I used to enjoy planning road trips and plotting out the drives, making the reservations and loading up the car, kids and all, and heading out.
Then, I loved going on pre-planned tour trips, where you get to see all the highlights, have someone else handle your luggage, and you get to have fun.
Next we discovered cruises. Get to the ship and live like kings and queens for days. Do nothing at all, or fill every hour with something you want to do and see the sights around the world.
I still enjoy doing all of the above. My main thing is that I love to TRAVEL. I want to see the world and meet people from all over the world and enjoy the wonders of this planet. Our travel as a couple stopped last year. We had several trips planned for the next five years. AFTER, I am going on those trips with friends I've made here at Joan's place. They have become very dear to me.
I can't decide the "perfect" vacation, but I'd like to hear your ideas....
I'd love to travel on the Orient Express from London to Istanbul; to spend two weeks each seeing each European country; cruising the Med and the Baltic; but what would be the best????????
i agree i love traveling just about more than anything. we did alot ofit as well and i am thankful we had the opportunity to get to do as much as we did.
mary i like your daydreaming of planning trips! i enjoyed that part as well. divvi
We have enjoyed cruising for the last 10 years with our 3 boys. The 3rd is 7 years behind the first 2, so they could each go off with kids in their own age group, while my DH and I enjoyed each other's company - perfect! We both loved Alaska - went twice. Just the opposite of Fairfax. We have too many people & too few trees. Alaska is all trees & very few people - and just beautiful! But by far the best cruise we've been on is the 12 night Scandanavian Cruise (Royal Caribbean). It was just awesome to go to these European & Russian cities with their grand architecture, and culturals different and unique in each country. I highly recommend it! We were hoping to go to Greece this year, now that exchange rates have improved, but with the protests and economic turmoil, we've decided this was not a good year for that :(
My wife and I did a lot of travelling, particularly after I retired, but that has now ended. Without really trying, we managed to visit all 7 continents. One of my favorite trips was to Antarctica. I guess my second would be South Africa and Botswana. Looks like our love of travel has rubbed off on at least one of our kids. Our older daughter and her husband leave today for a trip to Egypt.
I started world travel 20 years ago and have been to almost 100 countries and all 7 continents. Began with tour groups, total of close to 300 days over the years, added cruises into the mix (over 600 days a sea for me, 350 for DH) along with many many weeks of long car trips in the U.S. These last few years we've done only cruising, due to age and DH's AD. He's comfortable on ships and can rest when he wants. We cruise mostly with Princess and the ships are allaid out pretty much the same, with cabins where he feels at home the second he walks in the door. I book the less strenuous shore excursions and ones that don't last all day. A year ago I thought we were through, as he refused to be diagnosed and I was unwilling to deal with the "crazies", but then he gave in, got diagnosed, tested for everythin and started on Seroquel and then Namenda. The awful delusions and agressive, obnoxious behavior stopped, so now we're stll out there, just not as often. Have a canal trip later in April and had enough FF miles to book the air return in first class. This summer I found a non-stop flight to London and did all the transfers, hotel, etc., then to a small ship to once again see the Norwegian fjords, the big ones. Second week takes us around Great Britain and we'll get to see the Military Tatoo in Edinburgh. Sounds like a lot, but I think I've managed to fill in the bumps in the road to make it all as easy as possible. Since we won't be cruising 75-80 days a year any more and maybe not at all before very long, I've splurged on upgrades to make it easier for me. I won't go into detail about the horrible behavior before the meds, but, believe me, airports were sheer hell. And shaking his fist at security guards in ports was scary. I'm surprised he was never arrested. And this was the world's sweetest guy before AD. He's solidly in state 5 and I keep watching out for stage 6 symptoms. The ability to interact appropriately on a social level is very low, so we pretty much stick to ourselves.
Not much traveling experience here -- we had a few nice trips due to his business travels. My perfect getaway now would be a nice vehicle to make road trips to visit each and every one of you -- that would be fun.
I'm going with Divvi! Then with Mary! I would also love to see the Greek Isles, sit in a cafe overlooking the ocean and drink wine :o) Jim and I honeymooned in Ireland, it was incredible! My in-laws did a European River Cruise, they loved it.
