O62

I was looking for travel destinations and lamented the South Pacific is so far from me. But, then I realized we are so lucky in the US to have the many islands of the Caribbean right in our backyard. So, it got me wondering, which continent has it best?

As far as I see it, there are roughly four zones of highly developed nations with significant travelling populations, each of which have great island getaways pretty close by.

1. North America (the Caribbean)
2. Europe (the Med + Azores, Madeira, Canaries)
3. NZ/Australia (Oceania)
4. China/Taiwan/Japan/Benevolent Korea (Southeast Asia and tow + some Oceania)

So who's got it the best in terms of proximity to sunny getaways? Where would you love to be close to? I'll let you choose your criteria of "best" whether it is variety, your special place, highly developed, highly undeveloped, w/e.

For me, I've always loved Oceania so being in NZ/Australia would be great. There is something about the many different islands that can be so small and so far away from each other to really make them feel like you are away from the world. The Caribbean, though great, just seems so very influenced and very close to the U.S. Maybe this is a case of the grass is greener...

[Also, given this is FT, you all probably want to be as far as possible from your favorite destinations to rack of miles]

quick_dry

do you gauge proximity by distance, travel time, or cost of getting there?

With the deep discounting that frequently goes on, getting to Hawaii can be cheaper from SYD than it is to get other places within the country

LowRoller

We are pretty lucky to have the caribbean. I live in south Georgia so its even cheaper for me. Usually rt tickets for about 200-250.

jcwoman

From the title I thought you were asking about the backyards of individual people. I knew someone once who lived in a small house on the Big Island of Hawaii, on the south facing slope of the volcano. Her unfenced back yard had a 180 degree view of the ocean and all of the South Point plain below her. It was jaw-dropping, and I imagine her property was valued something like this: house - $100K, property - $10,000,000.

gglave

I think it also depends a lot on whether "island" means "palm trees and clownfish" - In your context I guess it does.

I'm currently on holiday on Vancouver Island. To get here, I took a two-hour car ferry from greater Vancouver to the Island, then drove up-island for 90 minutes. There are lots of scenic islands in the Pacific Northwest.

Here's the view from the front deck on my cottage - I'm in shorts and a T-shirt. No palm trees though:

Nugget_Oz

Australia/NZ and Southeast Asia as they have it in their front yards.

The Whitsundays, Hamilton Island, Pulau Tioman and Halong Bay.

mandolino

Scotland of course. We got Inner AND Outer Hebrides.
Palm trees too, check these on Isle of Gigha:

gglave

^

...and Scotch.

Kagehitokiri

obviously asia, which can do pacific too

mandolino

Paradise 1
Paradise 2

HelloKittysMum

What about Africa with Mauritius, Maldives, Seychelles off the East Coast and Azores, Canaries to the West?

Showbizguru

Mmm, gotta love those grey skies, nondescript farm buildings and muddy roads.
Book me a flight straight away !

exilencfc

Nice islands but not so easy/convenient to get to.

The UK in general has some nice islands, aprt from the Scottish ones there's also the Scillies, Isle of White, Isle of Man and a lot of others. Not tropical admittedly but plenty of interesting history and wildlife.

Going by the OP's criteria I think Europe might be best because of the variety of islands which are easily accessible and relatively unspoilt.