Travel Destinations...

Hi guys,

I'm currently 18, first year of uni (business degree), and starting to get very keen on traveling. I planned to do it at the end of yr12 but it never happened, so i'm going to do it in dec 07 / jan 08. I was going to buy a motorbike instead but i'm starting to think experiences > posessions.

I'm after advice as to where people have been and would recommend. I've already been to USA and i'd like to do something different. It is likely i will be offered the chance to go to Dubai in Nov this year, but i'm still after advice on where else i could go. It dosen't have to be limited to one country. My budget is around 8k AUD.

I'm looking for that real trip of a lifetime... any ideas?

[Van D]

Might not be to your interest.. But have you thought about going around Aus/NZ? There's some absolute fantastic places to see in our own country, mum and dad have gone all over the world and reckon some of the best places they've been are right at our doorstep. They went to NZ earlier this year and had the time of their lives.

I've also had great experiences in places like NT (all over), Cairns (Port Douglas, Daintry, then great barrier reef), up the east coast etc.

I'm planning an international trip next year however which includes Germany (oktober fest), Amsterdam/Friesland, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Iceland, Sweden and a few other places depending on how long I have.

If you really want something different i'd suggest a big cultural change, have you thought about Asia? I'm planning three big trips in my life. First is Europe, then Asia, then Americas and Caribbean etc. So there's plenty to see.

What are you interested in?

[SiKoRa_eL_97]

Europe! im here right now and its great

[MYVYSS]

Vietnam, China and bits of Asia, go see what its like to live on 5 cents a day, and yet still smile. Once you finish there go see India, talk to a few phone operators, you might get a great deal for Optus, Telstra,Anz back blah blah blah...

Or if you like the cold, go to the antartic, mates went last year and said was possibly the best trip they have ever had.

[kooky]

Dubai is amazing!!!

Thailand is great for relaxing and living like a king on $20

[Bucknaked]

Thailand is great. Phuket.

[FITZY469]

Im London and have been for the past 11 months... its a good base to travel from if you want to get a job here and earn some british pounds, which gets you a bit further than the aussie dollar... plus there are heaps of like-minded aussies here travelling and having an awesome time! i wish i had done it earlier!! you wont regret it...

[sgt_doofey]

8K probably won't see you over in Europe or the UK for too long considering that the Aussie dollar is still weak against those currencies. You're probably better off looking closer to home like in Asia, Malaysia or NZ where you'll get further for your dollar.
Personally, I have been over to the US in '03 to work in a winery for 3 months and also travelled around California for a couple of weeks either side. That was absolutely fantastic!
Went on a driving trip around Europe in '05 for my honeymoon. Another fantastic trip. Went to London, Paris, down through France to the French Riviera, on to Italy, Siena, Pisa, Florence, Rome and Venice. Then on to Austria to Salsburg and a day in Munich which happened to be the last day of the Oktoberfest, but we didn't get down to the fairgrounds as it was apparently too busy. Next stop was Holland and Den Haag to see some family, visiting Amsterdam for a day. Then the Brugge in Belgium and back in to France back to Paris to fly home. We covered over 5500 kms in just over 3 weeks. Spent a couple of nights in Kuala Lumpur on the way home because it was really cheap.
The wife and I have another overseas trip this year, back to Italy, but it is an education trip for my wife and is being partially funded by her work. Rome, then to Siena for a week to visit wineries for her education, then to Venice, Verona, Milan, Paris, Washington, New York and San Francisco. In SF, we'll be catching up with the people we worked with back in '03.

To do any of that is going to cost you more than 8k as you'll be looking at at least 2-2.5k for airfares alone once you factor in airport and government taxes. For us, it was about 15k each for the US and first Europe trip.
My sister-in-law has just come back from Tailand and that looked fantastic. Would have been nice and cheap as well!

On a side noe, a guy at work said to me yesterday that there is possibly a new international airline setting up in Australia soon and as an opening special they will be having $11 (+ taxes) flights to London!

