Best Seven Day Photo Vacation from U.S.??

7-10 days from CA (I'm in CA as well) -- I didn't catch the approx dates:
  • Costa Rica - cities, rural, cloud forests, volcanes beaches, whitewater
  • Puerto Rico - no passport needed - same money and infrastrcture, but still feels "exotic"
  • Western Canada - BC, Canadian Rockies (when it gets a little warmer)
  • Alaska - the last frontier
  • Hawaii - always a good place to visit
  • Central America - some very nice places to visit, and relatively inexpensive
IMHO, traveling outside of North America with only 7-10 days makes the trip less relaxing and somehow just seems lacking.
 
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IMHO, traveling outside of North America with only 7-10 days makes the trip less relaxing and somehow just seems lacking.
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Yes, a concern that I share. I never went overseas with less than two weeks and at times up to four months.
 
I'll chime in with Malta and Berlin - I've been to each of these for a week, in the fairly recent past. Berlin became especially attractive from S. Florida, as we now have nonstop service from Miami to Berlin. Berlin is relatively inexpensive compared to many world capitals.

"Nonstop" gives a certain clue to a week's trip. If one can't get somewhere fairly easily, then the travel time and inconvenience eats into your trip.

What about Paris? I just ran a quick check on one of the search services and Air France runs nonstop flights from San Francisco to Paris, and at a much lower price than nonstop from Miami! I'm jealous!
 
bwcolor said:
Driving in Italy. Hmm.. I owned a wonderful Fiat for thirty-five years. It was a wonderful car, but I understand that driving in Italy is yet another thing. Your suggestion, as well as Malta sounds like a great idea. It goes along with Roger's advice not to get trapped in any one city.
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Don't, don't, don't. They are the worst drivers in the world. Plenty of other nations are equally incompetent, but the Italians are uniquely aggressive.

First visit (on motorcyle): rear-ended while waiting at road works controlled by traffic light. Frances couldn't walk for three days.

Second visit (in Land Rover): On a 5000 km tour through Italy, Slovenia, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Austria, Germany, Switzerland: held up by 5 serious or fatal accidents in Italy, none anywere else. Also, if Frances had opened the Land Rover door 3 seconds later, in a car park, one car width from the hedge, she'd have lost a leg to the cretin who zoomed by between the car and the hedge, even though the rest of the car park was empty.

Third visit (Land Rover again): Frances pushed out of the way by someone who was impatient with her trying to get a receipt from the motorway toll office (I didn't see this or I'd have hit him).

Fourth visit (Land Rover again): Had to brake hard on the roundabout as I entered the country to avoid a motorcyclist who didn't look, slow down, etc. Ten minutes later, held up by an accident: motorcyclist spread all over the road. May or may not have been the same guy. Later: Land Rover door punched and kicked at motorway toll station by someone who objected to my slowing down to the speed limit.

There won't be a fifth visit. I've ridden and driven in many of the places that are regarded as having bad drivers -- India, Greece, Mexico, Paris -- and I've had less trouble in the rest of the world put together than in Italy. Maybe I've just been unlucky, but it starts looking like a pattern. Yes, there are many kind, helpful, charming, thoughtful Italians, and one day I may even fly to Rome -- but I'll never drive there again if I can help it.

Cheers,

R.
 
I just checked - no nonstops that I can find from San Francisco to Berlin. I'll second my own suggestion - Paris! You will be a little jet-lagged the arrival day, but by the next morning, you'll likely be fine.
 
btw - I'm not proposing DRIVING in Paris - never done that - though I have driven several times in N. Italy, without incident. But, flying nonstop into Paris, taking the bus/rail into town, and staying at a single hotel for, say 6 or 7 nights, could be very interesting and relaxing. Good photo ops also!
 
If you can live with one city, consider Arles. About 3000 years of history and the Rencontres: look under 'Arles' on my site. Better still, you can drive to a lot other interesting places in the South of France.

Yes, Paris is gorgeous, but ultimately, it's just another big city. Likewise Berlin, St. Petersburg, Vienna, Prague, Bordeaux, Istanbul, London, Athens, Moscow, Budapest, and indeed San Francisco or New York (and I've been to all of them). Big cities are often more like each other than the country in which they are found, hence my advocacy of e.g. Pecs over Budapest, or Rhodes over Athens. And of getting out of the city.

Cheers,

R.
 
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The Basque Country of Southwest France. Biarritz, Bayonne, Pau, St. Jean de Luz, St. Jean Pied de Port, Cambo les Bains. Nearby in Spain is San Sebastian and Bilbao of Guggenheim fame. Beautiful country, Pyranees Mountains, Atlantic beaches that go on for many miles, the longest in Europe, great food, You can fly into Biarritz via Paris from SFO in a day, rent a car. A couple of good suggestions for a base of operations, St. Jean de Luz, Ciboure or Hendaye (right on the Spanish border). Eye candy everywhere you look. Run a flickr search for Pays Basque. See what you think. Oh, and I forgot. Bordeaux is a two hour drive north.
 
