Hmmm… The islands are gorgeous, but the cities are super third world. If you’re not an experienced diver, you could die in the blue hole ( I was telling my daughter earlier today about how cool it was though, so fun coincidence)… If you’re ballin, you can grab one of the whole island private resorts for like $16k!
Edit: my goal wasn’t to shoot Belize down as a place to go. At all. It’s still in my top five of places to go. I just like to play devil’s advocate.
Costa Rica is tiiiight. Rated happiest country on earth all the time. Drugs are decriminalized (small amounts) & everything is relatively inexpensive. Casinos, beaches, jungles, etc. Most people know a little english & flights to San Jose are cheap. A quick bus/cab trip from there to Jaco Beach.
Man you’ll love it, go see some pyramids 
P.s. @Foreigner its Bubbles favorite destination too. Mikes down there all the time, probably for the “ladies of the evening” 
#TrailerParkBoys
Me personally, the woods! Lol
Really though, the wife and I love national parks. Let me restate that - national parks in their slow seasons.
But, Ireland was awsome, and a beautiful spot was Lake Louise in Alberta.
Saint-Tropez France
South side of El Yunque National Forest in Puerto Rico- cheaper, calmer, quieter than the North where the big resorts and official Visitors Center are. This place looks really nice and peaceful, the Google reviews have some crazy panoramas from the room balconies of the rainforest:
Playa Guiones, Costa Rica
https://magicseaweed.com/Playa-Guiones-Surf-Report/2456/
My wife, daughter and I have stayed in probably 40 or 50 small hotels in Costa Rica, as well as many more in other countries. This is by far our favorite place to stay. No walls, thatched roof, wood floor, wildlife out the ying yang. For us, this was absolute paradise. And I wasn’t even sure my wife would want to stay there. Unfortunately Katya and Terry no longer own it…he was the craziest, most sarcastic best host I’ve ever had and she was just a total sweetheart.
We stayed in this hut
Thanks guys some cool options here. Never been to Puerto Rico.
I’ve been to France but only in the north.
Gre—ea- ea-sy
That whole west coast part of Costa Rica is a great time. I’ve been to Tamarindo and it’s touristy but still lovely.
@CanuckistanPete that place looks really cool. The place I mentioned in Guatemala is similar open air type but way more rustic. My cabana was a thatched hut on the beach made of sticks with a mosquito net and a fan.
I will send these options to Mrs Foreigner for executive approval.
The southern part of CR is way better, IMO, than places like Tamarindo. To each their own, but I prefer to stay away from the crowds, unless it’s wildlife.
I’ve heard it referred to pejoratively as tama-gringo
Yes, that’s what they call it. First time I drove in, turned around and left. Second time we spent an afternoon there, that was good enough for me.
When we went to the Lookout, we spent 5 days there each time. Then went up in the mountains for a few days. Then to a beach. Cover all bases.
I stayed just outside of town so it wasn’t as bad as you might think. But you’re 100% right about town. And the lineup was so crowded I didn’t even surf there. I went to a different beach nearby that was empty.
I cut my foot on a rock and had to dig sand out of the wound and sanitize it with guaro.
Ouch.
The east coast of CR is pretty laid back too. Just stay the hell out of Limon.
Darlington.
“I went to Darlington and all I grew was this lousy t-shirt.”
As an aside this Panamanian coffee I brought back has changed a lot. Still very good but the fruity nuances have faded a bit.
I’ve worked most of my life in kitchens and as a messenger with a lot of Puerto Ricans here in the Northeastern US, and all of them have spoken reverently of El Yunque and the other national forest preserves in PR like the Bosque Estatal de Carite, it sounds magical honestly. There’s also the Pork Highways that are known for their lechonerias with amazing views, especially PR-184 from Patillas to Cayey right through that second forest. There’s also some fantastic botanical gardens there, both the National one in San Juan and the newer one in Caguas:
Was pricey, no idea now as it’s been 10 years but Sandals Jamaica was absolutely unreal! Other than that the only other places I’ve absolutely loved were Alaska…. (Still wanna move there) and California . Tbch my favourite place in the world is still Silver Lake , Magnetawan. My families cottage. I refer to it as paradise, Blue Mountain is beautiful too . Just some input.
If you go the southeast US coastal island route, fly into Atlanta and you can hit this place on the way from the airport. Cumberland Island is pretty sweet.
I stayed at the Hilton Rose Hall and it was a great resort.
Lots of positive things to say about it but the standout was the lazy river which was closer to white water rapids than a lazy river.
And the patties, oh the patties. Nothing like the shit ones we get up here.
We were travelling with a big group, some with more Jamaica experience, so they knew who to/where to go to get good weed. Hybridized for sure but still very nice.
You mean like collingwood? Yeah it’s a really nice place in summer and skiing too.
