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Advice: Vacation

PoS said:
I'm assuming youre an American so with that blue passport you can go anywhere in Europe without a visa- that isn't an issue at all since if youre in the Eurozone you can travel without restrictions once youre in due to the Shengen laws. Unless you go to the UK or Switzerland everyone uses the Euro so exchange rates are pretty simplified. All the main cities in the EU like Paris and Rome, Barca, Madrid, English is widely spoken so thats not a problem either.

Get a GPS app on your phone and download the maps in advance so you can navigate or just pick up the free maps in the hotel or tourist centers wherever you go.

I would suggest that if you have 9 days then pick out two cities in Europe you want to go to, might be better if its one country so you can absorb the languages and culture better than if you go on a five city whirlwind tour over 3 countries in which you forget everything afterwards.

The EU has got a good mass transit system. The trains are good, just watch out for thieves on the platforms.

Here is an excellent website on train travel:

The Man in Seat Sixty-One - the train travel guide...
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Thanks. I am seriously considering Europe and I want to help contribute to the French Economy as well. Seems like I could be happy with Paris and London. We'll see how things go.
 
ModerateGOP said:
Thanks. I am seriously considering Europe and I want to help contribute to the French Economy as well. Seems like I could be happy with Paris and London. We'll see how things go.
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Think Southern France and Barcelona- weather will be very good. Catalan would be interesting at Christmastime.
 
Oh if you want something cheaper than Europe you can go to Asia. Here are places I would recommend:

Thailand: cheap hotels, good food (if youre into spicy stuff) and plenty of girls you can pick up. The downside is the heat and humidity. Few museums but the Grand Palace is nice.

Hong Kong: take a ferry to Macau and gamble if youre into it. There is also Ocean Park in Lantau Island- huge amusement park with diving opportunities with sharks in the biggest aquarium in the world. Food is great there too. HK Disneyland is there but its kinda small. If you like urban adventure this is the place to be in. Plenty of good museums and brand new too.

Vietnam: probably the cheapest place to go. Good food as well but same drawbacks as Thailand.

Singapore: cleanest city ever, well ordered and great food too- mix of spicy Chinese, Malay and Indian cuisines. Sentosa Island is where the museums and amusement parks like Universal Studios is. Cost is slightly higher than the previous ones I mentioned but still very affordable. World class malls and museums. The enclosed botanical gardens are awesome.

I wouldnt recommend Japan due to the cost.
 
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ModerateGOP said:
I would love to go to Asia, but I do not know Chinese or anybody that lives there who can show me around. Granted I don't have any international friends. Would that be a problem? I think I'll save that for next year though. As I said, I have never traveled to the other side of the ocean before so let's see how I do with something a little closer like Europe.
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???

Asia has many countries, not just China?

All of southeast Asia knows English, same with Nepal.
 
I'm going to the DR with 3 of my friends (all single guys in your age range) in a couple weeks. Gonna be a non-stop ***** fest. You ever consider doing something like that?

PoS said:
Hong Kong: take a ferry to Macau and gamble if youre into it. There is also Ocean Park in Lantau Island- huge amusement park with diving opportunities with sharks in the biggest aquarium in the world. Food is great there too. HK Disneyland is there but its kinda small. If you like urban adventure this is the place to be in. Plenty of good museums and brand new too.
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Ocean Park is on the south side of HK Island, but yeah its a lot better than HK Disney. Macau is cool to visit even if one doesn't gamble. The saunas are the best I have seen anywhere in the world. Recommend Sanado and Rio. One thing I keep on meaning to do there is bungee jump of the Macau tower, worth considering. One of the highest jumps in the world that I know of.
 
foadi said:
I'm going to the DR with 3 of my friends (all single guys in your age range) in a couple weeks. Gonna be a non-stop ***** fest. You ever consider doing something like that?


Ocean Park is on the south side of HK Island, but yeah its a lot better than HK Disney. Macau is cool to visit even if one doesn't gamble. The saunas are the best I have seen anywhere in the world. Recommend Sanado and Rio. One thing I keep on meaning to do there is bungee jump of the Macau tower, worth considering. One of the highest jumps in the world that I know of.
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That damn bungee jump is around 2K Hong Kong Dollars if I recall. Pretty expensive for a six second drop. I went up on that tower and the elevator had a glass floor. I saw someone do the jump and they actually clamp your legs together so you have to hop on to the platform before you can even jump.

