. You are also fairly close to Venice and could go there coming or going.
If Europe is not your thing, some of the best beach resorts I have seen are in Thailand. Long flight, but the land portion is no more expensive than SBH and the resorts are stunning. Again, you can do a nice mix of urban and beach sorts of experiences. There are also some interesting places in the mountains north of Bangkok. If you have the time and want the combination of a high end beach experience and a culture that is completely different, its worth a look.
Congratulations and good luck.
LMAC
Senior Insider
Cape Town is fabulous and there are lots of day trips around there. If you have time Safaris are possible from there.
Australia and New Zealand are fantastic as well.
If you go the S. of France route, we highly recommend staying in Ramatuelle - it's about 10 minutes outside of St. Tropez -- easy to get to without all the traffic (though I would not go in August!) and close to the beaches - though not right on the water.
Of course Cape Town, Australia & NZ are all in the Southern Hemisphere!!!
If you go to Croatia, the island of Hvar is very nice.
Australia and New Zealand are fantastic as well.
If you go the S. of France route, we highly recommend staying in Ramatuelle - it's about 10 minutes outside of St. Tropez -- easy to get to without all the traffic (though I would not go in August!) and close to the beaches - though not right on the water.
Of course Cape Town, Australia & NZ are all in the Southern Hemisphere!!!
If you go to Croatia, the island of Hvar is very nice.
didier
Senior Insider
you obviously like islands, I really loved Fiji, nice and intimate. I wanted to rent a horse to go swimming in this waterfall that I had heard about, the only way to get there was via hiking or riding a horse. so I went to the village and spoke with the chief and he rented a horse and a guide to me for 20 usd. this was in 1996, rates may have gone up.
the ride was great and then when I reached the waterfall, I went in for a swim immediately, very refreshing. the guide did not go in to swim, perhaps he knows something that i don't?
the ride was great and then when I reached the waterfall, I went in for a swim immediately, very refreshing. the guide did not go in to swim, perhaps he knows something that i don't?
Voosh
Senior Insider
We've traveled a bit. Some great trips.
A few years back we both scratched our heads and said "Why the heck haven't we looked around the USA more?"
Since then, we've tossed "that dawg" into a vehicle and have done gazillions of miles without having to show a passport. Some amazing stuff in your own backyard. Just my thought.
A few years back we both scratched our heads and said "Why the heck haven't we looked around the USA more?"
Since then, we've tossed "that dawg" into a vehicle and have done gazillions of miles without having to show a passport. Some amazing stuff in your own backyard. Just my thought.
TPunch42
Senior Insider
On that note... why not visit beautiful sunny California...Coastal Redwoods, Yosemite, beaches, San Francisco, Napa Valley, Big Sur & Highway 1, Santa Barbara, and our own San Diego. You can drive the coast, wine taste from Pasa Robles to Santa Ynez Valley, Russian River and touristy Napa too. Rent a convertible and stay in Bed and Breakfasts all along your route. CA is a friendly state and fun to visit. Just stay to the north in August when it gets pretty hot hot hot and dry in Southern CA and I am not a big fan of LA. Lots of traffic and hot and smoggy in the summer.
lmj
Senior Insider
ARLNOW, I love your post and might have written it except I've never been to Thailand. I agree completely with your Med-oriented suggestions and would add Sardinia. I'm not a fan of Sicily, some pretty areas but too many ugly/overdeveloped/shady areas. We enjoyed our trip but wouldn't go back. Sardinia is fascinating, rustic in some areas and über-sophisticated in others, the food and wine are amazing and the views spectacular (PM me for pix and restaurants or hotels). Other choices would be Capri (PERFECTION), Ischia (more rustic but it has its charms), and Ibiza. My next big trip will be to Ramatuelle/St. Tropez/Montpélier and Paris. And after that back to Barcelona & some small towns in Spain. So many choices, so little time! Wherever you go, congrats & enjoy!!!
lmj, your Paris/St.Tropez combination is my "default" sort of trip. Its the perfect mix of a great city and a great sea side experience and its very easy to get between the two. You will have a great time.
Glad you mentioned Barcelona as well. Easily of the one best urban experiences in western Europe. I didn't mention it because a lot of people that frequent SBH tend to be "francophiles" Having said that splitting time between Barcelona and Ibiza is also a great trip. Even Barcelona to St. Tropez is pretty easy and an equally good urban/sea side combination.
I hope you have a great trip!!
Glad you mentioned Barcelona as well. Easily of the one best urban experiences in western Europe. I didn't mention it because a lot of people that frequent SBH tend to be "francophiles" Having said that splitting time between Barcelona and Ibiza is also a great trip. Even Barcelona to St. Tropez is pretty easy and an equally good urban/sea side combination.
I hope you have a great trip!!
sxmbeachlover
SBH Insider
Cinque Terre, the Italian Riviera. Incredible views on hikes between the little villages.
Petri
Senior Insider
I think it depends what you want to do. Do you want to go "yet-another-SBH-look-a-like", "yet-another-french/italian/mediterranean-place", something safe-and-easy or something totally different.
JEK's recent trip to southern Africa looked great and well within the "SBH comforts", and something similar could easily be done with a smaller budget or less organized manner. If time is right, the great migration. Botswana is the jewel but nowadays there are interesting places accessible in Zimbabwe as well. Namibia is something very different (works for animals, too), we've seen the most beautiful sunsets there. Cape region is great to add some food and wine to the trip.
Likewise there are amazing places in Argentina and Chile. We really enjoy the Chile lake district, beautiful mountains, lakes, food, thermal spa's (Termas Geometricas !), activities. Just don't expect people to speak too much english
Australia and NZ are our favourites in many ways. With Australia one has to be comfortable with great distances but the country does offer a great variety of things. In NZ one needs to get out of the cities and it's activity oriented, amazing scenery.
And if you want something really special: a trip to Antarctica. I'm all against spoiling such a fragile environment, so never leave anything on shore, don't disturb the animals, respect the continent and choose a ship that's more about the expedition than tourism.
JEK's recent trip to southern Africa looked great and well within the "SBH comforts", and something similar could easily be done with a smaller budget or less organized manner. If time is right, the great migration. Botswana is the jewel but nowadays there are interesting places accessible in Zimbabwe as well. Namibia is something very different (works for animals, too), we've seen the most beautiful sunsets there. Cape region is great to add some food and wine to the trip.
Likewise there are amazing places in Argentina and Chile. We really enjoy the Chile lake district, beautiful mountains, lakes, food, thermal spa's (Termas Geometricas !), activities. Just don't expect people to speak too much english
Australia and NZ are our favourites in many ways. With Australia one has to be comfortable with great distances but the country does offer a great variety of things. In NZ one needs to get out of the cities and it's activity oriented, amazing scenery.
And if you want something really special: a trip to Antarctica. I'm all against spoiling such a fragile environment, so never leave anything on shore, don't disturb the animals, respect the continent and choose a ship that's more about the expedition than tourism.
Jim Kelly-Evans
Senior Insider
Mykonos is my second choice after SBH.
Spring
SBH Insider
East Africa is like no other place on earth. It's easy to put together such a trip, but a highlight would include the Ngorongoro Crater Lodge. Contact Ker & Downey and they'll put together the trip of a lifetime.
