I'm the PP who said leave Asia to when you have a sabbatical or are between jobs.

I lived in Japan for years and taught English, and traveled to many Asian countries while I was there. It would be sad to me to visit any one of those countries for 5 days (mius 2 for travel time) and think I'd seen enough.

True, most people don't get sabbaticals from their jobs and are worried about finances when they are between jobs. But most people aren't hopping on a jet to the other side of the world for a vacation on their own dime.

Just saying, if you want to go to Asia, put some thought and money into it, or at least enough time to get a little more than a few days out of it.

How about Brazil? We did an Amazon river cruise and stayed at a rustic resort in the jungle, it was fabulous.

kuala lumpur, dubai, istanbul

Of your list, I have been to China and Thailand, and spent well over 5 days in each. Of course you could go anywhere for 5 days, but would have to resign yourself to just scratching the surface.

Of the list, I would choose Russia. Shorter traveling distance, and I would think you could make a pretty good go of St. Petersburg and Moscow in 5 days.

Beirut! Awesome city.

OP, I am a bit confused about ur vacation days. First you say you plan to be at destination 5 full days, then that you are taking 7 vacation days. If you take 5 days leave and factor in weekends, that's already 9 days (if you take leave mon-fri and bridge it with weekends on both sides). That's enough time for Prague etc that I suggested. So you could leave Friday night, arrive Saturday there and leave following Sunday, giving you 7 days there.

If you are not able to bridge two weekends, then agree with posters who say stay on this side of ocean, or consider I Iceland.

Galapagos Islands!

5 days means you want someone you can get to quickly and without significant jet lag. I agree with Central America - Guatemala or Nicaragua were favorites of mine or South America is doable too. Probably not Machu Piccu as it would be pretty tight with acclimatizing.

I was just going to mention Prague (I see a few comments recommending that). I was thinking of planning a trip there after reading all about it! If not that, I've heard Thailand is amazing!

Crimea

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For 5 days but exotic I might do Central or South America. Peru, Argentina or Brazil. (not all 3). 1 day+ to get there each way. Fairly cheap when you get there. Also, not so much jet lag.

for anything west of Hawaii or Asia, which is amazing, I would give yourself a month, or at least 2 weeks. Leave it for when you have a sabbatical or are between jobs.

Is that really something that *most* people have--sabatical or "between jobs" (when they can afford to take a month long luxury vacation?)

You make it sound like it's a given that people have that occur several times in a life time or something--to be honest, I don't know ANYONE who has taken a sabbatical, and the only people I know who are "between jobs"--it's not by choice and they are actually pretty concerned about finances.

Most people you know seem to lead pretty sad little lives.

Another vote for Machu Picchu. Overnight travel 5 days in sacred valley, MP, and cuzco, then back. 5 days seems to short to travel to asia for me.

Anonymous wrote:For 5 days but exotic I might do Central or South America. Peru, Argentina or Brazil. (not all 3). 1 day+ to get there each way. Fairly cheap when you get there. Also, not so much jet lag.

for anything west of Hawaii or Asia, which is amazing, I would give yourself a month, or at least 2 weeks. Leave it for when you have a sabbatical or are between jobs.

Is that really something that *most* people have--sabatical or "between jobs" (when they can afford to take a month long luxury vacation?)

You make it sound like it's a given that people have that occur several times in a life time or something--to be honest, I don't know ANYONE who has taken a sabbatical, and the only people I know who are "between jobs"--it's not by choice and they are actually pretty concerned about finances.

For 5 days but exotic I might do Central or South America. Peru, Argentina or Brazil. (not all 3). 1 day+ to get there each way. Fairly cheap when you get there. Also, not so much jet lag.

for anything west of Hawaii or Asia, which is amazing, I would give yourself a month, or at least 2 weeks. Leave it for when you have a sabbatical or are between jobs.

For such a short trip I'd stay closer. What about Iceland?