what is the most versatile lens for travel photography with Nikon d70 camera?

The 24-85mm f/2.8 lens traveled with me for nine and a half weeks in the Caribbean. I used is about 80% of the time. It is a macro lens too, so I was able to get some interesting close ups of the details of my travels.

The rest of the shots I took using the 12-24mm wide angle lens.

Consider the popular Nikon 18-200 VR lens. Okay, it's not the world's PERFECT lens, but it is not too shabby. Go here and read Rockwell's review:
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/18200.htm

Go here and look at the sample images. Click on them to view them full screen. If you click at least once in the white space, your cursor will turn into a magnifier when you scroll it back over the image. Click again over the image and it will zoom to 100% size so you can really examine the image.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/18200/examples/index.htm

"Optically, this lens is the best superzoom we’ve seen, though it’s not compatible with Nikon teleconverters, extension rings, or coupled macro bellows. It also costs about $300 more than third-party digital-only glass. But are extremely rugged construction, unusually well-controlled distortion, and four extra handholdable speeds worth the extra bucks? That, and more."

http://www.popphoto.com/cameralenses/2763/lens-test-nikon-18-200mm-f35-56g-dx-vr-af-s.html

Here are some of my own photos taken with the 18-200 VR lens, showing the versatility of the lens. This is why I say it is good for travel, because you can do so many different things with the same lens. Some of these are typical of any travel pictures you might take, but others show that you are not limited to just landscapes.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7189769@N04/409564890/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7189769@N04/409564887/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7189769@N04/409564893/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7189769@N04/408446616/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7189769@N04/409564880/
http://www1.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=57759389/PictureID=2801041875/a=75953750_75953750/t_=75953750
http://www1.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=57759389/PictureID=2531239742/a=75953750_75953750/t_=75953750

18-200 f/3.5-5.6 VR.

But it's scarce, not cheap and the image quality is not the best.

Hope this helps!

Ignacio

I like the 24mm to 120mm - but you might not find it wide angle enough - Its a fine lens for travel photography on a Nikon film camera - There is a VR version of this lens, but I haven't tried it.

NIKON HAS INTRODUCED A AFFORDABLE NEW 55-200MM F/4-5.6G ED-IF AF-S DX VR ZOOM-NIKKOR LENS.