A reader asked me on Twitter if I had any restaurant recommendations for Madrid, to which I responded that I’ve never been there but would love to go – it’s on my travel short list. (And then a few of you said it’s dirty and overrated, so … maybe not.) Anyway, I thought some more about what my travel short list would look like and how it would be interesting to compare them.
Quick rules: These have to be cities or countries you’ve never visited, but would love to go to if money and time were not factors. You’re not obligated to say where you’re starting from, but if you’re not in the U.S. it might help to point that out. (Most of you know this, but I’m in Arizona; my list would be the same if I was still living in the frozen tundra.)
I’ve been to Europe a few times, so some obvious destinations like Italy or Paris aren’t on my list. I’ve been to 46 U.S. states, and to the three biggest cities in Canada, so my list comprises almost all destinations outside of North America.
- Amsterdam. And all over the Netherlands, really – I read about Maastricht years ago, shortly after the currency accord was struck, and it just sounded like an incredibly cool European city like the major tourist spots without the hassles of size.
- Prague. I was obsessed with Eastern Europe as a kid, probably because it seemed indefinitely off-limits under communism, and when I went to Budapest it didn’t disappoint (although my wife found the architecture depressing). Prague would be my next stop, especially with its rich literary
history.
- Dubrovnik. A walled city on the Adriatic coast? sign me up.
- Buenos Aires. I’ve never been across the equator, but this would be my first choice with its strong European influences and large quantities of meat. I had a near-miss with Buenos Aires in 2004 – had a trip scheduled with a friend who had free tickets and needed someone who could get by in Spanish, but we got nearly three feet of snow the day before we were scheduled to leave and had to cancel the trip. I’d love to go to Chile or Ecuador as well.
- Istanbul. But not Constantinople.
- Melbourne. I wouldn’t say no to Sydney, of course, but Melbourne sounds like it has more of the vibe I like in cities in food, the arts, and a slightly more manageable size.
- Memphis. I’ve been to Nashville, twice, neither a particularly good experience (mostly because of that awful hotel), and to Chattanooga once for a few hours, but never to Tennessee’s BBQ capital.
- Bologna. Speaking of food capitals, this is the food capital of Italy, but despite two trips to Italy I’ve never managed to hit Bologna.
- Hawai’i. Almost certainly the next one I’ll cross off this list.
- Dublin. Not just for the Guinness. But for the Guinness, definitely.
That’s not to say I’d turn down a free trip to Munich or Athens or Tokyo, but those are probably the ten I’d most like to visit. Now it’s your turn…
Keith, I think Hong Kong would also bring you some of what you seek from SE Asia with less of the inconvenience. The stories about pollution here are horribly overblown. The city is very clean, and it is on very few days that wind blowing in from the Pearl River delta factories brings noticeably bad air with it. That shellfish allergy is a challenge all over SE ASia, though, I’m not going to lie. It’s amazing how many dishes uses shrimp, oysters, prawns, or others shellfish for seasoning where you wouldn’t even know it.
I really don’t think there’s a single county on earth I wouldn’t like to visit (though I’ll rain check Afghanistan, Iran, and a few others), but top five destinations would be:
1) Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam–Food, history (both theirs and ours), from everything I’ve heard beauty beyond belief, etc etc
2) Scotland–Can’t pick a specific city, but as a self proclaimed Scotch aficionado, I figure I should make it to my favorite distilleries at some point
3) Hong Kong/Macau–Again, great food, plus Hong Kong is a cultural mecca and Macau is a casino mecca; can’t go wrong.
4) Ethiopia–My current favorite cuisine (it changes often and rapidly), plus it won’t be packed with tourists. I hate tourists.
5) Kaunas and Vilnius, Lithuana–My family is mostly from these two cities, and as a history buff, it’s hard to argue with traveling to the country that controlled eastern Europe for most of the first few hundred years coming out of the middle ages.
