Saturday, October 29, 2016

City/Country Travel Recommendations by SAS Alumni

For years now I have been seeing various posts from SAS alums on many Facebook voyage pages asking for advice about traveling in cities and countries all over the world. Several people have thought about and suggested that someone collect those recommendations for the good of current voyagers as well as those dreamed-about further travels of alums. Today I read a wonderful comment by Victor Luftig, an uber-popular and respected SAS faculty member and dean, answering an alum's question about Dublin. I wanted more people to see it so I decided I might as well make a start on the project.

To make my life easier and retain attribution of the one who posted, I'm just going to cut and paste from Facebook for now but may do a more elegant presentation later. With this plan you can also FB message these folks to get more info. As I have time, I will scroll back to gather more ports and more recommendations. Please feel free to comment below with your suggestions. This is just a start but I believe we can crowdsource a phenomenal travel guide!

Countries/cities so far in alphabetical order: Bali, Barcelona, China, Costa Rica, Dublin, Greece, Iceland, India, Italy, Portugal, Thailand, Vietnam/Cambodia

BALI

Jody Barnhardt Ubud Bali is basically the arts center so you should for sure visit there. The monkey park is awesome and I love Jimbaran beach!
Jody Barnhardt
Jody Barnhardt Idk how much you are looking to spend on hotels but if you are interested in luxury hotels let me know because I have a few recommendations!
Briana Alexandria
Briana Alexandria Share everything !!!! :)
Jody Barnhardt
Jody Barnhardt So the amandari was always our go too hotel in Bali. We also liked the four seasons Jimbaran bay... The Hyatt Nusa dua was also super great. Stand by for the hotel I stayed at in ubud because it was super cool too I just need to find the name.


BARCELONA
(Do a day trip to Montserrat?)
Jennifer Ps worth!
Aidan Meehan
Adam J. Graves
Adam J. Graves Take the gondola
Veronica Michelle Waked
Veronica Michelle Waked Yes! It is beautiful!
Amy Hauldren
Greyson Nelson
Greyson Nelson Check out Tailors Hostel too in Barcelona, I stayed there for a while and really liked it!
Payton Taylor
Payton Taylor So worth it! Was one of my favorite places!
 
CHINA
 
Sarah Castel And in Beijing, stay at 365 Inn. It made my experience in Beijing SO much better. Totally different perspective on China after that.  


COSTA RICA
 
Quincy Lee El tunco in el salvador
Omar Agüero
Omar Agüero go to the Caribbean coast, it is really cool in there, check puerto viejo and cahuita. You have the rasta culture of costa rica and the vibe is super chill. From Pacific coast go Playa Tamarindo, Playa Grande, Playa Santa Teresa. In Nicaragua go to Granada, Leon, the lake, and Playa San Juan del Sur. In Guatemala go to Antigua Guatemala, Lake Atlitan, indigenous ruins, etc. You must go to Panama, go there when you are in the Caribbean coast of CR -- go to Panama City and to Bocas del Toro. Enjoy Costa Rica hon!
Hannah Ingersoll
Hannah Ingersoll Bocas del toro in Panana is incredible!!
 
Baniel Dusi I would hit up Mai Pais if you are looking to go up north. Its on the Nicoya peninsula. Tamarindo was also super cool. Jaco was a little bit of a bust for me, If i had to choose I would say Tamarindo over Jaco, they're somewhat similar. Quepos was also beauitful, it has an awesome stretch of beach.  


DUBLIN

Jeremy Grove I would go see the Cliffs of Moher
Like · Reply · 3 · 1 hr
Rachel Speck
Jennifer Westwood
Jennifer Westwood COPPER FACE JACKS
Like · Reply · 1 · 58 mins

