Our Place’s Top Ten Long Haul Destination
If you fancy an adventure in a far flung country, Our Place has turned to Trip Adviser to pick our top ten long haul destinations:
1. New York City, New York
Here’s what we tell friends who are visiting New York for the first time: See the Empire State Building, Times Square and the museums first. Go to at least one Broadway show. But then pick a neighbourhood, any neighbourhood, to explore in-depth. It’s impossible to see all NYC has to offer in a single trip, but focusing on, say, African-American culture in Harlem or immigrant history on the Lower East Side can be quite rewarding.
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2. San Francisco, California
Who cares about a little fog (okay, a lot of fog) when there’s so much to do in San Francisco? By day, explore Fisherman’s Wharf and the Aquarium of the Bay, ride a cable car, and stroll around the Presidio; by night, have a fabulous dinner (at a Michelin-starred restaurant or a tiny place in Chinatown), then hit some of the best clubs on the West Coast.
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3. Siem Reap, Cambodia
Most travellers don’t come to Siem Reap because they’re dying to explore Siem Reap, they come because it’s the closest city to the amazing Angkor Archaeological Park. And Siem Reap is absolutely fine with that. In fact, it’s a bit of a tourism boomtown. You’ll find a wide range of hotels, and restaurants here, many of them brand-new.
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4. Chicago, Illinois
If you’re a history buff and a die-hard foodie, Chicago’s your kind of town. Take an architectural-history walking tour, then dine at Alinea (the most celebrated molecular-gastronomy restaurant in the U.S.). And don’t miss the Museum of Science and Industry, the biggest science museum in the Western Hemisphere.
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5. Buenos Aires, Argentina
We think it’s time to stop calling Buenos Aires the “Paris of South America.” As anyone who’s been there will tell you, this city has a spirit all its own. Spend a day visiting the city’s many fine museums and the amazing Recoleta cemetery, then hit the modern Puerto Madero neighbourhood at night to take your pick of the city’s coolest restaurants.
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6. Sydney, Australia
Sydney has so much to offer—amazing museums, a vibrant arts scene, great beaches nearby, restaurants serving any cuisine you can think of—that everyone who visits inevitably becomes jealous of the locals. If you visit during the Vivid Sydney Festival (late May-early June), you’ll be treated to spectacular lighting installations all around the city.
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7. Beijing, China
The Summer Palace, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven—what traveller can resist attractions with such poetic names? You’ll also find stunning contemporary architecture in Beijing, and no visit would be complete without seeing the Great Wall of China. (TripAdvisor travellers recommend the section at Mutianyu because it’s less crowded.)
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8. Las Vegas, Nevada
Larger than life, anything goes in Las Vegas. From casinos to seeing the world’s top acts, Las Vegas is 24/7 fun. As the saying suggests – What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas – and if you want an excuse for extravagance, wonderment and total unrelenting excitement then the Vegas strip is definitely the place to be. You’ll find some of the most lavish hotels in the world, along side as many shops as you can manage. If you want our advice you’ll stay mid strip in the Bellagio, Planet Hollywood or Aria hotels and be at the heart of all the action.
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9. Bora Bora, French Polynesia
Fall captive to this lush gem of a Polynesian island by sharing an intimate midnight dinner on the beach; visiting the Lagoonarium, the Diving centre, the Coral Gardens or the Leopard Rays Trench; or taking it all in from the lofty heights of 2,300-foot Mount Otemanu.
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10. Cape Town, South Africa
Cape Town glistens at the southern toe of the African continent. Tourist brochure-views at Blaauwberg Beach and Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens are within easy driving distance of “The Mother City.” The Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve provides sweeping sea vistas, hiking trails and wildlife encounters. On a more somber note, travellers can visit Robben Island, the prison where Nelson Mandela was held for 27 years.