I’m crossing Reykjavik, which is probably in the top ten, off my list in T-minus 29 days!
Oh, I love to play this game! I very much wish that I could travel more than I have been able to so far in my life. My top destinations:
1) Italy
2) Australia
3) New Zealand – I absolutely loved the scenery in the Lord of the Rings movies.
4) Ireland – I have actually been to Dublin, but I did not see the rest of the country. What I did see in the area near Dublin was beautiful. Also, Stonehenge in England is much more famous, but if you go to Dublin, make sure to visit Newgrange which is older than Stonehenge.
5) Dubrovnik, Croatia – I have wanted to visit this city ever since it was one of the “Where in the world is Matt Lauer” destinations. It just seemed like a place I would want to visit.
6) Alaskan interior – I took a cruise to Alaska in 2004. It was wonderful, and ever since then, I have wanted to go back so that I can visit more than just the few coastal cities I saw.
7) Hawaii – I want to see flowing lava.
8) Puerto Rico
9) Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, etc, really any of the major national parks
10) attend games in every MLB ballpark – been to Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Cleveland, Houston, Cincinnati, old Yankee Stadium
Keith,
Definitely hit Prague/Praha. Hearty foods, beautiful architecture, and gorgeous women. Six years ago, you would spend less on beer (pivo) than you would on water in most restaurants. If you get to Hradcany Castle, be sure to take a stroll down Neruda street. If you hit the White Lion Pub you can see some pretty hilarious photos of Clinton who appears three sheets to the wind. I was there in winter and the city has such an eerie, dark quality to it (try crossing the Charles Bridge one cold night).
I’ve been to Dublin and it is a great city. However, if you really want to experience Ireland you need to rent a car and travel the country. I did just that last April and it was incredible. The scenery is breathtaking. Drove 1500 miles in all. Amazing time and you’ll meet some incredible people along the way.
I just got back from New Orleans for the first time (live in Southern California so it’s a out of the way) two weeks ago and couldn’t believe how awesome that place is–great food, non-stop music, super friendly people, swamp is cool, everything is cheap. I put it over Vegas on the fun-o-meter. Klaw, I have been to Memphis several times and wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.
1. Alaska
2. Vancouver
3. Costa Rica
4. Anywhere in Australia
Having traveled only to Germany and Italy, fairly extensively throughout the eastern U.S. and along the west coast, as well as a bucket list trip to China, my list still has a pretty wide range of destinations. I love to challenge myself while traveling (either culturally, or physically), so there are definitely some places on my list that are nothing like the east coast of the U.S. Sticking to single destinations, and in no particular order:
Prague
Mumbai
Buenos Aires
Paris
London
Brussels (for the beer)
Marrakesh
Amsterdam
John Muir Trail (CA)
Rome (I’ve been once; I absolutely must go back)
Personally I would like to see the temples at Angkor Wat. I very much appreciate your posts/ I have had the great fortune to travel the world for business as well as leisure, including most of the places that you have listed and would have the following observations.
Amsterdam is worth seeing, especially for the Ricks and Van Gogh museums. Very nice Indonesian cuisine.
Prague one of the few eastern cities not ruined by the soviets (at least in the old city, becomes more soviet as you move out of the centre). The old city is beautiful but it is not that large of a city so I would not dedicate a lot of time and the cuisine is mediocre.
Istanbul is a must see. Also not that large. A couple of days will suffice.
Melboure is the place to go in Australia. A great sporting city, in the middle of one of the premier wine districts, fantastic restaurants. Check out the great ocean road if you go
Don’t sell Japan short. Not much to see in Tokyo (although Kyoto is interesting) Japanese culture is absolutely fascinating, both in the abstract and in comparison to other Asian cultures. People don’t realize it is one of the great economies of the world and has a very distinct feel. What I will tell you having traveled the world is you will not eat anywhere better than Tokyo. Not Paris, not Lyon, not NYC, not Barcelona. The variety of types of Japanese Cuisine (at least a dozen distinct styles) and the Japanese obsession for quality combine for just a spectacular experience.
