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Thread: Month long vacation help

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    Default Month long vacation help

    So when I travel again I want to go for at least a month. What are some good money tips for traveling for so long? Such as food, entertainment, lodging, transportation, souvenirs? I know I need to save up that months bills. Besides, I would be backpacking and not staying in fancy hotels.

    What do you do with your possessions? I have an apartment and I can leave my cat with my mom. Being gone for a month seems like a long time from home. How do you know how much to pack? I would most likely go to a region where its mostly warm that time of year. Even though I went to Thailand for 9 days ish it was my first time but there still are a few things I need help planning.
    you live like an ivy vine
    you can only survive by clinging onto trees
    that's your flaw
    put down some roots so you can stand on your own
    -Kenpachi



  2. #2
    Veteran Member Jeanette's Avatar
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    Default Re: Month long vacation help

    Although I don't have any experience, I had some websites saved because I would love to do a longer trip in the future.

    http://www.onebag.com/checklist.html

    http://www.zipitgear.com/Merchant2/m...roduct_Count=2

    http://wateringhole.gapadventures.com/

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    Default Re: Month long vacation help

    I just got back 6 days ago from Thailand and Cambodia, I travelled by myself for 5 weeks. It was soooo SO incredible and right now I'm deep in the throes of the post travel blues so it's nice to see your post.

    Make sure you have paid your bills for the month, tell the post office to put your mail on hold, and leave your cat with your Mom -that should do it for stuff at home. I know a month can seem like a long time but when you travel it will go by so fast. Now that I'm back, 5 weeks feels painfully short.

    As far as money while you're gone, use the ATM but take some traveller's checks as a back up. Get to know your travelling style. In SE Asia a backpacker's budget would be about $30 a day. I found that I spent about $60 a day but I'm older now and prefered some nicer places. Also, activities like snorkelling in Ko Tao, or a cooking class in Chiang Mai adds to your expenses, but is so worth it. You should leave your passport and most of your money in the hotel safe. Only walk around with money you need for the day, and always have a copy of your passport.

    Packing lightly is the most important thing. I packed enough clothes for 5 days, on the 4th day I would drop off the laundry, it's so cheap to have it done, and it's nice to not have to lug a bunch of stuff around. There's so much shopping there, and cheap, that you can buy more clothes if you want them. I constantly met travelers who packed too much stuff from home and regretted it. Besides some clothes, a guidebook, a small alarm clock, and some travel sized toiletries, there's not much else you need, and anything else you could buy if you need it.

    If you have more questions, or need help with details, let me know.

  4. #4
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: Month long vacation help

    A month isn't all that long. Shakti's suggestions are good. I'd also recommend Australia. Qantas sells a plane ticket for $999 that will include your round-trip airfare from LAX plus three flights within Australia, so you can fly to Brisbane, then to Sydney, then to Melbourne, and then home from there. If you like nature, peace and quiet, and hiking, Tasmania is the world's best-kept secret and it's an overnight ferry ride from Melbourne. I know I go on and on about Tasmania but it really is the most amazing spot on the planet.

    Europe is supposed to be great for backpackers too, but I've never been there. You've already been to Thailand, but you might like China or Vietnam. I hear Vietnam is incredible; K's brother went there last year and he's still raving about it.

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    Featured Member teeth_of_the_hydra's Avatar
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    Default Re: Month long vacation help

    I have only done long-ass, skin-of-my-teeth kind of trips, and while there's a lot of stuff to think about, I am a sleepy kid right now, so these are the top bits of wisdom that I would like to impart.

    -Don't overpack. You can always do laundry. ALWAYS.

