International travel advice

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omnidataDo as any 19 year old does, go to Amsterdam, be obnoxious, smoke weed, piss in my doorway, pass-out, get administered to the local hospital, watch me throw medicine in your face.

Also don't be cocaine in the next few weeks/months, someone is selling white heroin as cocaine, thus killing tourists.

canada is pretty much America so i don't think ill be going there anytime soon

Rachy3000?! I did a full month in Argentina skiing for less than that including my airfare and ski pass.

I did 10 days skiing in Switzerland for $600 + my airfare.

I road tripped across France with 2 friends for a week and that came out to 950 each + food after hotel/gas/rental/flight.

3000 will get you really far if you do it right.

Im looking at at least 1300-1600 in airfair alone. plus i want to stay somewhere niceish not a motel 8 if I'm going to travel I'm going to spend the extra cash to make it enjoyable. Eat somewhere nice enjoy the culture ya know. I'm looking at like 150 per night for a decent hotel in Paris.

fujarome$3000 a trip... i'm guessing you can probably avoid terrible hostels if that's your budget.

are you planning on traveling alone? Because if you are, preparation is absolutely vital. It's an amazing feeling being in a new country on your own; you can go and do whatever you want whenever you want. But you guys realize that being alone means if you're brutally lost or clueless, it's on you to drag yourself out of it.

also your list is good for starters. if you want to try an even easier but cool start, try doing London, Paris, and somewhere in Germany. three vastly different cultures that are all easy to access.

ill likely be with my girl but neither of us have been out of country at least not since we became old enough to remember. So yea planning is going to take some work but before i can start that, i must pick where i am going. and i agree i feel like one of those will be the best place to start since the atmosphere is already based toward tourism in general it more likely they will have allot of english speaking people. and since thats the only language i know, thats a biggish deal. I'm just stoked to get some outlook on the rest of the world!

Dec 13 2014 12:34PM

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Also i have traveled around the US quite a bit by myself so I'm not sure if that will help any or not.

Dec 13 2014 12:35PM

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Laurent.

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snowballsdeepcanada is pretty much America so i don't think ill be going there anytime soon

Dec 13 2014 12:36PM

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snowballsdeepcanada is pretty much America so i don't think ill be going there anytime soon

wut?

Dec 13 2014 12:52PM

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Rachy

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Pay attention to airfare. the most I have ever paid was 1300 to Bali during high season.

Even my trip to London was only $1200 and that included 7 nights in a Best Western 2 blocks from the Westminster Abbey.

It's ok to do things cheaply. It means you get to do more things. Look into apartment rentals or sublets.

You could likely get a studio sublet in Paris for a month for $800 to $1000.

And if you're looking for culture, you'll get a lot more of it traveling cheaply than putting yourself in the bubble that most Americans do.

Even indonesia was easy.

Russia is the only place I have found difficult.

Dec 13 2014 2:02PM

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RachyPay attention to airfare. the most I have ever paid was 1300 to Bali during high season.

Even my trip to London was only $1200 and that included 7 nights in a Best Western 2 blocks from the Westminster Abbey.

It's ok to do things cheaply. It means you get to do more things. Look into apartment rentals or sublets.

You could likely get a studio sublet in Paris for a month for $800 to $1000.

And if you're looking for culture, you'll get a lot more of it traveling cheaply than putting yourself in the bubble that most Americans do.

Even indonesia was easy.

Russia is the only place I have found difficult.

what was difficult about russia? for curiosities sake...

Dec 13 2014 3:13PM

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1. Don't stay in $150 a night hotels, much better to stay in a hostel, or if you are feeling fancy get an apartment on AirBnb.

2. Don't rent a car in cities, or really at all in Europe, public transport here is awesome.

3. Don't go for just a week, that's a holiday, not travelling, and it's not worth the time spent on the plane.

4. Do, go somewhere and do something, going to museums and stuff is all good, but get out and go ski, or sail, or climb or whatever. I am spending a few nights in Geneva right now in between skiing in Saas Fee and Niseko and whilst having fancy cafes and store etc is nice, I miss being physically active.

5. Really do whatever the hell you want, it's your cash, but understand that travelling for longer periods and getting to know places and people is way more fun than just dropping in, seeing the sights and bailing.

