UPDATE: Japan, Thailand or South America?

It’s always hard to try to help others decide. I never have a problem for myself, but I know what I like! ;). Does your daughter want city, nature or maybe beach like your sister?
To me, Japan is the most interesting of the three choices, but my favorite thing is the more different culture from the USA it is, the more I like it. SA doesn’t appeal to me much, and I have only been to the Galapagos Islands. Maybe she would like Peru & Machu Picchu? Easter Island is another destination on our list. Hmm, wish I could be more help. Good luck and have fun deciding.

I wonder if weather/climate is a consideration? I think July in Japan could be quite humid.

Personally I'd pick seeing Kyoto over all the choices. But that's me.

Since you said she appreciates beach time have you thought of the Caribbean/Jamaica? The islands can be small enough that the temp's not bad even in July. Also Puerto Rico etc for safe-ish nature type vacations (with beach available).

"I think July in Japan could be quite humid."

It was when I was there. I imagine (global warming) it's worse now. But Mardee spent time in Okinawa. I wouldn't think that'd be that different.

Japan is one of my favorite countries to visit.
However I enjoyed both Vietnam and Cambodia too. I think Vietnam was the easiest country to travel around independently. of the three countries listed.

I haven't been to Japan, but I have been to SE Asia (Bangkok, Cambodia, Vietnam) and South America (Ecuador and Peru). For me it would be potential weather dependent. I went to SE Asia in early April and it was INFERNAL already. Not a real joy to travel, but that is when I could go. Summer would have been far too much for me. My S. America trip was in May, which is their fall. Ecuador is pretty temperate (except the mountains) and Peru was comfortable. July will be their winter and I know some countries get a lot of rain then (you'll have to research).

I know that's no help at all, but it's all I've got for your particular situation. :/

Tammy, I know - it's a tough decision! She loves city stuff, but also nature. She is a runner and has participated in numerous marathons (some ultra) and loves the outdoors. She is really not a beach person although she enjoys it as part of a travel experience. She would probably like Peru and Machu Picchu, but there's no way I'm walking/hiking the Machu Picchu route, so that's definitely out, lol! I'll take a look at Easter Island. Thanks!

CarolNR, I agree that it will be humid there, but it will probably be humid in most places, so I'm not sure that will be a dealbreaker. I guess it depends on the level of humidity. I'm hoping that we can start the trip mid-to-late June, which would help a bit. I don't remember it being overly humid in July when I was living there, but I was in my 20's so the weather did not affect me as much back then. :-) She did mention something about Scandinavia as well, which would certainly be cooler. Thank you!

RobertH, Kyoto sounds wonderful and I'm personally leaning towards Japan. One correction: she is not a beach lover. That's my sister, which is why I'm sort of discounting her recommendation. My sister will sit around on the beach for days and neither my daughter or I would ever do that. We both like the beach, but more as part of the total travel experience. With regards to the Caribbean, I have no desire to go there. I went there back in the early 80's and it was nice, but once was enough for me. Thanks!

Suki, that's good to know about Vietnam and Cambodia. TBH, I think I would prefer both of those over Thailand. But I really do love Japan so I'm hoping she chooses that. I will let her know what you said about Vietnam and Cambodia. Thanks!

CL, that is great information! That is one fear I had about Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia—the weather. If it was that bad in April, I can't imagine what it would be like in the summer. Thank you!

July is peak season for Peru, dry and cloudless in the Andes, short sleeves in the day then light jacket in the evening. This is a great country for independent travel and in no way are the people rough like the South American cliche. It’s easy, carefree travel. Read my trip report.

Visited Japan in early June once and in summer it’s pretty sticky and heat is enervating. The best time to visit South Asia/SE Asia/S China is December and January when temperatures are manageable and it’s dry. Chile is I think a marginal choice for this month, short days and chilly unless way in the north.

American has sometimes pretty good points redemptions MSP to LIMA and offers day flights both directions, although Delta will codeshare with the Peruvian airline LATAM so possible with 3 flights to get MSP to Cusco on one ticket. Lima is worth visiting but you don’t want to have to get to and from the airport too many times on the same holiday if you can help it. I met a Seattle couple* that had maxed out a short trip like yours with Delta tickets. One ticket/3 flights to Cusco, 2-1/2 weeks on the ground moving one way to Arequipa, then one Delta ticket/3 flights home from Arequipa. No other airline allows this kind of squeeze maneuver for the time-challenged. I did meet a Philly couple who winged in on 2 tickets to Cusco, 2 flights on American to LIMA and then a separate ticket on a domestic flight and it worked out for them, always a risk with doing that, although refundable LATAM tickets can be had for under $100.

Traditionally Ecuador has been considered safe but recently hasn’t been doing too well. The landscape of Sweden and Finland is a dead ringer visually with central and northern Minnesota, it's uncanny.

*We must have been on the same wavelength. Booked the same bus tour Cusco to Puno, booked the same Lake Titicaca boat trip, then booked the same lodge and tour bus Puno to Arequipa over 3 days. Different hotel in Puno but otherwise coincidentally together the whole 5 days. It was a very efficient way to fairly mindlessly cover a lot of ground in 5 days.

