Is Cuba not a bit scary?
Holidays Page 26
A chum of mine always seems to get Greece or the Canarys for 300 squids.
Why not Egypt? Seriously the fighting will be over in a couple of months and the prices will be through the floor.
Or Dahab (the Amsterdam of the Middle East) or Sharm El Sheik are all miles from the fighting.
But what do I know I never go on holiday.
Quote: Nat Wicks @ February 7 2011, 12:05 PM GMTIs Cuba not a bit scary?
Cuba is far from scary. It's an amazing country with amazing people. Plus, you're in a resort... nothing bad happens.
Oh and I would have mentioned Egypt apart from all the bad stuff going on!
Quote: sootyj @ February 7 2011, 12:07 PM GMTOr Dahab (the Amsterdam of the Middle East) or Sharm El Sheik are all miles from the fighting.
Dahab is recommended only if your idea of a good time is smoking lots of weed with a bunch of scruffy backpackers.
Don't go anywhere war-y!
Or anywhere where people murder you, make you a prozzie, or plant drugs on you. (ie Thailand.)
Quote: Nat Wicks @ February 7 2011, 11:39 AM GMTCan't really afford Asia (but I'd love to go to a Thai island) ... Looking to spend about £1500 for the two of us for around 10 days in first 3 weeks of October
Southeast Asia is pretty cheap, apart from Singapore. Cheapest London return flights are about 400 quid, which would leave you with 700 quid for 10 days. 70 quid a day will go a long away.
Quote: zooo @ February 7 2011, 1:20 PM GMTor plant drugs on you. (ie Thailand.)
Never experienced that. Plenty of mules will use it as an excuse though.
Quote: zooo @ February 7 2011, 1:20 PM GMTDon't go anywhere war-y!
Or anywhere where people murder you, make you a prozzie, or plant drugs on you. (ie Thailand.)
Zooo we're at war with 2 or 3 countries what are you doing here?
Also my cousin visited Beirut and said it was charming.
And he's a 4 by 2
Quote: Kenneth @ February 7 2011, 1:17 PM GMTDahab is recommended only if your idea of a good time is smoking lots of weed with a bunch of scruffy backpackers.
What's wrong with that? Sounds like an aces break.
Israel has also legalsied processed khat.
Quote: sootyj @ February 7 2011, 1:32 PM GMTZooo we're at war with 2 or 3 countries what are you doing here?
We have the sense not to have fighting/bombing/shooting in the streets in our country. We do it elsewhere.
I should have thought that was fairly obvious.
Quote: Kenneth @ February 7 2011, 1:28 PM GMTNever experienced that. Plenty of mules will use it as an excuse though.
But the murdering and the being made a prozzie you have experienced? 
Zooo you don't live in the gateau...obviously.
Quote: sootyj @ February 7 2011, 1:32 PM GMTWhat's wrong with that? Sounds like an aces break.
If you're into that sort of thing, being surrounded by boring Western/Israeli stoners getting sunburned when not glazily watching MTV. Not my scene. Egypt has much more to offer.
Cake?
Quote: Kenneth @ February 7 2011, 1:28 PM GMTSoutheast Asia is pretty cheap, apart from Singapore. Cheapest London return flights are about 400 quid, which would leave you with 700 quid for 10 days. 70 quid a day will go a long away.
You've sold it 
Quote: Kenneth @ February 7 2011, 1:28 PM GMTSoutheast Asia is pretty cheap, apart from Singapore. Cheapest London return flights are about 400 quid, which would leave you with 700 quid for 10 days. 70 quid a day will go a long away.
I think I'm too much of a coward to go that far afield without a nice safe tour agent package 
Quote: Nat Wicks @ February 7 2011, 1:56 PM GMTI think I'm too much of a coward to go that far afield without a nice safe tour agent package
I think Lonely Planet's website has a travel forum (the thorn tree?) full of good advice and you can ask long-term travellers/expatriates where to stay for good value and good sightseeing/solitude. Some package deals might leave you in naff "resort" areas filled with other Western tourists - including noisy drunken Australians (not pleasant). What sort of thing would you want to do on a holiday? Dive? Climb mountains/volcanoes? Visit ancient temples? Get shit-faced on cheap alcohol? Sail? Surf? Get sunburned on a beach? Look at strange/rare animals? Buy tat? Feel sorry for the natives? Read books? If the latter, save money by reading at home. Otherwise, just arrive with much local currency and an itinerary and some local language.
Quote: Kenneth @ February 7 2011, 2:49 PM GMTVisit ancient temples? Get shit-faced on cheap alcohol? Get sunburned on a beach? Look at strange/rare animals? Buy tat? Read books?
Those ones.
Mainly the strange animals.
Jakarta, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore all have comedy clubs, where stand-up is performed in English by visiting acts or local talent. Maybe they're keen for new/visiting talent? As for strange animals, they'll mostly be behind bars or in safari parks. Or you could go to Komodo Island (a bit of a journey to get there) and buy a chicken to feed to the dragons. TIP: If you ever go to Indonesia, DO NOT go to Bali, go instead the next island along, which is Lombok, which is much less spoilt by over-development and is also a step closer to Komodo.