I think that we have settled on India as our big vacation for this coming year. The only things that I think we are set on are the Taj Mahal and Goa. I would love any and all ideas. I haven't really started to research at all.
Do you know which part of Goa? I've spent a lot of time in Calangute, which is a pleasant little area. It's close to Baga without quite as much bustle and tourism. Palolem is much quieter, and while it has certainly grown in the last few decades, it's still a bit less developed than other areas.
How long are you planning to spend in total?
Rajasthan is a natural extension to a visit to Agra. Jaipur is pretty common and has a lot of sights (and Fatehpur Sikri is a great stop if you travel overland between the two). Personally, I adored Udaipur. The lake is gorgeous, and the nearby Jain temple in Ranakpur was amazing (over a thousand carved marble pillars, and none of them are exactly the same).
If you have enough time to warrant a third part of the country (I'd say at least 3 weeks), consider adding Kerala. Renting a fully-staffed houseboat on the backwaters for a night is extremely affordable and so relaxing. And the tea plantations around Munnar are beautiful.
GilliC I have no idea what part of Goa. I just heard from a friend that she really enjoyed the resort she stayed at there. If there are other areas of the country that have beachy-resorts I would be totally open to them, too. Basically, I am just looking for 3 days or so of relaxation. The rest of the trip I'd like to sightsee and do stuff.
I think that we will only have 2 weeks, probably not including travel time.
Your other ideas are very helpful! I love the houseboat idea.
If you're after a beach resort, Goa definitely has the best beaches and the most options. You'll probably have the best choice of high-end luxury resorts. On our trip to Kerala, we spent a few days at a resort in Kovalam, but it was decidedly middle of the road. I'm not really a resort person, and it wasn't really a resort trip, so I didn't care. There is a Taj resort there, but I don't know much about it other than that the grounds looked nice. So if you're planning to spend a week at the beach, I'd stick with Goa. If you just want a few beach days as a rest in the middle of a more sightseeing-oriented trip, you might consider Kerala and spend a few nights in Kovalam for a beach break. It's not an amazing beach experience, but honestly, I don't think India is the place to go for a beach holiday. I love Goa, but that's mostly for the food, the price, and the convenience (my ILs had an apartment there). If I wanted to spend $$$ on a beach vacation, I'd go somewhere else.
Also, what time of year are you going? I loved Goa in early May, because it was almost completely empty! Huge swathes of beach all to ourselves! It was crazy hot (and downright miserable up in Rajasthan), and only a few beach shacks were still open, but it was so relaxing! During winter (Dec to Feb) it's so crowded. Tons of British pensioners who retire down there for a good chunk of the year. And of course, during the monsoon (starting mid-May, which is why the beach shacks were closing down) there's pretty much no point in visiting!
When I am planning a trip to a country that I am relatively unfamiliar with, I check the guided tour company websites (like Abercrombie and Kent, since I think they're the level of travel you would want) and look at their trip itineraries to see where they go and what routing they use. You might want to just read over some of the standard tours to see if there are other areas that interest you. It also helps me figure out the most logical route around a country. And the hotels they use are usually on my short list for places to stay, since I assume they are well-vetted. Just a thought!
Great minds think alike! I was actually JUST doing that!
Also, I was going to ask if you have been there, but it seems like not.
We are thinking that we will go the end of February. I am having a baby in May, so any later is probably out.
Since you're going to be pregnant while traveling, is look into MedJet (I think I recommended them to you before) just in case. Double-check to confirm they cover you if you're already pregnant, but I would definitely make sure you have travel insurance with medical evacuation just in case you need it. I add MedJet on top of standard travel insurance because MedJet lets you choose the hospital / country you are transferred to if you need care (supposedly - I've never used it), whereas standard travel insurance usually just transfers you to the nearest acceptable hospital / facility.
I've not done India yet but I will look forward to hearing about it when you return!
Definitely. My former FIL always used MedJet (I think, I will have to check for sure which company it was) and they flew him from Columbia to Miami no questions asked, fully covered.
