If you can, do visit Porto. It offers different things, despite sharing many similarities (river + ocean based cities) Also you HAVE to eat a Francesinha while in Porto!
Ewww, gross. Do I have to?
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Lonely Planet's top 10 travel destinations 2017
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Ewww, gross. Do I have to?
Kung Fu Jedi
Member
Agreed. Was there this past July. Spent two weeks traveling on horseback through the Altai Mountains. Amazing place with wonderful people. Not going to get too touristy very soon though. It's too hard to get there for most people, and it is a remote and wild place, things tourists don't care for. UB was surprisingly modern, safe, and clean. Outside the city there are few amenities to be had.
The problem with Canada is that the sights are way too spread out and a lot of them are difficult to reach without a car. Public transports suck outside of the big cities and air travel is super expensive.
If I was a foreigner, Canada wouldn't make my top 50 places to go for this reason only.
If I was a foreigner, Canada wouldn't make my top 50 places to go for this reason only.
Stumpokapow
listen to the mad man
Well sure except the drives are scenic and low traffic and part of the experience. It's only a barrier if you literally can't drive.
JinjoUnchained
Member
That's the one, you gotta love the purple parrot. I also love Greenland's white and azure polar bear coat of arms and the badass white dragon on Bhutan's flag.
Mr. Giggles
Member
Good thing there's a ton of stuff to do in the cities as well... The scenic stuff is just the maple syrup on the already delicious pancake that is Canada
RocknRola
Member
Unless you want to get deported, yes >.>
Buba Big Guns
Banned
Well good thing you can rent a car for like $20 a day if you want to go somewhere far from the city. Canadians really don't understand how great their country is from a tourism perspective
Yes. It's delicious! I was put of by the looks too at first, but now I crave one from time to time
Just don't expect to do anything else for the rest if the day
DeadlyParasite
Member
I'm Canadian and I won't downplay our country like others in this thread. The most memorable place I've been in all my visits was Banff, Alberta. Nothing quite describes waking up in a small city surrounded by foresty mountains on every side. One day I hope to visit some small towns in the northern reaches of Ontario or the territories. Gimmicky landmarks and buildings don't beat seeing untouched landscapes, and Canada has a lot of untouched landscapes.
Imo many Finnish people tend to have the same "there's nothing to see and everything's ugly" mentality.
But even if your daily commute isn't that beautiful that doesn't mean there's not a lot of unique stuff to see. People are just blind to it, which is a bit shame because you don't always need to travel thousands of miles to see something nice.
Mr. Giggles
Member
Santa is not amused.
Angry Goat
Banned
I guess opinions on this topic are going to vary quite a bit as different perspectives and experiences will impact opinions on travel destinations.
Those are great examples, but I can't help thinking that a majority of the locations/activities you have listed are either better experiences (or available in a similar capacity) elsewhere in the world, or are best suited for elderly.
Logistics are also a challenge as a lot of Canada's gems are spread out. If you could do many of the things you listed in a 10 day trip, that would be cool, but it would be a lot of travel time and a bit expensive. If a traveler wanted to go to one province/city and see Canada, I feel like they would feel like they had missed a lot somehow. I've been all over Canada (more so than most people I talk to) and I still feel like I haven't see a lot, haha. Canada is pretty safe though, I can't think of anywhere I would actively avoid and I think that goes a long way for some travelers. Toronto is trying it's damnedest to ruin Canada's safe reputation.
I can't agree with "expos in Toronto" as I've never been to a quality convention/expo/conference in that city. Always seem to cut corners and lack professional production, to the point that you wonder if the organizers think the guests are stupid or naive. Canadians are typically pretty nice people, but I really don't feel like a lot our businesses truly understand "hospitality". I find businesses in the US to be much more welcoming and interested in customer service. Giving a customer something for free (promo or incentive) in Canada seems to be equivalent to financial ruin in the mind of businesses. I digress, though.
This is a great post. Banff is amazing, as is most of the west. Northern Ontario is also amazing, fairly unique, but for some reason I just don't see Ontario (in general) as an international travel destination assuming you can go anywhere.
Those are great examples, but I can't help thinking that a majority of the locations/activities you have listed are either better experiences (or available in a similar capacity) elsewhere in the world, or are best suited for elderly.
Logistics are also a challenge as a lot of Canada's gems are spread out. If you could do many of the things you listed in a 10 day trip, that would be cool, but it would be a lot of travel time and a bit expensive. If a traveler wanted to go to one province/city and see Canada, I feel like they would feel like they had missed a lot somehow. I've been all over Canada (more so than most people I talk to) and I still feel like I haven't see a lot, haha. Canada is pretty safe though, I can't think of anywhere I would actively avoid and I think that goes a long way for some travelers. Toronto is trying it's damnedest to ruin Canada's safe reputation.
I can't agree with "expos in Toronto" as I've never been to a quality convention/expo/conference in that city. Always seem to cut corners and lack professional production, to the point that you wonder if the organizers think the guests are stupid or naive. Canadians are typically pretty nice people, but I really don't feel like a lot our businesses truly understand "hospitality". I find businesses in the US to be much more welcoming and interested in customer service. Giving a customer something for free (promo or incentive) in Canada seems to be equivalent to financial ruin in the mind of businesses. I digress, though.
This is a great post. Banff is amazing, as is most of the west. Northern Ontario is also amazing, fairly unique, but for some reason I just don't see Ontario (in general) as an international travel destination assuming you can go anywhere.
