Originally Posted by RearWords

Could really do with some advice any Arrsers out there spend any time in Fiskardo, Kefalonia? How picturesque is it, how good are the restaurants and were the beaches in the area worth the extra money it's going to cost me to holiday there. I know they will be pebbly (a must for me cause I'm a snorkelling fan) and from what I've seen so far they look small...just how busy do they get during late August? Is Fiskardo a good base, has it become too touristy and is there plenty of shops there? There will be a car involved so I can scare the local inhabitants and mountain goats.

Any feedback would be appreciated...make it good I crave the sunshine!

Been going to Kefalonia for last 11 years usually twice a year in May and September. We stay in Sami on the East coast mainly and usually hire a car.
It is a beautiful island. Fiskardo is very picturesque. It is a favourite with the yachting fraternity and can be more expensive than the rest of the island. Main tourist beaches are at Lassi near the capital, Argostoli, and on the South coast. The weather is generally good but you'll notice it's a very green island and that needs rain so expect a couple of wet days. I haven't done any snorkelling around the North of the island but I'm told it's good. Visit Assos , Myrtos beach and the Vegera taverna in Vassilikades (at sunset)on the West coast , Drogarati caves, Mellissani lake, Karavomilos fish restaurant (evening) Sami ,Anti Samos beach and Aghia Efemiah on the East coast. Toget a feel of the Island get a copy the Dvd of Captain Corelli's Mandolin The film's version of the story is rubbish but the scenery is superb. The massacre of the Italian troops by the Germans took place there and the island was almost flattened by an earthquake in 1943 and you still get tremors now. Hope this has been some help. I'm sure you'll have a great time.

Having been to both Kanchanaburi, and Roatan I agree.

Did a day trip from Bangkok and would definitely like to spend more time there. West Bay on Roatan has some of the best sunsets I've seen especially from some of the beach bars while sampling an ice cold local brew. I'd go now as it's transiting from a back packer/scuba divers island to mainstream package tours.

Someone mentioned Panama, it's slated to be the next big "Costa Rica" style eco tourist hot spot. Same spectacular scenery , jungles, wild life, plus the canal and the dynamic night life of Panama City. English is widley spoken due to the lengthy US presence.

Some of my gems:

Montericco on the Pacific coast of Guatemala, about 2-3 hours form the capital and kind of hard to get to, as there's a mangrove swamp who traverse by ferry. Laid back, almost primitive collection of small restaurants, beach bars and cheap basic hotels/hostels, several run by European or North Amercian Expats. Try to avoid being there on the weekend as the local yahoos from Guatemala City tend to show up. Best memory laying awake at night under a mossie net in my basic room listening to the breakers rolling in.

Puerto Morales on Mexico's Yucatan Coast about mid way between Cancun and Playa Del Carmen. Isolated sleepy little town far away from the resorts. Drop in and see Goyo Morgan a expat who's lived there 20+ years and runs Indian Jones style tours into the jungle to look at Mayan ruins the regular touristas never see.

Omoa Honduras. A fishing village on the Caribbean coast of Honduras. Weekends it attracts locals from nearby cities and towns looking for a beach getaway, but midweek rather laid back and still a bit of a back packer haven with limited and primitive hotels but plenty of beach shack restaurants and bars. Small expat community run many of these. Great old Spanish fort, captured by the English in less than a day a short walk inland. Despite its isolation rather easy to get to from Guatemala overland or even Belize by ferry.

Negros island Philippines. Once you get away from the main city Dumagute (about an hour flight form Manila) odds are you won't even come across another tourist. Undeveloped tourist infrastructure so far, but spectacular scenery, cheap everything, and friendly locals. Downside as noted you'll stick out like a spark prick at a wedding which could make you a target for some local bad boys including those from the next island over Mindanao.

Cavalaire in the S. of France but not in july & august (too crowded & expensive then), fabulous safe beach, only about 12 miles from St Tropez but a lot cheaper!
The coast West of Tarifa in Spain, excellent for windsurfing and handy for a quick trip to Morocco (35 mins on hydrofoil)

Isles Of Scilly are great for quiet relaxing holiday,great beaches,scenery etc.Water's cold though,and if it rains,well take loads of books.

Originally Posted by Jimmy_Kranke

Kanchanaburi, North of Bangkok. Site of the River Kwai Bridge, but also a stunning area with lots to see. The train ride from BK takes about 2 hrs, a fascinating experience if you've never travelled in SE Asia before. Not to far from the Burmese border if you fancy nipping over for shufti.

Stayed at a small resort camp owned and run by a Dutch/Thai and his Dutch wife. Highly recommend it Oriental Kwai Resort, small and peaceful resort

Nah mate, me grandad went, when he got back, he said it was shoite. He hated the Japs to the day he died. RIP grandad.

Kanchanaburi? Stay at River Kwai Resotel.

Originally Posted by jarrod248

Kanchanaburi? Stay at River Kwai Resotel.

There must have been more people in Kanchanaburi than on the embassy balcony......however 'P's Guesthouse was rustic and the view over the water in the mornings was worth the jungle time. Just got back from Tremezzo on Lake Como and got to say it was awesome aside from the near death experiences driving in. For a classy getaway Langkawi is up there, the Datai and Andaman are both great hotels ( not much for kids to do though)

Camasunary beach - Isle of Skye , swam with the seals , saw otters , slept on the beach , avoid midge season.

Thanks for the feedback on Kefalonia Jarrod and donmac. I last visited the island around 8 years ago so remember the cave and lake. Looking forward to exploring the north of the island this time and the Louis de Bernieres book will be going with me again.

Quito, Bogota, Medellin, Caracas - take your pick. All of them are getting more touristy all the time but there's a simple way round that - namely, ditch the guidebook, ignore the advice on the FCO website and get out into the districts everyone tells you to stay away from. No hoards of westerners wearing ridiculous cowboy hats, ultra-cheap beer and some of the nicest people you'll ever meet. They'll even mug you with a smile. If you're brave enough to actually spend the night in somewhere like Ciudad Bolivar you might even see a full-scale shoot-out outside your window. A word of warning though: once South America gets under your skin, you'll be in love for life...