Hello Forum
Hello Thorn Tree Forum,I'm new here. My name is Dave. I'm here in Doha for a work project for the next 6 months (minimum), maybe more. I've been in San Diego for nearly the past decade of my life, prior to that I'm from east coast (New Jersey with some time in New England). Married a year and this is my first time living outside of the US.
My wife is still in San Diego. As I'm working 6 day weeks / 10 hour days out here we decided it would be best for her to stay home (she has nieces, family stuff to take care of, and I just took her away from San Diego for 3 months while I lived on the East Coast for a different work project). We talk often though, so it's not a worry.
Anyway, my purpose for coming to the forum is to talk about travel. I'm a fan of traveling, but most of what I have done has been pretty localized in North America. I've been all up and down the Pacific Coast from Anchorage to Puerto Escondido, Mexico and all over the North East. Being in Doha gives me an opportunity to see things I have never seen before. I've got some ideas for some weekend excursions and then some ideas for some larger trips. But I wanted to get input from some of you who have seen some awesome spots what your recommendations are.
My wife will be out here for a month starting Jan/Feb and after a week of time change adjustment, I think we will head for a long weekend in Dubai, and then another week of work, followed by a week of something very exotic and fun.
I'm thinking either Zanzibar or Maldives. Both of these are supposed to be gorgeous spots, with Maldives potentially vanishing from the earth in 20 years and Zanzibar being close enough to get to mainland Africa for a safari / visit to Mount Kilimanjaro. However, if someone has something really cool that I ought to consider, I'm all ears.
We will be doing a European vacation later on in May/June.
We are into relaxing, good food, good drink, good sights, maybe some snorkeling/scuba, maybe some boating. Something like a hike would be nice, but not necessary. I don't like too touristy, but a place I can kick back and relax with some drinks and watch the tide roll in.
Thanks in advance! Looking forward to some fellow travelers thoughts.
--Dave
1
The Maldives are perfect(ly arranged), expensive, supremely relaxing and can be done in a week if you stay on one island/resort. You will be prisoner on a resort island and able to visit the capital (on your own) or inhabited islands (guided tour only) only for a few hours. The only other option is to stay on Gan, a large island which is not the most beautiful/manicured, but where you can walk or cycle into the "real" (locally inhabited) part of the island and spend as much time there during the day as you like, unescorted. Gan is not an island where you can walk ten steps from your bungalow and be on one "the perfect beach." The Maldives are a great destination for a wholly artificial and completely organized but utterly enjoyable holiday whose best moments are simply unimprovable (visually, weather-wise, culinary).Zanzibar has similar resorts, but also normal hotels, and all are on a country-sized island that you are free to explore. It can be much cheaper than the Maldives if you want it that way. There's nature, history, architecture, folklore, shopping, but also a bit of Third World mayhem. To add a safari on the mainland of several days' duration your vacation should last ten days or so. Unless you never leave your five-star resort, Zanzibar is not ideal for the picture-perfect tropical island holiday, but is an intriguing destination that mixes Africa, Asia, Arabia, the sea and all the aspects I have already mentioned above.
2
Agree with everything buffybot says above, but would add that as a destination, Maldives for me is all about scuba diving. If you're not a diver, or not planning to be diving daily, its all about lying around on a beach and can be quite claustrophobic. Zanzibar is a much better "travel destination" if you want to be mobile and experience stuff other than the beach.Other places I would add to your list for consideration:
Mauritius - similar beach style holiday to Maldives or Zanzibar, but with much better food. Good for hiking and getting a little more off the beaten path.
SE Asia - Thailand is within reasonable flight times, and has all the exotic and fun you're looking for. Also Singapore or Malaysia. Or Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam?
Mainland Africa - forget the beach and do a weeklong safari package in Kenya or Tanzania. Or white-water rafting in Uganda?
Let's face it, one of the very best things about the Gulf region is its proximity to an amazing array of travel destinations. I've been here nearly 20 years, and still haven't run out of places to go play in. That's mostly why I havent left yet. Enjoy.
4
The Maldives is absolutely stunning, I love it there, it's so incredibly beautiful and only 4 hours or so from the Gulf. G_C mentions Mauritius. For me that doesn't begin to compare to the beauty of the Maldives but I liked it for hiking rather than the beaches which were nothing special IMO.I found Zanzibar disappointing. Stone Town I really liked but the beaches weren't as attractive as I'd expected and I wouldn't recommend anybody to make a special trip to Tanzania just to go to Zanzibar.
One of my favourite countries within easy reach of the Gulf is Sri Lanka. Again it's 4 hours or so by plane, it's beautiful (both beaches and inland), the food is great, lots of culture and history and nice people. It can be done cheaply or in a more luxurious style, you have that choice. Definitely suitable for a long weekend but worth so much longer than that too.
As mentioned above, there are countless wonderful places within easy reach of the Gulf. SE Asia is only 7 hours away and you have the Middle East all around you. It's a great spot to plan trips from :)
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