Dec 13 2014 3:37PM

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Zimmerman

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Bring drugs

Dec 13 2014 3:40PM

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skier_boy26

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Few things:

Europe is bloody expensive in July and August. The Mediterranean can be brutally hot, too. Before or after saves coin and is more enjoyable.

Use tools like matrix.itasoftware.com or even flyertalk to look for sick airfares. It's tricky when you're at a hub, but reasonable airfare can be found. Like the first point: if you can, avoid peak season. You can look at airfare to a place that isn't your main destination/point of entry, and usually you can then find a discount airline to get you the rest of the way and save a good chunk of money. A riskier but sometimes fruitful method is to get a separate ticket to a different domestic city, and fly internationally from there. My suggestion is be creative and flexible... and avoid peak travel times.

Food: cost =/= quality. Most of my favorite meals are usually dirt cheap street food somewhere, or something low key at a local restaurant. Splurging can be fine from time to time if it's worthy.

Getting around: you're too young to drive. For most things driving is a hassle anyway; gas and parking can be killer. Just take buses, trains, taxis, etc. A scooter may be an option for some less accessible areas.

One week is too bloody short. Figure a day on either end for travel, and some jet lag, and you're looking at pretty much a blur. And with a budget of $3k, you can go for longer, ESPECIALLY in south and southeast Asia. Even in Europe you can stretch that budget in to several weeks or longer without too much effort.

Dec 13 2014 3:42PM

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also, travelpirates.com is a great site for cheap flight deals.

Dec 13 2014 3:44PM

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Rosbifalso, travelpirates.com is a great site for cheap flight deals.

holy shit that site is so fucking dope, have you used it?

Dec 13 2014 5:32PM

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connecticunt

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Just watch eurotrip. You'll learn everything you need to know about international travel.

Dec 13 2014 6:13PM

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Bombay

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One week is way to short of time if you actually want to experience other cultures. Hostels are the best and cheapest places to stay. You get to meet so many chill people. I have friends all over the world just from staying at hostels.
Greece would be a great place to go for your first time. It's pretty cheap and you get access to so many beautiful places.
Also Amsterdam is not in Canada if that's you were getting at

Dec 13 2014 7:51PM

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gerbear

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Trust everyone.

Dec 13 2014 7:54PM

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caucasian_chad

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You won't need to rent a car in most European countries. There's public transportation and intercity trains that can bring you pretty much anywhere you need to go for way cheaper than what gas costs over there. In general, Europe is much more pedestrian friendly and has much more well developed public transportation options than the US. Google maps has transit instructions for a lot of cities built in and in English.

Riding trains is a cool way to see the countryside too.

Dec 13 2014 8:29PM

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caucasian_chad

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Also check out skyscanner.com when booking tickets. Just plug in the country of origin and destination when searching. It might be significantly cheaper to fly out of an airport that's a little bit farther away from you than the closer airport you usually fly out of.

Dec 13 2014 8:41PM

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theabortionator

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Why take one week trips? Unless you're $$$ or can't get more time off. Airfare generally is the biggest cost. Some locations you could do a month for dirt cheap, other places are $ but still. International airfare is a killer. I'm thinking about putting pontoons on my car so I can finally see the world.

Dec 13 2014 9:05PM

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.Rybak.

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Im going to germany this summer with my friend and his parents. It sounds like my friend and i are going to travel across germany and meet uo with some friends over there than finally at the end meet back up with his parents.

Im unbelievably stoked.

Dec 13 2014 9:10PM

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JGWI

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theabortionatorWhy take one week trips? Unless you're $$$ or can't get more time off. Airfare generally is the biggest cost. Some locations you could do a month for dirt cheap, other places are $ but still. International airfare is a killer. I'm thinking about putting pontoons on my car so I can finally see the world.

Relevant...
https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/743219/Car---Boat-Challenge---Top-Gear-series-8---BBC

Dec 13 2014 10:00PM

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theabortionator

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^ I really should. I think if I filmed it there would be lots of people who would love to see me fail and drown.

I'm just over airfare it's $ and it's hassles. Give me some pontoons and my car, and the clear ocean and I'll show you how a civilized man travels.

Also your username is good advice for OP.

It's cool to plan stuff but stuff but sometimes you need to "Just go with it"

Dec 13 2014 10:52PM

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Rachy

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Barefootin_Fiendwhat was difficult about russia? for curiosities sake...

