Long vacation (1 month+) possibilities

[Memo]

Now that I have a job and the option to not start until July it gives me 6 months of pure freedom. I am thinking of taking a vacation since this is an opportunity that won't present itself until I'm either super rich or out of a job sometime in the future.

I have a frequent flyer miles that can take me almost anywhere in the world. So, the expenses would purely be eating/places to stay/things to do.

So, has anyone ever taken a long vacation? What did you do, how much did it cost? I'm trying to get an idea of how much it would end up costing me and what places I could go to. I'm not really against going to any part of the world. I'm leaning to Europe since it's the traditional backpacking adventure and may have more hostels and what not. Also, I have friends/family in both Portugal and Spain.

So I guess what I'm asking is where did you go, how much did it cost (sans planeticket) and how long did you go for?

If you've been for less, but recently, and know the price of hostels and stuff that'd be great too. Or, any place where I can get more information for planning such a trip :).

TIA,

Memo

[WhiskeyPapa]

I wouldn't do it. I realize they gave you the option of not starting until July, but most businesses offer you that time to get your affairs in order, not to play around. If word gets to them that you used the time they generously offered to play "world traveler", it could affect your future with your new employer.

When I interview a person, I always ask when they can start. The worst thing they can say to me is "Oh, after I get back from my vacation..." In my mind they've labeled themselves as lazy and narcissistic. I want employees that are anxious to get going with their new career.

[Memo]

Actually, they suggested I go on vacation and had originally suggested the July start date. They offered me to start in January afterwards in case I wanted to go ahead and begin working.

Regardless, this opportunity isn't going to present itself again. I can always make up for any impression they had of me due to starting late by being a hard worker once I begin my job. However, I will never be able to just take 6 months off.

[kgsilvas]

:agree: Take the time and enjoy it. You're right about not being able to do it again.

Is Europe an option with your FF miles, or are you planning on staying in the US?

[Memo]

Europe is definitely an option. I'd do anything else though. I've never been to Asia/South America either.

[ArkiStan]

Wherever you end up going, please try to enjoy it rather than playing survivor games. I know too many people who go to the most beautiful corners of the world only to see how many days they can live solely on bread, fruit, tap water and sleeping in phone booths. If you can afford to, go and live a little.

[Memo]

Wherever you end up going, please try to enjoy it rather than playing survivor games. I know too many people who go to the most beautiful corners of the world only to see how many days they can live solely on bread, fruit, tap water and sleeping in phone booths. If you can afford to, go and live a little.

That's the plan, Arki :)

[eSDee]

Costa Rica would be pretty sweet. Congrats on the job.

[Kevster]

Memo,

How much do you want to spend? Before Mrs. Kevster got preggers I was seriously preparing us to go on a trip to Peru and the Galapagos. I was going to go through a tour service called The California Native. (http://www.calnative.com/) I have been on their tours before and they were great. You pay for the airfare, the cost shown on their tours is everything else.

You can also go to Europe, though your money won't go as far as it once did thanks to the much lower exchange rate between the dollar and the euro. My brother and I did the great 3-month European adventure when we graduated and had an unforgetable time.

[Memo]

Memo,

How much do you want to spend? Before Mrs. Kevster got preggers I was seriously preparing us to go on a trip to Peru and the Galapagos. I was going to go through a tour service called The California Native. (http://www.calnative.com/) I have been on their tours before and they were great. You pay for the airfare, the cost shown on their tours is everything else.

You can also go to Europe, though your money won't go as far as it once did thanks to the much lower exchange rate between the dollar and the euro. My brother and I did the great 3-month European adventure when we graduated and had an unforgetable time.

I'd like to put a budget of about $2000 after plane ticket. The thing is using frequent flyer miles I can spend all my money on the actual trip instead of just getting there. That's a key part of my plan.

I had originally plannned on going to Peru, as you mentioned, but Machu Picchu closes down in January for 3 months due to the rainy season. That would have been the pinnacle of any vacation in Peru. Also, I can do Peru in about 7 days I believe. I'm really looking for something that can take up a big chunk of time. At least a month long adventure would be aweeeeeeeeesome. :)

[Cheesypuff]

If you would like to come to Asia hong kong area, I could meet up with you and we can experience the night life of hong kong! You won't be disappointed with the night life here!

