CP BrainTrust: Plan my next 2 months.

[Bill Bumface]

+1 for Central/South America.

You'll drop a lot for a flight, but once you get there it's like they are paying YOU to vacation.

[DownhillGoat]

Over 20 posts in and nobody threw out the obligatory "hookers and blow"?

I've seen more of other countries than I have of Canada. Kind of wish I'd seen more here. Travel coast to coast. You could probably do half the trip catching rides from CP'ers across the country Then get pictures in a Flames jersey in front of every NHL hockey arena and major landmark across the country.

Also, if you're broke halfway through the trip, it's easier to scrounge up a bus ticket back from Newfoundland than it is to scrounge up a plane ticket from Asia. Unless of course you get a 2 way ticket first.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by Ace

Drop $5000 on credit cards and enjoy 8 weeks traveling. [snip]

When you get back from your trip, live cheap and pay off the credit cards ASAP.

If you have the means, get a line of credit for your trip. Use credit cards on the trip, pay it off with the PLC. Gives you a month grace period, and then a much lower interest rate on the PLC vs a credit card.

[J pold]

Originally Posted by fotze

Ya, you probably shouldn't travel since you don't have money saved up. You did say you have a really good job lined up, so that won't help. Take it from me, once you start working you will have plenty of money AND TIME, it will be really easy to take 2 months off of your job once you get into your career. Also, if you don't find that time, you will really find it easilly once you have kids, plus travelling with kids is so fun.

You definitely won't look back at these two months with regret if you do the pragmatic thing and save the couple grand. You certainly won't regret not travelling while reading threads about younger folks pondering it 15 years later. It is a couple grand, you will never be able to make that up in the 40 YEARS of working that you can now look forward to.

I was kind of on the fence to just staying in Calgary, not spending the money, and doing the pragmatic thing, but this post basically sealed the deal for me, I will go out and do something.

Thanks all for the replies and great ideas. I'm currently looking into SE Asia, as I have a few friends there already. I'll probably be referring back to this thread for some more specific details and trip planning.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by J pold

I'm currently looking into SE Asia

One thing I learned watching "Banged up Abroad": Don't stuff your vag full of heroine to pay for your flight home.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

One thing I learned watching "Banged up Abroad": Don't stuff your vag full of heroine to pay for your flight home.

That's really solid advice for any destination.

[tvp2003]

Well, I think you've established that you should do *somthing*, and that it should involve some sort of extended travel.

While SE Asia or some exotic place like South Africa might appeal to you, I'll throw in a plug for taking a road trip, across Canada and/or the US. Just my personal preference, and it probably won't break the bank as much as an overseas flight might.

The only downside is that you can always visit your favorite Canadian/US citiy for a week or less after you start working (without costing a fortune), whereas a weekend trip to Asia isn't really feasible (so it's probably better to do that now, assuming it's something you want to do).

[Teh_Bandwagoner]

Originally Posted by fotze

Ya, you probably shouldn't travel since you don't have money saved up. You did say you have a really good job lined up, so that won't help. Take it from me, once you start working you will have plenty of money AND TIME, it will be really easy to take 2 months off of your job once you get into your career. Also, if you don't find that time, you will really find it easilly once you have kids, plus travelling with kids is so fun.

You definitely won't look back at these two months with regret if you do the pragmatic thing and save the couple grand. You certainly won't regret not travelling while reading threads about younger folks pondering it 15 years later. It is a couple grand, you will never be able to make that up in the 40 YEARS of working that you can now look forward to.

Although conversely, I'm currently on the butt end of my 5 week vacation from work. 3 weeks in South Korea and 2 weeks in California

[Yasa]

Mow my lawn.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

Well, I think you've established that you should do *somthing*, and that it should involve some sort of extended travel.

While SE Asia or some exotic place like South Africa might appeal to you, I'll throw in a plug for taking a road trip, across Canada and/or the US. Just my personal preference, and it probably won't break the bank as much as an overseas flight might.

The only downside is that you can always visit your favorite Canadian/US citiy for a week or less after you start working (without costing a fortune), whereas a weekend trip to Asia isn't really feasible (so it's probably better to do that now, assuming it's something you want to do).

I've driven across Canada. It was great but it's very expensive (gas and accommodation). Plus, aside from Quebec, the culture across Canada is fairly homogenous. I think the OP will get more value out of this opportunity if he goes to Asia or anywhere else you guys suggested.

[enthused]

Originally Posted by troutman

Back-pack around Central America for 2 months. Much cheaper than Europe. Start in Antigua Guatemala and take some spanish lessons with other gringos.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antigua_Guatemala

Due to its popularity amongst tourists and its very well developed tourism infrastructure, Antigua Guatemala is often used as a central location in which many choose to set up base and from here, visit other tourist areas in Guatemala and Central America. Cruise ships that dock at Guatemalan ports offer trips to Antigua from both the Pacific and Atlantic.

Antigua is known as a destination for people who want to learn Spanish through immersion. There are many Spanish language schools in Antigua and it is one of the most popular and best recognized centers for Spanish language study by students from Europe and North America. Language institutes are one of the primary industries of Antigua, along with tourism.

This is exactly what I did when I graduated university. Best three months of my life. Spent the first few weeks in Antigua studying at a Spanish school, traveled around the rest of Guatemala and then went to Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. Dirt cheap but amazingly
beautiful countries. I seriously cannot say enough good things about that trip... other than the fact that it made coming home and settling into a full time job right away incredibly painful. Anyways PM me if you want specifics on good places to check out, prices, etc.

[Buzzard]

nm