The other thing about Macao I like too is their pork buns- basically a piece of pork chop between slices of bread. :mrgreen:
 
ModerateGOP said:
Hello DP,

I have 12 vacation days and I would like to use most of them by the end of the year. Otherwise I lose them! So what's a good vacation that I can take? I am a 26 years old. Single and have about $3000 to spend on this trip. I'm interested in culture, history, museums, monuments. This would be my first real vacation and I am not planning on going with anyone. Which is where I am having trouble. Since many vacations are family planned or couple planned.

I have two options. I can either go, Dec. 19-24. Or Dec. 26- Jan. 3. Gota stay home for Christmas. (probably)

I will probably take one short trip before the holidays and one longer trip after. I am very much interested in international travel and if it's possible to swing this I'd love to head out across the Atlantic Ocean. I have already traveled all up and down the east coast. This includes Disney. (I went to school in Florida so that's nothing new.) Never been out west, but I don't like to gamble. I have been to North-South America (namely Ecuador and Mexico), Costa Rica, Jamaica and various other islands in the Caribbean. So ideally i'd like to go somewhere new, different and under budget. A cruise seems to be the best option.

Any advice is appreciated!
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Oh, how wonderful. If you do go to Germany, you have to swing by a Christkindlesmarkt in any of the major cities! They are so much fun, with neat little presents and of course warm glühwein to keep spirits bright!

But, if you want a different suggestion, a quick trip like this would be wonderful in Ireland. Seriously, that was the most beautiful place with some of the most wonderful, friendly, and fun people you can run into --- and they already speak English. That is a huge bonus when traveling, right? No joke. So much fun. So much fun, seriously. You should look into Ireland. Dublin is a blast, the greatest city for 20-somethings, easily. Take a trip out into the gorgeous countryside, see some sights. Go to Cork, Belfast, wherever, but fun it up in Dublin! You will be so happy you did. I promise. Seriously. Ireland.
 
ModerateGOP said:
Hello DP,

I have 12 vacation days and I would like to use most of them by the end of the year. Otherwise I lose them! So what's a good vacation that I can take? I am a 26 years old. Single and have about $3000 to spend on this trip. I'm interested in culture, history, museums, monuments. This would be my first real vacation and I am not planning on going with anyone. Which is where I am having trouble. Since many vacations are family planned or couple planned.

I have two options. I can either go, Dec. 19-24. Or Dec. 26- Jan. 3. Gota stay home for Christmas. (probably)

I will probably take one short trip before the holidays and one longer trip after. I am very much interested in international travel and if it's possible to swing this I'd love to head out across the Atlantic Ocean. I have already traveled all up and down the east coast. This includes Disney. (I went to school in Florida so that's nothing new.) Never been out west, but I don't like to gamble. I have been to North-South America (namely Ecuador and Mexico), Costa Rica, Jamaica and various other islands in the Caribbean. So ideally i'd like to go somewhere new, different and under budget. A cruise seems to be the best option.

Any advice is appreciated!
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Put the $3,000 into a Roth IRA, stay home, read books and drink beer... perfect vacation from work. :2razz:
 
Winchester said:
Put the $3,000 into a Roth IRA, stay home, read books and drink beer... perfect vacation from work. :2razz:
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:lamo

I blew part of the money I saved to build a house on my vacation. I know it wasn't the smart thing to do but it was fun and I would probably do it again. :2razz:
 
ModerateGOP said:
Hello DP,

I have 12 vacation days and I would like to use most of them by the end of the year. Otherwise I lose them! So what's a good vacation that I can take? I am a 26 years old. Single and have about $3000 to spend on this trip. I'm interested in culture, history, museums, monuments. This would be my first real vacation and I am not planning on going with anyone. Which is where I am having trouble. Since many vacations are family planned or couple planned.

I have two options. I can either go, Dec. 19-24. Or Dec. 26- Jan. 3. Gota stay home for Christmas. (probably)

I will probably take one short trip before the holidays and one longer trip after. I am very much interested in international travel and if it's possible to swing this I'd love to head out across the Atlantic Ocean. I have already traveled all up and down the east coast. This includes Disney. (I went to school in Florida so that's nothing new.) Never been out west, but I don't like to gamble. I have been to North-South America (namely Ecuador and Mexico), Costa Rica, Jamaica and various other islands in the Caribbean. So ideally i'd like to go somewhere new, different and under budget. A cruise seems to be the best option.

