Traveling the world next summer... ideas/tips?

2009-10-05 18:41:02

#1

Poseidon: Fudgepack DeQueef; +3,253|6825|Long Island, New York

I've had a pretty stressful life since the day I was born and I recently had a revelation that doing this is something I need to do for myself and to broaden my horizons. I've never even been off the east coast of the US and I think doing something like this would be the absolute best thing I could do for myself. I'm thinking about taking the first semester off from college and using the summer as well for the length of my trip, so I'd have from late June-January to do all my touring.

So, questions for Europeans and those who have traveled to Europe -

1) How much money should I expect to bring?
2) Any safety tips?
3) What are the best places to see? Nothing is off limits as long as I can take a train/car to get there.
4) What's the best mode of transportation?
5) For a traveling tourist, what are the best places to stay at?
6) How long should I spend in each place?

I was thinking:

UK/Ireland: 4 weeks
Czech Republic: 2 weeks
France: 1 week
Germany: 2 week
Netherlands/Amsterdam: 2 weeks
Italy: 3 weeks
Greece : 1 week
Sweden: 1 week
Norway: 1 week
Finland: 1 week
Spain: 1 week

Times could be extended obviously as June-January is quite a long time. Any other country recommendations are appreciated.

I figured I'd post this here as I'd get better responses. Any other tips/ideas would be greatly appreciated. Obviously I'm not planning this and buying my tickets right now, but I'm definitely researching and I'm 99.9% positive I want to do this.

Karma for any helpful answers and thanks in advance.

2009-10-05 18:42:54

#2

Jay: Bork! Bork! Bork!; +2,006|5645|London, England

Buy a Frommer's guide. Best advice I can give you. Also, I hope your parents are wealthy, like Lloyd Harbor or Center Island wealthy

"Ah, you miserable creatures! You who think that you are so great! You who judge humanity to be so small! You who wish to reform everything! Why don't you reform yourselves? That task would be sufficient enough."
-Frederick Bastiat

2009-10-05 18:44:59

#3

Poseidon: Fudgepack DeQueef; +3,253|6825|Long Island, New York

JohnG@lt wrote:
Buy a Frommer's guide. Best advice I can give you. Also, I hope your parents are wealthy, like Lloyd Harbor or Center Island wealthy

I make about 4-500 a month from work so I'd start saving pretty much now, and I'll probably get about $4000 in graduation presents (wealthy grandparent). My father would probably lend - key word there - me some cash too.

2009-10-05 18:47:08

#4

Winston_Churchill: Bazinga!; +521|7026|Toronto | Canada

Make sure you have a couple friends with you that you totally trust and will get along with for a few months

2009-10-05 18:47:58

#5

Jay: Bork! Bork! Bork!; +2,006|5645|London, England

Poseidon wrote:
JohnG@lt wrote:
Buy a Frommer's guide. Best advice I can give you. Also, I hope your parents are wealthy, like Lloyd Harbor or Center Island wealthy
I make about 4-500 a month from work so I'd start saving pretty much now, and I'll probably get about $4000 in graduation presents (wealthy grandparent). My father would probably lend - key word there - me some cash too.

Just so long as you understand that because of the Euro conversion, everything outside of your planned trip to the Czech Republic is going to cost about 150% what it would cost here unless you stay in hostels every night.

"Ah, you miserable creatures! You who think that you are so great! You who judge humanity to be so small! You who wish to reform everything! Why don't you reform yourselves? That task would be sufficient enough."
-Frederick Bastiat

2009-10-05 18:49:45

#6

Ty: Mass Media Casualty; +2,398|7062|Noizyland

Fuck dude, come meet me and my mates in South America in March, screw Europe, too expensive.

[Blinking eyes thing]
Steam: http://steamcommunity.com/id/tzyon

2009-10-05 18:50:34

#7

Poseidon: Fudgepack DeQueef; +3,253|6825|Long Island, New York

JohnG@lt wrote:
Poseidon wrote:
JohnG@lt wrote:
Buy a Frommer's guide. Best advice I can give you. Also, I hope your parents are wealthy, like Lloyd Harbor or Center Island wealthy
I make about 4-500 a month from work so I'd start saving pretty much now, and I'll probably get about $4000 in graduation presents (wealthy grandparent). My father would probably lend - key word there - me some cash too.
Just so long as you understand that because of the Euro conversion, everything outside of your planned trip to the Czech Republic is going to cost about 150% what it would cost here unless you stay in hostels every night.

