What has been your most influential/useful course?

[burbuja0512]

Sorry, but I have to ask, what have been your favourite 3 countries so far? Its rare that a person is lucky enough to travel to that many, and I'm all ears (or eyes as the case may be) to know which were the best experiences!

Thanks for asking Hmmmm... it depends. Keep in mind that I travel mostly for business, but do manage to have a vacation or two yearly due to miles and adding on a day or two when I go to a cool destination.

#1 France, but only in the winter. I was fortunate enough to have quite a bit of business there and got to see Paris when it wasn't full of tourists. It's magical.
#2 Japan - There are so many amazing sites to see and it's not a packed-full tourist destination. Japanese hospitality is unreal and Tokyo is so safe that the hoards of bicycles you see everywhere aren't even chained. No need to - people don't steal.
#3 Czech Republic - Mostly because Prague is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, but there are tons of small surprises throughout the country. It's got an Eastern European flavor, but you won't have any trouble getting by with English in most places.

Honorable mention would probably be:
*Switzerland - most beautiful country I've seen yet, but you can easily spend $70 on a simple lunch. (Yes I've done this with 2 people, sandwiches and beer)
*Chile - I just went there and loved it, including the 5.5 earthquake I was in, but I have only been once and therefore can't really say.
*Moldova - It's the cheapest country in Europe and there are hidden gems that can be uncovered for pennies. Downside - literally no one speaks English and my Romanian is terrible.
*Brazil - not so safe right now and I love it, but only from a business perspective. Not sure that I'd go there for tourism.


Bottom of the list:
*Anywhere in the Middle East. Yes, even Dubai. It sucks and I can go into lengthy detail, but in a nutshell, I don't believe in stoning, amputation, or slavery.
*China: Soooo many things to see.. too bad you can't see them due to pollution that looks like fog. No joke. It's BAD.
*India: I actually really like India, but recognize that it's terrible and a 'love or hate' sort of place. It's dirty, more crowded than you can imagine, and the caste system is alive and well. The Taj Mahal was so crowded and filthy that I felt like I was in trapped in a rice cooker. The food is amazing, but bring serious pepto bismol.
*Algeria: Ok, this really counts as part of the Middle East, but it was such a traumatic experience, I wanted to list separately. Working all day in 105 degree heat, no air conditioner, getting stuck in a sandstorm afterwards... oh yeah, and the airport security guard that wouldn't let me leave the country without a marriage proposal. Flattering, but a bit terrifying due to the AK-47 he was carrying!

LOL - just a few places that my MBA has helped me go I wouldn't change a thing, even for the places I don't love.