Travelling Ideas

[theBruiser500]

I have time and money and want to spend it doing fun cool stuff. Right now my friends are in college so if I travelled I'd be going by myself. I have a feeling that if I just flew to Paris I'd sit in a room by myself so some sort of a specific agenda might help.

Last year I hiked on the Appalachian Trail and did half of it, and want to finish it. That is kind of good cause it forces me to meet other people (I am not good at meeting people). So I might finish hiking that. Or another idea was to study Kung Fu in China. I'd like to do something involving Europe, but as I say I'm afraid I wouldn't know what to do with myself when I got there.

What ideas do you guys have for me?

[M2d]

Go flyfish new zealand

[theBruiser500]

I don't like fishing.

[Ulysses]

Kung Fu in China sounds great for you. Anything you're really interested in would work. A lot of people I know have had great extended biking trips in New Zealand.

I like good food, drinking, and pretty girls, so Barcelona was a great place for me to go. What a fun place to travel and an incredibly easy place to meet people when you want to while having tons of interesting stuff to see/do when you want to be by yourself. I love both Spain and Italy as just general travel destinations w/ no specific agenda.

I haven't been, but a few friends have raved about travelling alone in Australia.

[Q8offsuit]

Centralia, Pennsylvania (http://www.xydexx.com/modernruins/centralia_things.htm) is a great place to visit! It's actually on fire!

[Zeno]

El Diablo had some good Ideas. Go to Europe. Purchase a Eur-rail pass (if that is still the name) that allows you to travel on almost any train any place in Europe. There is also a network of youth hostels throughhout Europe that young people can stay at for nominal fees. You can meet many interesting and wonderful people this way. Search the net, I'm sure you will find someting. Here is a start: Hostel (http://www.hostelworld.com/index)

What is unique and usefull about the rail pass is that you can simple head to a train station and pick someplace to go - say Luxembourg or the Black Forest region of Germany or Italy or Spain or....... and just go. Get on the great sea of fun and glide where ever the bouncing waves take you.

Don't fret your youth away in front of a computer screen. The world is really a wonder - get out and explore it.

-Zeno

[ArchAngel71857]

Watch the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy. Watch the behind the scenes footage. Learn where every single scene in the New Zeland country side was shot. Recreate the LotR journey in real life. Get worshipped by geeks. For extra fun, wear a costume!

-AA

[1800GAMBLER]

Hostelworld as linked by Zeno is the best thing ever for someone travelling alone. If you want to meet people staying in youth hostels is the best way, just get a 4 bedroom sharing, meet people their and then meet everyone else at the hostel bar.

Australia is also great for making sure you get out and do something. There's millions of activities and all of which you'll meet new people on. The best part for me was The Gold Coast in Schoolies weeks. The youth hostel was taking us out every night with drinks vouchers so it was very cheap and pratically every aussie 18 - 20 hot girl from the east coast is there. I even achieved a life goal and bedded a hot stripper. Go me. No i didn't get any STDs. I didn't achieve the goal of sex on the beach though /images/graemlins/frown.gif

This year when i do it agan i'm going to visit maldives (to do some diving), vietnam, malaysia and more of thailand (less of bangkok) first. Then do the east coast of australia - playing poker alone the way - and finally new zealand. The first part of the trip may be lonely as i imagine there wont be many english speaking travellers around but i'm not going to be visiting each place for that long, prob a week at most in each and maybe 2 months travelling throughout thailand. After that i either 1. come home, maybe go back to uni. 2. Rent out a place in either australia or ko samui/ko tao 3. Go to the south of america and carry on travelling.

Along the way i'm going to try and get in 4 hours/day of poker. That's probably not going to happen in east asia but will happen in australia and nz.

[obithrawn]

I'm in a situation very similar to Bruiser's here, except that I know I want to go to Europe and see the sights, stay in hostels, do that gig for a few weeks/months.

The problem is I don't really know anything other than that, and don't really have a clue where to begin looking into specifics of where I could go/what to do/how I would be getting around. I see this Hostel site has a lot of info now, but what other resources are out there? I want to do something but I need a push in the direction of some easy to access info /images/graemlins/frown.gif

[1800GAMBLER]

There really is no easy info/plan and even if you do plan you don't stick to it. Book yourself a hostel in barc, get your flight, travel upwards. That's pretty much all you need, after that you book your rooms along the way and learn to cook. Yea and wait untill at least May or the weather will be awful.