Yeah, I realized that a few days ago. Maybe there'll be a magical turnaround with the dollar-euro rate by the time I go.

Ty wrote:
Fuck dude, come meet me and my mates in South America in March, screw Europe, too expensive.

Or you could come meet me in Amsterdam and get hepatitis.

Last edited by Poseidon (2009-10-05 18:50:53)

2009-10-05 18:56:37

#8

Ty: Mass Media Casualty; +2,398|7062|Noizyland

I might just take you up on that. Fuck going back to New Zealand after my money runs out.

[Blinking eyes thing]
Steam: http://steamcommunity.com/id/tzyon

2009-10-05 18:57:31

#9

cowami: OY, BITCHTITS!; +1,106|6577|Noo Yawk, Noo Yawk

WHAT

NO PISSYDON AT RIDDLE?

i am sad

2009-10-05 18:58:13

#10

Poseidon: Fudgepack DeQueef; +3,253|6825|Long Island, New York

cowami wrote:
WHAT

NO PISSYDON AT RIDDLE?

i am sad

it's still an option...but right now my top choice is American University. who knows if I'll even get in there though

i'm still going to college, I know that for a fact.

2009-10-05 19:02:50

#11

13urnzz: Banned; +5,830|6784

lucky basterd. take pics . . .

2009-10-05 19:03:08

#12

Red Forman: Banned; +402|5687

Poseidon wrote:
I've had a pretty stressful life since the day I was born

considering the fact you even have the option to go to riddle, i dont buy that.

2009-10-05 19:06:36

#13

Poseidon: Fudgepack DeQueef; +3,253|6825|Long Island, New York

Red Forman wrote:
Poseidon wrote:
I've had a pretty stressful life since the day I was born
considering the fact you even have the option to go to riddle, i dont buy that.

I really don't. I'd be covered in student loans for pretty much the rest of my life.

My father wouldn't pay a cent but he, by law with the divorce agreement with my mom, has to pay about $28,000 per year for college. Up to the cost of a SUNY school for tuition and all of room and board. He's not exactly poor, but he's the cheapest person you'll ever meet (inb4jewjokes). He has an income of about $300,000 per year.

So yes, dealing with someone like him (we don't even talk anymore) is pretty stressful. But that's a different story for another topic.

2009-10-05 19:08:18

#14

Red Forman: Banned; +402|5687

fair enough

2009-10-05 19:09:22

#15

Doctor Strangelove: Real Battlefield Veterinarian.; +1,758|6755

Go to school.

Traveling the world is for hippies and douche-fags.

2009-10-05 19:10:01

#16

Poseidon: Fudgepack DeQueef; +3,253|6825|Long Island, New York

Doctor Strangelove wrote:
Go to school.

Traveling the world is for hippies and douche-fags.

but trolling DST is for the cooooooooooooooooooool crew amirite

2009-10-05 19:11:11

#17

Jay: Bork! Bork! Bork!; +2,006|5645|London, England

Red Forman wrote:
Poseidon wrote:
I've had a pretty stressful life since the day I was born
considering the fact you even have the option to go to riddle, i dont buy that.

Riddle as in Embry-Riddle?

"Ah, you miserable creatures! You who think that you are so great! You who judge humanity to be so small! You who wish to reform everything! Why don't you reform yourselves? That task would be sufficient enough."
-Frederick Bastiat

2009-10-05 19:11:58

#18

Poseidon: Fudgepack DeQueef; +3,253|6825|Long Island, New York

JohnG@lt wrote:
Red Forman wrote:
Poseidon wrote:
I've had a pretty stressful life since the day I was born
considering the fact you even have the option to go to riddle, i dont buy that.
Riddle as in Embry-Riddle?

indeed...i'm taking flying lessons now (fo 'free...<3 boces) and will probably have my pilot's license by next summer

