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Celestial Traveler
Random Observer



Registered: 03/03/11
Posts: 7,639
Loc: Idaho
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Advice on travelling?
#23722533 - 10/09/16 02:57 PM (7 years, 3 months ago) |
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I have hardly ever traveled throughout my life. The couple of times that I did travel happened mostly when I was very young and as a result I don't remember much. Also, I have never been outside the U.S. I moved around a ton growing up, but I almost always lived in the same state, and only spent a few years living in small towns in neighboring states.
A lot of the people who lived where where I've lived were the type who were born and raised in those places, and I don't want to be like them. Some recent events in my life have also suggested to me that I really need to get out and see some new things.
Having no real experience traveling on my own, can you give me advice on this subject? Any advice at all would be appreciated...I would like to plan a trip for next summer after I graduate with my MS. I will not have much money though...I would estimate around $2-3K at most.
The main things I'd like to know more about are how to travel in a foreign country (what documents I need, etc.), and how to travel on a budget, while at the same time not missing out on important sights or experiences related to my destination.
Suggestions on where to travel would be nice too. Anything you have to offer really.
Thanks for your time.
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zZZz
jesus


Registered: 12/28/07
Posts: 33,478
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I've never travelled either, where are u planning to travel?..
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Repertoire89
Cat



Registered: 11/15/12
Posts: 21,773
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2-3k isn't much, I would go somewhere you can comfortably camp out at if you want it to last.
Personally I prefer staying in one area for a few weeks so I can meet people and get to know them, rather than just passing through one place after another. Then again
On that budget, you could travel to Canada or S.America, but going overseas would sap your money on a plane ticket. There's a lot to see in the US, travel abroad is definitely worth it but I would go with a bigger budget. All you need is a passport.
# Technically you could go overseas on that budget if you're careful, you'll have probably $1000-1500 leftover after plane tickets and getting your passport taken care of. Hostels are relatively cheap, camping is very cheap.
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Morel Guy
Stranger


Registered: 01/23/13
Posts: 15,577
Last seen: 4 years, 1 month
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Re: Advice on travelling? [Re: zZZz]
#23722556 - 10/09/16 03:04 PM (7 years, 3 months ago) |
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I have been around the states. Money helps a huge amount. You are limited by what you can bring with you or purchase.
I'm still stuck in my hometown. Been around and there are always logistical issues with anything and everything.
If you cannot have a great time anywhere then there is no point in going everywhere.
-------------------- "in sterquiliniis invenitur in stercore invenitur" In filth it will be found in dung it will be found
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Celestial Traveler
Random Observer



Registered: 03/03/11
Posts: 7,639
Loc: Idaho
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Quote:
Repertoire89 said: 2-3k isn't much, I would go somewhere you can comfortably camp out at if you want it to last.
Personally I prefer staying in one area for a few weeks so I can meet people and get to know them, rather than just passing through one place after another. Then again
On that budget, you could travel to Canada or S.America, but going overseas would sap your money on a plane ticket. There's a lot to see in the US, travel abroad is definitely worth it but I would go with a bigger budget. All you need is a passport.
# Technically you could go overseas on that budget if you're careful, you'll have probably $1000-1500 leftover after plane tickets and getting your passport taken care of. Hostels are relatively cheap, camping is very cheap.
My thought is that if I go to see Europe one day, it would be most efficient to visit several different countries at one time, would you agree? Basically just to avoid wasting money on so many plane tickets...the problem is that once I get a job, there's no telling if/when I'll have the money and/or time to go on some massive EuroTrip.
You said I'll have around 1,000-1,500 after plane tickets - is that both there and back? Obviously I don't want to get stranded there....
Another big issue for me is being able to estimate transportation costs - obviously I can't take my car with me overseas - and I also don't know how the prices of basic things like food and hotel/hostel in Europe compare to those here. I'm also assuming I would have to visit a currency exchange to be able to conduct transactions and pay a premium for that as well.
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Celestial Traveler
Random Observer



Registered: 03/03/11
Posts: 7,639
Loc: Idaho
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Re: Advice on travelling? [Re: Morel Guy]
#23722580 - 10/09/16 03:11 PM (7 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
Morel Guy said: I have been around the states. Money helps a huge amount. You are limited by what you can bring with you or purchase.
I'm still stuck in my hometown. Been around and there are always logistical issues with anything and everything.
If you cannot have a great time anywhere then there is no point in going everywhere.
Where have you been in the states? What were your favorite places to go and what were your least favorite?
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Morel Guy
Stranger


