Best Trip you have been on?

[mdrew9]

Looking to take a trip this winter/spring. Not neccessarily fishing related but hey, if I can why not. I'll be bringing the girlfriend. Can anyone recommend a trip that they will never forget?

[teflon_jones]

How much are you looking to spend and how long is the trip?

[mdrew9]

2-3k pp. And for about a week.

[kelso]

Not fishing, but the most memorable vacation I've ever taken.

http://www.kibosafaris.com/

Took the wife on the deluxe safari package. Comfortable, extremely comfortable, Hemmingway-type camping on the African savana.

More like 4-5k per, but worth it for two weeks full room and board.

Pete

[Vic T]

Cape Santa Maria Beach Resort on the northern end of Long Island, Bahamas. Unbelievable trip and place; but anyone doing DIY bonefishing is being harassed up there in the past two years. Send me a private email for more info on guides to hire.

[pkw1689]

Best trip ever: Honeymoon to Kenai Peninsula last summer (but probably less appealing on your timetable!)
Other ideas:
France for battlefields, chateaux & troglodyte caves - awesome
Key West for fishing & 'ambiance' (helps if you party hard -- I've retired)
Yucatan for ruins, fishing, beaches
Good luck!!

[CaptGeneKelly]

Go to Costa Rica. Great fishing, plus lots of other things to do - jungle, white water rafting, volcanoes, beaches. In two days we went from catching sailfish in the Pacific to a volcano at 12,000 feet elevation to a river valley at 7,000 feet to watch birds, where we needed heat at night.
For info about the fishing, check out http://www.tropicalfishing.com/costarica.html

Looking to take a trip this winter/spring. Not neccessarily fishing related but hey, if I can why not. I'll be bringing the girlfriend. Can anyone recommend a trip that they will never forget?

[mdrew9]

The best trip I've been on was to Innsbruck Austria, people were awesome, mountains were breautiful. Worse trip was definitely Jamacia, it was 3rd world and every 10 feet I was asked to buy "nose candy, exctasy, shrooms, etc" Its just a bunch of hustlers ready to rob you when your not looking. Thats exactly not what I am looking for. One of the reasons I am scared of going to the Bahammas and Costa Rica is encountering that same garbage. I mean, I live just outside of Hartford, if I want to get robbed at gun point and sold drugs I can just go for a walk in the North end... Thanks for all the links and suggestions I will be sure to check them out!

[kelso]

The Bahamas, especially the out islands like Cat, Andros, Long Island are about as far from what you experienced in Jamaica as you can get. The complete opposite with the most friendly, down-to-earth people imaginable.

If I had to suggest a place for a couple in the Bahamas, then Fernadez Bay Village at Cat Island would be the place. Did half of my honeymoon there and completely enjoyed it. Slow pace, do-it-yourself Bonefishing possible, plus the owner at of the Resort acts as a guide. Top notch place.

[tightline]

When we were on our honeymoon, my wife and I spent some time on Ambergris Caye in Belize. It's an awesome place, and doesn't cost very much money. Also, guided fishing trips for bonefish, tarpon, and permit are resonably priced. Everyone spoke good English, and we never had the fear of getting robbed or hustled. Oh, and nobody tried to sell us drugs.

The only downside is that the Belize Cayes haven't really turned into a big tourist desination yet, so there's not a whole lot to do on the Cayes. We fished, sat on the beach, and drank A LOT of Belikin beers. It was extremely relaxing. For a cheap, yet relatively nice place to stay, do a google search for Ruby's Hotel. They also offer guided fishing trips. If you want to spend more, check out this place:

http://www.elpescador.com/

BTW...I like your avatar. I got hit by a black widow about 7 years ago. That was the 2nd time in my life where I felt like I was going to die.

[uncle4]

I'm not sure, but I'd say the best over-all winter
vacation/get-away would be either Key West or
Belize..... Belize being higher on my list.

Warm, sunny, tropical... yeah, it's not Hartford in
February, but it's close.

You can mountain-bike the rain forest, tour Mayan
ruins, scuba/snorkel the biggest coral reef in the
Atlantic, and a dozen other wild things.

National language is English, money is pegged
to the US $ (2/1) and the domestic beer tastes
GREAT.... throw in fantastic fishing and you've
got a no brainer..... Caye Caulker is A LOT like
Key West, only cheaper and more laid back.

The capital city _is_ an armpit of poverty and
(recently) crime, but the resort lodges will
insulate you from pan handlers, money grubbers
and other unwanted elements. It's an hour flight,
non-stop, from Miami which makes logistics
easy, too.

Key West is nice, and you can splurge on a sea-
plane flight to the Dry Tortugas... pack a lunch
and make a day of it..... Key West IS more ex-
pensive, and has less ecotourism than Belize,
but it _is_ a nice get-away.