Post by alleinesein on Dec 5, 2014 11:10:54 GMT -5
Argh! I have so much info but I am actually walking out the door right now heading up to Disneyland for the day. I promise I will post when I get home tonight or tomorrow morning
I'll just give you a quick list of places I've been in India and then you can tell me what you want more info on -Mumbai (lived here in 2012 & 2013) -Bengaluru (lived here this year for a few months) -Mysore -Chennai/Mammallapuram -Ft. Cochin -Alleppey -Thekkady -Munnar -New Delhi -Agra -Jaipur
Post by dr.girlfriend on Dec 5, 2014 11:25:47 GMT -5
If it's in your budget, I would consider the Palace on Wheels train tour. I did it more than 10 years ago, but it was Jaipur, Udaipur, a side trip to the Taj Mahal, and a few other places I'm forgetting. The benefit is you don't have to deal with different hotels, and all the travel is at night, which due to road conditions is pretty difficult to do by driving. I think the restaurants and stuff are pretty well scoped-out also. Some might consider it a "sanatized" version of India, for better or worse, but I found it to be well-organized and you didn't have to deal with some of the issues you might going it on your own (e.g. bribe requests, finding trustoworthy guides, organizing ticket purchases).
I definitely recommend ending the trip in Goa, to relax and decompress!
Argh! I have so much info but I am actually walking out the door right now heading up to Disneyland for the day. I promise I will post when I get home tonight or tomorrow morning
I'll just give you a quick list of places I've been in India and then you can tell me what you want more info on -Mumbai (lived here in 2012 & 2013) -Bengaluru (lived here this year for a few months) -Mysore -Chennai/Mammallapuram -Ft. Cochin -Alleppey -Thekkady -Munnar -New Delhi -Agra -Jaipur
Thank you SO much! Definitely Mumbai, Agra, and Jaipur, but really, I am not that informed on India and would absolutely love to hear anything unique, interesting, must see.
If it's in your budget, I would consider the Palace on Wheels train tour. I did it more than 10 years ago, but it was Jaipur, Udaipur, a side trip to the Taj Mahal, and a few other places I'm forgetting. The benefit is you don't have to deal with different hotels, and all the travel is at night, which due to road conditions is pretty difficult to do by driving. I think the restaurants and stuff are pretty well scoped-out also. Some might consider it a "sanatized" version of India, for better or worse, but I found it to be well-organized and you didn't have to deal with some of the issues you might going it on your own (e.g. bribe requests, finding trustoworthy guides, organizing ticket purchases).
I definitely recommend ending the trip in Goa, to relax and decompress!
I would love to do the Palace on Wheels just for the train! Was it incredible?
If it's in your budget, I would consider the Palace on Wheels train tour. I did it more than 10 years ago, but it was Jaipur, Udaipur, a side trip to the Taj Mahal, and a few other places I'm forgetting. The benefit is you don't have to deal with different hotels, and all the travel is at night, which due to road conditions is pretty difficult to do by driving. I think the restaurants and stuff are pretty well scoped-out also. Some might consider it a "sanatized" version of India, for better or worse, but I found it to be well-organized and you didn't have to deal with some of the issues you might going it on your own (e.g. bribe requests, finding trustoworthy guides, organizing ticket purchases).
I definitely recommend ending the trip in Goa, to relax and decompress!
I would love to do the Palace on Wheels just for the train! Was it incredible?
It was nice! Obviously the sleeping compartments were very small and all that compared to a hotel room, but the convenience is unmatched. My parents travel to India almost yearly, and they're doing the PoW for their next trip in a few months, so I can update you guys with more recent info!
I would love to do the Palace on Wheels just for the train! Was it incredible?
It was nice! Obviously the sleeping compartments were very small and all that compared to a hotel room, but the convenience is unmatched. My parents travel to India almost yearly, and they're doing the PoW for their next trip in a few months, so I can update you guys with more recent info!
Presumably larger than a typical commercial sleeper compartment, though, right?
It was nice! Obviously the sleeping compartments were very small and all that compared to a hotel room, but the convenience is unmatched. My parents travel to India almost yearly, and they're doing the PoW for their next trip in a few months, so I can update you guys with more recent info!
Presumably larger than a typical commercial sleeper compartment, though, right?
Don't know, never had a sleeper on any other train. They have pics on their website I think, although I'm sure the photography is flattering.
I've lived in India for 8 yrs now (Bangalore and Chennai). I would definitely recommend the Hyatt in Goa (if you're thinking relaxed beach resort) we stayed there twice with our 4 yr old and also with my in-laws. It was a fabulous hotel and wasn't too far off the beaten path.
