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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Digbert Doobrey" data-source="post: 3458793" data-attributes="member: 75254">I agree it's not just Russians, it's drunks and ignorant behaviour from any nationality that I'd want to avoid. This is what makes me wary of booking a package deal at an 'all in' hotel in places like Mexico and Cuba as well as Goa. However I'm sure it's easily avoided if you do a bit of research and choose a hotel carefully. It seems to me that birding abroad long haul is a choice between planning your own individual trip, a package deal, or an organised bird tour with a company such as Birdfinders etc. Each have there advantages and disadvantages. I've been on bird tours and been 'shown' some great birds but there's certainly a thrill to find your own birds. On the other hand it's a lot more hassle trying to organise your own guides or travelling to the best areas by yourself to find birds. This I think is why a hotel in an area surrounding by great birding is so appealing. I know I'm stating the obvious here but I love to here about other people's experiences on this forum that have been to hotels in birding hotspots as its always useful. Pratincol's trip reports are always a good read for example. I just wonder if there are any other destinations around the world where a cheaper package deal could save you a few grand as opposed to going on a bird tour. The four places that seem to crop up repeatedly are Mexico( Yucatan east coastline) and Cuba in the new world and Gambia and Goa in the old world. All seem very appealing, as long as you avoid the drunks, but I wondered if there are any others. Bali, Langkawi and Thailand perhaps but the birding might not be as easy.</blockquote>

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