Registered: 01/23/13
Posts: 15,577
Last seen: 4 years, 1 month
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People get hooked on traveling. My sister has spent in the neighborhood of $100k on traveling overseas. Maybe even more, that's a wild guess. She's been all over. Good thing she has a good job!
-------------------- "in sterquiliniis invenitur in stercore invenitur" In filth it will be found in dung it will be found
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Morel Guy
Stranger


Registered: 01/23/13
Posts: 15,577
Last seen: 4 years, 1 month
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Quote:
Celestial Traveler said:
Quote:
Morel Guy said: I have been around the states. Money helps a huge amount. You are limited by what you can bring with you or purchase.
I'm still stuck in my hometown. Been around and there are always logistical issues with anything and everything.
If you cannot have a great time anywhere then there is no point in going everywhere.
Where have you been in the states? What were your favorite places to go and what were your least favorite?
Montana is pretty cool. Norcal would be cool with more money and roots there. Lot's of homeless in Norcal and lot's of dirty mean Mexicans and meth, also white trash. Idaho was the weirdest. Oregon was great, good weed and very pretty countryside.
Been to Kentucky, Tennessee, Carolina's, Florida. Been to New Mexico, Colorado. All the states in-between yet never stayed anywhere too long.
There are criminals and anti-criminal authority anywhere. They seem to be what can make a situation suck. Plus a bunch of people that only look at you because they want your business. Once in awhile someone is curious and actually sincerely polite and interested.
-------------------- "in sterquiliniis invenitur in stercore invenitur" In filth it will be found in dung it will be found
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Repertoire89
Cat



Registered: 11/15/12
Posts: 21,773
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Quote:
Celestial Traveler said:
My thought is that if I go to see Europe one day, it would be most efficient to visit several different countries at one time, would you agree? Basically just to avoid wasting money on so many plane tickets...the problem is that once I get a job, there's no telling if/when I'll have the money and/or time to go on some massive EuroTrip.
You said I'll have around 1,000-1,500 after plane tickets - is that both there and back? Obviously I don't want to get stranded there....
Another big issue for me is being able to estimate transportation costs - obviously I can't take my car with me overseas - and I also don't know how the prices of basic things like food and hotel/hostel in Europe compare to those here. I'm also assuming I would have to visit a currency exchange to be able to conduct transactions and pay a premium for that as well.
It should run you around $1500 for the round trip tickets, maybe a little more, don't forget your passport will run like $200 if you haven't taken care of it yet. Don't buy your plane tickets on Orbitz, do some research and you'll find something cheaper, some will buy directly from smaller airlines for example, or from a another "orbitz" like site with more small airlines which might save you money. It also helps to go at certain times of year, you'll have to do some reading on the subject.
You can look up hostel prices by country, Germany for example is notably cheaper than most of Western Europe. When I was in Europe we visited 9 countries, it was great, though I prefer to take things slower, get to know a place and meet people... you can still do a lot traveling but on a budget like yours I would either focus on less places or backpack around.
You're right about currency exchange, good call. Pick pockets are real, so you don't want to be carrying a lot of cash, I think travelers checks help, but honestly I don't know much about this.
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Morel Guy
Stranger


Registered: 01/23/13
Posts: 15,577
Last seen: 4 years, 1 month
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Makes friends with someone that works for an airline and get a buddy pass. My sister flew all over the world on a buddy pass. It's free and you just get seats that open up at the last minute.
-------------------- "in sterquiliniis invenitur in stercore invenitur" In filth it will be found in dung it will be found
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Repertoire89
Cat



Registered: 11/15/12
Posts: 21,773
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Re: Advice on travelling? [Re: Morel Guy]
#23722827 - 10/09/16 04:37 PM (7 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
Morel Guy said: Makes friends with someone that works for an airline and get a buddy pass. My sister flew all over the world on a buddy pass. It's free and you just get seats that open up at the last minute.
I need to get in on this
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Celestial Traveler
Random Observer



Registered: 03/03/11
Posts: 7,639
Loc: Idaho
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Did you use traveler's checks when you went to Europe?
Also are you saying that the round-trip tickets would cost around $1,500? In your first post I thought you said I would be left with that much after buying them. Just trying to confirm...I know I could probably find more info about this just by doing some more research, but obviously I'm just flirting with the idea at this point.
What would be a reasonable, average budget in your opinion? $5K - 6K?
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Repertoire89
Cat