Hannah Larue
Hannah Larue Generator hostel is great
Like · Reply · 1 · 50 mins
Austin Ward
Austin Ward ^^^^😁
Austin Ward
Austin Ward Rent bikes and go through the Deer Park you can feed them .. they think anything is food 😂
Like · Reply · 1 · 44 mins
Jenni Schreiner
Jenni Schreiner MJ O'Neills is my absolute favorite place to eat there! I highly recommend the Steak & Guiness Pie! Otherwise, the cliffs are great, Cork is a nice little town, Blarney is close. Number one suggestion is a day trip up to the Giants Causeway in Northern Ireland!
Like · Reply · 1 · 42 mins
Victor Luftig
Victor Luftig If you do go to the Cliffs, stop also at Doolin, a great place for music. Phoenix Park in Dublin is the biggest park in Europe--great if you can rent a bicycle there. The exhibit on the poet WB Yeats in the National Library of Ireland has great films and recordings; the bog-preserved ancient bodies in the National Museum across the way are something to see; the statue of Oscar Wilde in Merrion Square Park might be the greatest art work in the country. Dublin is great for food--Queen of Tarts is our favorite place there, but a lot of places are great (you can even get conveyor belt sushi). One popular way to extend your stay is to have your wallet stolen by the friend of a friendly person who buys you a drink in Temple Bar. If you make it out west, Moran's on the Weir is my favorite restaurant in the country. Main thing to do there is talk to people. They are amazing at that. But they are generally appalled by Trump and will want to ask you what's up with that.
 
GREECE
 
Kayleigh Corrigan santoriniiiiiiiiiiii
Erin Anderson
Erin Anderson Corfu! Eat as much as you can.
Sarah Jane McIntyre
Sarah Jane McIntyre I highly recommend Santorini but in low season. Summer time is too crowded! But still beautiful!
Isabel Wang
Isabel Wang Watch the Santorini sunset from a boat! You'll get unobstructed views instead of knocking elbows with everybody else jostling for space. Depending on your budget, it may be a little expensive but you can join a boat tour that circles around the island and takes you to the volcano, you'll get a lot of chances for swimming that's not on a crowded beach. :)
 
Luke Mueller For Greece I would say to just stay in Athens for a little bit, and then go out to the islands. The Acropolis is really cool and definitely worth seeing, but there isn't a whole lot more than that there. I have only been to Mykonos and definitely agree with Dean Peggy! When we went, all the SASers stayed at Paraga Beach Hostel, which is a little outside of the main downtown area. It's on a really nice beach and has bunch of beach clubs next to it and they also had a shuttle bus that will bring you to the downtown area.
 
Sarah Jane McIntyre Santorini will be very busy in the summer but beautiful. The island of Paros is calm and beautiful. Athens is pretty cool. Ferries are very easy to get from island to island
 
ICELAND
 
Lizzie Narlock Blue Lagoon
Warner Granade
Warner Granade I was just reading an article on this site today. http://icelandmag.visir.is
Iceland Magazine is your source for daily news from Iceland, photos, videos, local travel tips and expertise.…
icelandmag.visir.is
 
Jay Orris We went there on our way back from our S16 voyage this past May. Make sure to visit the Blue Lagoon and go for the full package, including the mud! We rented a car and drove around the shorter loop close to Reykjavik. The scenery is pretty incredible and there are some really beautiful lakes and waterfalls to visit. If you have more time, do the big loop but I think that requires a few days and staying away from Reykjavik for at least a night. This also might be whale watching season. We were there in the Spring and I don't think it was peak season then.
Laura Giuffrida
Laura Giuffrida Thanks Jay! I returned from my trip a few weeks ago, but it was one of the most amazing places I've ever been. The landscape is so unbelievably unique... we rented a campervan and were able to travel the entire Ring Road and drive around the entirety of the West Fjords in about 8 days. We drove the short Golden Circle loop too, like you did. The further we drove, the more incredible the scenery got, it was like we were on another planet half the time. Hopefully I can make it back there again for a longer trip and experience the highlands! I'm glad your family was able to go, I should have just assumed you had been there and asked you immediately! What is your family up to now, 80 countries? :)
 
 
 
INDIA
 
Jeannie Sullivan Munnar in India is something you may love. It is full of tea plantations and hiking within it. Also, the highest (in elevation) tea plantation in the world is right on the outskirts of Munnar and you can hike it up or take a jeep up.
 