Let’s see, nowhere in the US I’m dying to go that I haven’t already been to (and since it’s come up a couple times, been to Memphis once and enjoyed it). Abroad, I’ve been to Bermuda, England, Scotland, France, Italy (spent a couple nights in Bologna on one trip – we were poor college kids at the time, so can’t remember the food, but we loved the atmosphere of the city; we actually preferred it to Venice, which seemed noisy and expensive – we got used to the novelty of the canals pretty quickly), Greece, Saudi Arabia, Norway (can’t remember if we hit Denmark on that trip too), and Japan. To be honest, I’m more likely to fall back on a beloved old vacation site (we’ve been to Elie, Scotland – nearish St. Andrews – several times and have some family friends we tend to meet up with there) than venture forth to somewhere new, but there are a few places I’d love to see some day:
Prague
Germany – I don’t know that I’d really want to go to any particular city – I think it might be more interesting to stay for a little while in a centrally located and historic town and explore from there (or just drink good beer).
Dublin
Others a little lower on the list that I’m intrigued by:
New Zealand – for the same reason as Jennifer mentioned
Brussels/Belgium
Copenhagen
Geneva or possibly Zurich (actually, have been there before, but not since I was 2)
Vienna
Fun topic to think about.
Wouldn’t mind going to Bruges
Keith, great list, just a few comments and suggestions.
I disagree with the dig at Madrid. Great food, art, architecture. It has the monumental feel of a world city, wide boulevards, very different from Barcelona. (Not a criticism of Barcelona). I really enjoyed seeing a Real Madrid game when there.
Amsterdam has its obvious charms. Since you have an interest in business, try a visit to the main flower auction – fascinating. Not a great foodie city but De Kas restaurant is mandatory and try the local craft Dutch beer – not as famous as Belgium’s but still nice.
Prague – great city and stout cuisine. Try not to go in the summer as everybody else in the world will be there.
Buenos Aires is tremendous for grass fed beef and malbec and a electric vibe. Try to catch a Boca Juniors game. If you are interested in other parts of Argentina Salta is a cool area, but you can’t go wrong in any direction. Argentina might be my favorite place to travel. Listen to some Los Fabulosos Cadillacs if you have not already.
Australia in general and Melbourne in particular is foodie heaven, a whole country with a food attitude like Napa Valley. The wine country is terrific and does not have the commercialized tasting room feel that some US areas have. Fatal Shore is a nice primer on Australian history.
The vietnamese food in Melbourne is dynamite. But you also have to go to Viet Nam for the real deal – I’d put that on your list. And you must go to Japan, no doubt, for food and a fascinatingly different culture.
Istanbul is fabulous. Art, history, food. For an inexpensive and fun tour, take a ferry ride up the bosporus. Foodies must go to restaurant Ciya Sofrasi – wonderful Anatolian cuisine. And read Pamuk’s memoir.
For Hawaii, my favorites are big island (volcanoes national park) and Kauai (na pali coast), but it is hard to go wrong. Oahu is underrated and there is great food in Honolulu.
Happy travels!
Went to Istanbul on honeymoon this past summer. AMAZING! Blew the second leg of our trip (Athens and Santorini) out of the water. And, at least right now, you can do it and do it well on the cheap.
Went to Hawaii. Coming from the East Coast, it wasn’t worth the time or money to get there. We were in Waikiki, and I’ve had others tell me that is the worst place to go so, if you do head out there, do so when you can leave from the WC and go somewhere better.
Two places I’d love to go, and I can’t be more specific because I haven’t researched, are Egypt and India. I’d love to see Israel and elsewhere in the Middle East and I’m not someone who is overconcerned with security/cowering to fear mongering, but I’d want to do that intelligently, which might just mean waiting, unfortunately.