Registered: 11/15/12
Posts: 21,773
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Quote:
Celestial Traveler said: Did you use traveler's checks when you went to Europe?
Also are you saying that the round-trip tickets would cost around $1,500? In your first post I thought you said I would be left with that much after buying them. Just trying to confirm...I know I could probably find more info about this just by doing some more research, but obviously I'm just flirting with the idea at this point.
What would be a reasonable, average budget in your opinion? $5K - 6K?
Don't know anything about travelers checks, I was with family, we did it the American way and spent like 30k +  My solo travels have been within the US
I thought you said you would have 3k, so 1500 would be both your remainder and the cost of round trip tickets.
How much you need depends on how you do things, I think $1500 on hand at arrival would be enough for backpacking around, staying in hostels, couchsurfing, making your way on the cheap for at least a month. 5-6k is more than reasonable, its only a little more expensive than the US in Western Europe and I've traveled on basically nothing in the US.
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Morel Guy
Stranger


Registered: 01/23/13
Posts: 15,577
Last seen: 4 years, 1 month
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I can't afford the good life in America. So I travel around Europe seeing that I can't afford the good life in Europe.
Is that what a lot of kids do?
-------------------- "in sterquiliniis invenitur in stercore invenitur" In filth it will be found in dung it will be found
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Repertoire89
Cat



Registered: 11/15/12
Posts: 21,773
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Re: Advice on travelling? [Re: Morel Guy]
#23722867 - 10/09/16 04:50 PM (7 years, 3 months ago) |
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Do you have citizenship out there? I'd like to busk my way around Europe but Schengen immigration laws keep me from doing so
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Celestial Traveler
Random Observer



Registered: 03/03/11
Posts: 7,639
Loc: Idaho
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Quote:
Repertoire89 said:
Quote:
Celestial Traveler said: Did you use traveler's checks when you went to Europe?
Also are you saying that the round-trip tickets would cost around $1,500? In your first post I thought you said I would be left with that much after buying them. Just trying to confirm...I know I could probably find more info about this just by doing some more research, but obviously I'm just flirting with the idea at this point.
What would be a reasonable, average budget in your opinion? $5K - 6K?
Don't know anything about travelers checks, I was with family, we did it the American way and spent like 30k +  My solo travels have been within the US
I thought you said you would have 3k, so 1500 would be both your remainder and the cost of round trip tickets.
How much you need depends on how you do things, I think $1500 on hand at arrival would be enough for backpacking around, staying in hostels, couchsurfing, making your way on the cheap for at least a month. 5-6k is more than reasonable, its only a little more expensive than the US in Western Europe and I've traveled on basically nothing in the US.
Wow, 30K...anyways yeah, if I did go I would probably want to stay a couple of weeks or so. A month would be more than enough time.
I never realized that people spent so much money on travel. People talk about saving money at the grocery store, but the real things that force you to make decisions about retirement seem to be about what house you buy, whether you buy a sports car, how much you spend on travel, etc.
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Morel Guy
Stranger


Registered: 01/23/13
Posts: 15,577
Last seen: 4 years, 1 month
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Quote:
Repertoire89 said: Do you have citizenship out there? I'd like to busk my way around Europe but Schengen immigration laws keep me from doing so
I have a felony so I doubt traveling is going to be an great experience for me. It's barely citizenship in the states. It's 'you can be abducted and assfucked' citizenship.
-------------------- "in sterquiliniis invenitur in stercore invenitur" In filth it will be found in dung it will be found
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moonrockmushy
High on Spite



Registered: 07/01/05
Posts: 19,067
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Re: Advice on travelling? [Re: Morel Guy]
#23722878 - 10/09/16 04:54 PM (7 years, 3 months ago) |
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Didn't read all the responses but I'm afraid the people you find in the world are going to be very similar to the people you dislike in your hometown. Just be glad you have us.
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Repertoire89
Cat



Registered: 11/15/12
Posts: 21,773
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Quote:
Celestial Traveler said: Wow, 30K...anyways yeah, if I did go I would probably want to stay a couple of weeks or so. A month would be more than enough time.
I never realized that people spent so much money on travel. People talk about saving money at the grocery store, but the real things that force you to make decisions about retirement seem to be about what house you buy, whether you buy a sports car, how much you spend on travel, etc.
Well it was a relatively long trip, through a lot of countries, with 4 people.
I'm no expert on finances, but I do think your day to day budget is important, shit adds up.
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Repertoire89
Cat



Registered: 11/15/12
Posts: 21,773
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Re: Advice on travelling? [Re: Morel Guy]
#23722884 - 10/09/16 04:58 PM (7 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
Morel Guy said:
Quote:
Repertoire89 said: Do you have citizenship out there? I'd like to busk my way around Europe but Schengen immigration laws keep me from doing so
I have a felony so I doubt traveling is going to be an great experience for me. It's barely citizenship in the states. It's 'you can be abducted and assfucked' citizenship.
That sucks man, I was hoping for some insight on getting around the Schengen wall
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