We did a lot of US travel mostly to see family. I wanted to travel to Europe and other places but... In 02 we went to the UK for a month to see all our Royal Marine friends in England and Scotland. It was great. In 08 we were treated to a trip for our birthdays by our middle girl and her hubby to Iceland. He is an Icelander, naturalized citizen now. We had a great time there. We had been in 87 for a short trip before. Since then I have been twice last year and am going again in May. If you want a place with a tranquil pace, Iceland is a wonderful place to go. The people are wonderful and there is so much to do. Nature lovers will especially enjoy Iceland and the month of June during the Midnight Sun it breathtaking.
I am not a flyer but when our kids were growing up we always took summer vacations right here in the good ole USA. I wish I would have listened to the people that told me that if my dh and were going to take a trip, we should go the first year he was diagnosed. I wish we could go back to Maine where we had a wonderful 2nd honeymoon!
I am not a good traveler, so my ideal vacation would go somewhere not too far away and stay in a bed and breakfast and enjoy the area and just rest and relax.
I just want to go to the beach. Gulf Shores is calling my name and Panama City Beach would be nice also. Heck, the only place I get to go now is Walmart.
I, too, want a beach or a be on a lake in warm sunshine. I just want to relax and not worry about anything. My last attempt was just before Labor Day in 2009. I had found a beautiful cabin on a pretty lake to rent for a few days. I realized while there my husband was slipping. He mistook the white plastic garbage can in the kitchen for the toilet. So much for my worry free trip!
I love traveling. For a period of about 10 years we took cruises. We went to the Panama Canal, all of the Caribbean, Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand.the Baltic and St.Petersburg. We met some very good friends on our first cruise and traveled with them up until last winter. This year they suggest the Mediterranean. I would love to go, but I know its not a good idea and would be very difficult. I regret never seeing Paris or Rome. I did not think we would run out of time. At 71, I thought we had 5 to 10 years more to travel.
I've travelled a lot, both alone and a few times in a tour, but not with my husband for any length of time. I prefer "independent" travel but enjoyed the cruise I went on with others from this group last month. (They can attest to my independent bent; I somehow was always wandering off on board)
PrisR, the Alzheimer's Association makes a little business-card sized card to carry that says "my husband has Alzheimers.. please excuse his behavior" or words to that effect. Some of us have found it useful to have when moving around. Since you're allowing yourself a little luxury, also arrange to have a transport for your husband in airports. Walking those long distances will try ANYone!
MaryD, as Mary (red) says: AFTER, you'll have time. Paris and Rome are both great places to wander alone, and take things in. I've been to both since I turned 70..
PrisR, mine would notice right now. I usually tell the waitress/server when walking to the table, because he always walks behind me and I can quietly tell them So far, it has worked.
PatB I felt that way...whenever I saw my parents or brothers it was me that did the travelling and when you only have so much $$$ I began to get somewhat resentful and frankly stopped going for several years. Then the folks got ill mom with AD and Dad with diabetes..groan can't win. Hubby always wanted to come to CA so we made the journeys to see all of them.... I used to complain when is it our turn for a great adventure without all the family involvement? I can count on one hand that number besides the honeymoom..2 a trip to Catalina and England.
Charlie and I have traveled a bit here on the east coast. Canada, Atlantic City, Virginia Beach, Nashville, Branson Missouri and points in between. Our dream was to drive from coast to coast taking our time and seeing as much as we could. We always enjoyed planning the trips almost as much as taking them.
We never really had a chance to travel because of kids, college, etc. We were just starting to be able to afford vacations and had gone on a couple of nice ones just visiting friends in warmer climes and then FTD reared it head. My idea now of a wonderful vacation is visiting close friends we have in Arizona. Everytime we or I have gone I have felt pampered by being there.
Oh how I'd love to go someplace warm and pretty. An all-inclusive resort with palm trees and RUM would do wonders for my worn out spirit. Anyone want to go with me??? Phranque, I'm sure they have door steps there, Bama, deb, dog, Mary and the rest of us would be happy to let you go from one door step to the next! Heck, we'll even deliver drinks to ya!
