Top Ten Vacations - International

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THE WORLD OF
JERRY HENDRICKS

Repercussions of a collector

Vacations

		Top Ten Vacations - International
1.	Video	Kenyan Safari March 3-10, 2001 - Rhino Safaris	Photos

Has held the top spot for many years, and will be hard to beat. The best travel gamble undertaken, since we booked with an unnamed agency by winning a bid at skyauction.com. We were matched with a delightful British couple and our wonderful guide Daniel and it couldn't have worked out better. It was the five of us for 10 days traveling from Nairobi to Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Mt. Kenya National Parks. The wildlife viewing exceeded our expectations by not only bagging the "big 5" but getting a bonus view of nocturnal cats at a watering hole outside of the lodge in Mt. Kenya. The accommodations and food were phenomenal, and again, far exceeded our expectations. A giraffe greeted us at our window in Masai Mara, a Skyler monkey invaded our room and ate our trail mix in Mt. Kenya, I sunk into the muck taking photos around Lake Nakuru, and best of all was a dawn viewing of a pride of lions hunting warthogs for breakfast. Above is the hungry mother waiting to serve her cubs and we watched from no more than 10 feet away.

2.	Video	Amazing Thailand April 20 - May 3, 2003 - Friendly Planet	Photos

A close second. Exotic, wonderfully friendly people, excellent guide (Keysera), and "amazing" as advertised. Our first trip with Friendly Planet and we have traveled with them several times since they are always well run, hit the tourist highlights, but also go behind the scenes meeting with locals, and it's surprisingly affordable. Another unexpected experience, staying in excellent hotels and resorts and eating the best food on earth. Highlights include the elephant ride above in Chiang Mai, the Damneon Saduak floating market, meeting with the Akha hillside tribe in the Golden Triangle, and the incredible Buddhist temples.

3.	Video	Ireland November 12 - 20, 2002 - Dooley	Photos

Barbara's childhood dream vacation in a quest to see thatched roofs. Cliffs of Moher, Bunratty Castle, Ring of Kerry, Killarney National Park and the Dingle peninsula. Great trip and surprisingly mild weather for November, with only rain the first and last days. Returned in May 2012 and did a castles and national parks tour. Next time we'll search for the ancestral homeland in County Antrim.

4.	Video	Amazing Peru May 20-29, 2009 - Friendly Planet	Photos

Another "amazing" trip with Friendly Planet. Machu Picchu was of course the primary draw, but also amazing were the Nazca Lines, Cuzco, the Sacred Valley, and the floating reed island of Uros in Lake Titicaca.

5.	Video	Jewels of the Adriatic May 8 -21, 2013 - Smartours	Photos

20th Anniversary trip primarily to Croatia, but also a few days in Slovenia, Bosnia and Montenegro. 4 counties, 4 National Parks, 4 UNESCO World Heritage sites. Highlights included Lake Bled, Slovenia viewing Bled Castle in the Julian Alps at left, Plitvice Lakes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, containing a series of beautiful lakes, caves and waterfalls, Bay of Kotor Montenegro, Mostar, Bosnia and Dubrovnik, Croatia.
6.	Video	Morocco January 15- 27, 2019 - Gate 1 Travel	Photos

First trip to a land of mystery and our fourth tour with Gate 1 Travel. Read a few things about Morocco but all I knew is that it is the home of couscous. Every day was a new adventure with wonderful discoveries. The people, the culture, the food, it was amazing.
7.	Video	Iconic Western Mediterranean November 12 - 21, 2019 -Viking	Photos

Second cruise with Viking and we were treated royally on this one. We had been scheduled to take this in 2018 but they overbooked and offed us an unbelievable package to postpone a year. In addition to a nice rebate we got to stay in the Explorer's Suite and got to experience how the other half lives. The destinations were not to shabby either.
8.	Video	Romantic Rhine / Elegant Danube River Cruises May 2016 & Sept 2017- YMT Vacations	Photos

Back to back river cruises that flipped my opinion of cruising. Small ship, no casino, excellent port stops and sites to see along the river rather than just water. The accommodations were underwhelming so would upgrade to Viking for the next trip.
9.	Video	Mexico May 4-15, 2018 -Gate 1 Travel	Photos

25th Anniversary trip and turned out so much better than expected. Was unaware of every stop we made, yet each one was terrific. Fabulous guide, good food, good company and Copper Canyon was spectacular.
10.	Video	Greece May 7-15, 2011 - Friendly Planet	Photos

Another anniversary trip with Friendly Planet to Athens plus an island hopping cruise hitting Mykonos, Santorini, Crete, Rhodes, Patmos and Kusadai, Turkey. Been fascinated with Classical Greece since 10th grade history class. Thrilled to finally experience the ancient sites as well as the islands beauty. Fortunate timing since the streets of Athens erupted protesting austerity measures imposed shortly after our visit.

Last updated, September 14, 2020