I have stayed at a few hotels in Delhi and all have been good (taj, Sheraton, le meridien) and did a day trip to the Taj Mahal once (but that was before I had my son). When we do the Taj again, I would opt to stay in Agra so that the journey to/from isn't too long and you don't have to spend 15 hrs of a 24-hr day in a bus/van.
February would be a nice time to visit as it's not too hot and probably won't be too cold in Delhi/Agra.
I would suggest hiring an English speaking driver (with car - we've had great experience with a company called Car Club) and maybe working with a local travel agency to help with inter-city logistics. We use a company called Travel Tours and they have always been really professional.
Post by alleinesein on Dec 6, 2014 14:29:08 GMT -5
Here you go! I may add more info later today and I really need to get off my lazy bum and post my trip report for my latest India adventure.
That being said...I (heart) (heart) (heart) (heart) Mumbai! I could go on for days about my love for the city!
Mumbai This is a great city to fly in and out of. The new international terminal opened up earlier this year and it is wonderful (although a shack on the side of the road would've been an improvement over the old terminal!). Its huge and you will have to do a bit of walking but they hired a ton of Indian artists to create murals in the corridors and it definitely livens up the place. I would highly recommend BA flight 199 from LHR to BOM as your arrival flight. It gets into Mumbai around 11:30am/Noon and it is the only international arrival at that time. You wont have to deal with the hoards of people that arrive from all of the European and Asian flights between Midnight and 2am; the airport is a zoo between 11pm and 3am every day.
Hotels- I have stayed at the Taj Lands End in Bandra on multiple occasions. This is my go to hotel in Mumbai. Its in a very quiet and safe part of town and it attracts a lot of Indian clientele. The rooms are decent sized and the bathrooms are huge. It is within walking distance of a few restaurants and a short rickshaw ride from Linking Road and Pali Hill. I have also stayed at the Renaissance Hotel in Powai. Nice hotel that seems to cater to the business traveler. Felt like a generic US hotel; no real charm but some of the rooms do have a nice view of Powai Lake. Biggest drawback to this hotel is that it is a good distance away from most of the city and it can easily take you 2 hours to get to SoBo by car. If you have the $$ look into staying at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Colaba (South Bombay) and request a room in the old part of the hotel. Its close to a few touristy things and its beautiful historic hotel.
Transportation- Be prepared for traffic. Cabs are plentiful and easy to find. Rickshaws are only allowed in the Western suburbs so if you want to venture into the central part of the city you will need a cab. You can usually hire a cab driver for INR 1000 for the day (a hotel car and driver can easily charge INR 8000+ for a day). Train travel is very cheap but the trains in Mumbai are always packed and I would advise against it if you have the $$ to pay for a cab. Hotels in the western suburbs will usually have a rate sheet for rickshaw fares but I have found that rickshaw drivers in Mumbai are pretty honest and will use the meter 99.9% of the time.
Things to do- Be prepared to walk and be eaten alive by mosquitos! Wear comfy shoes and bring lots of water. Elephanta Island is an hour away from the Gateway to India by boat. Once you reach the island you will still have to trek up the hill to reach the ruins. Its a good day trip and you an combine it with seeing the Gateway to India. The Prince of Wales museum is also in the area. It houses some Indian archaeological artifacts and its a bit of a mish mash of everything. Occasionally they have exhibits on loan from the British Museum. There are a few art museums in the Kala Ghoda part of town and every February they have the Kala Ghoda Art Festival. The Dobi Ghat is the famous outdoor laundry. Gandhi's House-Mani Bhavan. The Hanging Gardens. Various temples scattered throughout town- Lalbaugcha Raja is the famous Ganesh temple and its worth a visit. On the outskirts of town there is the Global Vipassana Pagoda near Gorai Creek (its next door to Essel World theme park). Taking the Essel World ferry is the easiest way to get there and its just a short walk from the ferry landing. Borivali Park houses a few zoo like exhibits and the Kanheri Caves. The caves are worth a visit- they are buddhist caves built into the hillside and there are a ton of them. Lots of climbing and very little shade but the views are spectacular. Marine Drive is great for people watching at night. Beaches- Chowpatty and Juhu are 2 of the more popular beaches in town.