She did mention something about Scandinavia as well, which would certainly be cooler.

I absolutely HATE hot, humid weather (and my personal definition of the temperature at which things become hot is certainly lower than most people's), and so I admit as I read along -- well before I came to your comment quoted above -- I kept thinking, go to Scandinavia! LOL

A friend of mine spent a couple of weeks in Thailand a couple of years ago, and even from that vicarious experience, I'd also much prefer Japan (and Vietnam and Cambodia).

Not to overcomplicate things but, given all the weather considerations and that she did mention Scandinavia, do you imagine there's any opportunity for the two of you to visit Japan in a more ideal month after she wraps up med school? Between med school and residency, or even during/after residency? Or is this a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity? And if so, how does that inform the choice for the two of you personally?

Japan is one of our favorite countries to visit. The people are wonderful, the country is very clean and organized. Kyoto is fantastic, as well as other great places.

Still, I would not go to Japan in July or the Summer. We went in late September and it was still a bit hot, but not terribly.

Peru and great, Machu Picchu, Cuzco, the Sacred Valley and Lima are great. We love it almost as much as Japan. Just don't go in the rainy season, which I think is over in April (better check that out if you go). We used PeruAgency.com for our tour, which was wonderful and not expensive.

Yes, Peru will be much cheaper than Japan.

Thailand and SE Asia are good as well, but I would rate Japan and Peru above that area.

In my experience, Japan (well, most of it) is miserably hot and humid during summer. I love Japan and I've been to Japan in July, and I would avoid it like the plague. Most of Japan is unbearably hot and muggy in July (especially in the south - OMG Okinawa in July? No thanks!). The one exception is Hokkaido, Japan's large northern island - which is where Japanese go to get away from the miserable heat and humidity in the summer. Hokkaido is lovely, the weather is lovely there too in summertime.

I have family in Thailand and have been there many times (ironically, all my Thai relatives travel to Japan frequently, it's their favorite place). Thailand is pretty intense (in many ways) and will bring more culture shock than anyplace on your list. To me, Thailand is staggeringly hot all the time, even hotter in (our) Spring - April is actually their hottest month (I've been there in April and it is!). In July it should just be plain old "normal" (for Thailand) hot and humid. If you can't stand intense heat, I'd skip Thailand from March to May; the worst of the heat should break by July (they don't have conventional "seasons" as we are used to in the northern latitudes). There's also quite a bit of diversity and contrast in different parts, of course lots of islands and beaches (some of which are over-touristed and crowded, so choose carefully). Thaialnd would provide the biggest cultural "punch" (contrast) of all your destinations (more so than Japan).

Of course, South America is a continent, not a country, so generalizations are of limited use (weather will vary wildly depending on where you go). Personally, I've only just begun exploring South America, we did a short trip to Colombia last year, probably the most accessible South American country, and perhaps a good introduction to the continent for many North Americans - we loved the place (my trip report from Colombia here: Trip Report: Colombia, February 2024). We are going to Easter Island (and just a tiny taste of Chile) in November, and are contemplating future trips to South America. It's a big place.

All of the places on your list deserve 3 weeks if you can manage it. Both Japan and South America are a little further away for you than Europe; Thailand is significantly farther - I would not attempt Thailand in less than 2.5 weeks. You can do some of Japan or some of South America in 2.5 weeks but you will need to make painful choices and you will leave wishing you had more time there.

Personally, I would skip Japan in July except for Hokkaido. July in Thailand will be predictably hot and humid, with some rain (to me, the rain is a relief, YMMV). "South America" can't say until you whittle it down to more specific places.

Hope some of that helps. Have fun!

What a wonderful dilemma to have! Of your options, we’ve traveled to and enjoyed: Japan; Thailand, Cambodia and Laos; Peru; and Chile. For July, I’d be inclined toward South America. Chile is wonderful and easily traveled independently. Our trip included Santiago, Valparaiso, Casablanca Valley wineries, the Atacama, and Easter Island (bucket list for me!). We loved Chile and hope to return.

I can’t comment on Japan or South America, but I have been to SE Asia several times (Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and just three days in Bangkok) and love that part of the world. Thailand has much more to offer than beaches (although I understand that they are great) - temples, historic sites, monuments, markets, museums, not to mention amazing food!

There is no way around the fact that places like Bangkok, Saigon, and Angkor Wat will be hot and humid - but that is true year-round. For instance, according to Wikipedia, Bangkok’s average high in July is 92.3 and in December it’s 90.1. What might be more important is to consider how rainy it will be. July is a lot rainier than December, but the rainiest time is September and October.

Mardee, I know that you are not generally a tour person, but if it’s too stressful to plan a full 2-3 weeks in an unfamiliar location, you might consider a tour for a part of your time. I traveled with OAT in these countries (although I did Bangkok on my own) and the tours and guides were excellent, covering all the most important sights and handling the logistics. Virtually all the big tour companies have tours in Thailand- Gate 1, Odyssey Unlimited, etc. A friend of mine took a tour of Thailand with National Geographic and had a wonderful time.

