Today we’ll be starting a new series on Airline Miles Experts. In this series we’ll be asking some of our favorite bloggers their opinion or advice on a specific question. This way instead of just getting our thoughts on the topic, you can read a diverse range of views from some great bloggers.
If you’re a travel blogger and would like to take part in this series in the future, please contact us.
This week the question we asked bloggers was:
Of all the places you have visited, what is your all time favorite and why?
Stephen Lioy at MonkBoughtLunch
I really really love Hong Kong. It has literally everything I want in a city, and a whole lot besides. There are beautiful hiking trails and awesome beaches to get out and enjoy nature a bit, but at the same time you can get back to town in time to have a nice dinner out at a fancy restaurant or grab a drink in Wan Chai. The fact that it ALSO serves as a huge flight hub for both traditional alliance carrier and Asian LCCs means you can get to anywhere in the world without too many hassles.
Audrey Bergner at That Back Packer
It’s hard to choose favourites, but my recent trip to Prague completely blew me away! The first thing that struck me about this city was its beauty; picture Art Nouveau and Baroque facades painted in cheerful pastel colours. The average European city will have a charming Old Town Square while the rest of the city has a decidedly modern feel, however, in Prague even the residential areas further removed from the city centre had plenty of beauty to boast. I also liked that Prague had a mixture of historical sites (like castles and ancient fortifications) alongside fun activities (like room escape games and absinthe bars). This is a city I’d be happy to revisit.
Norbert Figueroa at Globo Treks
Thailand. It is the first country I backpacked solo, so it holds a special place in my heart. In addition, Thailand is a great country by itself. It offers everything from budget to luxury, adventures and culture, mountains and gorgeous beaches, and everything in between. I think it is a great place to start traveling if you’re curious about visiting Asia.
Auston Matta at Two Bad Tourists
David and I traveled to Madrid in June 2012. We immediately fell in love with the culture and our desire to learn Spanish really made it one of our favorite places we visited on our round the world trip. And even though we were applying for a long term French Visa when we decided to move to Europe, we quickly made Madrid our home over France. We love the pace of life, the energy of the people, the weather and the location, making it perfect to travel easily across Europe and beyond.
Jan Ross at Wanderlust Wonder
The Hawaiian Islands, without a doubt. The islands are a great vacation destination for families, couples, and groups of friends because they are so versatile and offer such a variety of activities for all ages and all types of adventure. Each of the islands is unique and travelers should make an effort to check out what each to offer. Our favorite activity in all of our many travels was flying in a helicopter over the active volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Jacob and Vanessa at Cash Cow Couple
My family took a vacation every year when I was young. We never went back to the same place, because we always experienced everything the destination had to offer. Although I loved exploring new places, I always begged my mom to plan another road trip to Maine. When I was 14 we drove there from Missouri, and we stopped at destinations, bed and breakfast inns, and mom and pop restaurants along the way.
On the way to our way to our destination of Bar Harbor, Maine, over 24+ hours away, we stopped at Hershey Park and Niagara Falls before arriving in Maine. Once we were in Maine, we kayaked, went on whale watches, puffin tours, lighthouse tours, and ate the best seafood I’ve ever experienced.
This trip not only stood out because everything we did was fun, thanks to my mom’s meticulous research methods, but also because of the execution strategy of the road trip. A lot of people would have driven 24 hours in 2 days to get to their destination in Maine. But my family did it differently. What made it so memorable and enjoyable is that we truly took joy in getting there. Some of our mini destinations were a little out of the way, but that was ok. Most of the fun was getting there.
I’ve carried the memories of this trip with me throughout my lifetime, and I believe the same execution strategy should be applied to one’s life. Don’t be so focused on your destination that you miss out on the joys of getting there. That’s where the true memories lie, and what you’ll look back on as the best moments of your life.
Susan Shain at Travel Junkette
This is always the hardest question to answer! I’ll give you three: Italy for the oh-so-amazing food and wine, Colombia for the friendly people and vibrant culture, and Alaska for the gorgeous scenery and abundant wildlife.
April D. Thompson at The Absolute Travel Addict
That’s always a difficult question because I honestly have so many positive memories from every place I’ve visited. If I have to pick just 1, I’d go with South Africa. It was my first time on the African continent. It’s also the first place that I was able to spend an extended period of time as an adult exploring a foreign land somewhat on my own — from Durban to Port Elizabeth, Cape Town and Umtata, through the Garden route and many more cities and townships in between. I was there for research, studying engineering education reform programs, visiting schools of all levels and learning about the history of the country. But what left the biggest impression (which is the case everywhere I go) were the people. And as cliche as it sounds, it truly felt like home.
This June, I had the opportunity to travel back to South Africa, specifically Durban. Nearly 9 years later, and yes, lots of things have changed, but my feelings being there hadn’t. It still felt like home. I look forward to returning again in the near future for a 3 month (or longer) stay.
Annette at Bucket List Journey
Traveling to Tanzania, Africa was one of my most memorable experiences because of how it changed my perception of such a foreign land. My prior knowledge of this continent had only been through magazines and television, so it was incredible to witness a portion of the land first hand.
During my time there, I was able to take a four day safari, go glamping in Serengeti, eat a traditional Ugali meal at a local restaurant, spend time at an orphanage in Arusha and visit the most amazing children in a private school.
I know you guys have traversed the globe. There is that place you felt in love with and you feel this is the favorite place you’ve ever been. Share with us in comment box below that place and the reason it’s your favorite.
The post Your Favorite Places You’ve Visited and Why? appeared first on Airline Miles Experts.