For me, it'd be Kyoto, because Japan is amazing and Kyoto has lots of culture and reminds me of Melbourne. I've been there before and would gladly go again and recommend it to everyone. I also think that Switzerland/Liechtenstein would be very interesting, but I don't speak German/French/Italian, so it might be a bit tougher. Would anyone living/has travelled to these places say different?
It's amazing. The food is amazing. Tokyo is very nice. Kyoto is very temple-filled and cultural. Nara is like a small Kyoto, but with bigger temples. Hiroshima is very humbling and has the best okonomiyaki ever. The food is amazing. If you speak the language, everyone is interested in starting a conversation. And some of the weird things there end up being wonderful experiences.
Oh boy, okonomiyaki. That stuff is amazing. My sister-in-law is from Hiroshima and my brother lived there for ~4 years. Hiroshima is also one of my favorite cities to run in. Thinking about this really makes me want to go back soon :-) I'd love to see Kyoto and Nara now as well.
Most of the reason to go to Kyoto and Nara is the culture. They have so many temples, which never get boring, and have heaps of awesome deer. There's just something about drinking from a spring which has been going for thousands of years that is very awesome. Now I want to go back too...
I've been to lots of different countries, and a few are ideal travel destinations, so it is a bit difficult to pick. Of the ones that I've been too, Taba, Egypt is amazing, especially if you go to one of those quiet resorts. I had some tremendous relaxation, to the point where my acne just kinda melted away from my face - a mixture of lack of stress, and being in such clean air. Here are some pictures: If I had to pick somewhere I hadn't been, I've always wanted to go to New Zealand, but I hear they have giant bugs. My backup plan would be a place where I can learn how to fish and sail and not worry about anything else. I think this stopped being a post about my ideal travel destination and started being a post about my dream retirement location, haha.
Reinforcing all the people who say a second language is not remotely necessarily in Switzerland, or anywhere in the west. Only places you might desperately need the language are train stations and airports and so on -- exactly where the employees will probably speak English anyway. Also, ever been in a train station? Ever used a ticket machine? Ever ordered off a menu, for that matter? In the west all of these things are uniform. You don't need to know that 'Biglietteria' means ticket office to know that it is in fact a ticket office. Etc.
I've been all over Westernt Europe, and Czech Republic in Eastern Europe, and love the culture and big cities in those places. Prague was one of the most beautiful cities I've ever set foot in. My main dream destination right now is SE Asia, China, and Japan. I really want to experience Asian culture, and see the buddhist temples as a sort of pilgrimage. I would love to see Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo, rural Thailand, and pretty much anywhere else in the area. I enjoy feeling far away from home and lost in another culture, and that seems like a pretty good step up from my European travels to do just that.
Don't a lot of Swiss people speak pretty good English? I imagine there's a good amount of tourism there too. Even if you're travelling somewhere where little English is spoken, overcoming language barriers can be an interesting experience in and of itself (assuming it's not an emergency). I don't think I really have one ideal place I'd like to visit. I find all sorts of cultures and languages and histories interesting. I'd be happy to travel anywhere where (1) there's a lot of interesting stuff to photograph, (2) there are no giant bugs or really hot weather, and (3) I have a decent chance of not dying.
I've been to Switzerland, and all over many countries in western Europe, and plenty of people speak English, especially at the places that matter like train stations, hotels/hostels. Everything else, even if there is a language barrier, is a fun experience. Buying things isn't that difficult, ordering food on a menu can be an adventure but entirely possible, and I found it to be not bad at all. The only place we had a really extreme language barrier that we encountered was out in Normandy region of France. NO ONE spoke English, not at our hotel, not at the train station in Caen, and not at any of the bars or restaurants, and we still had a blast there, and despite the language barrier, everyone was still extremely friendly and constantly smiling.
(2) there are no giant bugs or really hot weather, and (3) I have a decent chance of not dying.
Australia is not the place for you, my friend
I've been to switzerland and I can't say I was very impressed. It's not drastically different from France. It had cute little towns that remind me of the towns we have up north in Quebec like St-Sauveur but older. I mean they are cute and the nature around is nice too, but there is nothing much to do. I like big cities so I get a bit bored once I realize i've been on the main street for the third time that day. There are nice places like the famous library in St-Galen or this church somewhere around there: Anyways, it's nice but I would not put it in my top 10 places to visit, I think the world has many more interesting place. I can't wait to travel, there are so many places I want to see it's impossible to pick one to answer your question. I'm going to visit Eastern Europe this summer (after I finish my semester abroad in Warsaw), I guess Asia is next on the places i'd like to visit.
Eastern Europe is quite interesting. I've been to Russia, which is very beautiful. I have one piece of advice, though. Do not, for the love of all things holy, even suggest that you are American. They will give you a death glare unless you convince them otherwise. Luckily, I corrected them in Russian, that I am in fact Australian and they gave me a discount
It's alright, I'm Canadian :) I always make sure I have a little canadian pin on my backpack when I travel, it really does make a difference in the way people treat you. I'm probably not going to Russia. I think i'll visit Poland, Bielarussia, Ukraine and maybe Romania.