This is an odd request. I was in a /v/ thread a long while back discussing how many games used to have a very tropical, “water” aesthetic at the beginning of the 2000s. I felt the urge to go to one of these places in real life, and since I got time off this winter (I work a seasonal job) I have a lot of time for travel. I don’t have a ton of money, and I realize flights (I live in Massachusetts) will be the most expensive part, but putting aside budget for a moment, what sorts of tropical islands have that sort of 2000s tropical vibe? Lots of water, luscious green nature, beaches, tropical wildlife, and stuff to do, but not too settled?
This was the thread, can’t find it on archive. More examples here.
You can find this in the caribbian or areas around. Mexico, colombia
>>2725134Aruba seems like a decent match, although so do Bora Bora and Tahiti but those are further away
>>2725117iirc, Besaid, and few other spots in FFX were inspired by indonesia. There's like ten thousand islands there, and probably a million miles of coastline. A quick googly earth investigation tells me that the little islands around Sulawesi have great potential.If you find a hidden grail, please be nice and at least draw me a map
>>2725191Yeah Aruba has that kind of vibe, it's also fairly easy to travel and safe. I'd highly recommend it if you're new to traveling.
>>2725501My only reason for not going is that I went there as a kid on a cruise, though I remember very little. I feel like I should go somewhere I haven’t been before—but I’ll keep it on the list
>>2725117Accommodations SHOULD be the most expesive part if you plan to be near rhe water. I def dont recommend Mexico or Colombia for this experience bc both are dangerous asf and Colombia doesn't even have this. Better off just going to Bermuda or Turks & Caicos. If you want something other than the Caribbean check out Phuket, Ibiza, and Fiji. When I want to go somewhere general like a "tropical island" I just look at the cheapest flights and hotels and pick one of those bc inevitable it will all be the same experience and you may get lucky and find a hidden gem
zanzibar has this vibe but the food sucks and it's expensive to stay there and you're surrounded by africans and it's difficult to get therebut the water is pristine and beaches are white as fuck
>>2725117>I live in MassachusettsCheapest would probably be Puerto Rico or Key West. Dry Tortugas National Park looks pretty neat. But as >>2725367 said, the closest approximation to these games would be far east Asia. Personally, I'm planning a trip to the lesser known japanese islands in the Okinawa prefecture, like Yonaguni. They look beautiful and very chill, but it is not cheap at all.
>>2725592Japan is next on my list for travel, I guess I never considered those islands. I was thinking the tropical island more cause I find Japan more expensive. But perhaps I can do both
>>2727169Japan is cheaper
>>2725117what you really are looking for is something in the south pacific, but not one of the big islands. Like maybe Huahine near Bora BoraIf you're a poorfag tho, look into the south/eastern Caribbean or stuff in Mexico. Cancun blows but the Riviera Maya south of it has some great spots. And more "tropical" than "beachy" but PV is the best tourist city in MX
