Would love to have some suggestions for a great spot in Kerala to spend Christmas on the beach. Haven't been back for too many years and I don't have a clue where to go. Would like a spot with cottages,pool, decent beach, and not too many people. Last request might be nuts as it is India. Budget up to $100/night for two. Varkala? Kovelim? Any help appreciated

Hi Everyone!
This will be mi first trip to Africa, I am planing to spend at least one month in Ethipia, I would like to hear suggestions on destinations, and cheap accomodation, I am on budget. I will do CS in Addis, I want to visit Gondar, Lalibela Bahir Dhar, Awassa, Arba minch. Also travel companion woud be nice!
Great thanks for your suggestions.

We travelled all through Southern Africa and South East Asia, doing numerous safaris and wildlife tours.
Nothing was more authentic than getting off the tourist trail and having a real adventure in a country which knows few tourists.

This is why you should visit Sumatra. And this is why you should start your journey with a stay at Mr Jalis Rainforest Lodge in Kedah near Blangkejeren.

Why you should go?
The rainforest and surrounding countryside (paddy fields; lakes; rivers; mountains; flowers) is absolutely breathtaking. Like nowhere we had visited before. We didn't see one other tourist on the journey from Takengon to Blangkejeren and then into the rainforest in Kedah. Local people were so delighted to see us and so welcoming. Very little English is spoken, so it's worth having a few words to get by, but this makes the experience all the more interesting.

Mr Jali, his wife and his team are wonderful characters with huge hearts. They did everything to make our experience of rainforest life original and went above and beyond to make sure we were well fed; well rested and learnt about local culture.

We did a two day treks into the rainforest, where the bungalows are based. The hiking was a real adrenaline rush and we were lucky enough to see Orangutans, black Gibbons and Thomas monkeys. Our guide Nasir was fantastic, he really has an ear and eye for the jungle.

How to get there?
There are three options.
1. Overnight bus from Medan to Blangkejeren. This takes about 10 hours.
2. We flew from Medan to Takengon (with Wings air), a pretty town on a lake and stayed there for one night. Then look a mini van from Takengon bus terminal to Blangkejeren in a minivan. This took 5 hours including a 1 hour stop for lunch. We paid 120,000 IDR each. The journey is beautiful.
3. Flight with Susiair from Banda Aceh to Kutacane(Ketembe) and Banda Aceh to Gayo Lues(Patiamabang). The flight to Kutacane is every Wednesday and to Gayo Lues is every Friday. These were not the available for us but the 2020 flights are due to be released by the government. Contact bandaaceh@susiair.com

Pricing?
Mr Jali charges as of 2020:
500,000 pp day trekking
600,000 pp camping includes equipment
300,000 based on 2 sharing lodge with 3 meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner)and drinks (water, tea, coffee).

Me and my boyfriend wants to go for a 2 weeks holiday in February. We're dreaming about the typical paradise island/place - the one you see on photos - with white beaches, azure blue sea and palms by the beach. Yeah, well, that's the start. We find a lot of places on internet looking like this, but we want more. We would like a place that has great snorkelling, and also that it has more to offer than only beach life. We have until now been thinking of Zanzibar, but then we read about the beaches there; the ones on the east side of the island there is basically no water when it's low tide, and the two beaches on the northern tip, that is not affected by the tides, are extremely popular and are sort of resort beaches. Here it the thing we're looking for: a destination with mentioned "paradise beach", but not with resorts and huge crowds. Infrastructure are welcome, but not big scale. It would be great if it's easy to move around (rent bikes, 4wd, cheap taxi etc). Would like to find a place where you sort of find a place to yourself, stay in a bungalow by the beach, and eat at a smaller, cosy restaurant by the sea with great, fresh seafood. Athmosphere, cosy, genuine are keywords. We would also like to go snorkelling, and are looking for a place with really good snorkelling. Preferably with just a shorter boat trip to the reef, not a big expedition.
In between the beach and relaxing days, it would be great to do something else; like the island/country has something more to offer, wildlife, some kind of tours (like Zanzibar has spice tours), to experience something more than just the beautiful beaches.
It can't be mad expensive (like 300 dollars a night at hotel).

We are thinking about places like Central America (Panama, Belize or others), Caribbean (too touristy and expensive?), Philippines (are reading thinks like low quality food, worn nature, not so nice), Sri Lanka (is there superb coral reefs and snorkelling there?), Maldives (crazy expensive and little else to do except beaches?), Seychelles (the same as Maldives?), and others.
Of various reasons we don't want Mexico, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia and the Oceania islands (as Fiji etc).
Very greatful for all info, suggestions and insight!