Any advice is appreciated!
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I just got back from 6 days on the Big Island in Hawaii, you got wet, you got dry, you got beach, you got jungle, you got snow and high pines.

Culture, diving, great beer, can't be beat.
 
Risky Thicket said:
I did the hostel route more than a few times in my misspent youth. If you do a bit of research you can stay in some pretty good places for next to nothing. At 26 it isn't a bad way to go. You can mix it up some between hostels and B&Bs.
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He should first watch the movie "Hostel." That'll cure him of that idea.
 
ModerateGOP said:
Hello DP,

I have 12 vacation days and I would like to use most of them by the end of the year. Otherwise I lose them! So what's a good vacation that I can take? I am a 26 years old. Single and have about $3000 to spend on this trip. I'm interested in culture, history, museums, monuments. This would be my first real vacation and I am not planning on going with anyone. Which is where I am having trouble. Since many vacations are family planned or couple planned.

I have two options. I can either go, Dec. 19-24. Or Dec. 26- Jan. 3. Gota stay home for Christmas. (probably)

I will probably take one short trip before the holidays and one longer trip after. I am very much interested in international travel and if it's possible to swing this I'd love to head out across the Atlantic Ocean. I have already traveled all up and down the east coast. This includes Disney. (I went to school in Florida so that's nothing new.) Never been out west, but I don't like to gamble. I have been to North-South America (namely Ecuador and Mexico), Costa Rica, Jamaica and various other islands in the Caribbean. So ideally i'd like to go somewhere new, different and under budget. A cruise seems to be the best option.

Any advice is appreciated!
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Go some place local that is amazingly pretty or culturally awesome or historically significant (there are bound to be areas nearby you haven't seen or would like to go to again). Spend $1,500. Camping is great, challenging, good for physical health, fun, and inexpensive.

Put the other $1,500 in a brokerage account, add $500 at the beginning of every year. Invest in a broad based index fund (or superb active fund). You'll probably have at least $10,000 in ten years.

If you want to party, go to Cancun on a group trip. It's fairly inexpensive, and everyone is young and going there to party. There will be women. (Don't drink the water.)
 
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JumpinJack said:
He should first watch the movie "Hostel." That'll cure him of that idea.
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My hostel experiences were good to great.

Cancun is nothing more than spending time surrounded by other Americans in an environment that favors Americans that happens to be in Mexico. There is no culture their. There isn't even any real Mexico there.
 
Risky Thicket said:
My hostel experiences were good to great.

Cancun is nothing more than spending time surrounded by other Americans in an environment that favors Americans that happens to be in Mexico. There is no culture their. There isn't even any real Mexico there.
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Yes, I know. But it's cheap and fun for young men. No way he should do a cruise at his age. Heck, I wouldn't do something so old fogey and boring at my age, even. I also gave an alternate of doing something near his own location....camping in a national park, or whatever. He lives in the NE, a place of natural beauty. And historical. Lots of cultural sites up there in the NE. He doesn't have to spend a lot of $ or travel far for that.
 
if you are truly adventurous, and enjoy trekking over rough country

take a trip to mexico....rent a 4x4....and go see the mayan ruins

https://www.locogringo.com/mexico/ways-to-play/mayan-ruins-archaeological-sites/

bring LOTS of fresh water, and expect to do a lot of hiking

incredible history, and beautiful area

not going to meet a lot of eligible women, but depends on what you really want out of this vacation
 
PoS said:
That damn bungee jump is around 2K Hong Kong Dollars if I recall. Pretty expensive for a six second drop. I went up on that tower and the elevator had a glass floor. I saw someone do the jump and they actually clamp your legs together so you have to hop on to the platform before you can even jump.

The other thing about Macao I like too is their pork buns- basically a piece of pork chop between slices of bread. :mrgreen:
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About 10 or 12 years ago I bungee jumped from a 12 story tower that was positioned over the Guadalupe River in New Braunfels, Texas. When I got to the tower site, not many people were there yet, it was kind of early, and I had the pleasure of walking straight to the cashier, paying, and heading up the lift up to the top of tower and jump platform.

When I arrived at the top, the jumpmaster said that he need to secure a few things so I looked around and over the edge and then got a bit weirded out. And a number of people has suddenly showed up and was probably waiting their turn while observing my getting ready to jump. By the way, I paid a little extra to have my jump videoed.