[BadBoyBenny]

Pick up Lets Go and Lonely Planet. They will cover everything you need to know. Hostel reservations can be made by email from Internet cafes that are everywhere.

I think Let's Go has better and more up to date recommendations, but Lonely Planet has better cultural info.

One other word is I found it better to have Let's Go Eastern Europe and Let's Go Western Europe than Let's Go Europe. Buying a separate book for each country shouldn't be necessary.

[BadBoyBenny]

You snowboard? I'm going to try helicopter boarding in Valdez this winter.

Another thing I want to do before I'm 30 is see Manchu Picchu.

[turnipmonster]

europe:
eurrail passes are a great deal for anyone under 26. you pay one fixed price, and you can basically go anywhere for 2 months. some friends and I travelled around europe playing jazz in the street 2 years ago and it was one of the better things I've ever done. eurrail will get you anywhere in europe you need to go, and most times you can pay extra and take an overnight train to get there and just sleep on the train.

HI Hostels (http://www.hihostels.com/) are clean and reliable and located all across europe. rates range from 12-24 euros/night. as great as HI hostels are, it's also great to find some local run hostels and stay with them. there is a place in rome that has free sangria and and a home cooked pasta party (cooked by the owners) every week on the roof of the hostel! it's really cool. also the flying pig is a great place to stay in amsterdam.

in italy spend at least a week hiking around the cinque terre, which is one of the most beautiful places ever. also go swimming on the imalfi coast.

bruiser I really highly recommend touring around europe and staying in hostels. you will meet all sorts of people your age and probably have a great time.

--turnipmonster

[theBruiser500]

Biking in New Zealand sounds like a real possibility, Barcelona sounds great (I remember you praising it before Diablo). The way you describe Eur-rail Zeno, it sounds great, and you give good advice too, "Don't fret your youth away in front of a computer screen. The world is really a wonder - get out and explore it. "

Jay have you done hostelworld before? Do you really meet new people in the hostels or is every person just off doing their own thing? What are you going to be doing in Thailand? "Pick up Lets Go and Lonely Planet." I'll get these books they sound good. Manchu Piccu is beautiful, http://www.karlgrobl.com/peru/manchu.htm (is there anything special about it?). No, I don't snowboard. Not sure what cinque terre is, but looks interesting.

[daryn]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In risposta di:</font><hr />
imalfi coast.


[/ QUOTE ]

amalfi /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[theBruiser500]

Oh, and thanks very much everyone for the ideas, I really appreciate it.

[Malone Brown]

I suggest Asia. I live in Seoul at the moment and it's an amazing place...always things to do. I've been to Japan, Phillipines and Thailand since I've been down here and they are all great places (I'm heading back to Thailand for x-mas, Phi Phi le island (that's the island the movie "The Beach" was shot at)) /images/graemlins/grin.gif. Asia is fairly cheap to do (except for Japan) and it's something everyone should see.
Malone

[Porcupine]

Definitely spend some time in Amsterdam. See the red light district, Van Gogh museum, Anne Frank house, etc.

The Vondelpark hostel is excellent and you can check out the Holland casino as it is on the way to most places from Vondelpark.

[astroglide]

does anybody that doesn't do drugs vacation in amsterdam? as far as china goes, i don't think they really roll out the red carpet (yuk yuk) for foreign visitors.

[1800GAMBLER]

In thailand i will be doing the following.

Going to sex shows.
Avoiding females with dicks.
Being on cock lock.
Drinking 80 cent bottles of bud.
Watching thai boxing.
A week of meditation.
Lapping Ko Samui on my scooter.
Diving in Ko Tao.
Taking acid at the full moon party in Koh Phangan.
Drinking 60% thai wiskey mixed with red bull and coke served in a bucket.
Doing a little dance.
Making a little love.
Getting down tonight.
Elephant trekking.
Getting a - legit - thai massage.
Getting a tailor made suit for $40.
Other stuff too.

[Philuva]

I spent 2 months in Europe after I graduated from college. One month with 5 friends, 2 weeks with my girlfriend(now wife) and 2 weeks by myself. It was the only time I travelled by myself and I had a great time. Most of it was in Ireland.

I would recommend going somewhere with English as the native language, it makes it a lot easier to meet locals. Ireland was fun because everyone was so friendly, I imagine Australia would be the same way.

[stripsqueez]

[ QUOTE ]
as far as china goes, i don't think they really roll out the red carpet (yuk yuk) for foreign visitors.