Shopping- For clothes and silver jewelry I recommend Santacruz Marketplace next to Santacruz Station. Its a few blocks of various street vendors and stores that sell all sorts of items. You can pick up kurtas for INR 200-400 each. Silver Plaza has some inexpensive silver jewelry. For fabric you need to check out Mangaldas Market. Its the fabric market and you can get great bargains on silk and other textiles. Colaba Causeway is your standard tourist shopping area; your one stop shopping destination for standard souvenirs. Be prepared to haggle over the price of everything. Fabindia has some great stuff but it is a bit pricey. Amrapali is my go to place when I want to buy jewelry. They have a good mix of silver and gold pieces in traditional Indian designs and modern designs.
Food- You can find almost everything in Mumbai. Most hotels include breakfast in your room price and offer a variety of British and Indian breakfast items. You will be able to get Idli, Dosa and Sambar in most places if you want to try Indian breakfast foods. Be prepared to pay US/European prices for food in nicer restaurants; an upscale Indian restaurant can easily set you back USD $100 for dinner for 2. Likewise you can find really cheap eats all over the place. Alcohol is heavily taxed and expensive; it is usually taxed at a 20-25% rate. Zomato and Burrp are great resources for finding restaurants in town. A few restaurants to check out
Hotel Mahesh. This is a no frills place located on the outskirts of BKC off of CST Road opposite the Mercedes Benz dealer. (Trade Center BKC would be the closest landmark). Good food and pretty cheap. Tandoori chicken is delicious and the Aachari chicken has a good kick to it.
Hearsch Bakery. This place is famous for their Chicken Burger. Located off of Hill Road in Bandra West behind Holy Family Hospital. Tiny place with no seating; you eat standing up outside or lounging on one of the many rocks. A few resident cats hang out in the yard looking for scraps. This is definitely a locals hangout and its really popular with the college kids.
Salt Water Cafe. Continental Cuisine. Good place to go if you are craving a salad. Decent Happy Hour. Located in Bandra on Chapel Road near Lilavati Hospital.
Bungalow 9. Upscale dining in Bandra. Located near Lilavati Hospital (just up the road from Salt Water Cafe). Mix of cuisines- sushi, asian, italian. You will probably need a dinner reservation since this place can be popular with the Bollywood set.
5 Spice. Various locations in the city. Chinese and Indo-Chinese food. Most locations deliver.
Zaffran. Various locations in the city. Indian food plus a few other cuisines. Some locations are open late (CST area near Crawford Market is open past midnight)
Barbeque Nation. More food than you can possibly eat. The Indian equivalent to Korean BBQ. All you can eat meat extravaganza with a decent sized Indian buffet. Locations all over the country
Local delicacies/dishes: Frankies- these are a Mumbai staple and are similar to a burrito. Pani Puri- you can find Pani Puri vendors everywhere but I would recommend finding a restaurant that serves them instead of chancing it with a street vendor. Mumbai toasties- toasted/grilled sandwiches usually filled with cheese and potato.
If you're after a beach resort, Goa definitely has the best beaches and the most options. You'll probably have the best choice of high-end luxury resorts. On our trip to Kerala, we spent a few days at a resort in Kovalam, but it was decidedly middle of the road. I'm not really a resort person, and it wasn't really a resort trip, so I didn't care. There is a Taj resort there, but I don't know much about it other than that the grounds looked nice. So if you're planning to spend a week at the beach, I'd stick with Goa. If you just want a few beach days as a rest in the middle of a more sightseeing-oriented trip, you might consider Kerala and spend a few nights in Kovalam for a beach break. It's not an amazing beach experience, but honestly, I don't think India is the place to go for a beach holiday. I love Goa, but that's mostly for the food, the price, and the convenience (my ILs had an apartment there). If I wanted to spend $$$ on a beach vacation, I'd go somewhere else.
Also, what time of year are you going? I loved Goa in early May, because it was almost completely empty! Huge swathes of beach all to ourselves! It was crazy hot (and downright miserable up in Rajasthan), and only a few beach shacks were still open, but it was so relaxing! During winter (Dec to Feb) it's so crowded. Tons of British pensioners who retire down there for a good chunk of the year. And of course, during the monsoon (starting mid-May, which is why the beach shacks were closing down) there's pretty much no point in visiting!
