Any wonderful "holiday of a lifetime" ideas ?
Any wonderful "holiday of a lifetime" ideas ?
Hiya, sorry dont post in here much, but i really should, its a very underrated forum :D :cool:
I found out on Friday that i wont have a job after March, basically made redundant. Obviously upset but no worries, i'm well employable. Started applying for jobs on Saturday.
My mum and dad have just thrown a massive spanner in my works. Dad said to me on Sunday that as i've never really travelled before, he'd like me to take 4-6 months off and go off to Oz or somewhere. I couldnt afford that in a million years (massive mortgage etc) so i dismissed it but he's after saying he'll pay for it and cover my mortgage while i'm away, that he considered travel as important as education, and as he and mum ARE loaded, i'm loathe to turn down the offer. I never did really travel, had some nice holidays etc but my sisters and brother all spent long periods of time away travelling. I'm 30 now and he reckons its "time".
So i'm totally flumoxed. I have no idea where to start, where i want to go, what i can do. I dont want to work while abroad really, i'd rather 6 weeks pure travel than 4 months working. I have a pal living in Sydney that i could kip with but I really have no idea what my option are.
Can ANYONE and EVERYONE throw wonderful ideas at me at what i could do. I'm not doing it luxury but a step up from pure back-packing. Am i missing out on a wonderful opportunity to visit a country i''m not thinking of. I'll be going on my own if i cant find someone to go with (no worries there) and i cant really do extreme stuff (health things there)... but PLEASE pic your brains for me....
thanks guys
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Answers:
What a wonderful opportunity!
Would you go on your own or with a friend?
I think the first step is to read lots of travel books and look at all the maps!
You could try to follow a historical or well-known 'route': pilgrimages, the trans-siberian railway, the silk route, the railroad across Canada.
If you go to Australia there is a well-trodden path for you to follow, but my instinct would be to do something slightly different.....
Answers:
I would grab their generous offer with both hands !
My parents did the same for me when I was 25 and I spent 18 months travelling the world on my own. Spent most of my time in Asia, New Zealand & Oz and it really was an education.
Its difficult to advise of where would be the best place for you as everyones different.
In a seperate trip I travelled across Europe but the 2 adventures were totally different, travelling in Oz was much easier as they speak the language and they are all geared up for travellers.
You need to go and speak to STA or a specialised independent travel agent and they could give you more appropriate advice.
HTH
Ang
:angel:
Answers:
First off, sorry to hear about your job. However, as your mum and dad have obviously thought so generously, the situation can be turned into a wonderful opportunity, and one that in your shoes, I would hardly think two seconds about.... You have to grab it with both hands! :p
You realise that this is a dream question for us on this board? Throwing ideas at people is something I love doing.;)
Now then, I'd get an atlas or map of the world out and start looking at it, seeing where intrigues you. Write a list - even if it's ridiculously long, doesn't matter, it'll help crystallise your thoughts and wishes and can always be culled later.
Start looking at some travel supplements of newspapers - plenty of stuff online, (http://travel.guardian.co.uk/).
Get some travel guides and photo books out of the library; pick up lots of brochures; go check out some of the companies and links in the sticky at the top of this forum; see where people go on holiday and what there is to see. Think of films you have watched and that show fantastic places you thought you'd never visit in your lifetime. Are there any languages or cultures that you'd like to get initiated with or improve? Do you want lush tropical scenery, orientalism, jungle, route 66, mountains, desert, beaches, spicy food, wildlife, high art?
You don't have to do everything on your own. You can set up some organised stuff (learn Thai massage/do a voluntary work stint/take a 10-day trek tour/ visit & stay with your friends around the world, and have some free periods for onward travel. There are some wonderful books on travelling and planning travel as a career break - Gap Years for Adults is one such.
http://travel.guardian.co.uk/gapyear...517204,00.html
Now for a short list of my favourite far-flung places on this planet to answer your request of chucking ideas at you: :)
- Jordan and Egypt
- Hong Kong and China
- Far West USA (National Parks galore from Yosemite & Grand Canyon to Yellowstone via every NP in Utah)
- Australia
- India (south)
Of places still on my wishlist awaiting money and time, then here are a few more ideas:
- Namibia, South Africa & Madagascar
- Oman, Syria & Iran
- Iceland
- Chile, Bolivia & Argentina
- Mexico
- India (northern)
- New Zealand & far more of Australia
- Malaysia, Indonesia & Borneo
- Mauritania
As others contribute, it'll probably set off other ideas... get dreaming!
Answers:
Wow, do they want to pay for me to come with you?!?!?
On a more serious note, I'm thinking perhaps driving across America as part of your trip? Thelma and Louise style ;)
B x
ETA if it was me, I'd want to go and stay at a ranch in texas or something too!