We've traveled quite a bit in the last 10-14 years, just my husband and I. The trips stopped about 3 years ago. He won't go anywhere outside of a few hundred miles from home right now, but that's a lot better than last year. I would say he's more agreeable about going now than he was last year, which is surprising.
My ideal trip right now would be a vacation with my sister to Italy, the Amalfi coast for beauty and rest, Florence, Venice and Rome for the sights. I know she would love to go with me. I wonder if we'll make it.
Check out the American Orient Express. Unfortunately, they aren't scheduling any tours at this time (due to a bankruptcy), but the website is still active and hopefully, service will be restored soon. i've been virtually everywhere! THIS is a dreamtrip.
Susan L, If there comes a time when I get to take this ideal vacation, sounds like you'd be a good fit to go along. My sister and I aren't Italian but her husband was (he is now deceased). Of course, she wants to also go to Sicily, where her husband was born.
I didn't get to go to Europe but was lucky enough to go to Asia. Egypt was one of the destinations I dreamed about when I was younger and really thought I would get to go. But, with things the way they are with my DH, this is not going to ever happen. My grandson and I planned to go together before this disease struck.
DH and I did quite a bit of travelling but never got to do the great American western tour with the Grand Canyon, etc (I did it with my Mom and Dad and brothers the last summer before I left home, and will be eternally grateful)
Dream: I want to go on one of those musical excursions where you go to one or more cities (Verona, Vienna, you name it) and take in several operas. Dh would go to the opera with me here in Holland (still does although he has no idea what he's seeing) but always thought these trips were too expensive. The minute I can go on my own, I'm off.
Before my husband had his heart attack and FTD we were very fortunate to take the very trip out west you talk about. It was the best vacation we've ever gone on, including our trip to Asia. We traveled from Northern Illinois to Yellowstone and from Yellowstone on to almost every National Park our West. We stayed in the park lodge at every one and it was an experience to remember. We met many, many people from all over the world, including Holland. It seems the Dutch really enjoying hiking! We made friends with a couple from South Africa as well.
Ah Vienna! Sounds wonderful. But I still think I'll stick with what I talked about up above. Maybe we'll get to go to Vienna on our next trip.
Daughter married a Frenchman, had 2 boys and every yr we went to France & they came here. They lived in Paris, then Pau in the Pyrenees. Our SIL always took us someplace, so have done most of France, bits of Spain, Switzerland--Matterhorn, etc. Husband's family 15 of us, took tour of Hungary to see parents family villages, and Budapest, Chech Republic & Slovakia--fascinating, just after the Communists left, attitudes of people In Hungary were so influenced by that. England, Hawaii, Alaska & upper Mississippi cruises, most of US except dairy land around Wisconsin. Two best trips, bus tour of the heartland--may be ordinary to many of you, but I was born in Los Angeles and I just loved it. Corn fields, pig farms, Kansas City (both), Presidential libraries, everything. Best trip was when g'son was 10 & he flew alone from Paris to Wash DC where we met him and did all the sites, then on to NY where we did it all. He loved it. When next g'son was 10, we offered same trip, but he wanted to go to Catalina. So we went & DH & I left him alone most of the time w/his Mom. He was in Heaven, had her all alone & it was Catalina! But after 9-11 he said he was a bit sorry, he'd never be able to go to the top of twin towers. Best, best VACATION was when DH was several yrs into AD & son stayed w/him for the week-end and I went ALONE and rented a room at a beach hotel in Santa Monica and just did nothing--and then I did some more of that. Going over this, I realize most travel was because of family. Don't think I'd have done so much otherwise. DIL is from Brazil & has made several trips w/my son, they want me to go next time. But I don't know-- Haven't gone to Europe for 3 yrs since daughter divorced and moved back here. Oldest g'son, now 25, lives with me. But VACATION and TRAVEL are not quite the same thing to me.
Bev, we did almost the same western trip you talked about many years ago. We had only been married 4 years. It was the summer before our older son, who is now 38, was born. We had a wonderful time. We drove, saw many of the National Parks, stayed in the parks, and stayed a Motel 6s between parks. They were bare bones motels, cost $7 a night for two people, and had televisions you had to put a quarter in for an hour of viewing.