Russia has a very masculine culture where men don't really care to speak to females. So getting help was difficult unless there was a guy there as well.

Also, if asking for instructions, they point and say, "tam" meaning there. Basically they expect you to go that direction and then ask someone else. It seemed to always take asking at least 1 person per any turn that was needed. Vs anywhere else I've been, you can ask nicely and get descriptive instructions or someone will walk you some of the way or whatever.

Also, their town bus system.... fuck. It was these little micro busses and there were no signs or schedules, just random spots and you'd have to ask 10 people where the pickup was. Then exact change to stand on a bus where you felt your lungs were being crushed.

There are other cultures where public transit is crazy and there are few english speakers, but I've never been somewhere where people were so generally unhelpful.

Dec 13 2014 11:03PM

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.RYAN66

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Like others have said a week is not very long no worth the cost IMO. I have been lucky with my line of work and have been to every continent expect Australia and south america. however im going to brazil for the first time this week. big thing is travel in numbers. some countries are friendly to americans. some not so much. I always like to go out with at least one other person. especially when heavy drinking is included in the plan.

having said that my favorite places have been in asia, Japan was amazing, and Thailand was even better. it is like disneyland for adults. check out pattaya city. and it is not the best country finacially so shit is cheap. stayed in the marriot, hilton, and a holiday inn while I was there and they were some of the nicest hotels ive ever stayed in. nothing close to what the american versions. all for 100-130 per night. beer's for less than a dollar. I wish I could move there tomorrow.

besides my sales pitch, remember to go and have fun and be grateful so many people never get the chance to travel like that.

Dec 13 2014 11:07PM

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paige.

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snowballsdeepholy shit that site is so fucking dope, have you used it?

The guy I wound up backpacking around Peru with has used the german version of this site extensively and raves about it.

Dec 13 2014 11:28PM

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daannnnieel

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I'm still confused at how op thought that Amsterdam was in Canada, and how Canada is anywhere near the US in terms of comparison.

Dec 14 2014 12:10AM

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snowballsdeepholy shit that site is so fucking dope, have you used it?

Yeah I used the european version (holidaypirates) to go to Peru last year, return flights were around $300!

Dec 14 2014 2:00AM

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HungryHypocrite

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.Rybak.Im going to germany this summer with my friend and his parents. It sounds like my friend and i are going to travel across germany and meet uo with some friends over there than finally at the end meet back up with his parents.

Im unbelievably stoked.

dont be a pussy, show up.

Dec 14 2014 2:48AM

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pow314

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you're blowing it by only traveling for a week at a time.

Dec 14 2014 5:35AM

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pow314you're blowing it by only traveling for a week at a time.

apparently most of you don't have real jobs...and if you do, how in the fuck are you able to pull off taking off a month at a time?

Dec 14 2014 11:10AM

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Barefootin_Fiendapparently most of you don't have real jobs...and if you do, how in the fuck are you able to pull off taking off a month at a time?

If you're 19 like OP, why the hell would you want a job that didn't let you take a month off at a time!? I'm way older than him, but still prioritise travelling and doing fun stuff over routine and 'real'ness.

Dec 14 2014 11:22AM

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MothaHucker

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Rosbifalso, travelpirates.com is a great site for cheap flight deals.

this is where all of my money will be going in the future

Dec 14 2014 4:15PM

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Dustin.

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RosbifIf you're 19 like OP, why the hell would you want a job that didn't let you take a month off at a time!? I'm way older than him, but still prioritise travelling and doing fun stuff over routine and 'real'ness.

We don't take vacation like the Brits though. Instead of one huge trip we'll typically do several long weekends, a couple week long trips, etc. in a year. Our job schedules are built around that culture so it's typically difficult to take huge chunks of time off yet very easy to take several small chunks of time off. Not saying I haven't done both methods a few times, but for an American job that's more typical.

Dec 14 2014 4:18PM

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Shredsterr

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snowballsdeepcanada is pretty much America so i don't think ill be going there anytime soon

You fucking kidding me?

Dec 14 2014 5:19PM

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Mr.LemonPie

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.RYAN66check out pattaya city.

I thought Pattaya was an absolute shit show...I thought Chaing Mai was the nicest city I went to in Thailand.

I love south east Asia though, very easy to get by on a budget of $30-$50 a day.

