Favorite Destinations, Do not Miss!

[Lundy]

Hey everyone, I am wondering what everyone's most favorite destination's are (Worldwide). You can chose just one or you can put in your top 10. A little description of why is was so awesome would be great too. I would start it off but I have never sailed before and this post is just me planning my route way ahead of time for my world sail. Seems kind of rediculous, rediculus, redi....crazy for me to plan my route before I have the money to purchase a boat or even know how to sail but, what can I say, that's me. I am hoping that having my route planned will encourage me to save the money needed to purchase the boat needed for this trip. Thanks for your help.

Lundy

[GordMay]

When I first began dreaming about sailing off (in the early sixties), I was enchanted with the idea of the Tuamotus. The utter isolation of this tropical archipelago, strewn with island /lagoons, appealed to me.

[FrankZ]

Originally Posted by GordMay

When I first began dreaming about sailing off (in the early sixties), I was enchanted with the idea of the Tuamotus. The utter isolation of this tropical archipelago, strewn with island /lagoons, appealed to me.

Did you make it? Was it what you had hoped?

[Ehumpal]

Since our boat is in the BVIs, that is our favorite location; easy sailing, good anchorages, and (usually) reliable trade winds. Following that would be the Spanish Virgins; relatively unspoiled, some anchorages. Also consider anywhere down island in the eastern caribbean. On the other side of the world, I would favor Tonga, similar to the BVIs except colder and with a significant tidal range. Keep your dream alive and if you can, charter in some of these places before you purchase your boat.

[Gallivanters]

in no particular order...

Bali - Balinese Culture, great food, affordable
Australia - Australian Beer! Aussie girls, Great Barrier Reef, seafood
Yap - girls still wear grass skirts there, strong culture, great diving
Palau - The Rock Islands, great diving
Ponape - waterfalls, lush tropical gardens
the Philippines - nice people, great food, affordable
Borneo - remote and off the beaten path, headhunters, ice cream
Thailand - great spicy food, great sailing, great scenery, affordable
Maldives - remote, pristine
Red Sea - great diving, unspoiled, vast solitude
Egypt - the Mother of Civilization, history, culture, the Sphynx, Luxor
Turkey - the Turquoise Coast, great food, affordable
Greek Isles - great wine, seafood, salads - yum!
Malta - great culture & history, fortifications, funky yellow busses
Spain - Flaminco music & dancing, nightlife, running with the bulls
The Virgin Islands - near perfect sailing conditions, Foxy's, Willy T, Baths

I'm certainly no expert, but... in my personal opinion - in terms of cruising destinations, it doesn't get any better than the Virgin Islands or the region between Langkawi & Phuket. But there still many nice places to see before I die.

In closing, I would like to say this: Many of my personal favorite destinations are based upon the voyage which brought us there. My favorite destination is at the helm of my boat bound for new adventure beyond the horizon.

To Life!

Kirk

[Morgan Paul]

Ever since I was a kid I wanted to go to Newfoundland Canada. Iam in now in my 50's, I will go.

[Lightfin]

Got to put in my vote for the BVI's; they are just too hard to beat for a dependable all around great experience.

Though the sailing, snorkeling and diving are not near as good in St Maarten environs as the BVI's (in my opinion), I do have to rave about the great food on the French side of St. Martin.

[Islandmike]

Cinnamon Bay St. Johns, USVI. While it may not seem exotic to many, it has a special meaning to us. We can't wait to return on our own sailboat.

[Mikado]

The inner passage to Alaska.......Breathtaking beauty

[Sonosailor]

Saltwhistle Bay, Mayreau, and the rest of Mayreau in the Grenadines are pretty neat, although not as exotic as some of the answers. Its a good place to just stand in the shallows with a drink in your hand, or to brush off the barnacles on the hulls. Its just so pretty. The resort ashore is cute, but who's gonna pay $8US for one beer?

[cat man do]

Langkawi, Thailand and Vietnam for me, though Vanuatu would be nice.......................hold on, I'm taking a boat there on Saturday, weather an custom's permitting.

My favourite close to home .........., well i'm not telling, but here is a pic.

If i'm lucky I should still be able to get the 50 footer across the top of the reef as she'll draw less than the 30 footer in the pic.

No one else for month's at a time appart from turtles and Booby bird's, Cray's and plenty of good fish.

Dave

[alohaboat]

Vava'u, Tonga. The way the South Pacific used to be before it got crowded and expensive - white sand beaches, turquoise water, palm trees, friendly people.

[Lundy]

This is awesome, so many great destinations. I can see my trip is going to be a long one in order to see all these amazing places. Thanks everyone, keep the places coming.

Lundy

[Dunkers]

Sonosailor, have to agree with you. My favourite photograph of all time is of my boat in Saltwhistle Bay with the Tobago Cays in the background. I was the only boat in the bay. It was in the morning after all the other boats had left and before the usual afternoon arrivals had anchored. It was always so peaceful there, can't wait to get back there in October when we charter for a couple of weeks. Will be going back in a two years in our boat when I've finished with this work stuff.

Also want to go back to Mauritius. My wife and I were in the Royal Navy there in the early 70's and had a ball. The diving was fantastic and the beaches glorious. We know that its now been turned into a tourist "paradise" and it will be different but we want to check it out anyway.

[Gallivanters]

Is this your Maiden Voyage??? Congratulations!

I'm with you regarding Langkawi.

You mention Vietnam... have you taken a boat there?

It has been my understanding that the beauraucradic hurdles have made sailing there a bit of a challenge but a friend of mine is gearing upto deliver a Sunsail yacht to their new charter base in Vietnam... which makes me think things are lightening up there.

I hear there's an awesome cruising ground there.

Have fun!

Kirk