English Speaking Countries Travel Guide

- English Speaking Countries are easy to get around for English speakers, historically interesting, generally safe from violent crime, offer few health problems and are often blessed with spectacular scenery. Careful, eco-friendly developement of these landscapes and the provision of appropriate facilities makes these countries among the best in the world for outdoor pursuits, especially hiking.

- The Downside is that they are not cheap, the weather is often unpredictable, cuisine can be dull and not dissimilar to one's home diet [maybe that's a good point?] and the thrill of alien discovery is distinctly lacking.

- Self drive car hire is often the best way to get around these spacious, picturesque countries when you've had enough city culture. Good infrastructure, safe driving conditions and good quality rental cars at a reasonable price give drivers the freedom to escape timetables and pick the right spot at the right time for the right activity.

UK Travel Guide:

- safe, especially good for history, city culture, some sports and walking.
Best: April-Sept. [July/August are crowded, prices will be up, accomodation difficult]
Worst: Jan-Feb.

Ireland Travel Guide:

- safe, especially good for walks and other outdoor pursuits, city culture, festivals. Ireland Map
Best: May-September.
Worst: Jan-Feb.

New Zealand Travel Guide:

- very safe, world famous for nature walks and mad outdoor pursuits.
Best: Nov-April [summer, note that school holidays are from Dec 20-end of Jan, a busy time].
Worst: the rest, though June-Oct is good for skiing.

Australia Travel Guide:

- safe, especially good for watersports, long self-drive trips, and city culture, popular for holiday work.
Best: Nov-March [summer] in the south. e.g. Sydney, Melbourne, Tasmania.
Best: May-Oct in the north. e.g. Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Darwin.
Worst: April-Sept [south]
Worst: Nov - March [north]

Canada Travel Guide:

- safe, good for outdoor pursuits, especially wintersports, wildlife and summer hiking.
Lively city cultures in and Quebec City; excellent, unusual festivals all over.
Best: May-Sept or to ski, Dec-March [n.b July/August: crowds, prices will be up, accomodation difficult]
Worst: Nov-March [wet or cold] unless for winter sports.

South Africa Travel Guide:

- a country in the mould of Australia, with a fine climate, hardy, friendly locals, plenty of outdoor action - particularly hiking and surfing - and excellent robust cuisine.
Scenery is stunning, wildlife is rampant and prices are inexpensive. Crime is a concern but is avoidable with common sense and attention to advice.
This is a great self-drive country.
Best: Spring [Sept-Nov] and Autumn [Feb-May], but also good in winter [June-Sept].

USA Travel Guide:

- especially good for all sorts of outdoor pursuits, long self-drive trips, and city culture, esp. New York, San Fransisco, Los Angeles and New Orleans.
Best: depends on the target area. Southern States [Florida, Texas, Arizona, Southern California, Louisiana are great Oct-March, but unbearably hot and sticky June-Sept. Northern States such as Washington, New York and Massachusetts will be very cold in winter and quite hot in the summer.

Guides by region:

South West | California | San Francisco
Los Angeles | Arizona | Las Vegas

Mid-Atlantic | New York City

New England | Boston

Alaska | Hawaii

Pacific Northwest | Seattle

Rocky Mountains

Capital Region | Washington DC

Southern States | Florida | Miami | New Orleans

Great Plains | Texas | Dallas

Great Lakes | Chicago