if you could........

[divegirl]

Go anywhere in the world on holiday....Where would you go?

Lisa x

[divegirl]

and why!

[JK2]

I have traveled a fair amount - 27 countries so far - and my favourites - and the countries I have returned to a number of times are Borneo & Turkey. Both have wonderful diverse things to see, beautiful resorts & nice people. Would like to go to Madagascar before I'm too old & also parts of China - Yunnan province in particular.

[stewey]

The Pitcairn Islands. Interesting history and great locale.

[divegirl]

Have you been though Stewey? I was thinking about taking my kids to Costa Rica....but I'm open to suggestions! For me....Costa Rica offers 'all good things'..... Diving, surfing, rain and cloud forests.....volcanoes[sp] !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have a little more money than I thought :o]....around �5000 to spend and I want to do the best for my money!

Lisa x

[stewey]

No, never been there, divegirl. Been to a few Caribbean islands though. Diving in Grand Cayman is fantastic, but it's an expensive place to go: their dollar is worth more than the American dollar! I have talked to a few people who have been to Costa Rica and they all say that it was great and would definitely go back. Belize is a great dive holiday too, so I hear.

[JK2]

I've been looking at Costa Rica too. It looks lovely & great wildlife & botanical stuff - about concerned that it might be very Americanised. The south of Costa Rica looks less touristy . than the North

[JK2]

Sabah in Borneo also has diving, wonderful rainforest, gorgeous beaches and best of all the Orang Utans are lovely. Have a look at Shangri La Rasa Ria. Its got its own orang utans in 64 acres of rainforest. You can go for a few days over to Sandakan & vist the main sanctuary and also from there go to the dive sites and also Turtle Island where the kids can help launch new born turtles into the sea. From Sandakan also the mangrove river trip is spectacular for seeing probiscus monkeys, fish eating eagles, crocodiles etc.

[divegirl]

Thanks for your answers! Borneo isn't somewhere I'd thought of....but since reading your mail, jk2, to my daughter....the Orang utans have swung it for her [no pun intended....lol]....now off to look up some prices!!!!

Lisa x

[JK2]

Just one warning - the flight is very long - about 13 hrs to Kuala Kumpur then further 1.5 hrs to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Borneo. You can count on a total journey time of approx 16/17hrs. Best flights and most directs are with Malaysian Airways - some tour companies use Brunei airways but that can be a lot longer because the connection isn't so good between Brunei & KK. It is a very comfortable journey with plenty of sleep time or loads of films to watch. The end result is well worth the journey & to see Orang Utans (often with babies) in the wild is spectacular.

[mrsann]

Borneo is the most amazing place I have ever visited in my life and I'm 66 and very well travelled(just booked a month cruise over to South America!) Whatever you do DO NOT miss an evening river cruise but don't let a guide persuade you to go during the day as you only get to see the river life as it gets darker.I had fireflies landing on my hand and some of the trees looked as if they were decorated for Christmas with all the lights lots more animals and birds too.We were in Sarawak and visited the Semengok orang-utan reserve and a young "mum" ambled up to me for a chat and stamped her foot when she couldn't make me understand what she was saying despite clearly repeating it several times.Don't know about diving but swimming's good at Damai beach too If you do choose Borneo The Travel Collection found in weekend paper ads. are a diy offshoot of Kuoni and are superb at their job.We've travelled with them several times and always been delighted with service and price ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JK2]

Like mr sann I have also been to Sarawak but think Sabah is a much better place to go with children. I have also been with the Travel Collection many times- including my trips to Borneo but on their holidays there are not usually any children - more for an older age group. Responsible Travel have trips for families to Borneo so I would look at their website. Or just google Sabah and see which other companies mention family holidays.

[divegirl]

Just wanted to say....I love you all.....lol. I've just been to get the brochures [sp] for Borneo....and have fallen in love!!!! Looks like that's where me and the kiddies will be off to early next year :o]

[Safariexpert]

15 DAYS SAFARI �KENYA EXPLORER�
Nairobi/Masai Mara/ L.Naivasha/L.Nakuru/Mt.Kenya/Amboseli/Tsavo East/Tsavo West/Mombasa
Day 1: Nairobi
Arrive in Nairobi, where you�re met and transferred to your city hotel, Hilton or similar on bed & breakfast basis.

Day 2: Nairobi / Masai Mara
After breakfast depart for Masai Mara, one of East Africa�s most famous reserves, The Mara consists of undulating hills and great rolling grasslands that sustain some of the most varied wildlife in Africa, if not the world. Arrive in time for lunch at Mara Sarova Luxury Camp or similar. Afternoon game viewing, where lion, elephant, cheetah, giraffe, buffalo, wildebeest, gazelle and other plains game abound, not forgetting the hundreds of species of birds. Dinner and overnight in your lodge.

Day 3: Masai Mara
The whole day is dedicated to game spotting in this sprawling reserve. You can watch a lion, cheetah or leopard hunting or feasting on its kill. Option of a visit to a Masai village or a hot-air balloon ride that starts at 06.00 am and ends with a Champagne breakfast on the plains. What an exhilarating experience! All meals and overnight at the lodge.

Day 4: Masai Mara / Lake Naivasha
After breakfast we head for one of the Great Rift Valley fresh-water lakes, Naivasha, arriving at the Lake Naivasha lodge for lunch. Option of a boat ride or bird watching with the resident ornithologist. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Day 5: Lake Naivasha / Lake Nakuru
Breakfast and depart for Lake Nakuru national park, famous for its millions of seasonal pink flamingos and other aquatic birds. Game drive en route to Lake Nakuru lodge for lunch. Afternoon out for another game tracking session around the lake, where rhino, zebra, gazelle, buffalo, leopard, and waterbuck can easily and closely be spotted. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
www.sunbreak-travels.com
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