I think Bon Voyage is a great expansion pack, once I get away from using the premades. I've planned to rebuild all three themes, since there are amazing lots/hotels that people have created as well as CC, but Far East is giving me some trouble.

Far East was always my least favorite location because it seems like it lacks as much activities as the other two in the premades. It seems there's only zen gardens, ma jong, having tea, and the shrine as "activities". I can understand if Far East focus' on scenery and landscape, but i still think there is not much to do there (no point for staying more than 2 days).

What are some suggestions for activities I can add for this destination? I have all expansion packs. The cultural appearance of the lots I got covered

Oh, and since Far East has more of a business/shopping aspect than the woods and the islands, like the outdoor bargaining markets, so I'd like ideas for what else I could add that sims can purchase too. I will be trying out the postcard racks here at MTS, but wondering what else there are :D

I'm so glad someone started a vacation-related topic. I've been searching for vacation inspiration lately. The Far East location is one of my favorites, since I like as many Sims as possible to learn how to ninjaport and tell the dragon tale, but it does tend to be very low-key otherwise. One activity you didn't include in your list was spa/hot spring/massage (think onsen).

Glad there are others that still enjoys vacations for simmies . I didn't mentioned the hot springs and massage since all three locations have them in the premade at least, so it seems more of a universal activity, rather than something special just for Far East. However, I already plan to make an indoor hot spring bath. Thanks for the term onsen, googling images for that will be helpful :D

I added both an arcade and a karaoke bar to my Far East town, as well as some downloaded Japanese-style "castles" for photo ops. Also added some sushi bars thanks to-- is it Exnem's? sushi platters.

I also added an karaoke bar to my Far East location, really it's a must. The Far East is probably the location I send my Sims the least on vacation. Usually they have to roll a want to go there and also be a retired elder. My reasoning for this is time and money. In my Sim world it takes a long time to get to the Far East and it is by far and away the most expensive of the destinations. Since I only have one luxury hotel and one luxury condo property there are no inexpensive options for travelers. I have added several dining and entertainment options beyond the ones that earn them vacation memories.

I tend to use the vacation spots for my own purposes of story and character rather than worry about those vacation memories. Since you don't really get anything if you complete all of them I have long since stopped attempting that. Actually I don't even worry to much about them at all unless my Sims roll wants for specific items.

I tend to use the beach getaway for honeymoons, elopements (there is a wedding chapel) the occasional family and sometimes I send Uni students on spring break there. In short it's my multi-purpose destination and I have lot's of different accomodation options both high and low along with dining and entertainment. I allow no one under any circumstance to learn the sea chanty, I made that mistake in my first hood and personally I hope to never hear the stupid song again.

The mountain area I use primarily for vacation homes and camping trips. I do have one high end spa hotel there but I don't use it much. Sims tend to do a lot of skilling, novel writing, painting and fishing.

Since I customized all of it I don't have very many tourists and just the minimum number of locals for each destination. The original Maxis locations seemed to be full of tourists that all hated each other as fights would regularly break out. At least I don't have to deal with that anymore.

Not sure how you would go about making any of the destinations more interesting if you are only trying to earn vacation memories.

Clashfan:
I have no idea what made you think my destinations are only for earning vacation momentos/memories. I never said it because I could care less about that. I am asking for new ideas for what my sims can do there, so that my sims don't have to repeat any activities or sit in their hotel room and watch TV to pass time.

Karaoke bar and sushi bar are great examples of what I'm asking for; objects from different expansion packs or CC to have more stuff for my sims to do and still fit in with the theme. And of course those won't add to vacation memories.

I have the most use for the beach getaway as well, I have lots of ideas for that theme since I love beaches and the tropics in RL. May I ask how you create your locals for the destinations? How many do you make?

Tempscire, thanks for the suggestions. I totally forgot about Exnem's sushi!

I think you might also want to look at it culturally. When I did do vacations I always made sure to have things you may see in a typical city regardless of location. For example (not that it would be feasible in game because of lack or overload of CC, but anywho) museums, libraries, garden nurseries, casinos. Then you tailor them to location. So for instance i would have a museum in twikki for history of surfing, redwood tree collection museum in the camping one and a tropical flower nursery if the far east.

But this also has alot more to do with storytelling then actual activities for the sims to do. I'm one of those who can given a location write out at least 5 pages of dialogue and actions without really needing to have the items to show the sims actually doing them. (hating taking pictures so i rarely ever use the camera functions

Lazzy: Didn't mean to come off as harsh or critical regarding your personal playing style, so sorry if my post came across that way.

I have the most use for the beach getaway as well, I have lots of ideas for that theme since I love beaches and the tropics in RL. May I ask how you create your locals for the destinations? How many do you make?

First let me say it's alot of work but I found it worth it in the end.

I used the format from MATY found at this link:

http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/s...ic,10798.0.html

Make sure you read the mod section carefully as there is a special mod for making the vacation locals. Without it the NPC Generator doesn't work properly.
One of the things it doesn't mention anywhere in the thread but that I found out when I was doing this is that you need 8 locals per destination.

Personally I made 4 male and 4 females. If you can find the BV Prima Guide there is a list in there of the characteristics the locals by destination. Ex: all Asian locals are knowledge Sims.

Hope that helps.

I love vacation destinations and particularly Takemizu Village. At some point or, another nearly all my Sims roll the want to go on a Far East vacation. Very few dream dancing hula on Twikkii island and very rarely will they roll a want for mountain vacations. At the old Takemizu Village I, too, had created a small karaoke bar and a sushi lounge at the premade hot springs lot. "Chosen" Sims (see: Nalia's favourites) own vacation houses in Takemizu. I will agree it is a place lacking activities, *but* such places are meant as relaxing, spiritual destinations. It is not a coincidence that everything is centered around the tea ceremony, Tai Chi, ninja teleporting, acupuncture massage and fishing.

Lazzybum, search also the term ryokan. It might give you some great ideas to build more traditional accommodations for your travelling Sims.

Hmm this is funny and interesting. So EA gave a somewhat stereotype for the sims to register as a local? xD

Thanks for all the suggestions so far. Ryokan was the type of lodgings I wanted to make, thanks for the term for that.

Yay! I love vacations. I've wanted to remake all three destinations from scratch for the longest time but it always seem like such a huge effort. But after reading the great ideas in this thread, I'm now itching to demolish my vacation neighbourhoods lol.

I have a suggestion - how bout a Chinatown style market? Lots of small crowded stalls and shops, oriental style gateway and gazebos, fruit, fish, meat stalls, cheapo chothes, traditional medicine, jewellery, souvenier store, chinese restaurants chefs behind a transparent glass that can be seen from the roadside, aquarium (ie make-believe fugu fish tank), lots of lanterns, neon signs, lion statues, cherry blossom trees, massage parlour, bicycles, bird cages, lots and lots of clutter!

Also you can do a fishing port market that is bustling with activity in the morning and kind of romantic at night. So for that, you could add custom boats and ships, a pier, fish stalls, and a small outdoors seafood restaurant. Your downloads folder will hate you but hey. I 'll think of more ideas later.

I think what is really missing is a "dueling feature" a la "Mortal Kombat".

Like the magic duels from Sims 1 in Magictown.

Great, now I've got that thumping bass line from the sountrack to "Mortal Kombat" stuck in my head....


Time to kill a paper carrier.