So my big question? - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**clevercraig** · 02-22-2004, 12:42 PM

Anticipating my adventure I have kicked it into high gear as far as work goes (i bartend) and have worked 7 days a week this winter in a tourist town.....Looks like the time my trip rolls around I'll have 9K saved up (about 2 more than i estimated) and all of a sudden it's financially feesible to get a 2 month eurail pass and travel more. I'd like to come back to about 2-3k so I can buy a car (i have a crashing problem

......What should I do? The original month as planned or go out and spend the extra cash and literally buy myself more time? I've read on a lot of sites that the first time backpacker gets burned out after a single month, any truth to this? Also I am 28 now and it probably would be wiser not to spend all of what has sadly become my life savings......of course, what's money if you sit on it? I don't know? Any advice? Thanks.

**space virgin** · 02-22-2004, 04:04 PM

Hmm, the railpass issue changes what I was originally going to say-- just go over there with a "whatever" attitude. Leave if you wanna, stay if you wanna. But since you'll have to get your railpass in advance... well, I don't know. Personally I think the idea that 1st-time backpackers get burned out after a month is bunk. Probably you'll just have to weigh which option is more important to you. If it was me I'd certainly spend the time traveling. You can get more money when you get back.

good luck!!!

**Sijuki** · 02-22-2004, 04:11 PM

I love the traveling.. so if I could I would spend more time... see twice as much on that one flight. Of course depending on where you are coming from. But yeah, more time seeing the sights is always a winner with me

**Diorama** · 02-22-2004, 05:49 PM

I understand where your at. I too want to come home with at least a little money. And it is scary to come back with nothing and have to start from the beginning again. But I like what space virgin said. Go with the whatever attitude. Buy the railpass that you were eventually gonna buy and then when your time is up, You'll have to make the decision whether to return home or to continue on. IF you want to continue on (since your railpass would have expired) then you should focus on a certain area on europe..like for instance the greek islands that don't require rail...or you can switch over to busabout. Basically all i'm saying is don't make a decision yet. Yes sometimes backpackers do get burnt out, but how do you know that you will. Once your over in europe you'll know what to do.

**Carisia** · 02-23-2004, 05:01 AM

Hey CC - Congratulations! Where you are it's a great place to be! I think that your questions are totally normal, and besides affirming what the other folks have already said, about going with an open mind. I think that if the car and some savings is "important for you", then I would just cut out whatever portion you need to have left and leave it behind, "assume that that doesn't exist for travel spending"... it's just an option. Although I want you to have the time of your life traveling, I wouldn't want you to feel stranded once you return... On the other hand, there are other options, you could possibly work a bit when you're overseas, bartend, teach english, what have you... But if you'll only be there for a month or two, just focus on having a preliminary budget, so you're not worrying about finance while you're traveling...

About getting burned out after 1 month, it really depends on the person, it also depends on the place... Just pace yourself out... don't try to go on a whirlwind trip and fit in so much in as little time as possible. You can always come back and visit places again or save a particular city/region for another time. Just relax and enjoy!

**clevercraig** · 02-23-2004, 12:45 PM

Thanks all, the mixture of anxiety and sheer excitement of trying to plan this trip along with trying to go on with my daily life is mentally exhausting. Can't wait until i just get over there and live day by day.

**joanofarc** · 02-23-2004, 01:01 PM

hey craig - i'm a real baby - even with my love for travel - so a month is always enough for me. different strokes for different folks though.... i replied though to say - i really like what dio and carisia said, very sound advice.

dio's idea of visiting all the 'eurail' countries the first month is so smart! that way you could save eastern europe (maybe even turkey too if you're adventurous) until the 2nd month - you wouldn't really benefit from a eurrail pass there anyway and it would be dirt cheap after a month in western europe.... think about that.

carisia's idea of setting aside the money you want to have once home in advance is great too. then your options would be solely based on your desires at the moment - not your needs in the future (which would have already been met through your advance saving).

**ashpunk** · 02-23-2004, 02:16 PM

Hey I just got a question reading all of your posts... I thought you needed a return/onward ticket to enter into a country (to prove that you'll actually leave) so how can he decide once he gets there when he wants to go home

Quote:

just go over there with a \"whatever\" attitude. Leave if you wanna, stay if you wanna.

???

**space virgin** · 02-23-2004, 03:57 PM

I don't think you have to prove when you're leaving if you're entering a country where you don't need a visa. I never had to show anyone proof of my departure date in europe.

**joanofarc** · 02-23-2004, 04:06 PM

i think that's only for volatile type countries, i had to show proof when i went to indonesia - and i'll have to show proof again when i go to thailand...

**Ozpacka** · 02-24-2004, 12:22 AM

Hot diggiddy dawg...

lol, i rekon ill be in strife at heathrow, but its just going to be one excitement of many.

1 way ticket all the way for me...

Ill just say, 'awwwe go on mr customs man, im only wittle...'

Damn...

Leeroy

**cliffo** · 02-24-2004, 02:07 AM

I've got a one-way ticket into Greece so fingers crossed. I've got a 3 month Eurail pass and a copy of my bank account details to show I've got the cash to live on if they ask any questions. Hopefully that'll be all i need to get through.

Might have to use your line Leeroy if that doesn't work