2009-10-05 19:12:06

#19

Red Forman: Banned; +402|5687

JohnG@lt wrote:
Red Forman wrote:
Poseidon wrote:
I've had a pretty stressful life since the day I was born
considering the fact you even have the option to go to riddle, i dont buy that.
Riddle as in Embry-Riddle?

yes

2009-10-05 19:12:40

#20

Jay: Bork! Bork! Bork!; +2,006|5645|London, England

Poseidon wrote:
JohnG@lt wrote:
Red Forman wrote:

considering the fact you even have the option to go to riddle, i dont buy that.
Riddle as in Embry-Riddle?
indeed...i'm taking flying lessons now (fo 'free...<3 boces) and will probably have my pilot's license by next summer

Fantastic school. Good luck!

"Ah, you miserable creatures! You who think that you are so great! You who judge humanity to be so small! You who wish to reform everything! Why don't you reform yourselves? That task would be sufficient enough."
-Frederick Bastiat

2009-10-05 19:16:19

#21

Doctor Strangelove: Real Battlefield Veterinarian.; +1,758|6755

Poseidon wrote:
Doctor Strangelove wrote:
Go to school.

Traveling the world is for hippies and douche-fags.
but trolling DST is for the cooooooooooooooooooool crew amirite

I was being serious. "Traveling the world" is a waste of your time. You said you could spend years of your life paying off student loans, why add on to that?

And before you say "They I'll just not go to college" good luck finding a job. The percentage of jobs that require a degree is getting larger and larger, so in the end you'll not save any money by not going to school.

Now you're going to pull the "I'll go to school when I'm done" well in that case you'd likely get thoroughly pwnd the first semester, as it has been so long since you applied what you learned in HS. A 4 month summer did a real number on me and I don't want to know how bad a 9 month one would be.

But hey, if "finding yourself," whatever the fuck that means, is that important, and can be accomplished by spending loads of money in countries less different from your own than you would like to think, then what can I say?

2009-10-05 19:17:31

#22

DrunkFace: Germans did 911; +427|6968|Disaster Free Zone

~9k for what looks like 19 weeks?

Yeah good luck.
In 1999 I went for 3 weeks and it cost 5.5k.
My brother went over in 2007 and spent about 4 months and it cost him well over 30k and he slept on park bench's some nights and the trains many other nights.
My mother went over last year for 3 months and it cost about 20k, and she got free flights and accommodation with relatives for 2 weeks.

You'll need lots more money if you're going for that long, especially if you intend to hire a car or sleep in hotels.

Also I suggest going to Dubai and Egypt while your over there.

2009-10-05 19:17:42

#23

Wreckognize: Member; +294|6772

Switzerland and Belgium are real nice, I definitely suggest them.

2009-10-05 19:20:28

#24

Chou: Member; +737|7078

Go to Italy, it's fucking beautiful there.

https://wallpapers.bpix.org/wallpapers/63/Amalfi_Coast%2C_Campania%2C_Italy.jpg

2009-10-05 19:28:45

#25

Superior Mind: (not macbeth); +1,755|6980

Doctor Strangelove wrote:
Go to school.

Traveling the world is for hippies and douche-fags.

I think you mean Australians.

Don't miss out on Eastern Europe. Croatia, Hungary, Romania (for the countryside), Ukraine (if you are daring), Serbia, etc. If you are feeling adventurous go even further east. Explore Turkey and the caucuses, even venture into Central Asia or the Middle East if you are crazy enough. Don't let the "West" create boundaries for you.

x

BF2S Forums Traveling the world next summer... ideas/tips?

JohnG@lt wrote:

Poseidon wrote:

JohnG@lt wrote:

JohnG@lt wrote:

Poseidon wrote:

JohnG@lt wrote:

Ty wrote:

cowami wrote:

Poseidon wrote:

Red Forman wrote:

Poseidon wrote:

Doctor Strangelove wrote:

Red Forman wrote:

Poseidon wrote:

JohnG@lt wrote:

Red Forman wrote:

Poseidon wrote:

JohnG@lt wrote:

Red Forman wrote:

Poseidon wrote:

Poseidon wrote:

JohnG@lt wrote:

Red Forman wrote:

Poseidon wrote:

Doctor Strangelove wrote:

Doctor Strangelove wrote:

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