Winters out of the USA

[brett]

We were in South Africa four years ago. Cape Town is indeed beautiful-certainly one of the most beautiful cities that we have visited. We did a driving tour from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town.

We never felt unsafe BUT we were just dumb tourists. We have friends who have emigrated recently from SA. We have met a number of people who are planning to leave. The big issue is personal safety. They have all told us that crime and personal injury are all to common. The live in constant fear, it is always on their collective minds.

[Nemo2]

Chatted with a young South African couple at Genoa airport in November.....they thought Cape Town was 'relatively' safe, (but you still had to be careful).......Jozi, on the other hand.....

[6miths]

I have always felt safer in Capetown than in Philadelphia, Miami or New York but maybe that is just me. Also seemed like a safer bet than most large South American cities. One can get in to trouble pretty much anywhere by being foolish. In my experience, South Africa is almost like two countries, Capetown is in the better part. Many of the people emigrating from South Africa are doing it for their children and for fear of where the country will be in 20 or 40 years.

[MRG]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6miths I have always felt safer in Capetown than in Philadelphia, Miami or New York but maybe that is just me. ...snip..

That's just you!

I threatened Megacorp I was leaving well before the assignment was done because of personal safety.

Everyone we asked said we were in a great area, just off the Atlantic. When I was asked why we inquired, it was that we thought someone had put a laser scope on us from afar. The standard answer, yes that could happen.

Also my past m*nager was only in Capetown came back with malaria. No thanks, but it's a beautiful place, cheap too.

[pb4uski]

Quote:

Originally Posted by marko Seriously, a friend from Los Angeles visited us last year in Lauderdale but spent the first few days in Miami on his own. He could not believe how little English there was. He had gone to an American style restaurant --Average Joes or something-- and his server didn't speak a word of English.

What is more unbelievable is that as a society we tolerate it. Learn English or go home.

My grandparent immigrated from Spain and Quebec, respectively, and knew little English when they arrived. They learned it. They still spoke Spanish and French at home and with family, but outside the house it was English (not necessarily great English, but English nonetheless.

[MichaelB]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pb4uski What is more unbelievable is that as a society we tolerate it. Learn English or go home.

My earlier posts may have opened the door to this, so how about we all drop the "foreign language in the U.S." discussion and get back on topic, which is travel destinations outside the U.S.

[braumeister]

It's rarely mentioned, but I've always considered southern Brazil to be an ideal location for a longer vacation. If you're partial to larger cities, then Porto Alegre, Curitiba, or Florianópolis would be great places to live. There are also at least a dozen small cities that are just delightful IMHO. Blumenau, Caxias do Sul, or São José dos Campos are just a few. In that part of the country, you would need at least a little Portuguese, although a fluent Spanish speaker could get by.

[brett]

We are tentatively planning for an extended winter trip to Brazil and Argentina next winter. Some of the areas in Brazil that you mentioned are on our list.

South America has some great beaches, interesting cities, and the FX exchange rates, assuming they hold somewhat constant, are excellent for our flailing CAD.

[Bir48die]

I vacation both in both Mexico and the Caribbean. I can be in Cabo in four hours and PV in six. I have to do red eye's and travel for 12-18 hours to go to the Caribbean. You however being in NY can get quick and less expensive flights to the Bahamas, West Indies, PR and Dom Republic. Also to the Belize and Cancun area. Both have their advantages. East is water much prettier than almost all of Mexico. If you go to Mexico your grocery bill will be much less. All comes down to personal preference.

[Ed_The_Gypsy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by braumeister It's rarely mentioned, but I've always considered southern Brazil to be an ideal location for a longer vacation. If you're partial to larger cities, then Porto Alegre, Curitiba, or Florianópolis would be great places to live. There are also at least a dozen small cities that are just delightful IMHO. Blumenau, Caxias do Sul, or São José dos Campos are just a few. In that part of the country, you would need at least a little Portuguese, although a fluent Spanish speaker could get by.

(I cannot get my goddam android to let me spell C u r i t i b a . It keeps turning it into a different word.)