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Somewhere in Europe, but choose one place and stay. Prague (I predict your wife will love it), Paris, the cote d'Azur, Munich, the Swiss Alps or the South of Switzerland (Ticino), Vienna, Tuscany. I've driven many times in Italy and never had a problem. Except being hit by a Police car in San Marino once - at their fault; strictly speaking this is not Italy though :) Which place is best depends a bit on the season, too. For example - avoid Munich in October, avoid the cote d'Azur in August (good time to visit Paris), etc.

Munich is a nice place to visit many other places from. For example, 3 hours to Prague, two hours to Switzerland, Austria is very close, etc.
 
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I flew Miami-Paris-Bordeaux in May and drove from Bordeaux to Bilbao on the day of arrival. Bilbao was great - go around to all the bars serving tapas. I like driving in the countryside but equally interesting is to stay in a city - Paris and Berlin are favorites.

I second ferider's ... "but choose one place and stay".
 
Choosing one city is a good idea if you don't feel like driving and enjoying the countryside.

There are several excellent suggestions posted here.
 
Fly into Frankfurt & buy Eurorail passes. All of Europe is open to you then.

I haven't been there since the '80's but the Spanish riviera near Barcelona was wonderful.

Japan is a beautiful country as well and it lends itself well to shorter trips as well.

William
 
Lots to think about. Thanks for all the good advice. Will start my search based on this thread.. Thanks Again... Gary
 
Come on bwcolor, Cuba.....
want to do it legally? drive/fly to Canada, now its legal... :)
I went this way about 15 years, straight out of school, one of the best 7 days Ive had.. The bad part, I didnt think about taking pictures as I do now..
 
Darkhorse said:
Utah gets overlooked, but they've got Arches, Bryce Canyon, Zion and more. Great for landscape. You could dip down to the Grand Canyon as well, and as cliche as it may sound, it's a must see for everyone on earth.
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Having done that on a longer trip through the old west some 30 years ago, I vouch it is interesting. But it is the USA and you seem to think your wife wants to see something outside the USA. The four corners area has the cliff dwellings which are interesting.

retnull said:
Just my opinion: how photogenic your destination is should be only a secondary consideration. If you have a great vacation, PERIOD, the photos will mean more to you. You said it's an anniversary holiday, not a photo assignment...
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Sounds like the best advice so far.

bwcolor said:
Lots to think about. Thanks for all the good advice. Will start my search based on this thread.. Thanks Again... Gary
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Nobody has mentioned southeast asia. But I don't know that your week to ten days would be a good idea.

Korea has a lot of very picturesque places, such as quiet temple areas in the mountains. But again, how you would plan that for a week's visit, I am not sure.

Mr. Hicks sure makes Malta sound nice. I know nothing about it other than what Mr. Hicks has said in this and earlier threads.

Hawaii, especially off the beaten path might see more foreign than you think, and still modern enough to be enjoyed.

Good luck. Utimately only you and your wife can decide. I presume you have asked her? :)

Are you looking for a whirlwind tour some place, or a quiet time in some exotic place?

Again, good luck in your decision.
 
My wife will decide after I present her with her options. I don't want to city hop much with such little time. I considered Osaka and surrounds, Paris and surrounds, Rome, Malta.. I'll have her look over this thread. Ultimately, I'll let her decide.
 
My first thought is that I agree with others who have said this should be about the two of you--let the photos be a souvenir of your trip, not an assignment.

Second thought is that, given that you don't get to travel much, something exotic and far away on such a tight timeline may not be very enjoyable. Any way you look at it you're going to need a minimum of a day--probably more--on each end for traveling and jet-lag; doesn't leave much time for real relaxing.

Since I live just outside Vancouver I suppose I'm biased but Western Canada/Southern B.C. have a lot to offer. Fly to Vancouver, visit the city, hit Whistler, cross over to the Sunshine Coast and Vancouver Island, work your way down to Victoria-perhaps hitting the Gulf Islands--and back to Vancouver. Absolutely gorgeous in spring! You could spend your week traveling no more than 500 miles so no rushing necessary; lots of time to stop and stare at our amazing scenery...
 
Cities are for flying over en route to somewhere wild. With 7 days you can get lost in Glacier National Park or Yellowstone. Yes - there's as many folks there on a given day as is in a city, but they're all in vehicles on the road. Or gawking at the sites along the road. 95% never get further than a 1/4 mile from any paved surface. Bring some hiking boots, a day pack, map, compass/GPS, and your gear. Step off the paved surface an enter a world still here, but forgotten. Don't forget the bear spray - you don't wanna wind up as a pile of bear poop.
 
Ken Smith said:
Cities are for flying over en route to somewhere wild. With 7 days you can get lost in Glacier National Park or Yellowstone. Yes - there's as many folks there on a given day as is in a city, but they're all in vehicles on the road. Or gawking at the sites along the road. 95% never get further than a 1/4 mile from any paved surface. Bring some hiking boots, a day pack, map, compass/GPS, and your gear. Step off the paved surface an enter a world still here, but forgotten. Don't forget the bear spray - you don't wanna wind up as a pile of bear poop.
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Generous. Try 100 yd.

Cheers,

R.
 
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