Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Israel!

If you ignore its illegal occupation and the fact that it was built on ethnically cleansing Palestinians

Um, it was built on being successful in a post-independence war in which all of its neighbors attacked it.

Sorry for those on the losing side, but when you buy the ticket, you take the ride

Sure. Whatever helps you sleep at night

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Israel!

If you ignore its illegal occupation and the fact that it was built on ethnically cleansing Palestinians

Um, it was built on being successful in a post-independence war in which all of its neighbors attacked it.

Sorry for those on the losing side, but when you buy the ticket, you take the ride

Anonymous wrote:Israel!

If you ignore its illegal occupation and the fact that it was built on ethnically cleansing Palestinians

I feel like Georgia (Caucasus) has gotten a lot of publicity over the last ten years among certain crowds, but hasn’t really become a mainstream tourist destination. Probably because people are scared of what Russia might have in mind. Understandably. Though I’m floored by how many people still seem to think Georgia is part of Russia.

It’s also not the most convenient place to reach - you usually fly through Istanbul and the connecting flight is usually at 4am. Transit and infrastructure are rather questionable. But once you’re there, it’s more than worth it. Gorgeous landscapes, delicious food and wine, wonderful, friendly people, and very, very cheap. And they WANT tourists and foreigners, especially Westerners. Young people prefer English over Russian as their second language and they will love it if you try your hand at learning Georgian (haha, good luck), and they would love to have a tourism economy to compete with the finances of Russian-backed oligarchs.

Has anyone mentioned Budapest? One of my favorite cities ever. Not undiscovered, but not Paris, Rome, London. Your travel dollars will support a totalitarian government, but you will also see amazing history and art and drink amazing hot chocolate and shop at fun boutiques...

This is great to hear! I'm taking DD (who will be 12) to vienna and budapest this spring--if you have any suggestions (areas to stay in or stuff for tweens....) I'm all ears. I will be part of a (HU) government sponsored thing for 1-2 days, but the rest of the time is free.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Qatar. I think it is kind of a place most people wouldn't think to vacation. We absolutely loved it and I was pretty shocked by what a great time I had (i admittedly didn't know much about it before we went)

IDK.. I don't think I like the idea of spending my money in a country where women are second class citizens. Just doesn't feel right to me.

So, I guess you don't spend anymore here in the US - where women are second class citizens.

?
If the US ever becomes a country where women cannot drive, or go anywhere without permission or escort from a male relative, I might agree with you, but that isn't the case here.

As much as I am for women's choice, the US is nowhere near a country that treats its women like second class citizens.

You need to learn about how Qatar, Dubai, etc.. treats its women.

So, I'm not American and having lived in Bahrain I'm pretty sure I know how women are treated in the areas you mention. Why do I suspect you don't even have a passport.

If you had been raped in Bahrain while you lived there, your rapist could have escaped any punishment if he forced you to marry him.

Bahrain only JUST repealed that law.

And in NorthCarolina you can’t claim it was rape if you started and then told the man to stop.

that is STILL a law.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Qatar. I think it is kind of a place most people wouldn't think to vacation. We absolutely loved it and I was pretty shocked by what a great time I had (i admittedly didn't know much about it before we went)

IDK.. I don't think I like the idea of spending my money in a country where women are second class citizens. Just doesn't feel right to me.

So, I guess you don't spend anymore here in the US - where women are second class citizens.

?
If the US ever becomes a country where women cannot drive, or go anywhere without permission or escort from a male relative, I might agree with you, but that isn't the case here.

As much as I am for women's choice, the US is nowhere near a country that treats its women like second class citizens.

You need to learn about how Qatar, Dubai, etc.. treats its women.

This is a very ignorant post. The only gulf country where women were not allowed to drive was Saudi Arabia (and this is no longer the case since the law has changed).

Places like Qatar and Dubai treat women very well. I was in Dubai a few weeks ago and I was amazed that women could walk ALONE in the streets at 1-2am and absolutely no one bothered them. Would you walk around DC or another US city alone at 1am and feel perfectly safe? I highly doubt it. I suggest you visit these countries before you spout off your very ignorant nonsense.

That poster is an idiot. They have traveled to Europe so of course they know how women are treated in the Middle East.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Qatar. I think it is kind of a place most people wouldn't think to vacation. We absolutely loved it and I was pretty shocked by what a great time I had (i admittedly didn't know much about it before we went)

IDK.. I don't think I like the idea of spending my money in a country where women are second class citizens. Just doesn't feel right to me.

So, I guess you don't spend anymore here in the US - where women are second class citizens.

