Do you like tropical islands?

Yes, once you have been bitten by the travel bug you have had it for there is no cure. I wished I lived nearer the South Pacific and all its gorgeous islands. I think Samoa is my favorite as it has tradition, much natural beauty and is not too pricey. I was amazed my the sight of Moorea in the early morning as the boat approached it.

One island I forgot to mention was Crete, anthough I suspect tourism has destroyed it now. I stayed there for two weeks in 1996, and it is one place I would love to live, but only if it hasn't changed.

Yes, one of my friends has been to Crete and really enjoyed it there. I have been to Spetse and think it is best to remember it as it was. I heard that poets Ted Hughes and Silvia Plath had their honeymoon in an unspoilt coastal village. These days it is a large and noisy resort full of tower blocks. Places do change over time and it happens within the tourist resort life cycle. I like places that are less touristy and unspoilt and such places are becoming harder to find.

Oh, I would love to go to Grand Cayman. Did you find it quite expensive there? I will look up your little adventure with a sting ray. Thanks for telling me about it. I snorkeled with some sting rays in French Polynesia. I touched them and they felt like velvet. It was a magical and relaxing experience. You would love the Maldives. Every island there has a different feel to it. It is about chilling out on palm fringed beaches, swimming, snorkeling, and that sort of activity. I met many divers. I liked the rustic island I went to first, then the capital Male and lastly Gan where I flew to. The hotel there had a huge swimming pool. Yes, it would be a long flight but why not stopover in Dubai? I think the Maldives would good for romance with your sweetie.

Yes, when shopping I find markets and non-touristy shops often have some bargains. The shops in resorts and hotel complexes are often really expensive. I am sorry to hear that you bought a t'shirt for $20 then saw one for $8. The Cayman Islands sound lovely and your trip there was not too pricey. Thanks for telling us more about your great vacation.

Me and my sweetie stayed at an all inclusive resort right on 7 mile beach. All food and drinks were included and we stayed a whole 7 days. It only cost us $3000 USD for the round trip flight, resort, and everything. When shopping I noticed if you went to local stores instead of tourist traps you could get the same exact thing for less than half the price. I bought a shirt at a "gift shop" for $20. The same shirt was $8 across the street from our hotel. But stay away from the salt water taffy. It is $11 a pound. LOL I will look for other flights to the Maldives. They look so beautiful.

That certainly sounds like a nice idea that I might put into operation! :)

I also have a fair skin that can burn easily so I wear a high factor suncream, sunglasses and a sun hat. I hope that you would go to Christmas Island one day. Flying to mainland Australia after that you might visit the Great Barrier Reef and a few of its gorgeous islands. Thanks for your wonderful description and brightest blessings my friend.

Thanks for this superb response and adding that your wife is from the Philippines. It is interesting that she can't take the tropics anymore. Yes, a few weeks on a tropical island is blissful but a life there it might be a bit boring. I went to Caye Caulker in Belize and when it rained I went to the Internet cafe. Yes, it is hot and humid in Florida and I love that sort of weather. California would be a lovely place to live but it does get cool in the winter.

sorry..these places i mentioned..are in the Philippines..Negros Occ..Philippines

Two years is not long to wait. I hope that you will enjoy visiting the tropical island very much indeed. I wish you happy traveling for the future.

You are an islander and it is lucky that you were born in the gorgeous jewel island of Malta. I have been there and to beautiful Gozo. You have been to many of the South Pacific Islands on a cruise. Wow! Thanks for telling us about all your exciting tropical island adventures.

I hope that you go island hopping in Thailand one day. It is known as the land of smiles. I saw the island The Beach was featured in on a travel program. It looked crowed with tourists but the traveler took boat out to a deserted island. Luckily they didn't meet any hungry sharks. Yes, I love to travel. I have been to St Lucia and seen the Pitons. Yes, it is expensive but the Maldives are far more select and pricey.

I have been to Hawaii. It is popular with American and Japanese people. It was relaxing to spend time on the palm fringed beaches and interesting but sad to see Pearl Harbor. I hope that you go there one day.

Yes, I now remember hearing about Puerto Rico and I should have included it. I think it would be wonderful to see rain forest and amazing waterfalls. I am sure it has stunning beaches. Is Spanish spoken there?

Yes, I went to the Seychelles in 2004 and the Maldives in 2006. Both are expensive but worth it. I hope that you go to both these places one day. I have been to St Lucia and I now want to go to more of the lovely Caribbean islands. I fancy going to Tobago and Grenada.

Yes, I have been to Kuala Lumpur and really enjoyed it there. I did it on my way round the world arriving in Malaysia after my adventures in Sumatra. Then I went to Singapore. I live in a country that is rich in history and love to see old architecture. I enjoy it in Europe but I enjoy tropical islands even more. I went to Lisbon last summer. I think you would like it there. I like the sight of a palm fringed beach but I have to do something like snorkeling as well otherwise it could get boring.

Yes, you might like to watch some TV programs or read books about tropical islands. There are some gorgeous books with photos of palm fringed beaches and all the beautiful scenery. I hope that you will visit a tropical island one day.

I would love to go to India one day. I have heard that it has got some very unspoilt beaches off its coast.

Yes, sunsets are amazing to see. I saw one in the Seychelles and took a photo of it and a swing. It set the mood perfectly. I live in Europe and have been to many countries as they are near me and are interesting but I still love tropical islands more. Malta and Sardinia are charming islands that you might enjoy.

Yes, Hawaii is expensive. Why did you hate the island in Japan so much? I am sure the Florida Keys are beautiful. I flew into Cancun and rushed on to Caye Caulker instead of going to Isla Cozumel. I bet it is lovely there.