[pb02]

China is pretty cool, heaps of places to see and some very extreme climates and landscapes.

South America is awesome! Tons of cool stuff to see also. Very cheap at the moment as most countries will accept US currency.

Depends on what you are looking to see. Machu Pichu in Peru has just been listed as one of the 7 Wonders. They also have Coral, Nasca Lines, Lake Titicacca, Huaras, The Amazon, Cusco, Colca Canyon, and plenty of other cool places like Mancora and Lima itself.

[XWGT]

Vietnam without a doubt. Amazing country, amazing people. As someone noted earlier, see how it is to live on 5 cents per day and be extremely happy. Then party your *** off in HCMC with anything from 5 star to 3 star. Then head for the Mekong Delta or north to the valley of the gods. Tis all good, very cheap, very safe an damn good fun.

[Grasshoppr]

I would look at doing a Contiki trip in Europe. You will be able to do it on a budget and you will get to see heaps of Europe. I have just come back from doing both Contiki and my own travel after the contiki part and it was amazing. Also the Contiki part will cost you around $3K and flights around $2K so you have the rest to use for spending money and optional extras. That should see you within the $8 budget easily.

If you do these things on your own you will not get under the $8 budget.

[jaydee]

Just got back from Canada and saw heaps of bikes touring the Rockies.
I stood watching them go past all the time and then looked and the wife and kids and wondered what I'd get for a trade.

[BA_Turbs]

With the strength of the $ at the moment, North America would have to be looking pretty good.

I've done Vietnam and Thailand, loved them both, in particular Vietnam, but I don't know if its the place to go if you are looking to go travelling long term (ie spend 3-6+ months there).

[Yellow_Festiva]

Depends on what your into.

Iv'e been OS 6 times now, with 20 countries under my belt, and i'm 27. I back packed for around 10 months in 06 and got from Seoul, Korea to London onverland / sea.

For your money, you can make that go VERY far in Asia.

Perhaps start with Japan, Ferry across to Korea, Ferry / cheap flight across to China. Hang around in China for a month, staying in hostels from as little as $3 a night.

Get on the Trans Mongolian to Mongolia, stay un Ulaan Bataar for a week at the best hostel for $5US a night then do a 4x4 treck of the Gobi dessert for 15 days at a cost of a round $25 a day with driver (shared with ppl you meet at the hostel)

Fly out from Mongolia, or get a new Visa for China and head back on the train and see what you didnt see the first time there.

Geeze, you can well be away for 3-5 months without running out of money.

This trip (especially Mongolia) is well "off the beaten track" and will expose you to some AMAZING experiences (both good and bad).

If you like to take charge of your destiny then keep well away from contiki tours. If you have the time, and the knowledge you can travel very nicely ANYWHERE for under $400pw.

Trust me, 1 night and 2 days is not enough in ANY European countries.

use www.tripadvisor.com for heaps of great local info,

I have an unfinished blog:
www.travelpod.com/members/globetrotterjas

It may be of interest, half is very detaild, with hundreds of pics etc, the other half is just my itinerary...

One day i'll get off my a$$ and finish it.

Oh, and another thing. Make sure you do it AFTER uni. You can start you trip working for a month or 2 in many countries with your degree. (I have worked in Sth Korea 5 times as an English Camp teacher / Director)

Material assets will come later, go out and see the world.

[Van D]

Originally Posted by MYVYSS

Or if you like the cold, go to the antartic, mates went last year and said was possibly the best trip they have ever had.

Alaska looks amazing as well if you like a bit of a chill!

[MITCHAY]

Interested in this thread also. Mainly looking at staying here though but just after ideas too.

Only mandatory things are lots of alcohol and lots of hot chicks. I don't care for sight seeing :

[Van D]

Originally Posted by MITCHAY

Interested in this thread also. Mainly looking at staying here though but just after ideas too.

Only mandatory things are lots of alcohol and lots of hot chicks. I don't care for sight seeing :

Spring break? :P