Anyway, I start to get somewhat freaked while waiting for the guy to get done, whatever it was that need to be done prior to putting the jump harness on me. He was taking a long time to get everything "secured". So I began to ramble on all sorts of things to this jumpmaster. He seemed amused by my saying things like, "My heart is pumping dog **** right now". Or, "Oh **** me, what the hell am I doing up here!?" And I went on and on rambling about my testicles were suddenly in my watch pocket, etc, etc, etc. :lol: He finally hooked me and said, "It's time, look at the horizon and depart in whatever fashion you prefer, but DON'T attempt to raise up and try grabbing the bungee cord when you get to the recoil point of the jump. I said, "WHAT?" :shock:

Well, I did a swan dive off of the platform. And I had some pretty interesting comments in my however many seconds it took to go through the several bounces one does before coming to a stop.

Little did I know that not only was I being videoed. But from the very second I reached the jump platform - there were several microphones hidden around the platform and EVERYBODY below was listening to every word I was saying to the jumpmaster. :doh

So I was their entertainment for the day. We stayed for an hour and watched other jumpers after I jumped. The jump site folks looped played my comments over a loudspeaker all the during the time we stayed after my jump and for I don't know how long after we had left the jump site. But a lot of people got a good laugh at how I was "SHARING MY FEAR", if you will, with the Jumpmaster - and of course rather juicy comments I made with the jump was in progress.
 
Removable Mind said:
About 10 or 12 years ago I bungee jumped from a 12 story tower that was positioned over the Guadalupe River in New Braunfels, Texas. When I got to the tower site, not many people were there yet, it was kind of early, and I had the pleasure of walking straight to the cashier, paying, and heading up the lift up to the top of tower and jump platform.

When I arrived at the top, the jumpmaster said that he need to secure a few things so I looked around and over the edge and then got a bit weirded out. And a number of people has suddenly showed up and was probably waiting their turn while observing my getting ready to jump. By the way, I paid a little extra to have my jump videoed.

Anyway, I start to get somewhat freaked while waiting for the guy to get done, whatever it was that need to be done prior to putting the jump harness on me. He was taking a long time to get everything "secured". So I began to ramble on all sorts of things to this jumpmaster. He seemed amused by my saying things like, "My heart is pumping dog **** right now". Or, "Oh **** me, what the hell am I doing up here!?" And I went on and on rambling about my testicles were suddenly in my watch pocket, etc, etc, etc. :lol: He finally hooked me and said, "It's time, look at the horizon and depart in whatever fashion you prefer, but DON'T attempt to raise up and try grabbing the bungee cord when you get to the recoil point of the jump. I said, "WHAT?" :shock:

Well, I did a swan dive off of the platform. And I had some pretty interesting comments in my however many seconds it took to go through the several bounces one does before coming to a stop.

Little did I know that not only was I being videoed. But from the very second I reached the jump platform - there were several microphones hidden around the platform and EVERYBODY below was listening to every word I was saying to the jumpmaster. :doh

So I was their entertainment for the day. We stayed for an hour and watched other jumpers after I jumped. The jump site folks looped played my comments over a loudspeaker all the during the time we stayed after my jump and for I don't know how long after we had left the jump site. But a lot of people got a good laugh at how I was "SHARING MY FEAR", if you will, with the Jumpmaster - and of course rather juicy comments I made with the jump was in progress.
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Great story. Leaping off tall buildings in a single bound is not on my bucket list. Neither is ****ting in my jeans in front of a crowd of cat calling strangers. I want no parts of jumping off anything higher than a step ladder. Good on you though, RM.
 
ModerateGOP said:
Hello DP,

I have 12 vacation days and I would like to use most of them by the end of the year. Otherwise I lose them! So what's a good vacation that I can take? I am a 26 years old. Single and have about $3000 to spend on this trip. I'm interested in culture, history, museums, monuments. This would be my first real vacation and I am not planning on going with anyone. Which is where I am having trouble. Since many vacations are family planned or couple planned.

I have two options. I can either go, Dec. 19-24. Or Dec. 26- Jan. 3. Gota stay home for Christmas. (probably)

I will probably take one short trip before the holidays and one longer trip after. I am very much interested in international travel and if it's possible to swing this I'd love to head out across the Atlantic Ocean. I have already traveled all up and down the east coast. This includes Disney. (I went to school in Florida so that's nothing new.) Never been out west, but I don't like to gamble. I have been to North-South America (namely Ecuador and Mexico), Costa Rica, Jamaica and various other islands in the Caribbean. So ideally i'd like to go somewhere new, different and under budget. A cruise seems to be the best option.