Oh... there's no golfing in Key West or Belize....
mebbe some one should tout Hawaii (Kauai...
now THERE'S a beautiful spot). DANG, so many
places, so little time (and $$).

Yup... Belize...... if you need help carrying your
bags, I'm available for charter. <hehehehehe>
If you don't take me, then bring me back from
Marie Sharpe's hot sauce.... yumEEEEE!


Uncle 4

[BobG]

A couple of the better trips I've been on were to Cat Island, Bahamas and Anegada, BVI's.
Cat is almsot like going back in time 50 years. Very quiet, very safe, nothing to do but look for bonefish, and lounge in the sun. The locals are 'world class' friendly as well.
Anegada is the coral atoll of the BVI's. This island is flat, rugged and almost inhospitable. But the bone fishing can be excellent. In addition, the waters surrounding Anegada are swarming with marine life, and snokeling is fantastic.
There is virtually nothing to do here, so as they say "bring your own sunshine".
Lubber Cay in the Abacos rates an honorable mention as well.

For an overall good, non fishing vacation I love the BVI's, esp Tortola. Locals are wonderful hosts, excellent restaurants, very good accomodations, rental cars, and a good ferry system to visit other islands.

My worst trip was to St Lucia. A real rough crowd. :rolleyes:

[stripah]

I have been to quiet a few tropical places in the last couple of year and have made a list of return to's and not return to's. Of all the places I have been I would definetly say Tortolla was the best. Take the Ferry to Virgin Gorda or take a taxi to Cane Garden Bay relax and drink some rum the island is beautiful and the people are friendly. There even was a small hostile which costs peanuts a night I am sorry that I dont remember the name but a web search may help. Costa Rica would be my number two spot. I visited the west coast and the area around Jaco beach was incredible, Sailfishing galore and beautiful beaches. Yes there was some hustling for us to buy some grass but the guys were not that bad they werent pushy just offering, and there is a visible police presence on the streets. My bad places would be Martinique without a doubt from those damn sea urchins that made my foot turn purple to the stinkin French and their Euros. Some of my buddies got robbed at knife point and there were dudes riding mopeds shooting guns in the air. One of my buddies was at a payphone and got a gun pointed at him by some punks on a moped. That place just plain sucks. In my opinion Aruba is not that great also after a few bar fights and one guy getting a bottle smashed over his head to another buddy needing emergency appendix surgery and then getting an infection from the hospital it was a bad show expect for a place called King Rib which has the best BBQ I have ever had. Good luck and enjoy where ever you go.

Marc

[uncle4]

Hey.. I _completely_ forgot: Sapporo Ice Festival....
no fishing at all, but Odori is beautiful in February!
Fly into Narita, Shinkansen to Hachinoe.... cab/
bus/ferry to Hokkaido and you're there.

The spas and hot springs border on religious
experiences!

The best 3+ day drunk in the summer is (was) the Figawi
Race (hyannis-nantucket).... the best 3+ day drunk in
the winter was Ice Festival! It's like Mardi Gras with
snow! (the ice sculptures are INCREDIBLE, and the
skiing is great!)

On the other hand, I've just recieved a job offer on
Andros.... you and GF could visit me for a month
and not spend 2-3c total. <hehehe>

No matter where you go..... post pix!

Uncle 4

[saxatilis]

Send the GF somewhere else and do the trip below:

10 days off baja aboard the Shogun. FF for Tuna, Striped Marlin, etc.. Never touched land the whole time. Will only ever consider that kind of travel trip. Best value going around $300 to $350 per day for everything except airfare and tips. BTW, for convential types it is an even better value. Today the fleet set a record on cow yellowfin >200 pounds.

Standing offer to pm me or email me if you ever a considering one of these trips - I'll finish the sale no problem.

[alkeach]

BobG must have been in my suitcase. Cat Island and Lubbers were my last two stays and Anegada is coming up. I guess us Taxachusettsers think alike! Fernandez Bay Village at Cat is fabulous for those wanting to get away. Also the fish there haven't seen a hook.

[mctrout]

`Having seen a few, I would say my favorite experience with fishing was going to Tulum in Mexico. My wife loves Maya Tulum, the ruins are great, there is a really fun place to snorkle called Xel-ha, Beautiful people and great food. YOu can drive a few hours further on the worst road in history and stay in Punta Allen and stay at Cuzan where they have the best fish tacos around. get a guide and have great fishing or drive back up the road to go to the most secluded beaches around. really beautiful. Punta Allen is not so pretty nor are the beaches but it is a great place to stay and do day trips either to fish or sight-see. You can also skip that and just go to Boca Paila for day guides and have great fishing for Permit and small bones and Tarpon.