    -Don't take to heart the catalogue list of nonsense that travel guides tell you you will need. Honestly, if you never wear hiking boots to walk around your home town or city, you don't need them to walk around Barcelona/ Hong Kong/ Mumbai. I always packed a decent pair of flip-flops (like Reefs or Scotts, which is what I usualy wear at home in Florida) and I was always fine. If you aren't usually anal about keeping bandaids and disinfectant in a waterproof tube around your neck, there's no need to do it abroad. I would also advise AGAINST wearing a moneybelt, because it marks you as a tourist (for the same reason, I would advise against wearing shirts with English writing on them). Keep a xerox of your passport in your pocket, and your wallet where you usually keep it, and just be careful. I mean, if you're going someplace with a lot of crime and raw sewage, maybe you shouldn't listen to me. But I always found that acting like a regular person wherever I went and not a frazzled tourist got me by just fine.


    -Do keep cultural customs in mind when packing. If it's not generally acceptable for girls to wear short skirts or to go into bars alone, don't. Act like the locals as much as possible and you're less likely to attract trouble. Don't tell people you're a stripper, but I think you knew this already.

    -Do find out if the water is safe to drink where you're going. If it's not, you will have to exercise caution with raw vegetables, fruits, street vendor food, etc. Dysentary sucks, believe me.

    -As far as money tips go... stay away from tourist traps. This is often easier said than done, but if you stay at hostels the staff there will generally be able to point you in the direction of cooler, more off-the-beaten track places to go/ things to do/ stuff to eat that will usually be cheaper.

    -However, some tourist attractions/ activities are totally worthwhile, so do a little research to figure out what's awesome vs. what's really not that awesome. Using Key West as an example ('cause I lived there for a while and it was filled with things both awesome and unawesome): scuba diving off the spectacular huge reef = awesome. Paying $10 per drink at Sloppy Joe's = unawesome. Drinking elsewhere in Key West = awesome. Going to Hemingway's house = medium awesome. Etc.

    -Oh yeah, try staying at hostels if you think you'd be up for it. It's an adventure and a bargain and an awesome time. Do not pack valuables. Hostels are generally safe places but the nature of them makes theft rather easy, so don't tempt anyone.

    Umm... some people might disagree with my travel tips, and you can certainly take everything I say with a grain of salt. If you think of any specific questions, post them, and I will check back and see if I can help. Happy travels!

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    God/dess Bridgette's Avatar
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    Default Re: Month long vacation help

    Agreed with what the others said above.

    As for packing clothes, I like to take extra panties and socks, and enough tops for a week, but will skimp on the pants - I feel perfectly ok re-wearing a pair of pants if I didn't sweat alot or otherwise get them dirty. That way you can carry half the pants. Tops, panties and socks take up alot less space and are much lighter, and those are the most essential changes anyway. I like to take 1-2 jeans and 1-2 pairs of sweats or workout type pants, and my sneakers. Everything plain, no brands or lettering. One pair of sandals and one nice top to go with jeans in case I want to go somewhere that's a little more dressy.

    Along with carrying a photocopy of your passport instead of the actual passport all the time, it's a really good idea to leave a clear, legible copy of the passport with your mom, along with your itinerary and flight info. That way if you lose your passport and really get in a pickle, you can go to a US embassy and call your mom to get your passport number, and perhaps get her to fax a copy of it if need be. It's a good idea to know where the embassy is located in the country you're travelling, or have the phone number at least.

    I like to carry a couple prepaid visa/mastercard debit cards and only take out the cash I'll need for one day at the atm. By keeping one of the debit cards as a backup, you're not completely stuck if you lose one. Also, if someone swipes your card, they can only get what's on that card, and not get into your credit or bank accounts! I would load enough on those prepaid cards to get you through the trip, plus 20%. Divide your money in half and load the two cards before you leave town.

    Hell, just for good measure you could leave a couple hundred bucks with your mom in case you need her to wire you some emergency cash. It's a real bitch to lose your belongings and be stuck in a foreign country with no money.

    You can also buy international calling cards, to make it easier for you to call home when you need.