I think your list is pretty solid, KLaw. I’d encourage you to add Hong Kong to the list. I spent ten days there and still feel like I only scratched the surface. Can I up the ante by asking what book you’d like to read during each trip?
For me:
Singapore (Book: Saint Jack by Paul Theroux)
San Sebastian (Book: Hide Me by Ava McCarthy)
Bombay (Book: Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts)
Buenos Aires (Book: The Ministry of Special Cases by Nathan Englander)
Ho Chi Minh City (Book: The Quiet American by Graham Greene)
I have to say, I was incredibly underwhelmed by Prague. I was recently in both Prague and Munich and I’ll take Munich 7 days a week and twice on Sunday. Part of the problem was that about 75% of the people in Prague when I was there were American college students, but I was also otherwise not overly excited by it.
I will also echo someone else’s comment that Beale Street is way better than Bourbon Street. Memphis is great, although don’t go to the touristy BBQ “redezvous”:…it’s way overrated.
This may be sorta cliche and ‘stuff white people like’ to say, but having spent a year abroad in Madrid, it is a FANTASTIC city, but not exactly the sort of place that most Americans think of as a standard vacation spot – it’s not as easy to visit as, say, Barcelona, or the southern Spanish cities, and have a great trip. It’s a small feeling (compared to the L.A./NY/SF trifecta of American cities I’ve spent serious time in) big city, but it IS a big city – 3.3 million according to wikipedia – and like all major cities, it has some grime and doesn’t always welcome you with open arms.
BUT! I ended up LOVING the place, and I think it’s a tremendous place to visit if you do it right. Which means: Go in spring or fall. Winter gets way too cold, summer way too muggy. Visit the museums. The Prado and Reina Sofia alone are worth the visit alone if you’re an art lover. Ride paddle boats in the Parque Retiro. Don’t buy hash from the Algerian dudes in the park (or, if you’re into that, just start at the Sunday evening drum circle around the big statue of the general and walk outward..). Explore away from Gran Via – Chueca, the gay neighborhood (well, used to be) was very hip when I was there, as were places south of the center off the yellow line of the metro – Lavapies stop maybe? There’s a bar in Chueca called El Tigre that gets pretty crowded but still makes the best drinks (Mojitos especially… and they’re not my normal type of beverage) and some of the best tapas. And the albondigas are exceptional.
Anyways, point is, Madrid has lots to offer… but besides the museums, it’s not as easy to find fun/easy touristy stuff as a lot of other places. Also, Spanish food is kind of lame – I love the ham, but they’re generally totally allergic to any sort of interesting spicings.
Great list Keith. Prague in particular is a fabulous city.
If you’re ever in Melbourne (maybe to check out the ABL?), please let your loyal Aussie readers know. We’d love to have a chance to show off our city and the amazing food scene!
KLaw,
Great List. A lot of the same places on my list. If you’re headed to HI, a must for the foodie is Mama’s Fish House, on Maui. Def get a reservation. $$$ but worth every penny. Menu changes daily and reads something like ‘Captain Ron caught your dinner on the North side of Oahu this morning….’. Ceviche was outstanding. I would try and hit two islands. Any more and you’ll spread yourself thin. One might get boring. Kauai is a great if you want relaxing. Grand Hyatt is amazing. Maui is busier, with more to do (like the Road to Hana, Volcanoe National Park). Skip the Luau. Overrated. It was one notch above a Ponderosa buffet, foodwise, and it was too touristy. Helicopter tours are cool and you can do that on any of the islands. Didn’t get to the big island, so that will have to be a return trip.
My List:
1) Italy
2) Germany (Autobahn!)
3) Buenos Aries
4) Prague
5) Hong Kong
Australia
Montreal, Quebec
Israel
Prague, Czech Republic
Budapest, Hungary
Florence, Italy
Greece
Kiev, Ukraine
Hawaii
South Africa