[/ QUOTE ]

i spent a couple of weeks in china this year - the people were sensational - other than trying to sell you lots of crap very friendly

stripsqueez - chickenhawk

[stripsqueez]

[ QUOTE ]
The best part for me was The Gold Coast in Schoolies weeks. The youth hostel was taking us out every night with drinks vouchers so it was very cheap and pratically every aussie 18 - 20 hot girl from the east coast is there. I even achieved a life goal and bedded a hot stripper. Go me. No i didn't get any STDs. I didn't achieve the goal of sex on the beach though /images/graemlins/frown.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

18-20 ?? - try 16-18 - theres a reason its called schoolies week

a truckload of girls, endless beaches - and no sex on the beach ? - feeble

stripsqueez - chickenhawk

[Lawrence Ng]

If you want to go overseas, I would suggest Tokyo for Asia, Paris for Europe.

[theBruiser500]

"I live in Seoul at the moment and it's an amazing place...always things to do."

like what?

[nicky g]

Fly to Lisbon. Spend a few days there. If you like the beach, go down to the Algarve for a few days. Then take the train to Madrid. Stop in Salamanca if you like, it's on the way. Hang out there for a few days. Then take the train to Seville and check it, Cordoba and Grenada out. Then from Seville again take the train to Barcelona, stopping off in Valencia for a day if you fancy it. When in Southern Spain you could also cross to Morocco for a bit if you fancied it.

From there, think about Paris, Italy, or more Spain if you;ve not had enough (Pamplona and San Sebastien are two other good places). Or start in Northern Europe and do it backwards. After that, whatever. But that would be a good start. The UK is a major disappointment after those places, if you're coming to Europe I wouldn't make it a high priority. London has lots of hitorical sites etc but screw that, and it's expensive and ugly and not a great town to enjoy as a young person if you don't already know lots of people/your way around.

[daveymck]

I would avoid Brussells as well horrible place, if going through Belgium try Leuven is where they make Stella Artois and is a nice city with the bars open till the very late hours. Dont fly home after a night out there worst day of my life that.

Also Prauge is meant to be an up and coming place, and Warsaw in Poland seems to opening up is pretty cheap by all accounts.

London is worth doing if you want to see Parliment etc but I would maybe stop off Leeds or even up to Newcastle, but UK does have other touristy stuff to offer dependant what you want to do, and get a cheap flight to Dublin which should be a stop on the tour.

[nicky g]

Bah. Brussels is a great place. But I would probably not suggest going there as well as it's another place you need to know fairly well to enjoy. Leuven is a nice place but really very small, not sure if it's worth the trip.

"London is worth doing if you want to see Parliment etc but I would maybe stop off Leeds or even up to Newcastle"

Sorry Davey, this is awful advice. After Paris, Barcelona, Lisbon and Prague, Leeds and Newcastle will make you want to kill yourself.

"and get a cheap flight to Dublin which should be a stop on the tour."

Dublin's fun but really not worth such a diversion. Ireland is probably better done as a trip of its own (ideally with a car, which you will have a problem renting at your age).

"UK does have other touristy stuff to offer dependant what you want to do"

Definitely lots of toursity stuff, but not the sort of stuff I would want top do as a 20 year old pissing around Europe. If seeing the crown jewels and driving through beautiful old villages is your thing, go for it. But for having a fun time in amazing cities, continental Europe is where it's at.

[daveymck]

I meant Leed and Newcastle as nights out stops on the way to Dublin, for good lively nights out they are some of the best in the UK, and to be fair Newcastle is rebranding itself and redevloping in a big way and is not as bad as once was. Same with Leuven if passing through Belgium on way somewhere.

Guess we may have different tastes in places Nicky cos I would not recommend Paris to anyone neither, horrible place in my experience and I think worse than London.

Theres loads of young aussies travelling round the UK they must be finding stuff to do and of interest, I think us Brits are too quick to come down on our own country sometimes looking to exotic appearing forign places thinking they are so much better.

One day we may find a subject we agree on. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[Iceman]

[ QUOTE ]
I suggest Asia. I live in Seoul at the moment and it's an amazing place...always things to do. I've been to Japan, Phillipines and Thailand since I've been down here and they are all great places (I'm heading back to Thailand for x-mas, Phi Phi le island (that's the island the movie "The Beach" was shot at)) /images/graemlins/grin.gif. Asia is fairly cheap to do (except for Japan) and it's something everyone should see.
Malone

[/ QUOTE ]

Tokyo is loads of fun, but unless you have someone to stay with you'll spend insane amounts of money. The more traditional parts of Japan are beautiful and very interesting, but also very expensive to travel in.