    Make a list of what you'll need, pare down to the essentials, and pack ahead of time. Only take travel size toiletries and wear your hair in a pony or whatever to make things simpler. You can buy toiletries in your destination, and that's better than carrying all that stuff with you.

    Oh yeah, you can get those little cheapie pay as you go cell phones in most countries, and they're often cheaper than the ones we have in the US. Those things can make life much simpler.

    Have fun!!

    Quote Originally Posted by pheno View Post
    When you lead a nontraditional life don't try to measure it with traditional milestones.

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    Featured Member teeth_of_the_hydra's Avatar
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    Default Re: Month long vacation help

    Quote Originally Posted by Bridgette View Post

    Make a list of what you'll need, pare down to the essentials, and pack ahead of time. Only take travel size toiletries and wear your hair in a pony or whatever to make things simpler. You can buy toiletries in your destination, and that's better than carrying all that stuff with you.
    Word. This is totally true if you generally use "standard" items such as shampoo, conditioner, soap, body lotion, and you're not wed to a certain brand (assuming you are traveling abroad... within the US, there is never any reason to pre-pack toiletries unless you're going camping. Especially with the liquid restrictions on airlines these days. If you're traveling within the lower 48, definitely buy when you get there. There's like 1 CVS to every 10 Americans). However, do keep in mind that certain items (such as disposable contact lenses) might be very hard to find in other countries, so you will want to pack those. Stuff like soap and shampoo they have all over the world.

    Bridgette's money tips are super good. I would take her word as that of Goddess.

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    Default Re: Month long vacation help

    Thanks for the advice so far. The two prepaid debit cards is a great idea. Does anyone know if they charge fees for using those prepaid cards overseas? They slammed me in fees in Thailand. I think I paid $45 or more in transaction fees. The copies of the passport idea is good idea. I never thought of that.

    Shakti, thanks for the daily budget advice. Thats the hard part. When I went for a short time I spent whatever I wanted. But going for a month a budget seems like a must. I think I want to go to either Central America (Belize, CR, Honduras, etc) or southern Thailand for a month. Is it best to reserve the a room especially when traveling in they busy season or just come early to get the room?
    you live like an ivy vine
    you can only survive by clinging onto trees
    that's your flaw
    put down some roots so you can stand on your own
    -Kenpachi



  9. #9
    cameron_keys
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    Default Re: Month long vacation help

    Quote Originally Posted by teeth_of_the_hydra View Post
    scuba diving off the spectacular huge reef = awesome.
    In the 8 bazillion times I've been in KW, I've never done this. I still want to..but nobody ever wants to go with me and I dont want to go by myself...(hubby cant swim...ear issues)

    I have no advice for the OP other than what everyone else said here is fabulous advice!
    And I wish I could take a month off to go somewhere fantastic!

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    Featured Member teeth_of_the_hydra's Avatar
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    Default Re: Month long vacation help

    Quote Originally Posted by TigersMilk View Post
    I think I want to go to either Central America (Belize, CR, Honduras, etc) or southern Thailand for a month. Is it best to reserve the a room especially when traveling in they busy season or just come early to get the room?
    Right now it is not tourist season in Central America, I do not think anyway, because it is the rainy season. You will probably not need reservations, but it is a good idea to call/email ahead to see what the hotel staff tells you. Hotels in CR are pretty good with email correspondence if calling is a pain in the ass... CR has free national internet. And it's also not a bad idea to check into an English-speaking hotel/hostel when you first get in somewhere, so you can get your bearings & such.

    I have spent a fair amount of time in Costa Rica and some time in Honduras, so I can tell you a few cool things to check out if you like:

    http://centralamerica.com/cr/parks/mocorcovado.htm
    http://www.rara-avis.com/
    http://www.honduras.net/copan/

    There are many hot springs around Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica that are completely excellent. I could only find links for the 2 big ones which are within giant, relatively expensive resorts, but I know there are cheaper ways to go. And of course, these are just suggestions... I like plants and animals and stuff so of course these links reflect my biases But for what it's worth, there are monkeys that will throw fruit at you in Corcovado.