I was quite enthralled by the place until I learned that it had an enormous crime rate.

From all I can gather, look elsewhere.

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[braumeister]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed_The_Gypsy I was quite enthralled by the place until I learned that it had an enormous crime rate. From all I can gather, look elsewhere.

That's a relative thing. Compared to other Brazilian cities, Curitiba is not especially unsafe. But I should have mentioned that. Brazilian city crime has always been high compared to North America, but I still consider it quite livable.

[kcowan]

Just make sure you avoid Chicago southside!

[Ed_The_Gypsy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcowan Just make sure you avoid Chicago southside!

Or East St Louis or the Port of Newark, etc, etc.

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[dixonge]

In Mexico, I would add Lake Chapala and San Miguel de Allende. Lots of expats in both.

[brett]

Leaving next week for two months in Thailand, Vietnam etc. This is our third winter in SE Asia.. Shorter trip this year because of a wedding.

In the first year DW really was not sure about going. Now, she cannot wait to get there. We are hoping to go to South America next year. Central America is also on the list for a return winter visit. Given the choice between Florida and Thailand she/we will pick Thailand every time.

There are many, many options. It may depend on your willingness/ability to fly. It is a good 20 hours for us to get to Asia or South America. A tedious flight in cattle class but for a two-three months trip to some appealing warm spot we are willing to do it..for now anyway.

[Gone4Good]

We spent last winter in South East Asia (Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Signapore.) This winter started in Key West, FL but will end in Mexico. Next winter we're planning to spend in Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Hawaii.

We'd like to find a place where can just sit for several months but haven't really found anything that checks all of our boxes, except maybe Key West. We were hoping somewhere in Mexico would, but haven't found a spot yet.

[Bigdawg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gone4Good We'd like to find a place where can just sit for several months but haven't really found anything that checks all of our boxes, except maybe Key West. We were hoping somewhere in Mexico would, but haven't found a spot yet.

Sit for several months? What are you talking about? I follow your blog. You guys don't sit for several months. Even your signature line says travel perpetually. Haha

[Gone4Good]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigdawg Sit for several months? What are you talking about? I follow your blog. You guys don't sit for several months. Even your signature line says travel perpetually. Haha

Thanks for following.

We are getting older (44) and are starting to slow down. In 2016 we're only going to visit three continents and 13, maybe 14, countries. When 2017 rolls around I think we're going to get some rocking chairs or dedicated bar stools at the Schooner Warf bar in Key West.

Don't laugh. We really do have it penciled in.

[brett]

We are in Thailand, on an island-Ko Lanta. It is a brutal air trip. This is our third consecutive winter coming to this part of the world.

It felt so good to get here. The memory of the 24 plus hour trip to get here has faded away. It just dawned on us how much we enjoy Thailand and the Thai people. Next year we may even stay in one place for a month or two and rent an apartment.

Weather is spectacular, beaches beautiful and not crowded, food is wonderful, prices are low, and the Thai people are so gracious. We both agree that it is well worth the long flight. After this we spend a month on Vietnam to see how that compares.

Yesterday we discussed next winter. It seems incredible to us that we would consider coming for a forth year. Maybe this it...a place to consider a second home.

[HadEnuff]

Quote:

Originally Posted by brett We are in Thailand, on an island-Ko Lanta. It is a brutal air trip. This is our third consecutive winter coming to this part of the world. It felt so good to get here. The memory of the 24 plus hour trip to get here has faded away. It just dawned on us how much we enjoy Thailand and the Thai people. Next year we may even stay in one place for a month or two and rent an apartment. Weather is spectacular, beaches beautiful and not crowded, food is wonderful, prices are low, and the Thai people are so gracious. We both agree that it is well worth the long flight. After this we spend a month on Vietnam to see how that compares. Yesterday we discussed next winter. It seems incredible to us that we would consider coming for a forth year. Maybe this it...a place to consider a second home.

Thailand sounds intriguing. Never been anywhere close. could you recommend a source of information? I would especially like to read about folks' experiences traveling there.