One of the most beautiful, peaceful places where I know I will always be able to relax and be refreshed is the forested property of some good friends on the shores of Hood Canal in Washington State. Over the years I have been blessed to spend many days in various cabins that are nestled into the sloping hillside, just being still and listening to the waves lap the shore. There's not another neighbor in sight and it's far away from the hectic pace of much of the world. But if you don't have friends or family with such property what can you do to truly get away and be still?
Bing recently published a
list of secluded hotels around the world - for those wanting to get away from everything- and while all their suggestions look fabulous, many of them cost so much money, which is all well and good if you have thousands of dollars to spend. So here is a short list (by no means comprehensive) of recommended places that came to mind in response to the Bing list. None will cost a fortune (you may have to pay to get there) and once there, you will never want to leave.
Lopez Farm Cottages - Lopez Island, Washington State
Easy and convenient for those in Seattle. Immaculate, cozy and clean "Northwest Scandinavian"cottages where all you will hear and see are rabbits, deer and sheep grazing. No kids under 14 and no Recreational Vehicles.
This review gives a good summary. Tent Camping is also available - cheaper but obviously you will be with a few more people then!
All Seasons Guest House, Hopkins, Belize
We have only stayed here once, but have been wanting to return ever since and based on the website and reviews, it keeps getting better and better over the years. Located on the beach of the Caribbean Sea, All Seasons Guest House, Beach Apartments and Cabana is located in Hopkins, a small laid back fishing village. If you read Trip Advisor, you won't find a bad review - and it's true, the owner, Ingrid, is awesome. Check out their beautiful website which actually does begin to capture the essence of this place.
All Seasons is close to the
Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary and Jaguar Reserve the first Jaguar reserve ever established. They say the odds of seeing a Jaguar there are 17,000 to one but...Andrea and I were riding our rented moped from Ingrid through an orange grove one afternoon and there to our right, coming out of the jungle into the grove was a very big cat! So they are there - and was Ingrid ever jealous that night when we returned and told her as she had never seen one even after living there many years. It remains one of the highlights of our travels.
Amber Lagoon, Near Route 62, between Oudtshoorn and Calitzdorp, South Africa
I wrote about Amber Lagoon
here, when we stayed there on our round the world trip in 2008-2009 and like All Seasons Guest House above, I can't wait to return. Similar to All Seasons the owners continue to make this property and their website even more beautiful. Lonely Planet writes “there's something magical about the vast arid Karoo. Maybe it's the wide open spaces that make you feel so tiny, or maybe it's the towns, which make you feel you've been suspended in time. The population is sparse, and off the main highways you can drive for hours without seeing another car.”
Sani Top Chalet, On the border (literally) between South Africa and Lesotho
Ok, confession, we haven't stayed here, but if you are looking for a stark, desolate, beautiful location, this is the place to come - but perhaps not in the winter. Although their upscale Rondavels all have fireplaces and ensuite bathrooms, water can freeze in the winter months. Check out their
website. We stopped in here for a drink on our way up Sani Pass into Lesotho. You can read about our experience
here. Remote and beautiful, the views are never ending.
And finally two general locations close to my heart...
Cameron Highlands, Malaysia
The Cameron Highlands remains one of the most amazing and magical places I have lived. It is a nature lover's
paradise, high in the hills, surrounded by jungle, tea estates, waterfalls, orchids and Monkey Cups (pitcher plants). It is much cooler than many places in SE Asia and thus used to be the mountain getaway for the British back in the colonial days. Although there has been much development and growth around the towns of Brinchang and Tanah Rata, once you leave the towns and start a hike into the jungle you'll be surrounded by noone - just deep jungle. There are more than enough hotels and guest houses to stay in (too many in fact), so don't linger in the towns, the jungle beckons...start hiking and exploring!
Maehongson, Thailand
Growing up in Maehongson province in the far northwest of Thailand, I have often said that if a celebrity really wanted to escape the paparazzi, I could bring them here and help them vanish. (Knowing friends in many villages and towns helps!) Though "civilization" has arrived here, I can still find many places to get away in this former Thai "outpost." Rugged mountains, steep valleys, jungle and forest, farms and rice fields in the valleys fed by clear cold rivers and streams, this in many ways is home to me.
Many travellers choose to rent a motorcycle and do the 600km
loop from Chiang Mai to Maehongson and back again.
Do you have a favorite get away place that truly gets you away that you can recommend?
Duncan
Merry Christmas from Seattle where we are celebrating with our families for the first time in four years. We are here for ten days before we begin our wanderings again...
We always want to come back from our wanderings as wiser people with a greater understanding of the world. We hope that our vision and understanding of the cultures and challenges facing the world will be expanded. And we hope to be refreshed and ready to return to life back home. 
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