    Quote Originally Posted by cameron_keys View Post
    In the 8 bazillion times I've been in KW, I've never done this. I still want to..but nobody ever wants to go with me and I dont want to go by myself...
    Hey! I'm planning on being in the keys for a few days the first week of August... want to go? I haven't been diving in forever, so I shouldn't go without a refresher course, but I'd be totally excited to snorkel the reef... want to? No one ever wants to go with me either, so I haven't gone in ages, but I would super duper love to go OMG fish and coral sharks and turtles eeeeeee!!!

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    God/dess Bridgette's Avatar
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    Default Re: Month long vacation help

    As for the prepaid debit cards, I like . It is cheap, you don't pay any transaction fees (except at the ATM), and they waive the monthly $4.95 for the first 6 months. So, get it a month or so before a trip (make sure you get it early enough to get the real Visa debit in the mail - they only give you a temp card at the time of purchase. After your trip, withdraw any leftover cash at the ATM at home to avoid paying the monthly fee while you're not using it. Save it and put cash on it again when you want to take another trip. I do this and I pay very very little for the convenience. I only pay fees during the month I'm using it, and when I'm not using it I pay nothing.

    The best thing about this particular card is the extra benefits like card replacement, purchase protection and luggage insurance, which can be very helpful while travelling. Read their website for details.

    I keep TWO of these cards with money on them when I travel, and keep them in a separate place in case I lose one, I have another. That is mighty handy in a foreign country. The extra cost of having two of these is a small price to pay for the security of knowing you won't be broke if you lose one.

    Will I be charged any fees for using my All-Access® Visa TravelMoney® Card?
    There are NO signature or PIN purchase convenience fees associated with your All-Access® Visa TravelMoney® Card, but ATM fees DO apply. There is also a monthly administrative fee of $4.95 that will be waived for the first 6 months from the date of purchase. On the 7th month, the $4.95 monthly fee will be deducted from the card's balance on the first day of each month until the value of the card reaches $0, except where prohibited by law.


    Another tip - try to use cash at restaurants where you'd hand your card to a waiter and they take it away to run it. It's too easy for them to use one of those card readers to swipe your card's info while they have it out of your sight. They can rob you blind before you have any idea something is wrong. This happened to my ex in Brazil, and unfortunately he had ALL his money in his bank account, attached to the debit card he was using. They cleaned out his account plus $1900 overdrawn before he knew there was a problem. It took 4 months for the bank to investigate and get his money back.

    Prepaid debit cards for travel, and use cash in restaurants!!

    Quote Originally Posted by pheno View Post
    When you lead a nontraditional life don't try to measure it with traditional milestones.

  12. #12
    cameron_keys
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    Default Re: Month long vacation help

    Quote Originally Posted by teeth_of_the_hydra View Post

    Hey! I'm planning on being in the keys for a few days the first week of August... want to go? I haven't been diving in forever, so I shouldn't go without a refresher course, but I'd be totally excited to snorkel the reef... want to? No one ever wants to go with me either, so I haven't gone in ages, but I would super duper love to go OMG fish and coral sharks and turtles eeeeeee!!!

    Are you going on vacay or are you working? Either way..it would be cool. I could stand to work in KW for a few days..and if it's vacay..hubby has been DYING to go down there for a long weekend. I dont want to threadjack...so I'll PM you to discuss.

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    Default Re: Month long vacation help

    Thanks B. Sounds like I'll be using those for my trip and any other trip out of the US further down the road.

    Also, one last one here: how will I know how much it will cost me per day to enjoy my vacation? I would hate to under budget and run out of money to do fun things with.
    you live like an ivy vine
    you can only survive by clinging onto trees
    that's your flaw
    put down some roots so you can stand on your own
    -Kenpachi



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