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The only places low on my list to go are anywhere that, at the time, the mere fact of being an American puts my life in danger. Obviously, right now, that is Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria but if the safety aspect changed in those locations, I'd go in a heartbeat. I've been to Central America, Mexico/Caribbean (even the poorer countries), Southeast Asia, China, the Middle East, Egypt, all over North America, and all over Western and Eastern Europe. LOVED all of them for a variety of reasons. Generally speaking, we felt the safest in the Muslim countries even when compared to Europe and North American countries. The people were very friendly in all of the countries, with the Germans being the most unfriendly and stand-offish until one trip when we had a German friend with us. That changed their attitudes toward us.
I'm VERY open minded when it comes to travel and other cultures, and I embrace the differences in each place I go. I also see the tourist attractions (Great Wall, Burj Khalifa, pyramids, etc), of course, but we always venture out on our own (preferably with a rental car but if not, then public transportation) to see how the real people live. We have yet to be disappointed.
Big cities anywhere.
Places that are badly polluted.
Anywhere that poses personal danger, whether from political/social upheaval or from predatory people.
Anywhere that not being able to fluently speak the local language is a problem. (If the residents are OK with tourists mangling pronunciation or grammar from translation guides, I'm OK with that. Ya gotta start somehow.)
North Korea. Syria. Afghanistan. Saudi Arabia. Libya. Iraq. There might be a time when I feel like I can go to Egypt, Turkey, Lebanon but I don't expect those other places to be very welcoming in my lifetime. Some places I just don't know enough about to make a choice.
The only places low on my list to go are anywhere that, at the time, the mere fact of being an American puts my life in danger. Obviously, right now, that is Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria but if the safety aspect changed in those locations, I'd go in a heartbeat. I've been to Central America, Mexico/Caribbean (even the poorer countries), Southeast Asia, China, the Middle East, Egypt, all over North America, and all over Western and Eastern Europe. LOVED all of them for a variety of reasons. Generally speaking, we felt the safest in the Muslim countries even when compared to Europe and North American countries. The people were very friendly in all of the countries, with the Germans being the most unfriendly and stand-offish until one trip when we had a German friend with us. That changed their attitudes toward us.
I'm VERY open minded when it comes to travel and other cultures, and I embrace the differences in each place I go. I also see the tourist attractions (Great Wall, Burj Khalifa, pyramids, etc), of course, but we always venture out on our own (preferably with a rental car but if not, then public transportation) to see how the real people live. We have yet to be disappointed.
Just came back from Jordan and I can testify how Jordanians are friendly, kind and always helpful. It is the kind of friendliness I have never experienced in any of the 20 western countries I have been to. I mean people guenuinely welcome you with open arms and big smiles, including children.
Jordan is amazing and I highly recommend to anyone.
For those who worry about safety out of ignorance, just be assured that Jordan is probaly safer than the US in general. The capital Amman for examples is as safe as Toronto, Canada and way safer than NYC, San Fran not to mention Chicago etc.
Best part, most people spead good English. They don't even have much a foreign accent. I don't know why.
When I was going into Junior High School my parents moved me from Southern California to Overland Park, Kansas. I have no desire to visit any place as politically backward as Kansas. I was born in Topeka, KS. My home town recently legalized domestic violence because of a dispute with Shawnee County. That is just the tip of the iceberg i.e. Hillsboro Babtist Church.
I'm never going on a cruise ship. Does that count as a place?
Why not? Maybe I'll find out because I am going on a NYE cruise. I'm doing it because I'm alone and there's a singles group on the cruise. Also, I hate traveling alone, so this feels like a compromise. Lastly, it gives me an opportunity to try to get more comfortable socializing with a bunch of strangers in a somewhat confined (although the ship is enormous) environment. We'll see how I feel about it when I get back.
^ why not? Because they're not for everybody, just some. Nothing wrong with liking cruises, just like nothing wrong with liking all inclusive resort vacations. They're just not for me. When I vacation, I explore. I don't party. I don't do nightlife. (I get up early) I don't do fine dining. Small local restaurants are more interesting to me. YMMV
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