Tryin to get things movin....

[MDS909]

Hey all. Thankfully, school's gonna be over pretty soon, and I cant think of anything better for a 20 year old with no obligations to do than get out and see the world. I've always had the idea that world travel was reserved for those older than me, or people with very rich parents . After reading over some of these posts, I guess I'm wrong... How do you guys do it?

Being a rock climber, my plan right now is to spend a couple months in France and Spain climbing some amazing rock, partyin, chillin outside in some beautiful places...(so much for leavin the daily routine at home ) That seems like an awfully expensive idea to me though. To anyone whos done somethin like this, how much can I expect to spend? I'm thinking I can probably save a lot of money by camping outside a majority of the time (climbers are known to be extremely cheap heheh) and staying away from the cities and "touristy" places.... I'm trying to get an idea of how long I'll be able to spend overseas (only limiting factor being $ of course )... Any suggestions to a first time traveler on saving money (on airfair, transportation.... ANYTHING) would be greatly appreciated. Thanx!

[Carisia]

Wow, welcome to the boards and congratulations on deciding to take on this great adventure! I really admire rockclimbers! Just the other day, I was walking a trail w/ a friend and saw a group of climbers, they were in such great physical shape, and talk about strength and agility. You really need to know your body and be a total comfort and confidence w/ it to rock climb, don't you think?

Well, you're starting from a clean slate, that's great. Regarding budget, the fact that you can rough it out and camp is a great thing! When do you think you might go, spring/summer is more expensive and crowded, so you'll need to plan some things in advance, including researching cheap flight deals and even reserving camp sites. Go to the internet and try to find the best rockclimbing locations/cities. Then you can plan your traveling route/itinerary around that. How does that sound?

In Europe, like everywhere else, touristy locations are a drag due to the crowd and commercialization, but don't totally cancel them out, for their have their own magic if you can look beyond the touristiness and it can be a good starting point (information wise and meeting people wise) before you head to the more remote locations.

What other interests and/or specific questions do you have?

[MDS909]

I was also wondering if there are many other travelers out there with a good sense of adventure. My plans are to travel solo, but to hopefully find others interested in getting away from the usual touristy places. What would be the best way to find others like me while overseas? Should I plan some time in the bigger cities to give myself more of an oportunity to find what I'm lookin for?

[Carisia]

Hey there, you can post something under the "Traveling Companions Wanted" topic, put in the dates and places you're interested in going, and see who will be there and interested in joining.

I also have a buddy who's been traveling for months, he's in Rome now, and he's real adventurous, and he may be able to join or give you some great tips. Let me check in w/ him, and I'll let you know, cool?

I would say, every time you go to a new country or coast, you may want to start from a big city, b/c there you'll be able to find some good info. resources, possibly meet people, and then head off to the remote places. Also, you probably have to start from the big cities anyway, b/c the major stations and airports are there, it's just a matter of how much time you spend there.

any other questions?