Another option is to hire private guides for day tours. I hired a guide for a day in Bangkok and we covered a lot of ground. He was very helpful in navigating some of the complicated and crowded locations (including finding a restroom LOL). The company I used was https://yourthaiguide.com/ I also took a food tour which was a great way to try some street foods safely. The company was https://tasteofthailand.org/

I was in Japan last July 2024. Not a first trip. We spent some time in the Japanese Alps and cities/villages including Kanazawa, Shirawago, Matsumoto, Osaka/Kyoto. Temps were tolerable and limited rain, although maybe we were lucky. Tokyo was near 100F, but Nikko was pleasant. We've lived in Asia, so not something we weren't prepared for. With a Japan background, you can probably identify spots of interest quickly.

Where in Thailand would you visit? Bangkok is vastly different from areas like Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. We easily found drivers to take us on day trips out of Bangkok. I hired a driver/guide for Chiang Mai for most of our stay - another day the hotel concierge set me up with someone. I planned all our "outings". Bangkok was easy to navigate with public transport. I wouldn't have wanted to drive any where myself and getting around Chiang Mai without a car would have limited our options. A couple different trips - just over a week in each location with no lack of interesting explorations. We have limited interests in beaches - no experience of Phuket or Ko Samui, but sounds like not an interest for you in any case.

Japan has my vote, but I show my prejudice here. I have taken adult offspring to various countries/cities/continents over the past decade or so. I have the most fun when I know something of the area we are touring and can relax a bit rather than worry about transport routes and travel arrangements that are all unfamiliar. We often explore specific places I haven't traveled before, but I find arriving at a familiar airport and knowing, even vaguely, my way to the first hotel starts everything off well. Having experience with train and other transit operations also helps me relax - even if I am headed to someplace for the first time. I find that when I play host and tour guide, I feel more constantly "on" than my more frequent solo travels. I feel too responsible for everything going to plan as efficiently as possible! Thus, the appreciation for the general "understanding" of our chosen destination. Of course, your daughter may not expect to be "led" to quite the degree mine seem to expect!

Toby, thanks for the trip report, and all the good information. That's funny about Sweden and Finland's resemblance to MN. And yes, I'm thinking more and more that SE Asia will be too hot. And my daughter hates the heat more than I do.

Hannah, no it's not a once-in-a-lifetime trip and it certainly might be possible to visit Japan later on and Scandinavia now. She has traveled extensively in Europe (2 semester abroad plus a year of TEFL in Spain), so she's certainly open to most ideas and places. I think I'm going to just send her a link to this and let her read all the ideas. :-) Thanks!

geovagriffith, I do realize Peru will be cheaper but that's not a primary consideration (although it is a plus, of course). :-) I will definitely talk to her about this - thanks!

David, this is great info about Japan and Thailand! And thanks for the Columbia trip report. I will definitely read that and send it to my daughter! I realize that the more time we have, the better, and I am pushing it as hard as I can. The one advantage is that her kids will be out of school and I'm fairly certain their dad would be willing to let her go for 3 weeks. With regards to South America, this has made me rethink my first impression; especially your comments about the temperatures. It sounds pretty wonderful, although I do get that about whittling it down South America. But this gives me a good start. Thank you so much!

mml, thanks so much for those ideas! I will definitely safe them and talk about them with my daughter!

renee, good info! I do not think she would want to go on a tour (although I will mention it). That said, a private guide for at least some of it would be worthwhile. Thanks so much!

I find that when I play host and tour guide, I feel more constantly "on" than my more frequent solo travels. I feel too responsible for everything going to plan as efficiently as possible!

ORDtraveler, you are describing me to a T. Honestly that's why I tend to go solo a lot. It's easier. :-) That said, I've traveled with my daughter (although It's been over 25 years since then). But I'd like to think I've mellowed enough to be able to go with the flow. Regardless, this is such great information you've given me, and so very helpful. With regards to Thailand, I have no idea of where in Thailand we would travel to. I have read that there are 2 parts to the country; one that is for people like my sister, who wants to lay on a beach, drink exotic cocktails, and do some shopping. The other is for those who want to see a more realistic part of the country. So we'll see. But thank you so much for your expertise!

UPDATE: Just thought I would let you know that we have tentatively narrowed it down to South America (possibly Peru but TBD). My daughter looked at all the comments and was very impressed by the thoroughness of all the responses so thank you for that.

She hates the heat and was worried about it being too hot in both about SE Asia and Japan, so figured that South America was probably the best option. And that has been on her bucket list for awhile. So now we just have to narrow it down to a few places there. I'll probably post a new thread about that, so it doesn't get too confusing, but in the meantime will do some research before coming back here.

Thanks again for all your brilliant responses! It really helped to make a decision. And also, my daughter is fluent in Spanish so that will help, too, lol!

Ohhh this is an exciting update! I look forward to the next stage of the planning!!

For South America Peru is great, but so are Argentina and Chile. However, July is Winter and not great for Argentina and Chile.
In the future, consider a Cruise Around the Horn from Buenos Aires to Chile or reverse, in Dec., Jan or Feb.