Most underrated vacation spots?

Hi everyone-

My girlfriend and I are looking to vacation in early-to-mid September. After being disappointed by, what we felt were, really overrated vacation spots, ie. Cuba (bad food), Cancun (drunk fratboys abound), among others, I'd like to know what underrated vacation spots you've all stumbled upon.

What we're looking for: Relaxed, low-key. Great food, friendly locals, warm sandy beaches, outside of North America

What we're hoping to avoid: Big crowds, places with a tourist-y feel.

Any suggestions? A friend of mine recommended Martinique, but we'd like to continue exploring other places that are sort of off the beaten path.

How about Baghdad or Kabul? Not many tourists there

Jokes aside, just Google for "non touristy vacation spots". Plenty of hits there. Cheers.

Originally Posted by sabesh

How about Baghdad or Kabul? Not many tourists there

Jokes aside, just Google for "non touristy vacation spots". Plenty of hits there. Cheers.

Heh, free air-fare for civilian contractors, right?

I searched by those terms, but I'm really getting the feeling that a lot of the cities being advertised are paying off those websites to shamelessly pitch their cities. I was hoping to hear about RFD'ers first-hand experience.

Originally Posted by UtilityPole

Hi everyone-

My girlfriend and I are looking to vacation in early-to-mid September. After being disappointed by, what we felt were, really overrated vacation spots, ie. Cuba (bad food), Cancun (drunk fratboys abound), among others, I'd like to know what underrated vacation spots you've all stumbled upon.

What we're looking for: Relaxed, low-key. Great food, friendly locals, warm sandy beaches, outside of North America

What we're hoping to avoid: Big crowds, places with a tourist-y feel.

Any suggestions? A friend of mine recommended Martinique, but we'd like to continue exploring other places that are sort of off the beaten path.

A few places I've been to that "underrated"
1. Kenting, Taiwan. It's exactly everything you described after high season. The food is a little pricey but really good. From those local stands, you can get the freshest pineapples ever. By mid-Sept, the crowds are gone and it's like a local village. Rent a taxi driver for like $10 / evening and he'll drive u and ur gf everywhere. And the warm/sandy beaches u want and it's been compared to the Hawaii of Asia.

2. Green Island, Taiwan (60 km off the south eastern shore). Again, by that time the crowds are gone. I don't know if it's typhoon season...in which case you should avoid it because you'll need to take a boat across. Rent a scooter for really cheap and spend the 2 days exploring the island. Then, go snorkeling. No crowds. I remember it was just us 6 people in the Ocean. Snorkels can be rented for $1 for the whole day. And the fish is fresh and cheap! There's also a salt water hot springs which is soooooo relaxing after a day of snorkeling. Sandy beaches here too.

Those are the 2 sandy places I know of that fit your criteria of non-touristy outside North America.

What is your budget and what kind of traveler are you? Do you like to stay in an exclusive all-inclusive resort or do you want to rough it? Any remote island can fit what you are looking for. Seychelles and Maldives come into mind. Some coastal countries in Africa like Kenya is also a possibility. There are a lot of islands in Indonesia and the Philippines that are quite secluded but it might be pain to get there.

Fiji

Alaska!

edit: oh.. warm sandy beaches, LOL. maybe not Alaska then. St. Martin?

Originally Posted by heymikey

What is your budget and what kind of traveler are you? Do you like to stay in an exclusive all-inclusive resort or do you want to rough it? Any remote island can fit what you are looking for. Seychelles and Maldives come into mind. Some coastal countries in Africa like Kenya is also a possibility. There are a lot of islands in Indonesia and the Philippines that are quite secluded but it might be pain to get there.

Budget: ~$1500 per person
Preference: All inclusive, if possible

Seychelles sounds interesting- any experience there?

Cyprus , Greece , Dubai

wouldnt drunk fratboys be gone in mid sept?

Culebra, Puerto Rico.

Nearly zero crime. Undeveloped. Usually no crowds (tho it does have some peak periods). Inexpensive. Great unpretentious small restaurants. Fantastic, pristine snorkeling right off the shore. Beaches that are better than anything I've seen on St John or Grand Turk or Bermuda or Hawaii or anywhere. Seriously, if you think you have been to a nice beach the beaches at Culebra will beat it by a mile.

Portugal. A bargain as well.
Tenerife, beautiful.

Originally Posted by UtilityPole

Budget: ~$1500 per person
Preference: All inclusive, if possible

Seychelles sounds interesting- any experience there?

No, just from word of mouth although with a budget of $1500 per person, you better look elsewhere. That will probably be what your airfare will cost per person.

southern brazil

Originally Posted by shipill

Cyprus , Greece , Dubai

Dubai? That has got to be the most overrated destination in the world! Its horrid and I would totally stay away.

And its not just me. There are tons of blogs and travelogues that opine the same sentiment.