But europe is a good choice also. you would be able to see a whole lot more in europe. If you come to hong kong area, you would really only be able to see hong kong and macau. Mainland china, you have to get a visa.

[TruckStuff]

Europe is a good option for backpacking and you can do that pretty cheap. I dunno about doing it for <$2000, but you could do it for a while.

Another option to explore is Australia. My wife and I went there a couple of years ago and there were *lots* of folks backpacking through the region. There's a lot to explore in the area: Austrlia is huge (almost as big as the continental US), New Zealand is close by, Pacific paradises like Fiji and the Cook Islands and relatively easy to get to also. Also, no language barrier in Australia. ;) Just another option to explore.

[kimchicowboy]

if i had a month, i'd take advantage of cathay pacific's all-asia pass. i think there are like 30 destinations in asia you can go to (including sri lanka) that you can to in 3 weeks. only stipulation is that you always have to go through hong kong for transfers. but you wouldn't be able to take advantage of the frequent flyer miles, unless you used them to go to LAX, SF, or NYC (all-asia pass is from LAX, SF, or NYC and includes all airfare to asia from one of these cities for $1300 for the 3 weeks of flying)

[Memo]

Europe is a good option for backpacking and you can do that pretty cheap. I dunno about doing it for <$2000, but you could do it for a while.

Ya, after doing some research I think the budget for my time length is going to be closer to $4500. I'll be trying to raise that much in the next couple months and probably ask for some assistance from the parents and pay them back :)


if i had a month, i'd take advantage of cathay pacific's all-asia pass. i think there are like 30 destinations in asia you can go to (including sri lanka) that you can to in 3 weeks. only stipulation is that you always have to go through hong kong for transfers. but you wouldn't be able to take advantage of the frequent flyer miles, unless you used them to go to LAX, SF, or NYC (all-asia pass is from LAX, SF, or NYC and includes all airfare to asia from one of these cities for $1300 for the 3 weeks of flying)

This sounds pretty interesting. They seem to have a 30 day and 90 day option as well. Thanks for the tip man.

[hapoo]

I don't think any place in the world offers as much variety as europe does in terms of places to see and things to do imo. Personally I really want to see greece, spain, france, and italy in greater detail. Hell, I'd go for the food alone :)

[kimchicowboy]

I don't think any place in the world offers as much variety as europe does in terms of places to see and things to do imo. Personally I really want to see greece, spain, france, and italy in greater detail. Hell, I'd go for the food alone :)
what? not into the deep-fried tarantula chips they serve in vietnam? :P

[ramazank2]

I spent 5 weeks in france and it was a lot of fun, but also really expensive. I also spent 2 weeks in china and 2 weeks in Peru. They have some great trips throughout south america. For me 2 weeks was not long enough for just Peru. I heard from other travelers on my trip that ecuador and bolivia were really cool. And with that money you could travel like a king! I went with www.enjoyperu.com but if you want to see more than that check out http://www.enjoy-south-america.com/. For example here is a trip:
Tour: Argentina, Chile Peru I 20 days / 19 nights US$ -
Buenos Aires - Iguazu - Santiago - San Pedro de Atacama - Lima - Cusco
The trips they provide are fully customizable so you can see what ever you like. When I went they treated my wife and I very well. PM for more info if you like.

[Houdini]

Europe is a good option for backpacking and you can do that pretty cheap. I dunno about doing it for <$2000, but you could do it for a while.


If you know what you're doing you can spend less than $2k easily on a backpack trip through Europe. I spent 18 days once on maybe 1200, but most of that was the rail pass and the plane ticket. Just depends if the places you want to go are off-season or not.

[WhiskeyPapa]

Don't forget to consider the future value of your vacation. Six months off my seem nice, but after you factor in the cost of the vacation plus the lost income - you may be giving up $50k (I have no clue what you'll be earning.) $50k in some good mutual funds could yield nearly a million dollars in 25 years. That's an expensive vacation.

[Burzhui]

there is a nice Hostel in Bratislava you can stay in ;)