Hong Kong is also a great city to hang out in. Not quite as expensive as Tokyo, and there are lots of natural and cultural sights within day-trip range.

Thailand is dirt-cheap, and has great beaches and great food. If you want a long-term beach vacation this is the place - $10-15/day is possible in many parts of Thailand. There are some great trekking trails in Northern Thailand around Chiang Mai. As for beaches, if you want to party go to Ko Samui and the full moon parties on Ko Phangan. Ko Tao has the best diving. Bangkok has lots of interesting temples and markets and also crazy sex stuff if you're so inclined. You can easily get to Vietnam, Laos, or Cambodia from Thailand.

[Danenania]

Pick like 6 or 7 countries and try to get a girlfriend in each of them. Don't leave a place until you have achieved your objective.

[Iceman]

[ QUOTE ]
does anybody that doesn't do drugs vacation in amsterdam?

[/ QUOTE ]

If you don't do drugs there are two good museums (Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum) but that's about it. There are much more interesting places in Europe for "non-smokers".

[ QUOTE ]
as far as china goes, i don't think they really roll out the red carpet (yuk yuk) for foreign visitors.

[/ QUOTE ]

The Chinese make the French seem warm and fuzzy.

[nicky g]

"I meant Leed and Newcastle as nights out stops on the way to Dublin, for good lively nights out they are some of the best in the UK, and to be fair Newcastle is rebranding itself and redevloping in a big way and is not as bad as once was. "

Yeah OK that sort of makes sense but I would still chop out that whole leg to be honest.

"Guess we may have different tastes in places Nicky cos I would not recommend Paris to anyone neither, horrible place in my experience and I think worse than London."

Bonkersness, whatever one's opinion of France or the French, Paris is a stunning city that you have to see. Nightlife/atmosphere is disappointing though (fine, but not up to a city of its size and reputation).

"Theres loads of young aussies travelling round the UK they must be finding stuff to do and of interest, "

Isn't that mainly cos they can get work permits here?

"I think us Brits are too quick to come down on our own country sometimes looking to exotic appearing forign places thinking they are so much better."

Ah well I'm Irish so that doesn't really apply. But I would say the same about Ireland, the continent is a better place to visit as a young guy looking for a good time.

"One day we may find a subject we agree on."

It was Blackadder, remember? /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[Iceman]

[ QUOTE ]
"I live in Seoul at the moment and it's an amazing place...always things to do."

like what?

[/ QUOTE ]

Like going to the airport and flying to a real city. Seoul is the dullest place in Asia.

[Iceman]

[ QUOTE ]
Bah. Brussels is a great place. But I would probably not suggest going there as well as it's another place you need to know fairly well to enjoy. Leuven is a nice place but really very small, not sure if it's worth the trip.

[/ QUOTE ]

I really enjoyed Brussels. There's no world-famous sight, so many people dismiss it, but it's actually a fun city to hang out in. Check out the Cantillon Brewery (which makes traditional Belgian beers and gives tours with free samples), the Art Nouveau architecture, the historic area around the Grand Place, and the African quarter Matonge. Also you can take a day trip to the preserved medieval town of Brugge.

[ QUOTE ]
"London is worth doing if you want to see Parliment etc but I would maybe stop off Leeds or even up to Newcastle"

Sorry Davey, this is awful advice.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's like telling a visitor to the US not to miss Newark and Detroit! Outside of London the most interesting places in England are York, Oxford, and Liverpool.

[ QUOTE ]
After Paris, Barcelona, Lisbon and Prague, Leeds and Newcastle will make you want to kill yourself.

[/ QUOTE ]

Agreed.

[ QUOTE ]
"and get a cheap flight to Dublin which should be a stop on the tour."

Dublin's fun but really not worth such a diversion. Ireland is probably better done as a trip of its own (ideally with a car, which you will have a problem renting at your age).

[/ QUOTE ]

Ireland is the kind of place that's better for a couple rather than for one person travelling around.

[ QUOTE ]
"UK does have other touristy stuff to offer dependant what you want to do"

Definitely lots of toursity stuff, but not the sort of stuff I would want top do as a 20 year old pissing around Europe. If seeing the crown jewels and driving through beautiful old villages is your thing, go for it. But for having a fun time in amazing cities, continental Europe is where it's at.

