Where should I go

Dear All

I have a 3 month sabbatical coming up in October this year

With a budget of about £3000 (inc flights) Where would you suggest I travel to? (from the uk) I would like to spend time on beaches but also see some of what the wider world has to offer

I have already been to lots of Europe and the middle east so anywhere other than there

If you would take the time to offer suggestions and reasons I would be very grateful

Peace

How about South East Asia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia or Philippines..

my vote goes to laos, and wherever else in south east asia catches your fancy...

I suggest you do some research and decide where YOU are interested in going. A list of countries that are of interest to others is of what value to you? All you end up with is a list of countries and YOU still have to find a way to decide which interests you. You could do that just as easily by Googling, list of all countries in the world. Here, I've done it for you. Pick one.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sovereign_states

Portugal s cheapest. And off the main tourist lemming routes.

I would suggest flying into somewhere like KL in Malaysia, Air Asia flys from London they do have good deals. Then from KL you have Asia at your fingertips. Once again Air Asia has some good deals, just keep checking their website.

The route I would suggest is Thailand via Chaing Mai to Laos down the Mekong to Luan Prabang then onto Cambodia, Vietnam.
Or start and just go until the money runs out. But do not book any thing other than your flight from UK as we found it is cheaper inside these countries. We booked a 3 day trip from Phnom Phen to Ho Chi Minh city (Saigon) for 50 US for us both that included hotels and transport/tours. We Bussed, river boated and bussed through the Mekong Delta then up to Saigon, brilliant trip. Aussies on the same tour had booked it in Australia before they left it cost them...from memory about 150Aus . Our most expensive hotel in Vietnam was in Saigon $22US per night for a double room with bathroom ,a very nice room with TV and AC. Cheapest was in Cambodia at Siem Reap $8 for double room with bathroom. we did this trip in 08 so prices may have increased. We are among the older backpackers around so like to be reasonably comfortable.
Enjoy beaches in Thailand at Krabi nicer and Cheaper than Phuket also other coast of Thailand but havent been there also beautiful beaches in Vietnam..China Beach etc. Cambodia also has a pretty bit of Coast in the south.

Eastern Europe,Bulgaria, Macedonia,Albania, Bosnia, Montenegro, Croatia, also a good and reasonable trip we did all by bus.

Happy travelling.

Edited by: naej

As others have suggested take a look at some of the southeast asia threads for a possible itinerary on souheast asia. Its about 5-600 £ for a return ticket to bangkok and u can.live decently for about £25 a day. In my own experience it's good value for money and people are nice additionally weather is good and if u happen to run into the monsoon say when its monsoon season on the westside of Thailand (i dont know when u r leaving) well u just head to the east coast and all is good.. plenty of things to do whether u r sporty and into adventure stuff or into culture and museums.