Word of Mouth

Compiled by Eric Tiettmeyer

Asia

Vietnam- Nha Trang, Lao Dai village. Former summer residence of Bao Dai. Hanoi is a special place and check out Ho Tay Villas on the West Lake. Bai Chay - Ha Long Bay is spectacular. Stay at the Green Bamboo Hotel. Mon Cai - Border town on Chinese border is a smuggler's paradise. Steve
Kazakhstan- Avoid it. See Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. Be careful with the police anywhere in central Asia. They earn a living by "fining" tourists. Don't miss spending a few days with nomads in Kyrgyzstan, it's unforgettable. Robert Wilson
China- Dalian is a beautiful, rat-free sea coast city in northeast China. Great local transportation and good food. Visit the Beijing Botanical Gardens - fabulous. The Panda Research and Breeding Center in Chengdu is worth a day. Baja Bob Vinton
Japan- Don't spit on the ground. Don't leave your chopsticks in the noodles. Drink lots of sake. Ask when taking pictures of people. Anonymous
Japan- Ichijima is a small town in the north that has an unusual interest in foreigners. Enjoy the beautiful scenery while you stay with a host family or carry a shrine in the fall festival. Near the Sea of Japan. Miyauima is a little island with a mountain to climb. Many small shrines and crazy monkeys. Lesley Frank
Trans-Siberian Railway- Use a company called "Monkey Business". Take lots of US $1 bills with you. Melissa

Australia

Perth- Visit Rosie O'Grady's Irish Pub located in Fremantle. Enjoy an authentic Irish beverage, take a stroll along the pier and watch the boats pull in and out. Have a blast. Anonymous
Frasier Island – Off the Queensland coast, take a three day four-wheel drive vehicle from Hervey Bay. Best bits are Indian Head, home of many whales, sharks, rays, dolphins and turtles, or Lake Wabby. Martin Corbett
Coromanoel, New Zealand – You must see Caromandel Peninsula (North Island). It's beautiful! Best time is October to May. Take a "Carter's" bus since that is the only way to travel on the dirt road. Kim Carter

Latin/South America

Yucatan- Go to Tulum. Stay at Padus Cabanas and enjoy the finest restaurant on the coast, Ozzio's. Excellent food on the world's best beach. Dan and Ger Doren
Take the Pan American Highway north from San Jose to Liberia, then cut over to the west coast. Just south of Tamarindo is "El Capitan Suizo." Great cabanas set in a jungle enclave, steps from the water. Cliff
If you have time to stay in a deserted and virgin beach, go to La Ticla in the state of Michoacan, Mexico. You will not want to come back. You will also find world-class surf. J.V. Mendoza
Argentina – Don't forget to visit Buenos Aires, Bariloche, Mar del Plata, and the Iguaza waterfalls. In Buenos Aires don't miss Recoleta, Puerto Madero, and the Colon theatre. Argentineans are very friendly. Marie Laura

North America

Muskoka Lakes, Ontario Canada- Cottage country with an eighty mile lake, great fishing, hiking and golfing. Just north of Toronto. George and Susie Beers.

*Before traveling to any foreign country, it is important to visit http://travel.state.gov first.

Suggestions taken from the bulletin board at Le Travel Store (www.letravelstore.com) in San Diego, CA. Post your own suggestions at eric@swtmag.com