Least likely country you've stayed in?

[Shankilicious]

I took a 10 day trip in January of 2017 to Da Nang Vietnam. It was one of the most amazing vacations I have ever been on as everything was insanely cheap and the local people love tourists.
When I say cheap, while I didn't stay using a timeshare, we stayed in a 900 sqft hotel room with a restaurant for $1000 for 8 nights. We ate only in hotel restaurants and rooftop bars all week and I drink name brand liquor like a fish and only spent $300. We also rented newer Yamaha scooters/motor bikes for $5 a day.
With Vietnam being a communist country, I was not expecting it to be as amazing and to feel as comfortable as it was.
What places/countries have other Tuggers been to that were much nicer than expected? (or better than the average person would expect)

 

[Tacoma]

I love Guatemala. Try to go for Semana Santa their wonderful days long celebration for Easter. Combine Antigua with Lake Atilan and it makes for a great 10 day or so holiday. I also loved Vietnam and Laos.

 

[Dori]

Our son, DIL and grandbabies live in Vietnam and we have been there three times. They live in a very lovely district in Ho Chi Minh. We have taken side trips with them to Da Nang, Hoi An, Mui Ne and Phu Quoc Island. Vietnam is such a beautiful country!

Our DIL is from South Korea, and when they lived there (in Seoul), we visited 4 times. We did a lovely side trip to Jeju Island.
These are two countries that we never would have considered for travel if not for our son and his family. We are so grateful for these broadening opportunities!

Dori

 

[Shankilicious]

Our son, DIL and grandbabies live in Vietnam and we have been there three times. They live in a very lovely district in Ho Chi Minh. We have taken side trips with them to Da Nang, Hoi An, Mui Ne and Phu Quoc Island. Vietnam is such a beautiful country!

Our DIL is from South Korea, and when they lived there (in Seoul), we visited 4 times. We did a lovely side trip to Jeju Island.
These are two countries that we never would have considered for travel if not for our son and his family. We are so grateful for these broadening opportunities!

Dori

It is unbelievable beautiful there! The flight, I'm from the Midwest so 21 hours in the air, was awful but I have got to go back and take the wife! Longest single cable tram in the world is just outside of Da Nang, very impressive!

 

[Glynda]

How brave you were to rent scooters in Viet Nam! The company my husband worked for before he retired has several plants in Viet Nam, Thailand and, at that time, one in China. On his last trip to these plants before retirement, he took me with him. Hanoi was our first stop and it was just lovely! But those scooters! They are a tourist attraction in themselves. I sit on a bench and watched them go by all day! But even having owned a Vespa myself, I don't think I could ride it there! We did a couple of days on a boat in Halong Bay and also visited Ho Chi Minh and Hue. Then two spots in Vietnam and two in China. It was an exhausting trip but fascinating! I've been told that a river cruise in Viet Nam is fabulous. That's on the bucket list.

 

[Glynda]

It is unbelievable beautiful there! The flight, I'm from the Midwest so 21 hours in the air, was awful but I have got to go back and take the wife! Longest single cable tram in the world is just outside of Da Nang, very impressive!

I think our total travel time there from the East Coast was about 21 hours. The international flight to S. Korea and from there on to Hanoi were business class so not so bad, but I was exhausted when we got there and it took me days to recover. If I ever go again, I'll add on a few days just to get my bearings.

 

[Jimster]

Cambodia which is one of the world’s poorest countries was very nice. Of course, I spent most of my time in Siem Reap. I don’t think that is true for most of the country.

I agree Vietnam was also very nice and a bit of a surprise.

 

[Shankilicious]

I think our total travel time there from the East Coast was about 21 hours. The international flight to S. Korea and from there on to Hanoi were business class so not so bad, but I was exhausted when we got there and it took me days to recover. If I ever go again, I'll add on a few days just to get my bearings.

Did you fly over the north Pole or across Canada? We flew over alaska and down the edge of Russia to Japan.

 

[Glynda]

Did you fly over the north Pole or across Canada? We flew over alaska and down the edge of Russia to Japan.

I think Canada but I really don't remember.

 

[Shankilicious]

How brave you were to rent scooters in Viet Nam! The company my husband worked for before he retired has several plants in Viet Nam, Thailand and, at that time, one in China. On his last trip to these plants before retirement, he took me with him. Hanoi was our first stop and it was just lovely! But those scooters! They are a tourist attraction in themselves. I sit on a bench and watched them go by all day! But even having owned a Vespa myself, I don't think I could ride it there! We did a couple of days on a boat in Halong Bay and also visited Ho Chi Minh and Hue. Then two spots in Vietnam and two in China. It was an exhausting trip but fascinating! I've been told that a river cruise in Viet Nam is fabulous. That's on the bucket list.

The scooters were actually one of the best things we did. Even though taxis were super cheap, just hopping on a scooter and going wherever was the best way to do it! And it looked scarier than it was. The average speed is only around 15-20mph and everyone is used to people weaving through everywhere. You just can't stop and have to slide into the flow.