[/ QUOTE ]

London, Paris, and Rome are a must. Add Florence and Madrid if you like art. Berlin and Vienna if you're into history. Barcelona and Andalucia for architecture and nightlife. Venice because it's unique and beautiful. Burgundy or Bordeaux for wine tours. Greek Islands to party, especially Ios. Interlaken in the Swiss Alps if you want to do adventure sports.

[daveymck]

Paris just seemed a dirty place to me the area round the Eifel Tower is probably as tacky if not more as the area around Blackpool tower. Nothing to do with the people my reasoning, was there on business and only got an afternoon to sightsee so maybe that the areas round the Seine and Notre Dame etc are better, but the bits I saw this romatic city reputation it has isnt founded on much.

[theBruiser500]

"Pick like 6 or 7 countries and try to get a girlfriend in each of them. Don't leave a place until you have achieved your objective."

I can't tell, is this suggestion serious?

[theBruiser500]

Do you just need to be 18 to get alcohol everywhere but the US, or at least in all of these travel destinations?

[daveymck]

As soon as you mentioned Liverpool your credibility went out the window.

York and Oxford are ok for history and some shopping but I would not make a beeline for them for nights out type places, if into that sort of thing after York do Durham (another medievil market university town)(and a night out in Newcastle)and go up the Northumbrian Coast to the Castles and Holy Island and Edinburgh to finish off.

Liverpool I would put up there with Glasgow as awful places may be throwing money at them and making them cultural but I would not be adding them to the list of places for someone touring europe or the UK for that matter. Got lost on the outskirts of Glasgow once never been so scared in my life.

[nicky g]

Outskirts of Galsgow are a bad place to be in. The city centre and the west end are quite pleasant. It's another place where it makes a big difference if you know people, I'd imagine (I did).

[nicky g]

"Ireland is the kind of place that's better for a couple rather than for one person travelling around."

I think that's true about the UK as well. It's a beautiful place to travel around, but it's more of a married couple's kind of holiday (nothing bad meant by that; I'm married) than a single guy's. Both Ireland and the UK do the countryside a lot better than they do cities.

"

I really enjoyed Brussels. There's no world-famous sight, so many people dismiss it, but it's actually a fun city to hang out in. Check out the Cantillon Brewery (which makes traditional Belgian beers and gives tours with free samples), the Art Nouveau architecture, the historic area around the Grand Place, and the African quarter Matonge. Also you can take a day trip to the preserved medieval town of Brugge."

You can be my wingman any time.

[daveymck]

Apart from this other time, I went to the SECC for a gig while living in Edinburgh so was used to the scottish accent and the NE accent isnt that far away anyway but trying to understand anyone talking to you was impossible, made Rab C Nesbitt like Hugh Grant.

[nicky g]

I don;t think round the Eiffel is comparable with Blackpool but yeah it's not the best part. It's a big place, it needs a lot more than an afternoon. It's certainly no dirtier than London. My only problem with it is that it feels a bit like a museum rather than a city in places, which is fine for somewhere like Brugges, but not what you want from a major capital city.

[nicky g]

Lol. Yeah bring translators.

[Iceman]

[ QUOTE ]
As soon as you mentioned Liverpool your credibility went out the window.

[/ QUOTE ]

It has a bad reputation, but there's a lot to see there (especially if you're a Beatles fan), and crime really isn't an issue for visitors. The historical museum has probably the best exhibition on slavery anywhere in the world. The Anglican Cathedral is immense and its interior is stunning. The art museums are small but worth seeing. I enjoyed the Beatles' Tour, and there are clubs with Beatles cover bands and stuff like that.

[ QUOTE ]
York and Oxford are ok for history and some shopping but I would not make a beeline for them for nights out type places,

[/ QUOTE ]

York has some decent bars (it's a hen party center for some reason), but it's mostly worth a visit for its history and its cathedral. If your main focus is partying then stick to Barcelona, Madrid, Prague, the Greek Islands, Amsterdam...

[ QUOTE ]
Liverpool I would put up there with Glasgow as awful places may be throwing money at them and making them cultural but I would not be adding them to the list of places for someone touring europe or the UK for that matter. Got lost on the outskirts of Glasgow once never been so scared in my life.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm not saying it should be anyone's first priority, just that it's a place to consider if you want to see more of England than just London and want to see something other than churches, castles, and half-timbered houses!

[Turk]

Great idea!
Had an opportunity to spend a couple years between Spain and Morocco, and it is awesome! Morocco in particular. Feel free to PM me with any questions should you decide to go this route.