Vacation Plans for this year

[LovelyLadyLux]

Am amazed at myself that I'm this organized re: vacations but, hey, we all have to prioritize! And put the important decisions FIRST!

I booked today to Trinidad for 2 weeks and then the cruise will happen which has been booked for a long time. Summer is going to happen in Canada cause, for the most part, that particular corner I live in is absolutely dee-lightful in summer time. Typically nice and warm and balmy. Time of year when all the tourists come to visit.

I also decided (and booked) a couple weeks to Hawaii in the fall as I haven't actually gone there for about 3 yrs now and, as I was searching about found what looks like a terrific "all inclusive" resort in El Salvador. On researching this more I found out I can Am thinking a few weeks in El Salvador would do nicely in November and I could easily get me back to home and family and the twins for Christmas.

I think all this planning happened cause I'm trying to get organized and get my time planned.

I read on the Blue the thread started by Keefy re: terrorists giving a timeline for all tourists to get out of the Egypt or the Sinai (not sure who exactly is translating what best) and I really and truly do feel sorry for all those first time tourists who have saved and planned and put all their holiday hopes and wishes into a holiday of a lifetime to be faced by this new threat.

Can't say I'm surprised that this threat has come out. I actually thought that something like this would have happened before now. Hopefully this is an idle threat that has been made without any real ability to carry it forward however looking at the logistics of Egypt it wouldn't be difficult to target tourist buses or even individual tourists. Most tourists DO stand out over there and grabbing a few tourists would definitely make the headlines. Sad really. I just hope all the "tourists" aka Expats take due care and precaution.

[Horus]

Like you I see the latest threat as "just another nail" etc. so to my mind Egypt is off the map again for some time to come which is a shame because I have no doubt that with all this awful wet weather we have been having lately, many Brits will be thinking along the lines of some guaranteed sunshine this Summer and booking holidays abroad.

[LovelyLadyLux]

Having been to Egypt it periodically crosses my mind to go back. I've never been to Aswan or that area and would like to see it - BUT am not even remotely prepared to take the chance.

The most tragic outcome of a terrorist attack would be to leave one significantly maimed or mutilated where for the rest of your life you have to deal with physical injuries not to mention the mental issues that would also definitely happen too.

[Horus]

I have visited Aswan and Abu Simbel a few times and they are to my mind more tranquil than Luxor, I have also visited most other historic places in Egypt and would like to think that maybe one day I will visit again perhaps with one or more of my children, that would be nice. Although at the moment I do not think it is worth the risk to others, I am not so phased by potential danger to myself as like many other return visitors we know the place fairly well, but risking my family is another matter.

[LovelyLadyLux]

For me am right now just not personally prepared to take the risk. I go, get hurt, who ends up having to look after me? My family and I'm not going to do that to them.

Probably, on law of averages, nothing will happen - BUT ?? One never knows what will happen but I also need to say that travelling to Egypt offers limited modalities to get out of the country and back home. If you fly in then you're pretty much bound to fly back and if everybody is leaving at the same time.....hmmm gonna be busy.

Not like I could get in my car and drive home, ride a bike home, take a bus or walk. One is rather at the mercy of what is available and if it all hits the fan then I'm stuck 'til planes fly and/or some other entity arrives to save me. Just not worth the chance right now.

[Horus]

The difficulty of getting out of any war torn country is always a problem and it is something I always made plans for if I was actually living in the country at the time, however holidays are a bit different as military coups or civil strife can often pop up unannounced. I well remember being in Cyprus in 1974 when they overthrew Arch Bishop Makarios and the Turks proceeded to invade the island which resulted in todays partitioning of Cyprus. The UN were a totally useless force and did little or nothing to help evacuate people and their peace keeping was questionable, so it was a case of making my own plans and getting myself and family onto a British base and getting out on a Hercules transporter plane.

[LovelyLadyLux]

Tomorrow I think will be a bit of a pivotal day in Egypt/Sinai given the threat. Could just be hollow words and nobody seems to be rushing tourists out of Egypt so time will tell as to what happens. Hopefully all will stay quiet but can you truly relax if you're there with family and a threat hovering over your head.

As a tourist you are a bit of a sitting duck and knowing the lay of the land and 'who' exactly to trust to help you could be problematic.

[bigken]

We was hoping to go back to Egypt this year but think we will put it on hold for now , got a break planned for London in july as i was lucky enough to get tickets to see Monty Python live at the O2 . For years I've suffered the hot weather ( I'm not build for sunbathing, plus i find it boring) to please her ladyship on holiday, this year I'm pushing to do something different i really fancy the trans siberian train St Petersburg to Beijing but its not looking good again, will have to put it on my bucket list along with the cruise to the Arctic circle in search of the northern lights ( to cold for her ). My back up is a Med cruise, never been on the sea before but i like the fact they are multi city stops, a different city every day

[LovelyLadyLux]

I've never been on a Med cruise either but have often thought it would be a good one due to all the city stops. I really like the ability to get on and off the ships. As for sun and warmth I can relate. I'm Caribbean and Central American bound myself and am planned out to May 2015 - WITH a few gaps in between that am sure I could squeeze in a week here or there. Right now I'm sucking up the "all inclusive" offerings. IF I don't have to cook I'm all there

A cruise to see the Northern Lights would be phenomenal and if you DO actually get to see the Lights they are also phenomenal. I have seen them and they are definitely something to see.

Let us know once you've got your plans finalized AND make sure you take lots of photos so we all can enjoy your vacation too!