Why these are 3 of Our Favorite Travel Destinations

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One of the questions we get asked most often is what is our favorite travel destinations? What is the best place we have traveled? And like many frequent travelers we find it a difficult question to answer. There have been so many good places. And of course, it all depends on what you want to do on your holiday- eat, drink, hike, go to the beach, relax, culture, city, nature, all would require a different recommendation.

However, when we were asked to contribute to My Faces + Places post of Trip Planning: 31 Baby Boomer Travel Experts Reveal their Favorite 3 Destinations we sat down to narrow it down to three of our favorite travel destinations.

We thought about how we answer this question when friends, family and acquaintances ask. What are the places we recommend most often? What are the three we really enjoyed and would love to go back to? So, without further ado here are three of our favorite travel destinations and why!

Why these are 3 of Our Favorite Travel Destinations
Overlooking Rio Serrano Patagonia

Patagonia

If you want to see nature at its finest, Patagonia is truly it. Everywhere you turn there is stunning scenery- snow-capped mountains, crystal clear lakes (green, blue, emerald), fantastic hiking, wildlife, and glaciers.

And for those in the Northern Hemisphere, December through February is summer and the perfect time to visit Patagonia.

We love to hike and Patagonia did not disappoint. And the small ship cruise we took around the bottom of Cape Horn was one of our best travel experiences ever.

Patagonia is a remote place, it’s hard to find information to plan your trip, can be expensive and travel distances are long. But it is all worth it, and independent travel in Patagonia is not as difficult as the lack of information would make it seem.

To assist you with planning a trip to Patagonia we have written extensively about it on Compass & Fork and you can find a lot of useful information here. And if you have a question we didn’t answer, you can always contact us and ask. Leave a comment on the post or send us an email, we are always happy to answer your questions.

 

Bhutan

Just recently we had the opportunity to travel to Bhutan, a place we have wanted to visit for years. This small country of only 700,000 has a lot of wonderful things going for it. And the rest of the world could learn a lot from Bhutan’s approach to tourism.

With a focus on gross national happiness rather than gross domestic product, Bhutan is working to balance economic development with quality of life for its residents. As a visitor, it is a pleasant and fascinating place to travel.

The opportunity to learn about the culture, attend a festival and visit the small villages and learn about the local way of life were very rewarding.

We really enjoyed the lack of advertising and commercialization. Local shops, restaurants and hotels are the norm. There is no McDonalds, H+M, or any other intrusions from western culture. No billboards, no advertising, and no traffic jams. You can feel your mind relax as it adjusts to the lack of over stimulation we encounter in the Western world. It is refreshing to just be present and enjoy where you are as you learn about the culture and cuisine of Bhutan.

The rather unique and sustainable tourism model of Bhutan means you can’t travel independently. You have a guide and driver to assist with your every need. It was a stress-free way to travel and fully inclusive. Once we arrived, buying souvenirs was the only additional money we spent.

Why these are 3 of Our Favorite Travel Destinations - Portara at Sunset www.compassandfork.comNaxos in the Greek Islands

Many of us dream of the Greek Islands. Crystal blue water, beautiful beaches, whitewashed buildings, small villages, sun and great Greek food.

We visited Mykonos, Santorini and Naxos. And while Mykonos and Santorini have their charms, Naxos won us over. The hospitality of the locals is just amazing. You feel like an old friend coming for a visit. Nothing was too much trouble.

Long, leisurely lunches at small tavernas, many in stunning settings along the seaside or in small villages in the mountains. And it has it all; history, beaches, great food AND it was reasonably priced and uncrowded. Especially in comparison to its glitzy neighbors- Mykonos And Santorini.

We really enjoyed Naxos and for us, this is what we always pictured the Greek Islands to be.

If you are planning or just dreaming of going to the Greek islands, sign-up to our newsletter for our upcoming guide to the Greek Islands, and we will send you a copy as soon as it is ready. And in the mean time you can find lots of information to help plan your trip and explore some fantastic Greek food here on Compass & Fork.

More Great Travel Destinations

We have lots of other places that would make our favorite travel destinations list if it were longer than three or if you ask the question for a particular activity: hiking, beaches, food. You get the picture. We have shared many of our favorite travel destinations here on the pages of Compass & Fork.

You can find lots of great food and travel, including some of the world’s best culture and cuisines right here on Compass & Fork. If you would like to discover a new culture and cuisine each month sign up for our newsletter.

3 of Our Favorite Travel Destinations: Patagonia, Naxos and Bhutan

4 Responses

  1. Liz @ The Lemon Bowl
    | Reply

    Wow talk about bucket list destinations!

    • Editor
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      All classics, that’s for sure. And all live up to their well deserved reputations.

  2. Roger Timbrook
    | Reply

    OMG I love Patagonia! We traveled South America for 6 months a few years ago and this was one of the most amazing places and scenery I have ever seen :>

    Bhutan is still on the list tough, now you have me enticed (again)!

    happy travels

    • Editor
      |

      Hi Roger. Patagonia is such a magnificent for scenery isn’t it? You just have to pinch yourself sometimes.

      And Bhutan. Unspoiled is a word that comes to mind. If you want to see a place before there is too much outside, commercial interest then this it. Also, Himalayan scenery, festivals and a refreshing attitude from the locals. We loved it.

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