ITALY
 
Ellie Behr Florence: fill up is an awesome club and then Acqua al 2 is the best restaurant I've ever been in my life
Isaac F Kitching
Isaac F Kitching Bar Viktoria is my favorite bar in Florence.

http://www.loungebarviktoria.com
Benvenuti al Viktoria Lounge Bar - La magia della notte fiorentina parte da quì - Il VIktoria Lounge Bar è a…
loungebarviktoria.com
Nina Pellechio
Nina Pellechio Let's chat 😁
Nina Pellechio
Nina Pellechio Although we have already been to Rome together....🙃
Nikole Bunger
Nikole Bunger Since its summer time it could be pretty busy so to make things easier buy tickets in advance to the Vatican and the big museums in Florence
Karli Altman
Rayne Ashley
Rayne Ashley You know what to do in Rome!
Sarah Jane McIntyre
Sarah Jane McIntyre Eat gelato at Giolitti (near the pantheon)
 
PORTUGAL
 
MC Tsoi The West Coast
Paula Michelle
Paula Michelle Lagos and Porto!
Sam Thomas
Sam Thomas Porto is definitely on my list! I'm deciding between Sintra and Lagos now!
Paula Michelle
Paula Michelle Sam Thomas hmm, you can't do all three?? If you go to Lisbon, you can go to Sintra easily
Sam Thomas
Sam Thomas Paula Michelle there are so many things I want to do in Sintra so I think I would want to spend a few days there! And Lagos would be a few days too! So I'm trying to decide between the two
Paula Michelle
Paula Michelle Sam Thomas true true- when I was there last month, I did 3 days in Lagos, 3 in Lisbon (day trip to Sinatra), and 3 in Porto. Def do-able!

Louise Ulveland
Louise Ulveland Porto and Sintra!
 
 
 
THAILAND
 
Amy Anderson Hoi An Rocks Hostel!
Tori Roberto
Tori Roberto 9 hostel in Chiangmai is walking distance to the night market and bars!
Cait Phelan
Cait Phelan Green Tiger hostel is Chiang Mai is great! Yummy cafe, nice outdoor seating area and there is a cooking school 2 minutes away that was really fun!
Lucy Reyer
Lucy Reyer DEE JAI BACKPACKER HOSTEL IN CHIANG MAI! best place I've ever been its sooo much fun so many young people and so much to do. such a good party hostel and Rob the manager owner is the best and will help you with anything you want he's a sassy english dude. it also has a really dope free pool
Paige Kehoe
Jonathan Schmitt
Jonathan Schmitt I just got done living in Chiang Mai for 3 weeks I stayed at eco resort DONT STAY THERE lol
Jonathan Schmitt
Jonathan Schmitt Find somewhere inside the old city it's where everything is
Paige Kehoe
Paige Kehoe under the coconut tree in hoi an -> best place ever - seriously - you will never want to leave
 
 VIETNAM/CAMBODIA

Sarah Castel I went on Vietnam Backpackers Hao Long Bay trip and it was incredible. They're located in Hanoi and they have a ton of other trips available at their downtown hostel!
Hannah Grossman
Hannah Grossman I did a G adventures tour that I really enjoyed while I was in Australia and I know they have tours all over
 
Sarah Castel If you go to Hanoi in Vietnam, stay in Vietnam Backpacker's hostel. It's awesome! Their Castaways trip to Halong Bay was one of the greatest highlights of my entire trip.
Greyson Nelson
Greyson Nelson Awesome, thanks for the tip!
Rayne Ashley
Rayne Ashley ^^^^ Vietnam backpackers hostel is the best. Book ahead though, they run out of space quick. Their ha long bay trip was unreal. So was the hiking trip to Sapa. Vietnam is probably one of my favorite countries. Feel free to hit me up if you any questions! Happy to help 🙂
Jeannie Peters
Jeannie Peters Yes!! Hanoi backpackers hostel! I think it has downtown in the name! So fun!
 
Valerie Quirk Rent a motorcycle to tour around the countryside outside of Hanoi. Sapa and surrounding area is gorgeous and seeing it via bike is so much better than a bus! Bryce and I did about a weeklong tour if you have any questions on that/ SE Asia in general
Sarah Castel
Sarah Castel y e s. I have some friends who did this and they loved it