Seychelles Mother-Ship was nice
Panama-Tropic Star Lodge is top notch for Bluewater
Bahamas in order of best fishing-Andros, Long Island, Eluethera, Bimini, Grand


This winter.. Panama (jan), Belize (feb), Andros (march) and Keys (april)

[aws]

`


This winter.. Panama (jan), Belize (feb), Andros (march) and Keys (april)

someone must've been good this year!

[breezyloon]

He's not good very bad in fact, I'm not his wife! A reel dog that McTrout!!

[Count]

Mdrew9, I'd like to hear more about Innsbrook, Austria. Thinking of going here some day. Any fishing here? Or just hiking, skiing, scenery?

How's the food?

Thanks,

Count

[bigcamel33]

Los Roques, Los Roques, Los Roques...Unbelievable scenery, you walk the pristine flats with your guide (my preference) and the main island (name escapes me) is a treat - no pavement, good food, lively and welcoming locals. And the fishing? I caught more bones than I had in probably four other trips combined (bahamas, keys) - at least 10 fish a day, and not twinkies. Spent one morning chasing 30 lb tarpon amongst the mangroves, jumped two - none landed. Worth the excitement.

I cannot say enough about my trip there (five years ago now), but these days you should consider the stability of Caracas (not that you ever go through the city to get to Los Roques, but nonetheless an issue) before booking. I'd do again it in a hearbeat - but I'm not sure the State Dept would agree. Someday I'll get back there, in the meantime, someone please give me an update (w/pics) on it!

[Mudbream]

bigcamel33 - you said it man! Los Roques is where its at!
I've been there 3 times now and I know I'll be going again! Its just too amazing. When we go we stay in cheap accom on the main island - Gran Roque - otherwise we camp on the other islands away from anything! But then the fishing is amazing!
Waking up, looking out of you tent to see bones tailing! Shots at huge schools of Kingies (Travelly) just up the beach! Tarpon of decent sizes off the beach!
Also with the occassional guide you get shots of bones like you wouldn't believe!
Take a look at some pics:
http://www.mudbream.com/cms/index.php?page=Los_Roques_2001_2002_Album
http://www.mudbream.com/cms/index.php?page=Los_Roques_2004

Its just too sweet!

[Tord]

I agree Los Roques is a great place to - I just came back from my 4:th trip.

Short report:

Half of our groups' luggage 'disappeared' on Frankfurt airport, was sent to the wrong airport (Isla Margarita), eventually was located and after several misunderstandings it was sent to LR after making several visits to Caracas and Isla Margarita again (!), 4 days delayed. Luckily we had enough spare fishing gear to fully equip all of us. Worst was not to have enough suitable clothing and flat boots. Some had to fall back to sneakers, swimming trunk and T-shirt. It worked OK, though...

Weather was below average with five or six consecutive days of strong 15 m/s winds (yet fishable) and three overcast days with heavy showers (unusual).

Shore blind fishing (with baitfish streamers) was good, flats fishing was bad even though we managed to time the right tide and with acceptable weather conditions we had a hard time with spooky bones virtually refusing to take any correctly presented fly.



Some things have changed since the past years, though.

++ To the better ++ :)
+ Caracas airport has been vastly modernized and lines are reduced to tens of minutes rather than hours.
+ The fresh water supply and sewer system on Gran Roque has been modernized. All people in the group made it through 10 days without suffering from the usual, frequent symptoms of bacteria or virus.

-- To the worse -- --124-3
- The main road Caracas-Maquetia international airport is out of service because of a land slide. This is bad. Try to find an accomodation by the airport if possible, or expect 4 hours transfer time.
- There are far more numerous DYI anglers than there used to be in the past. Not that I do not like fellow anglers, but risk is that the increased pressure has an impact on the fishery and that the park authorities will impose more severe in restrictions. Future will tell.
- The park authorities seem to already have taken notice of the increased fishing pressure. It was literally impossible to access any part of the park outside the recreation area unless we had explicit authorization in writing from the park authorities, and were accompanied by a licensed (?) guide. I guess the "amateur guides" have been warned in some way.
- The guard at the airport will not let you pass the runway after 7 AM (when he starts his shift). Meaning half of the fishing on Gran Roque requires you to walk 3-5 km. Or wait until he is distracted and try to pass by quickly without catching his attention... :cool:

[FlatLander]

Cape York, Australia. Hands down. Going back for my third trip this September.

Here's a link to the trip report from my last trip - from the site of the outfitter. Makes a good read on a bleary winter's day...

http://www.seafaris.com/newsletter_419.asp

[Joey Langan]

My favorite was definitely Andros Island of the Bahama's.