First Time Outta the US... Where to go? - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

Ungreatful Wanderer · 12-11-2005, 06:26 PM

Quick Intro:
Hi! I'm Lizz, I've been a long time lurker on Travel Punk, but a first time poster.

Anywho I'm planning my first trip outside the U.S. I just have no clue where I'd like to go! I'll be traveling alone and on a budget of about $1200 (including plane ticket) Do you suppose that will be enough? Or should I put my travel plans off another year and try and save up a little more? I think I'd like to see Romania, but I alsp want to see Spain, Morocco, Italy, the UK, Australia, India, and way too many more to list. So really I'm open to all and any suggestions.

looking forward to seeing what you guys (and gals) have to say

-Lizz

nemesis331 · 12-11-2005, 06:32 PM

seems like your budget is kinda tight...anyway you could increase that through the holiday season or before you travel. airfare could easily take up most of that depending on where you want to travel to.

Ungreatful Wanderer · 12-11-2005, 06:41 PM

I think I could bring it up to $2000 through this summer and then travel in the fall instead...

*grumbles about book fees*

nemesis331 · 12-11-2005, 07:07 PM

hmm..the problem is even if you have $2000 USD, in Euro countries it will only be about 1,691 since the USD is a little weaker against the Euro. You can pay with the euro in the following countries:
Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal and Spain. so don't get down on europe, you can still see many countries with a better exchange rate. i would look into going to a value country. do a little research and find a country where your money will go a little further. Eastern Europe and Central and South America are great for this. look for more info online and try to find good deals on airfare and such.

Ungreatful Wanderer · 12-11-2005, 07:20 PM

Thanks for the advice!

**bookofkels** · 12-11-2005, 07:44 PM

Your budget depends on how long you are planning to travel, say you where going for a month to the UK, well a ticket is about $400 and thats from philly/new york area into london, so that would leave you $800 which is About £400, not alot to live on and go out in an expensive place like the UK.

Not to put a downer on things but your budget may be a little tight, but then i also haven backpacked any europe countries from america, there are wiser people on these boards who will be able to help you there.

But why not if its your first trip start small and do somewhere in south america, where its cheaper to get to and live.

nemesis331 · 12-11-2005, 07:53 PM

check student universe and play around with the airfare thing...thats where you will be able to save the most. check multiple destinations so you can find out where you can get cheapest!

this is the best site (in my opinion) for cheap airfare
Student Universe

**omisan** · 12-12-2005, 12:46 AM

I would work through the summer and wait until autumn to travel.. You'll have more money, airfares are cheaper, and places are far less crowded!

You can stretch your dollar pretty far by hitting Central/South America, Eastern Europe, Spain/Portugal, India, Southeast Asia. I just went and spent a relative buttload of money in Australia and New Zealand, whereas my friends who've recently gotten back from Argentina, India, and Vietnam were raving about how hard it was to spend more than $20 a day... So keep that in mind when planning, too.

Of course, you may not want that sort of culture shock for your first overseas trip, although I think there's nothing better than baptism by fire

So it may be good to consider what foreign languages you have a knack for to help you decide where to go - that way you'll feel a little bit less like a fish out of water. Studied Spanish? Try Spain or a Latin American country.. French? France is a good start.. you get the picture.

Best of luck and happy traveling, wherever you choose.

**weirdbeard** · 12-12-2005, 12:58 AM

Hey there Welcome (officially) to the boards! I'll have to agree with everybody else here. Your budget seems pretty tight, especially with airfare included. Why not save some more cash and have extra for a little padding? I've done a lot of research into going to Eu in the fall(late Aug-Oct) and it's a lot cheaper than summer seasons. Plus it's still warm in most places. Also, whatever country you decide on will be different than what you've experienced before so either way, you'll enjoy it. Good luck with your travels and keep everybody posted!

**worldwidemike** · 12-12-2005, 07:03 AM

I agree with most of the folks so far. If you like the idea of Latin America, go for it! It's by far cheaper than W. Europe. If you're set on Europe, how about picking one "western country" for you intro (say Italy, France, Germany), then go from there to E. Europe where it'll be cheaper. Romania, you mentioned, and the Czech Rep is great, I loved Bulgaria, Beergal is having a blast in Hungary...just about anywhere else will be less expensive than the "EURO" currency countries. And remember, no matter how far off the beaten track you think you're getting, you'll still be traveling a trail beaten by previous travlers, so it won't be too wild and hairy and uncomfortable traveling...

And welcome to the Boards!

worldwidemike

**Elizabeth** · 12-12-2005, 07:17 AM

I just wanted to add a hello and welcome to a fellow Lizz.

chelseafc05 · 12-12-2005, 02:08 PM

ooooooooooo do i smell a lizz rivalry

anyway i agree with everyone and and welcome....

**omisan** · 12-12-2005, 02:37 PM

I'm so buying front-row tickets to this if there's a good ol' fashioned hair-pulling, nail-scratching, clothes-tearing catfight...

Ungreatful Wanderer · 12-12-2005, 03:02 PM

hehehe Hi there Lizz!

Thanks for the welcome everyone. and thanks even more for the advice. I'll look into some of the places you mentioned and I'll definitely try to make some extra $$$ over the next couple months. (Selling Plasma Maybe???)

I'm not sure how long that I'd like to travel.. Maybe a week?

And I LOVE the S. America Idea- I was actually planning on applying for a travel-study program to brazil

Thanks again
-Lizz

**bookofkels** · 12-12-2005, 03:26 PM

edited to add: i meant omi^ and i'm sure you'll spend alot of money to get those front row seats, your such a guy!

**omisan** · 12-12-2005, 03:32 PM

Money? Feh.. I get by on my charm...

Now, when's fight night? Do we have to get Don King to promote this?

chelseafc05 · 12-12-2005, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ungreatful Wanderer@Dec 13 2005, 09:02 AM
hehehe Hi there Lizz!

[snapback]92446[/snapback]

look at that other lizz shes lauphin at ya

i get front row seats im VIP

nemesis331 · 12-12-2005, 05:54 PM

i'm always down for a good brawl between 2 good-lookin chicks of the same name!

**kingcrazylegs** · 12-12-2005, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ungreatful Wanderer@Dec 11 2005, 06:26 PM
Hi! I'm Lizz, I've been a long time lurker on Travel Punk, but a first time poster.

[snapback]92277[/snapback]

sounds like a support group...

Welcome