Post Graduation Travel

[Partial]

Any of you guys travel and see the world before you started your job post-graduation? I have never left the country or done any exciting traveling and self-discovery before.

I hear you can do the whole Europe thing for really cheap with youth hostels. I estimate one could probably spend a month traveling all of Europe for about 3000$. That would be totally worth it and offer an amazing chance to see the world.

So, did any of you guys do this? I ask now because i'd have to start saving up for summer of '08 now

[PackerPro42]

I don't think that you can even get plane tickets to europe for under $3000.

[Partial]

Are you crazy? I just saw round trip to Dublin for 550.

[MJZiggy]

Sure you can. You just have to watch for specials and stuff. I've seen flights to Europe advertised as cheap as $500. I don't travel much, but I have family who does and it seems the trick is to be flexible.

[BallHawk]

Obviously, I've never been to Europe before my post-graduate, but I have been to Europe quite a lot and I strongly suggest it. I was born in London so I've had the privilege of visiting the UK almost every year. London is a fantastic city with plenty to do. And the beauty of Europe is that everything is so close to each other. It's pretty easy, on a relatively small budget, to see a lot of the continent. Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam, Lyon(France,) and Brussels are among my favorite cities there.

So do all you can do get out there, because it is certainly an experience that everybody should have.

[Partial]

If I do decide to go, i'll probably go 4 or 5 weeks and spend some time in england, france, germany and greece.

The girlfriend has always wanted to go to Italy so I will save that trip for her.

Would it be weird to just go off for a month by yourself to europe without knowing anyone and just bumming around seeing everything there is to see? I don't know that i'd want a travel companion that I knew from college or high school, i think i'd rather go off by myself.

[Partial]

Sure you can. You just have to watch for specials and stuff. I've seen flights to Europe advertised as cheap as $500. I don't travel much, but I have family who does and it seems the trick is to be flexible.

Gotta book far in advance I've noticed. That, or find a special. But, if you book your flights 6 months in advance you can get an incredibly low rate. Also, as you said, if you're flexible and willing to stop in 3 places, I saw tickets for 350 round trip. That's very, very inexpensive, but it also takes up an entire day or more of your trip. It's a tradeoff, I suppose.

[MJZiggy]

Remember also to make sure you learn a few phrases in the languages of the countries you'll visit. I've heard France has a reputation for not being so fond of Americans and it might be worth your while to be able to ask a question or book a room in French, not to mention order from a menu. They eat some interesting things over there.

[red]

do it partial

this is something i really wished i had done after college, or even during college

one of my roomates did this, he took a semester off and traveled all over europe staying at all the hostels just like you said. he loved it

[Freak Out]

The exchange rate with the Euro blows at the moment but you could still hostel it AND do it cheaper than $3000! Where are you planning on staying every night the fucking Ritz? You can get very cheap flights from the Midwest if you shop around and even cheaper from the east coast...just be smart and shop around for a good deal. I love Europe and travel to Germany every year to visit my best friends and always add a side trip somewhere new....but if I was you I would go to Asia. Thailand, India, Indonesia.....that's where you want to go. The west is tame these days....

[LaFours]

I went to Cozumel with my wife (we married three weeks after we graduated). We got tore up on margaritas y coronitas for 10 straight days. the resort we stayed at had a "swim-up" bar with stools in the pool. It was awesome.

[K-town]

If you decide to go to Cancun, Mexico, in the summer...DO NOT take any tours into the jungle to view obscure Mayan ruins. Or chase after cute archeology students.
The basis for this observation: read "The Ruins" by Scott Smith.
Scariest, creepiest novel I've read in YEARS. The ending will linger with you for a long, long time.

[GBRulz]

I did some traveling myself, but nothing where I truly felt like i was outside of the United States, such as the Bahama's, Cancun, Cozumel & the Caymen Islands.

I have no desire to travel to Europe though. My destinations of choice usually involve a warm climate and an ocean! My dream vacation is Australia. Some day I want to take like a month and just visit there.

I think you should just go for it though, but I wouldn't want to travel alone, no way.

[red]

see i'd rather do something i've never done before, instead of just going a laying on another beach somewhere

my dream is to go back to the old country, and get piss drunk for a solid month with all the distant relatives. i think Ireland could make that happen

[Partial]

I want to explore the world. I would think Greece and Turkey would certainly be on the top of my travel spots. Maybe I will take a friend along so I don't get mugged and die. But, I don't want anyone slowing me down. Maybe even go to india and thailand, too.