Hi everybody

Thanks a lot for the replies - they are greatly appreciated! Keep them
coming :-)

As for the license ... I should have told you in the first mail of
course. Neither of us have an instrument rating and don't plan to get
one. We both have the Swiss JAR licenses. I also had the Australian
license back in 2000/2001, but that is invalid by now. We have no
extra endorsements (retractable undercarriage, float alighting gear,
constant-speed propeller, and the likes) but would consider doing them
if it is necessary or makes our lives easier on this trip.

I've already seen most of the US (covered 42 states by motorcycle in
1995) so other than hiring a plane there, I personally don't have an
urge to go to the states again - on this trip anyway. That would also
save us some visa-problems as pointed out by some of you. The question
then is if we can find another place where we can hire a plane (in a
reasonable condition). Four people + luggage + survival gear will
admitedly be hard, not to say impossible, in a PA28 for instance. So
we might look into something slightly bigger - maybe something with
retractable gear / turbo / constant speed or similar performance
improving technologies.

As for where to hire the plane I had an idea of going to one of the
British, French, or Dutch islands (Turks, Caicos, Virgin, Anguilla,
Point-a-Pitre, Martinique, etc.). At least Great Brittain and France
(not sure about Holland) are JAR-countries like Switzerland, so our
licenses should be valid there (unless there are special rules about
thos islands). However it will be a whole lot more expensive and
complicated to get to those islands then say Miami for example.

We'll definitely go and get both the "Bahamas and Caribbean Guide for
Pilots" and the Lonely Planet for the Eastern Caribbean. Is there any
literature of that kind (especially for pilots) for the South &
Central American countries (Venezuela, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua,
Honduras, Guatemala)?

As for the drug-problem that was mentioned in a few postings: Even if
I did empty the entire plane of luggage before each departure ... I
couldn't possibly search all places where drugs could be hidden. And I
do imagine that professionals that do want to use us as drug couriers
would be able to hide those drugs in places I couldn't even think of
right now. Is that a real possibility - sound crazy to me to hide
stuff in my plane if they couldn't even be sure where I am going next!

Axis of evil are by definition (George W. Bush): Iraq, Iran and North
Corea (I think), but let's not get into that discussion - it could
easily drown the real issue here ;-). However, I do agree that some
countries are more suitable for vacation than others. Haiti for
instance doesn't sound so great. But which ones do you think we should
avoid?

Regards,
Klaus Bucka-Lassen

P.S.: This time I have only posted to rec.aviation.piloting since this
seems to be the right place now.