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Never Heard of
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Here's something short and sweet: 25 Best Places you've Never Heard of.
How does Sal, Siwa, Imlil, Agadez sound?
Or, Kas, Triglav National Park, Algamitas, Erice, Calvi or Lohéac?
Yep, they sure live up to the title. The first set is located in Africa, the second set in Europe and I haven't heard of a single one.
Budget Travel asked professionals who tour the world on their company dime to come up with the very best, undiscovered locales in which they've found themselves searching for coffee beans, new foods, textiles, or other marketable goods.
This is one article I'm going to be cutting out; the more obscure and unknown a place is, the more fascinating it becomes for me.
Take for example, the above mentioned village of Siwa (photo above) which "is built atop an enormous network of natural wells, which bubble out of the earth in the form of two huge lakes--Birket Siwa and Birket Zeitun--and countless hot springs." This is just one of 25 similar locations few tourists know about and even fewer will ever bother to visit.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
MICHELE Aug 28th 2006 12:09PM
traveling abroad is no more expensive than a trip to Disney World with the family. Or a trip to Las Vegas which could break the piggy bank ha ha
Strouble Sep 7th 2006 1:16PM
I was so surprised at the places, That I never heard of before......are there anymore like that...please feel free to add them.
Bill Sep 3rd 2006 3:16PM
Traveling abroad can be exciting. The best advice is to get good advice. Do you research and know what you want to see and/or do.
It is generally less expensive than visitiing places in the US. But be careful about going places that are unsafe. Do your home work, ok.
Jeanne M. McAlister Sep 3rd 2006 3:35PM
I have discovered in all my travels that so many Americans are afraid of that "different place" off the beaten track.
I have been to Siwa three times......long before hotels or restaurants.....it has changed a lot now which I am sorry to see that happen. At the time I went, Berber was the only language spoken. Now Arabic is taught in their schools.
PJzaBruin Sep 4th 2006 8:28PM
With all there is to see in the U.S., why would I go abroad again?
There is amazing thousand-year-old architecture to be seen in Chaco Canyon NHP and Mesa Verde National Park. As for natural wonders, there are few outside the country that can compare to Niagara Falls or the "Big Three" American national parks -- Yosemite, Yellowstone, and The Grand Canyon.
Don't get me wrong -- I have enjoyed my two trips to Northern Europe. But there WAS an underlying hostility to Americans the last time I was there, and there is a world of things to see and do in THIS country. And when I explore those things, I'm supporting the American economy.
Susan Jackson Sep 3rd 2006 4:53PM
I agree with PjzaBruin---although I do go to Europe twice a year and live overseas--I do want to tour America--so much that I have seen in the US rivals places I have been overseas--what we don't have is the history of course. I love them both but more people need to see America!!
Charlie Greene Sep 3rd 2006 5:31PM
How about spots in Asia ?
Who's heard of Issyk-Kul,
with its super "cool"
resorts, cheap & charming ?
Misleading hint : brush up
on your "Russki yezik" !
richard relyea Sep 3rd 2006 5:34PM
BUY AMERICAN !
ConcordBP Sep 4th 2006 1:45PM
As much as I love to fantasize about traveling and seeing/doing all these things it is not in the cards that I will ever get to do so. I cannot understand how more then a elite percentage of Americans get to travel as you describe. It reminds me of the “snooties” at a party talking about their stop over in London on their way to Zanzibar. “There was this cutest little shop on Piccadilly, you simply must stop by when you go…”
ms. p. Sep 3rd 2006 6:15PM
PERSONALLY....THERE AREN'T MANY PLACES OUTSIDE OF THE U.S. THAT I WANT TO SEE....I STILL HAVEN'T SEEN ALL THERE IS TO SEE IN OUR GREAT COUNTRY.....SO THESE OTHER NEVER HEARD OF BEFORE PLACES HOLD NO INTEREST....
Kim Sep 3rd 2006 6:14PM
Have you even checked into how much it costs to travel abroad ConcordBP?? I think if you look into it you'd be amazed! Everytime I fly to Ireland, Paris, England, etc. it's actually cheaper than it is to fly back to California to visit my family!!
ms.p. Sep 3rd 2006 6:17PM
sorry for all the caps in my last post....
STEVE SYKES Sep 3rd 2006 6:46PM
I have traveled quite a bit, and my favorite place in the world is the southern part of Vietnam. Freindly, interesting, unique, safe, exciting are the words that best describe my experiences. Things are relatively inexpensive, air conditioning, lots of tourist stuff to do. Plenty of bars and pretty girls.
A very old culture with lots of history.
Go and enjoy Buen aprovencho!
Sandra Finch Sep 3rd 2006 6:43PM
Thes places sound facinating to me too. Only finances keep me from seeing a lot of places. I would dearly love to see San Francisco just once. Our country is vast and beautiful, and those far away places with strange sounding names are only calling me in my dreams.
Jay Moses Sep 3rd 2006 6:47PM
Great feature, and much appreciated.
Frank Rossi Sep 7th 2006 9:46PM
There are so many places outside the US that are so much more afforadable most of the the vacation destinations within the US that it's a shame so few American's opt to venture outside the US. Most of the American who come to visit us (http://www.mtpalmera.com and http://www.costapalmera.com ) in Costa Rica are shocked by the beauty, comfort and value they can get overseas. Good job reporting on it.
Marsha Bishop Sep 3rd 2006 7:03PM
My husband and I went to Alaska and that was the best vacation we ever had. Help the American economy visit the good old USA!!
Jessica Sep 3rd 2006 7:16PM
Algarve in southern Portugal (Europe) is a beautiful beach destination with resorts, nightlife, and turquoise waters. Not very popular outside of Portugal/Spain; a must-see!
Donnell Collins Sep 3rd 2006 7:22PM
Come on people! Lets go somewhere other than here.. the U.S. True we must support the "American Economy" but how is that? Everything we buy is made in CHINA except 4 the GAS which is keeping many middle class Americans from being able to travel around America. I travel in and out of the good ol U.S. when ever I can. Traveling abroad gives u the opportunity to realize how good we have it here and at the same time see other cultures and places. Dont confine urself the only way to live is to travel.... Be Safe.
Gary Sep 3rd 2006 7:27PM
I agree 100% with PJzaBruin. Why should I spend money in places that don't like Americans? Perhaps they'd feel differently about us if they'd had to pay for us liberating them in WWII. As it is, it was free, and they despise us. America has all the great places I ever care to go.