God Dayumm
Banned
What is that?
Angry Goat
Banned
Haha. How many of the top 10 destinations could Johnson identify as locations, and then locate them on a map?
Mr. Giggles
Member
Whatever, santa is just a shill for the elitist Coca Cola corporation. If that jolly whale had any integrity he would bring back manufacturing to his country instead of outsourcing to the underage sweatshops in the North Pole....."elfs"..... Ya right
There's also no shortage of tour buses. Especially to big draws like Niagara Falls.
Our rail system may suck, but there's plenty of tour operators standing by to empty your pockets.
EGOMON
Member
Do you mind asking the reason? Your parents work here?
EGOMON
Member
Please come over we like tourist because we are very quiet country and barely known.
Also don't worry about religions and other stupid backward laws we very much open and welcome all.
I mean, Queens (not NYC, Queens) was their #1 destination for 2015.
gutter_trash
Banned
Live in the Plateau, work DownTown. Businesses do shutdown early, only things open are bars and restaurants at night.
I guess I'm bored of seeing the same streets over and over again
Gary Johnson, is that you?
Androidsleeps
Member
Chicago? But Trump told me "you walk down the street you get shot"..
Seriously though, is the LA traffic as bad as everyone say it is? Is there no public transportation (metro) to ease a tourist's stay? Cause it's honestly one of the first places I'd visit if I come to the US..I dunno why it just seems fascinating
I live in Canada, have for my whole life, and I love living here. But travelling here? Unless you're from some miserable place, hell no.
Then again, Banff/Jasper is amazing, but I really don't care for the cities I've been to here that much. Decent to live and work in, but I wouldn't really say worth visiting.
Then again, Banff/Jasper is amazing, but I really don't care for the cities I've been to here that much. Decent to live and work in, but I wouldn't really say worth visiting.
Angry Goat
Banned
Agreed, Canada is beautiful (and a great place to live), but this is top 10 travel destinations of 2017 and #1 seems high.
gutter_trash
Banned
good seeing Portugal getting named for City (Lisbon), Region (Azores) and Value (Porto)
John Kowalski
Banned
worth it for the sex elves
FreedomFighter
Member
Hmmm.... already been to 1, 8, and 10 (I frequent 1 and 10).
I'm down for Columbia and Nepal.
I'm down for Columbia and Nepal.
Bagan
Super high on my list.
http://topgear.wikia.com/wiki/Burma_Special
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyPYarCidxM
Vigilant Walrus
Member
Do they want visitors in Nepal? The stories I hear is that China is trying to destroy Nepals democracy from within. Since the control who gets visas, they've been trying to oust the Nepal people by making chinese immigrants the majority and thus make them vote to become an official part of China. It's actually using immigration as a real weapon, and in the same token, ruin Nepals culture and their independence.
I wonder if they'd want visitors coming to visit. Does it help or benefit them at all?
I wonder if they'd want visitors coming to visit. Does it help or benefit them at all?
killer rin
Member
Go Canada Go!
IdreamofHIME
Member
Myanmar is pretty much Thailand 25 years ago. If you want to see unspoiled South East Asia, nows your chance. Cambodia too.
No full moon parties or a saturation of beer bars, but the backpacker trails of books and movies is very much alive in these places right now. It won't remain that way, change is quick...but for now grab it.
Beautiful countries.
No full moon parties or a saturation of beer bars, but the backpacker trails of books and movies is very much alive in these places right now. It won't remain that way, change is quick...but for now grab it.
Beautiful countries.
Sounds like you're confusing Nepal with Tibet. Nepal is an independent country and getting a visa isn't very difficult. They definitely want tourists and they get quite a lot of them.
Nightmare452
Member
What, I've been to both #1 and 2. What sorcerer made this. That said, I can vouch for Canada, its a beautiful place. Plan to make it an annual trip since its drivable. I'm bewildered by Colombia there though.
IceDoesntHelp
Banned
Regarding Canada, all our National Parks are free next year, so take advantage of this as well.
killer rin
Member
Just be careful. We have two different types of parks. Federal and Provincial. It is only the Federal ones that are free
Vigilant Walrus
Member
I thought Nepal was under many of the same restrictions as Tibet with the India doing nothing? It's a disagrace with Tibet for sure thou!
That's good to know thou
)I thought Nepal was under many of the same restrictions as Tibet with the India doing nothing? It's a disagrace with Tibet for sure thou!
That's good to know thou
Not that I'm aware of, no. Getting a visa on arrival seems pretty easy according to http://www.lonelyplanet.com/nepal/visas and other sites. It's a very popular country for hiking the Himalayas.
Oh, I'm surprised Canada is #1 too. It wouldn't be my choice but I also don't know what the criteria they used was. In terms of travel: the country is stable and safe, the people are friendly, you're fairly well covered in regards to health and lots of countries will have a good monetary exchange rate. I suppose it depends how much weight is put into certain categories.
We definitely lack the history of, say, Egypt or Syria but... well... yeah.
Just show up at the airport in Kathmandu and fill out a form and pay some cash and you get your visa. Tibet is a different story as has been pointed out. Nepal is about as easy as it gets for visas.
They even handwrite the visa in your passport (on a sticker thing) ... they put the date wrong on my most recent visa and when I left it looked like I overstayed my visa. They ended up just crossing it out and handwriting a different date and letting me leave lol.
They need tourism again, since the earthquakes last year plus political bullshit they've been hurting a bit, but I highly recommend going. Very interesting place.
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