I second Kerala if you are just looking for a few days of relaxation. Spend a few days at the beach or at one of the backwater resorts and a night or two on a houseboat cruising the backwaters. The Arabian sea can be very polluted and some of the beaches are not that clean so dont expect a pristine beach experience if you opt to do an Indian beach. Also be very cautious about where you stay in Goa; some areas are going to be filled with vacationing Brits and other areas are known as party central and will be filled with younger Indians and a good portion of passport carrying citizens of Backpackistan.
Definitely look into Kerala as a possibly alternative to Goa. Its a gorgeous state and if you want to relax and escape civilization for a few days it is definitely the place to do it!
Post by alleinesein on Dec 7, 2014 15:49:36 GMT -5
Agra and the Taj Mahal
Flying into New Delhi is the easiest way to get to Agra. Hire a car and driver and its about a 3 hour drive to Agra. The ride is pretty boring once you get out of the city. Not a lot of stuff along the highway; there is a rest stop with bathrooms and food along the way.
Agra is a tourist town. You will encounter tourists wherever you go. Pick a hotel that fits your budget and has rooms available. I ended up at the Jaypee Palace because every hotel I wanted was booked for when I was planning on being in Agra. There was nothing wrong with my hotel; it was just huge and pretty nondescript.
The Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays so plan your visit accordingly. Best time to visit is at sunrise; the weather is cooler and its not crowded. Security is insanely tight at the Taj Mahal so bring as few items as possible with you. You will get a bottle of water at the welcome center when you purchase your ticket. They do xray your bags when you enter the site and you are not allowed to bring in any sharp items, flashlights, signs, food, etc. Bring your camera, water, id and money and leave everything else at the hotel. You will have to cover your shoes and you will be given shoe covers. You can easily see everything in 1-2 hours so you can head off to other sites in the area after you visit the Taj.
The Agra Fort is just down the road from the Taj Mahal. Allow for a few hours to check out the fort. You may want to hire a guide to explain everything about the fort. The fort complex is still used by the Indian military so only a small portion is open to the public. Wear comfy shoes and bring water.
Fatepur Sikri is located just outside of Agra and is worth a visit. Its on the road to Jaipur so it can easily be done on the way to Jaipur. Allow 2 hours to see the monument. There is also a mosque at the site but if it is hot you may want to skip visiting it since you will have to remove your shoes and walk barefoot on really hot stone.
Mehtab Bagh is a small garden located across the river from the Taj Mahal. Great views of the back side of the Taj and a nice place to relax. Closes at dusk.
Stop by one of the stonework shops if you are interested in seeing the technique used to do the marble inlay work that is on the Taj Mahal. The work is still done by hand and it is gorgeous. There are a few workshops that have showrooms with their creations. They will, of course, try to sell you stuff but if you like checking out pretty things its worth a short visit.
Watch out for the monkeys! Do not leave your patio door open at your hotel rooms; monkeys can (and will) invade your room. Don't feed them unless you want to be mobbed; they have no qualms about grabbing your purse/backpack and running off with it.
The Agra Fort and the Taj Mahal both offer light and sound shows at night. If you stay for 2 nights in Agra you will be able to see both of them.
No restaurant recommendations because I was only there for one night and I was sick. Grabbed a salad at the hotel for dinner because I was exhausted and had no desire to venture out in search of food. Breakfast was included with my room so I grabbed something quick before I left for Jaipur.
Post by alleinesein on Dec 7, 2014 16:33:21 GMT -5
Jaipur
You can fly into Jaipur but it can be pricey. Its best to fly into New Delhi and hire a car and driver to take you to Agra and then onto Jaipur. The airport in Jaipur is small and has limited services but Indigo and Jet Airways have a few daily flights to Mumbai.
There is so much to do in Jaipur that you will need more than a few days.
Things to do
Amber Fort (Amer Palace). Located about 15 minutes outside of town. You have the option of riding an elephant up the hill in the morning or hopping in a jeep to get up to the palace. You can also hire a car and they can drive you up the hill. Guides are all over the place and you can hire one for about INR 200. You can also visit the Jaigarh Fort; it overlooks the Amer Palace and is one of 3 forts in the area. Nahargarh Fort is the third fort in the area.
On the road to Amer there is one of the lake palaces- Jal Mahal. Unfortunately it is not open to the public but you can stop and enjoy the view.