Hiya, sorry dont post in here much, but i really should, its a very underrated forum :D :cool:
I found out on Friday that i wont have a job after March, basically made redundant. Obviously upset but no worries, i'm well employable. Started applying for jobs on Saturday.
My mum and dad have just thrown a massive spanner in my works. Dad said to me on Sunday that as i've never really travelled before, he'd like me to take 4-6 months off and go off to Oz or somewhere. I couldnt afford that in a million years (massive mortgage etc) so i dismissed it but he's after saying he'll pay for it and cover my mortgage while i'm away, that he considered travel as important as education, and as he and mum ARE loaded, i'm loathe to turn down the offer. I never did really travel, had some nice holidays etc but my sisters and brother all spent long periods of time away travelling. I'm 30 now and he reckons its "time".
So i'm totally flumoxed. I have no idea where to start, where i want to go, what i can do. I dont want to work while abroad really, i'd rather 6 weeks pure travel than 4 months working. I have a pal living in Sydney that i could kip with but I really have no idea what my option are.
Can ANYONE and EVERYONE throw wonderful ideas at me at what i could do. I'm not doing it luxury but a step up from pure back-packing. Am i missing out on a wonderful opportunity to visit a country i''m not thinking of. I'll be going on my own if i cant find someone to go with (no worries there) and i cant really do extreme stuff (health things there)... but PLEASE pic your brains for me....
thanks guys
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Answers:
What a wonderful opportunity!
Would you go on your own or with a friend?
I think the first step is to read lots of travel books and look at all the maps!
You could try to follow a historical or well-known 'route': pilgrimages, the trans-siberian railway, the silk route, the railroad across Canada.
If you go to Australia there is a well-trodden path for you to follow, but my instinct would be to do something slightly different.....
Answers:
I would grab their generous offer with both hands !
My parents did the same for me when I was 25 and I spent 18 months travelling the world on my own. Spent most of my time in Asia, New Zealand & Oz and it really was an education.
Its difficult to advise of where would be the best place for you as everyones different.
In a seperate trip I travelled across Europe but the 2 adventures were totally different, travelling in Oz was much easier as they speak the language and they are all geared up for travellers.
You need to go and speak to STA or a specialised independent travel agent and they could give you more appropriate advice.
HTH
Ang
:angel:
Answers:
First off, sorry to hear about your job. However, as your mum and dad have obviously thought so generously, the situation can be turned into a wonderful opportunity, and one that in your shoes, I would hardly think two seconds about.... You have to grab it with both hands! :p
You realise that this is a dream question for us on this board? Throwing ideas at people is something I love doing.;)
Now then, I'd get an atlas or map of the world out and start looking at it, seeing where intrigues you. Write a list - even if it's ridiculously long, doesn't matter, it'll help crystallise your thoughts and wishes and can always be culled later.
Start looking at some travel supplements of newspapers - plenty of stuff online, (http://travel.guardian.co.uk/).
Get some travel guides and photo books out of the library; pick up lots of brochures; go check out some of the companies and links in the sticky at the top of this forum; see where people go on holiday and what there is to see. Think of films you have watched and that show fantastic places you thought you'd never visit in your lifetime. Are there any languages or cultures that you'd like to get initiated with or improve? Do you want lush tropical scenery, orientalism, jungle, route 66, mountains, desert, beaches, spicy food, wildlife, high art?
You don't have to do everything on your own. You can set up some organised stuff (learn Thai massage/do a voluntary work stint/take a 10-day trek tour/ visit & stay with your friends around the world, and have some free periods for onward travel. There are some wonderful books on travelling and planning travel as a career break - Gap Years for Adults is one such.
http://travel.guardian.co.uk/gapyear...517204,00.html
Now for a short list of my favourite far-flung places on this planet to answer your request of chucking ideas at you: :)
- Jordan and Egypt
- Hong Kong and China
- Far West USA (National Parks galore from Yosemite & Grand Canyon to Yellowstone via every NP in Utah)
- Australia
- India (south)
Of places still on my wishlist awaiting money and time, then here are a few more ideas:
- Namibia, South Africa & Madagascar
- Oman, Syria & Iran
- Iceland
- Chile, Bolivia & Argentina
- Mexico
- India (northern)
- New Zealand & far more of Australia
- Malaysia, Indonesia & Borneo
- Mauritania
- Go sailing in the Sydney harbour and climb the harbour bridge.
- Walk on the Great Wall of China.
- Take a hot air balloon ride
- Climb inside an Egyptian pyramid or to the top of a Mexican one
- See big game on safari
- Sleep under the stars
As others contribute, it'll probably set off other ideas... get dreaming!
Answers:
Wow, do they want to pay for me to come with you?!?!?
On a more serious note, I'm thinking perhaps driving across America as part of your trip? Thelma and Louise style ;)
B x
ETA if it was me, I'd want to go and stay at a ranch in texas or something too!