just globes

Randy's  'Best of the Road'
Lists, lists, lists.  So seductive.  But lists seem as compact a way as any to suggest some great, near great, and also some catastrophic travel destinations -- and experiences -- without blathering on for pages.

My lists of "The Best Travel Destinations" are focused on the Third World, (usually) excluding places in North America, Western Europe, Japan, OZ and NZ.  I am not talking about the most posh resorts here -- but rather some of the most amazing, inspiring, and enriching cultural and natural experiences that one can have on this planet!  Except for the third list, I mention places I have personally visited.  So, hey!, get out there and start making your own lists...

Shortcuts

  Best Destinations    Cities & Towns    Buildings    Gardens & Parks    Markets    Events    Museums    Travel Adventure Books    Getaways    Countries    Funky Spectacles    Lost Treasures    Miscellaneous Pits    Where to Get Robbed    Funky Place Names   
You're visiting  Randy Johnson's Travel Page!

   World-Class Travel Sites

Some of the world's greatest travel destinations.  In my humble opinion, each of these places is worth a trip in itself, and if you are within a thousand miles, is worth going out of your way to visit.  Most are worthy of a long visit.  (I admit that my personal tastes are skewed toward ruins of ancient civilizations.)

   Honorable Mention -- Is Still Superb!

   Best Places I Haven't Been


   Best Big or Capital Cities -- Treasure Them!

   Worst Cities

Let's face it, few cities -- even the Best -- are anywhere near as pleasant as the nicest towns and villages.  But even many difficult cities have a few redeeming qualities, that make a short stay almost tollerable.  The following do not!

   Infuriating Cities With a Few Redeeming Qualities


   Very Pleasant Smaller Cities and Towns


   Magical Ancient Buildings


   Great Gardens and City Parks


   Superb Public Markets


   World-Unique Events

Okay, I'm not a Big Party person.  I will avoid places like Rio and Vera Cruz at Carnival becuase I don't like the crowds.


   World-Class Museums

   Somewhat Disappointing Museums


   My Favorite Travel-Explorer Books

You have your favorites, these are mine.  Adventurers so intrepid that they make the rest of us look like tourists, and had fun on the way.  Great reading!  Track down a couple of these books and see if you don't have a Travel Jones in your bones!


   Overlooked Getaways and Obscure Sites


   Over-Rated Tourist Sites


   Pleasant, Interesting, Beautiful Countries to Visit

    Honorable Mention (2 out of 3 ain't bad)


   Funky Sights and Spectacles

   Oases in Otherwise Grungy Spots

  Great Traveler's Places that have Disappeared or been ruined by Tourism

   Famous Delapidating, Overrun, Grotty Traveler's Hotels

   Dives and Pits

   Easiest Places to Get Robbed

   Easiest Places to Get Sick

   Lists I'm Not Going to Make

   Because these things change greatly from year to year, or are far too subjective.

Exotic and Funky Place Names

Timbuktu, Swat, Luang Prabang, Chichicastenango, Kandy, Tegucigalpa, Kathmandu, Bhubaneshwar, Ocosingo, Ras Mohammed, Peshawar, Tzintzuntzan, McLeod Ganj, Kajuraho, Azraq, Unawatuna, Rann of Kutch, Machu Picchu, Xel-ha, Aqaba, Tashkurghan, Sharm el Sheikh, Copacabana, Dar es Salaam, Tazmania, Dharamsala, Gilgit, Zihuatenejo, Lake Titicaca, Rantau Abang, Ngorongoro, Gili Meno, Ollantaytambo, Bangkok, Bora Bora, Coober Pedy, Ko Phi Phi, Budj, Lolyangalani, Real de Catorce, Sungai Kolok, Moalboal, Tlaquepaque, Oxkutzab, Senggigi, Pushkar, Zanzibar, Rawalpindi, Yaxchilán, Tsimshatsui, Ujung Pandang, Xelajú, Skardu, Sixaola, Alma Ata, Chichiriviche, Zamboanga, Marakesh, Riobamba, Abu Simbel, Batopílas, Popocatépetl, Ulan Bator, Xunantunich, Wadi Rhum
(No, I haven't been to all these places, but most of them.)

  Names Only a Road Warrior Can Pronounce

If you can correctly roll these geographical names off your tongue -- without missing a beat -- it's a good bet that you've hung out in these exotic locales.  Good on ya'!

Sacsayhuaman,  Popocatépetl,  Hapshetsut,  Katabiranotsuji,  Takadanobaba,  Tagbilaran,  Bhubaneswar,  Tsarskoye Selo,  Nemrut Dagi,  Kuala Terengganu,  Xishuangbanna,  Budhanilkantha,  Guagua Pichincha,  Fatehpur Sikri,  Xelaju,  Peshawar,  Llangollen,  Tauberbischofsheim,  Ngorongoro,  Lolyangalani.


Disclaimer:  Any recommendations and value judgements implied in the above lists reflect the author's personal experiences, opinions, preferences, and prejudices.  If you don't agree with them, good for you!  I encourage you to get out there and form your own opinions and make your own lists.  'nuf said.

Top Of Page              Back to Randy Johnson's Travel Page

All text Copyright © 1996-2010, Randy R. Johnson.