Will ABD Ever Do New Countries?

[Donalyn]

I will admit to being a little surprised when they added Colombia - not a location that was on my travel radar at all (the people I know who have been have been visiting family there, not going as a normal tourist). The trip looks great, I just hadn't ever really looked at visiting before.

I will be curious as to how some of the new trips do for ABD. While I believe that there is a big travel market for some of the newer destinations, the question remains whether that market is for "family" travel with kids in tow. And safety considerations (real or imagined), geopolitical considerations, food considerations, ease of travel between places of interest, as well as tourism infrastructure (read nice hotels, airports and roads for tour buses) all play into this. I mean, planning a Road Scholar trip is very different from an ABD trip, all around.

 

[cedricandsophie]

We haven’t been on an ABD trip. But people seem to love them. The prices seem high although I know the service is supposed to be great. We have done morroco on our own with a guide. Fabulous country and people. In fez our room overlooked the city. Magical to hear the come to prayer bells ringing all over the city. While in Morocco developed a love for the Muslim people. Their kindness was unmatched anywhere in the world. Hopefully the ABD trip includes a tour around the country not just the big cities.
We have done India and Nepal thru another tour group thru an alumni association. Another incredible country with wonderful people. A culture that is sometimes hard to comprehend for us but amazing to watch. Seeing a body being burned sounds so offensive to us. But as you watch the families you realize it’s such a spiritual experience. It would be a good learning lesson for children. In India we only had one woman get sick but she refused to not drink the water. Her own fault.

In Nepal we took a morning flight around mt Everest. Perfect sky. A once in a lifetime experience. We also went to a bar in Kathmandu packed with climbers. So much fun and lots of beer along with stories. We also came upon a ceremony where young girls were being blessed and purified in preparation for marriage sone day. It was another memory I will always have.

 

[Plannerwithaplan]

I will admit to being a little surprised when they added Colombia - not a location that was on my travel radar at all (the people I know who have been have been visiting family there, not going as a normal tourist). The trip looks great, I just hadn't ever really looked at visiting before.

I will be curious as to how some of the new trips do for ABD. While I believe that there is a big travel market for some of the newer destinations, the question remains whether that market is for "family" travel with kids in tow. And safety considerations (real or imagined), geopolitical considerations, food considerations, ease of travel between places of interest, as well as tourism infrastructure (read nice hotels, airports and roads for tour buses) all play into this. I mean, planning a Road Scholar trip is very different from an ABD trip, all around.

I did the Colombia trip this summer! You can read my trip report here if you are interested. https://www.disboards.com/threads/colombia-trip-report-june-2024.3950110/