Timing?? - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

Carter · 09-21-2004, 07:50 PM

As you might have seen from my 'intro' post I am going to leave my job for a while and do the uk/eurpoe thing when the lease is up on the house I am renting. The lease is over at the end of April, as I understand it things get crazier/pricier during the school holidays. Sooooooo..... It would be very possible for me to just crash on friends couches for another month or so while still working, thus saving up more money and extending my trip.

What do you think?? is the school vacation time really THAT bad? What do you think wins out, more travel time while the weather is warm or more money for a longer (but colder trip).

Thanks,
Carter

**Canadian Dude** · 09-22-2004, 03:26 AM

Quote:

What do you think?? is the school vacation time really THAT bad? What do you think wins out, more travel time while the weather is warm or more money for a longer

If I had the option I would travel in off peak times, deal with a little bit of cooler weather. LEss line ups for events and sites cheaper over all cost on probably everything from your flight to lodging. I dont think you will meet any less people, cause there is always trav'las no matter what time of year it is. The temp does not drop to the extream over night, I think you'll be ok.

Now if your looking for the hard core party time, then you go during the break, more people, younger crowd, every nights a party ( Oh how I miss those days)

So My vote is to wait

**space virgin** · 09-22-2004, 09:40 AM

Sometimes I just get pissy around too many other tourists-- so I always vote for off-season travel.

But that's just me. Don't let the cooler weather put you off!

Carter · 09-22-2004, 12:11 PM

yeah, thats what the smarter side of me has been thinking anyway.... Cool weather isn't really a bother to me and I have no doubt I'll still meet plenty of people and have enough fun partying. Hell, being 23 now, out of school, and creeping in closer to the 'old man' category it might also save my sanity to be there when places aren't over run by 18 year olds and the like (no offense to any here, I can handle you in small doses -just not in large packs

)

-Carter

**omisan** · 09-22-2004, 02:04 PM

While I absolutely loved the weather while traveling in Europe during the summer, I really, really missed the fall/winter crowds (or lack thereof). It seems to make a world of difference. And a lot of the locals seem to be a lot friendlier when they're not surrounded by dumbasses

**Somnambulation** · 09-22-2004, 09:32 PM

I was worried about the crowds this summer because I was going right at the peak time both for school breaks and Europeans taking vacations. I really had no problems anywhere though. I was always able to find a hostel and cant remember ever being annoyed with waiting in line anywhere. Even at the Vatican which we were told to arrive at early in the morning, but didn't, and got in with a half hours wait.