?
If the US ever becomes a country where women cannot drive, or go anywhere without permission or escort from a male relative, I might agree with you, but that isn't the case here.

As much as I am for women's choice, the US is nowhere near a country that treats its women like second class citizens.

You need to learn about how Qatar, Dubai, etc.. treats its women.

So, I'm not American and having lived in Bahrain I'm pretty sure I know how women are treated in the areas you mention. Why do I suspect you don't even have a passport.

Because you're kinda dumb.

I have been all over Europe; my spouse is European.

Certain countries in that region are better than others, and Bahrain is one, but it still has a long way to go regarding women's rights. They treat foreign women differently than locals. Being "not American", I would hope you know that.

But, places like Qatar? They are still backwards when it comes to women's rights.

I’m also “European”. I’d rather live in Qatar than Mississippi but you put on your American flag shirt, travel to London and talk about how worldly you are.

Rwanda - beautiful hills, kind people, important history, gorillas.

Anonymous wrote:Cambodia
I don’t know that it’s underrated as much as people just don’t have it on their list or think of it, but we were absolutely blown away our visit to Cambodia. Great food, friendly people, pretty easy to navigate, astonishing ruins and sights. Kid friendly, too.

+1 for Cambodia.

For others, Galicia, Spain. Basque region of France (not sure if under-rated). I also really liked a town in the interior of France named Clermant-Ferrand. Pretty cathedral, nice town center, and nice hikes on old volcanoes. Bosnia.

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone mentioned Budapest? One of my favorite cities ever. Not undiscovered, but not Paris, Rome, London. Your travel dollars will support a totalitarian government, but you will also see amazing history and art and drink amazing hot chocolate and shop at fun boutiques...

And the baths and gorgeous architecture! I loved Budapest when I went. It was 15 years ago, though.

Has anyone mentioned Budapest? One of my favorite cities ever. Not undiscovered, but not Paris, Rome, London. Your travel dollars will support a totalitarian government, but you will also see amazing history and art and drink amazing hot chocolate and shop at fun boutiques...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oman. I lived in the Middle East for a year (Kuwait- total snoozeville) so we went to Muscat for a long weekend. I had no idea where it was before that trip. Wow! It was a 180 from Kuwait. Extremely clean with beautiful flowers everywhere. I wish we had more time there.

Everyone tells me Oman is the absolute best. Fun fact: LiLo lived there quite a while.

+1 to Oman. No idea who LiLo is though

Where to stay in Oman?!?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Qatar. I think it is kind of a place most people wouldn't think to vacation. We absolutely loved it and I was pretty shocked by what a great time I had (i admittedly didn't know much about it before we went)

IDK.. I don't think I like the idea of spending my money in a country where women are second class citizens. Just doesn't feel right to me.

So, I guess you don't spend anymore here in the US - where women are second class citizens.

?
If the US ever becomes a country where women cannot drive, or go anywhere without permission or escort from a male relative, I might agree with you, but that isn't the case here.

As much as I am for women's choice, the US is nowhere near a country that treats its women like second class citizens.

You need to learn about how Qatar, Dubai, etc.. treats its women.

This is a very ignorant post. The only gulf country where women were not allowed to drive was Saudi Arabia (and this is no longer the case since the law has changed).

Places like Qatar and Dubai treat women very well. I was in Dubai a few weeks ago and I was amazed that women could walk ALONE in the streets at 1-2am and absolutely no one bothered them. Would you walk around DC or another US city alone at 1am and feel perfectly safe? I highly doubt it. I suggest you visit these countries before you spout off your very ignorant nonsense.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Qatar. I think it is kind of a place most people wouldn't think to vacation. We absolutely loved it and I was pretty shocked by what a great time I had (i admittedly didn't know much about it before we went)

IDK.. I don't think I like the idea of spending my money in a country where women are second class citizens. Just doesn't feel right to me.

So, I guess you don't spend anymore here in the US - where women are second class citizens.

?
If the US ever becomes a country where women cannot drive, or go anywhere without permission or escort from a male relative, I might agree with you, but that isn't the case here.

As much as I am for women's choice, the US is nowhere near a country that treats its women like second class citizens.

You need to learn about how Qatar, Dubai, etc.. treats its women.

So, I'm not American and having lived in Bahrain I'm pretty sure I know how women are treated in the areas you mention. Why do I suspect you don't even have a passport.

If you had been raped in Bahrain while you lived there, your rapist could have escaped any punishment if he forced you to marry him.

Bahrain only JUST repealed that law.