Any advice is appreciated!
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Europe will be no fun in December. If you're going to be hostelling it then beware it's gonna be cold, and hostels aren't known for keeping the heat on. My favourite places to travel in Europe are the eastern countries. Bulgaria, Slovenia, Serbia etc, but they're more summer places.

In my opinion you should further explore South America. Mexico doesn't really count as South America and there is so much out there beyond Ecuador. Get some sun. Brazil is incredible, both the women and the beaches, you could even check out the amazon. Or go to Peru and do the machu pichu trail or fly over the nazca lines. See the sinkholes in Bolivia. Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay. All amazing countries.
 
American Airlines just announced Auckland, and is starting Sydney next month. Now, I just gotta find an empty flight to standby on...
 
Nilly said:
Europe will be no fun in December. If you're going to be hostelling it then beware it's gonna be cold, and hostels aren't known for keeping the heat on. My favourite places to travel in Europe are the eastern countries. Bulgaria, Slovenia, Serbia etc, but they're more summer places.

In my opinion you should further explore South America. Mexico doesn't really count as South America and there is so much out there beyond Ecuador. Get some sun. Brazil is incredible, both the women and the beaches, you could even check out the amazon. Or go to Peru and do the machu pichu trail or fly over the nazca lines. See the sinkholes in Bolivia. Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay. All amazing countries.
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Yes. I know. That's the only thing that has me hesitant about going to Europe in the Winter. Although I do ski.... Decisions.
 
Parts of Europe are ok in winter, but as a person in Scotland I can say it's cold, windy, foggy, hasn't stopped raining for a feckin week and it's not going to stop for another week. I understand from colleagues it's the same in London. The winter has just kicked in here and it's miserable. Dark when you get up, dark when you get home...

What about Macchu Picchu though.
 
Viv said:
Parts of Europe are ok in winter, but as a person in Scotland I can say it's cold, windy, foggy, hasn't stopped raining for a feckin week and it's not going to stop for another week. I understand from colleagues it's the same in London. The winter has just kicked in here and it's miserable. Dark when you get up, dark when you get home...

What about Macchu Picchu though.
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Spain and Southern France should be good for weather though.
 
Threegoofs said:
Spain and Southern France should be good for weather though.
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It's better than here. Depends where you go, I've crossed the channel at this time of year and the seas were wild. Spain we used to go every year from now into December, depending where it can be good if you're lucky but we saw rain as well.
 
ModerateGOP said:
Hello DP,

I have 12 vacation days and I would like to use most of them by the end of the year. Otherwise I lose them! So what's a good vacation that I can take? I am a 26 years old. Single and have about $3000 to spend on this trip. I'm interested in culture, history, museums, monuments. This would be my first real vacation and I am not planning on going with anyone. Which is where I am having trouble. Since many vacations are family planned or couple planned.

I have two options. I can either go, Dec. 19-24. Or Dec. 26- Jan. 3. Gota stay home for Christmas. (probably)

I will probably take one short trip before the holidays and one longer trip after. I am very much interested in international travel and if it's possible to swing this I'd love to head out across the Atlantic Ocean. I have already traveled all up and down the east coast. This includes Disney. (I went to school in Florida so that's nothing new.) Never been out west, but I don't like to gamble. I have been to North-South America (namely Ecuador and Mexico), Costa Rica, Jamaica and various other islands in the Caribbean. So ideally i'd like to go somewhere new, different and under budget. A cruise seems to be the best option.

Any advice is appreciated!
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Asia... Thailand or Cambodia, to be more specific.
Phuket is a good place in Thailand for beginner tourists there... (lots of foreign tourist flock there, especially Germans and Australians)
I hear Vietnam is getting better for tourism... but I don't have personal experience vacationing there (I was there in 70-71, though not on vacation)
I'm a huge fan of Japan, but it's not really cheap... and it's not really a "singles" destination.... the culture and the sights are mindblowing though ( once you get out of the cities)



about half of your $3000 will be spent getting to Asia and back.. (seriously, upgrade your seats, it's a long ass flight)... but 1500 bucks is more than plenty to get through a week in most of the countries... even if you party hard and buy many trinkets and baubles.
 
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