City Palace is a mix of a monument and museum. It can be done in a few hours and can be combined with a visit to the Hawa Mahal and Jantar Mantar. The Hawa Mahal is a lot of climbing to get up to the top level. The backside of it is fairly plain with the majority of its beauty being on the outside wall. You can look out of the many windows and its great for views of the city. Jantar Mantar is large outdoor observatory. Its just straight up cool. You can't climb any of the instruments but its still fascinating to check out. They also offer a nighttime light and sound show.
You can get a combo 2 day admission ticket for many of the sites in Jaipur. Its INR 400 and it includes admission to the Amber Fort, Albert Hall, Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar (Observatory), Nahargarh Fort, vidyadhar garden & Sisodia Rani garden. Each site is INR 200 for admission so if you know that you will visit at least 3 of them over a 2 day period it will save you some cash.
Galti Ji, aka the Monkey Temple. Located about 15 minutes outside of the city in the hills. Temple complex that includes sacred water tanks that people use to 'bathe'. I was there during Diwali and the men seemed to be using the tanks as a water park/swimming hole/play place. Everyone was having a good time and the atmosphere was lively. The monkeys tend to hang out at the upper temple. Its a decent climb to the top but its very peaceful when you get there. You can buy food to feed the monkeys but they are cheeky bastards and will attack you if you taunt them with the food. You may also run into the occasional cow, pig and goat hanging out at the temple. This is where I was head butted by a cow; apparently this is supposed to be a good luck thing!
There are a ton of shopping opportunities all over the city. Johari Bazaar is where most of the gem dealers are located. If you want to buy the big 3 (rubies, sapphires and emeralds) you can find some good deals. If you want rarer stuff or diamonds you are better off visiting Zaveri Bazaar in Mumbai because they will have a better selection.
Sadly I have no food recommendations for Jaipur because I was sicker than a dog and had to drag myself out every day to see stuff. It was still hot when I was there in October and the temps were 95-100F each day. Not a good combo when you have a fever and feel like death warmed over. I l ived off of soup and tea at the hotel. I did have some good indian food that one of my friends brought over one night but he just stopped at some roadside stall and grabbed a few items.
I stayed at the Hilton Jaipur. Its a fairly new property so there are still a few bugs that they need to work out. If you have the funds and want to splurge consider staying at the Rambagh Palace or the Jai Mahal Palace. Both are Taj properties and are in old royal palaces.
Post by alleinesein on Dec 7, 2014 16:46:29 GMT -5
Just a few other things to know for your trip.
A lot of the small shops and restaurants outside of the big cities are run by Muslim families. On Fridays most places will not open until after 2pm since they go to services at the Mosque around noon.
India smells. There is no polite way to put it. Each city will have its own distinct smell. You will either get used to it or it will bother you non stop. Delhi was the absolute worst for me; it smelled horrible and the pollution was worse than Mumbai.
Bring toilet paper or kleenex with you when you go out for the day. Charmin makes travel size rolls that will fit in your purse. Most places with western style toilets will not always have toilet paper. Also if you go into a stall and everything is wet its not because someone had issues aiming. They love those handheld spray hoses to clean themselves off with and I swear that little kids go into the bathrooms and just go to town spraying everything in site!
Bring a flashlight. Power outages are a common occurrence and its nice to have something handy so that you can see.
You may not have hot water during the day even at 5 stay resorts. Some hotels in the hill stations and more remote areas will only turn on the hot water for a few hours in the morning and in the evening.
Carry lots of small rupee notes (10, 20, 50 and 100). Rickshaw and cab drivers very rarely will give change so its best to be prepared to pay the exact amount.
Post by 3girls3xsthefun on Mar 4, 2015 12:06:24 GMT -5
I'm late, but spent a week in Mumbai at the Taj Palace and it was AMAZING. Probably my favorite hotel ever. I was in the old section in a club level room and I can't suggest it enough. If you don't stay there you should certainly visit, maybe grab afternoon tea -- they have a HUGE spead on the weekend (may be offered during the week, not sure). There's also a lot of high end shops in the hotel (Louis Vitton, Dior, and a few others).
I think that we have settled on India as our big vacation for this coming year. The only things that I think we are set on are the Taj Mahal and Goa. I would love any and all ideas. I haven't really started to research at all.