Dec 14 2014 6:11PM

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Dustin.We don't take vacation like the Brits though. Instead of one huge trip we'll typically do several long weekends, a couple week long trips, etc. in a year. Our job schedules are built around that culture so it's typically difficult to take huge chunks of time off yet very easy to take several small chunks of time off. Not saying I haven't done both methods a few times, but for an American job that's more typical.

i get about 5 weeks of paid time off not including holidays each year, but there's NO WAY i could take it all at once for a single trip. not only would it suck to not have any days off the remainder of the year, but i just couldn't miss that much work at once...business doesn't come to a stand still just because i'm on vacation.

Dec 14 2014 6:43PM

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MothaHucker

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Barefootin_Fiendi get about 5 weeks of paid time off not including holidays each year, but there's NO WAY i could take it all at once for a single trip. not only would it suck to not have any days off the remainder of the year, but i just couldn't miss that much work at once...business doesn't come to a stand still just because i'm on vacation.

Whats your line of work if you dont mind me askinfb?

Dec 14 2014 6:55PM

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theabortionator

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Rosbifalso, travelpirates.com is a great site for cheap flight deals.

Thanks. Considering I'm always planning stuff last minute if planned at all and open to anything this is perfect. Considering jumping on the flight to peru and doing a month there. Might not to see if I get a job first.

Good for poor people. I've done well getting dirt cheap flights domestic USA and cheap to kinda cheap on international but this is really cheap.

Gonna travel the mother fucking world. Already was planning on doing peru and more of south america at some point along with a southeast asia trip.

I wish that someday I can meet someone that's in the same boat as me and we can travel the world together in poverty.

Dec 14 2014 7:20PM

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.RYAN66

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Mr.LemonPieI thought Pattaya was an absolute shit show...I thought Chaing Mai was the nicest city I went to in Thailand.

I love south east Asia though, very easy to get by on a budget of $30-$50 a day.

were you there at night? go to walking street? me and the other guys i was with sure had fun.

Dec 14 2014 10:07PM

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Young_patty

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Use kayak.com! Just search one and then your done, also don't say your from canada instead of the u.s because some countries aren't so keen on us.

Dec 14 2014 10:23PM

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theabortionatorThanks. Considering I'm always planning stuff last minute if planned at all and open to anything this is perfect. Considering jumping on the flight to peru and doing a month there. Might not to see if I get a job first.

Good for poor people. I've done well getting dirt cheap flights domestic USA and cheap to kinda cheap on international but this is really cheap.

Gonna travel the mother fucking world. Already was planning on doing peru and more of south america at some point along with a southeast asia trip.

I wish that someday I can meet someone that's in the same boat as me and we can travel the world together in poverty.

Yeah man, hope you enjoy it! South America is the best, I've been down there a lot since I started instructing there, if you have a chance to go, do it!

Dec 15 2014 2:49AM

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Mr.LemonPie

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.RYAN66were you there at night? go to walking street? me and the other guys i was with sure had fun.

Yeah, I just felt like Phucket, Phi Phi, and the full moon party were all way better partying, and Pattaya just had too much of a seedy feel to it. I even thought Bangkok was a better time than Pattaya.

Dec 15 2014 4:31AM

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MothaHuckerWhats your line of work if you dont mind me askinfb?

corporate finance.

Mr.LemonPieYeah, I just felt like Phucket, Phi Phi, and the full moon party were all way better partying, and Pattaya just had too much of a seedy feel to it. I even thought Bangkok was a better time than Pattaya.

dude, insanely jealous of the full moon party. would love to hear stories....

Dec 15 2014 5:20PM

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ok fine you got me, i thought Amsterdam was in Canada, fuck me right. moving on.

Yes i feel the need for cultural diversity for a special trip once a year and i don't feel that Canada defers enough from the US to really get that feeling.

And i have decided I'm aim for a 11- 18 day trip now over a week if i can afford it, also aiming to try this at the end if the spring semester in the 3 week break i have before summer classes start up. I'm likely headed to paris with my lady if all goes well simply for the sake of transportation issues due to age.

Also seems that all the trips on the travel pirates sight is offered via groupon and i hear mixed things about them, mainly the hotels and them generally screwing people. any other info on this would be sick.

Dec 15 2014 5:42PM

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