Post: #1

I just returned from my first international vacation in 10 years, it was a 4 week vacation to Thailand and Dubai. It was a blast but I was getting home sick and missed the luxuries of my home/toys toward the end. I do plan on traveling much more in the future but
frankly traveling seems to be physically/mentally exhausting (living out of a suitcase, not eating your normal healthy foods, etc..) Maybe I am a newbie to this and need to adapt, not sure. I have a buddy who travels alot and says anything more than 2 weeks, he gets extremely bored/homesick. I also have another friend who travels away 6 months at a time with no problem. I have another acquaintance, who sold all his belongings and moved to Thailand and is in absolute heaven (not sure if I can do that).

So here is the question, do most of you guys travel in short bursts (2-3 weeks) or do the long term trips? In addition, I am assuming monthly rentals can be much cheaper than nightly rentals, spending anywhere from $80- $250 a night per hotel added up quickly on this last trip! Any feedback would be appreciatted.

Post: #2

I can live anywhere. I am a world citizen.
Not that I have done it before though.
Many people on here are 35 year olds that have been traveling for years, not me.

Post: #3

Hopping around from place to place constantly does drain you. It's difficult to keep that up for a long time. I like to spend at least a month in each place I visit. I rent an apartment (I hate hotels) and try as much as possible to "live like a local". If you stick to major cities you won't get bored staying in one place for a few months.

Also, like you mentioned, spending longer periods of time at each stop saves you a lot of money on per night accomodation costs.

Post: #4

I think it all depends on how far it is from your home base. I like staying for one month. For me the farther I go the more time I want to stay. It doesn't always work out like that so I suggest a min of 10 days. You can stay for shorter periods if you have done your homework and made contacts in the country you are going to. It also depends on the country. Even if the country is small you may be able to find enough things to do. Especialy if you meet some cool locals. If you have not done your homework don't necessarily expect the trip to be productive women wise. There are always exceptions to this though.

I always rent an apartment. Many times it is much cheaper that a hotel. Plus you can easily have a house party, and privacy to bring girls back. For example I was looking today on homeaway.com at luxury apartments in Budapest, Hungary. I found a beautiful one in the center of the city for $49 a night with a 3 day min stay. In Reykjavik, Iceland my apartment in the city center was $70/day. Compare that to $120 for a private room at Reykavik city hostal!

Post: #5

It depends on the style of travel. On my recent South America trip I was living out of a backpack for about 5 months, and I didn't feel homesick whatsoever. The key for me was that in each country I visited I met with other travelers and formed a sort of "traveler's group" so we would hang out with each other most of the time. If it weren't for those friendships I don't think I could have lasted the 5 months just by myself traveling in countries where I didn't speak the local language fluently.

I've done this on my previous trips to other parts of the world as well (I typically travel abroad solo) where along my route I meet another person going in the same direction as me and we just become travel partners for some short amount of time. Makes traveling much easier and more entertaining.

Post: #6

(12-10-2010 02:00 PM)kerouac Wrote:  It depends on the style of travel. On my recent South America trip I was living out of a backpack for about 5 months, and I didn't feel homesick whatsoever. The key for me was that in each country I visited I met with other travelers and formed a sort of "traveler's group" so we would hang out with each other most of the time. If it weren't for those friendships I don't think I could have lasted the 5 months just by myself traveling in countries where I didn't speak the local language fluently.

I've done this on my previous trips to other parts of the world as well (I typically travel abroad solo) where along my route I meet another person going in the same direction as me and we just become travel partners for some short amount of time. Makes traveling much easier and more entertaining.

Very true. I have similar experience.

Post: #7

You'll be able to go much longer next time. It's like anything, you acclimate yourself to the road.

Post: #8

Great topic. When I took my first trip abroad in 2001, it was for just under a month hosteling across Europe. I was pretty homesick by the end. My longest time abroad was about 2 months in S. America last year. I didn't find myself getting homesick as much and I thought I would before leaving. There were things I was looking forward too when coming home like not having to be careful about everything I ingest, and being able to speak my mother language. Being in a country where you don't speak the language(or speak it well enough to be conversational) can wear on you over time. Hosteling can also wear on you and get tiring if that's the route you go. Renting an apartment and having it feel a bit like a home I think would go a long way in helping you settle in and feel comfortable.

Post: #9

I hit my wall after 3-4 months. It's not so much about having a "home" (I'm technically homeless), but I start to miss my old friends and family. I've found that I need to at least come back and touch base every 3-4 months.

That may become longer in the future. For instance, I just got back from Asia a couple weeks ago. And before I came back, I was so ready to get home and see everyone. It's been almost two weeks and I'm already looking into a Brazil trip for Feb-April.

Post: #10

(12-10-2010 05:12 PM)Roosh Wrote:  You'll be able to go much longer next time. It's like anything, you acclimate yourself to the road.

This is true. I think I could pretty much travel forever as long as that travel plan included coming back to the states for a couple months here and there to see family and friends. But that's not financially easy.

Post: #11

Am best part of 1.5 years into my current trip

Post: #12

I will add, that I've met a handful of perpetual travelers over the last couple years... guys who have basically been on the road non-stop for 3-5+ years without ever settling in one place for any more than a few months at a time.

These guys have always had something seriously off about them. Whether the traveling is the cause or the effect, I don't know.

Just an observation.

Post: #13

(12-11-2010 11:24 PM)Lumiere Wrote:  Am best part of 1.5 years into my current trip

How is that possible?

Post: #14

I'm 6 weeks into my mini retirement in Thailand and I'll be here till mid April. At this time, I have not even the slightest desire to return to Canada. Sure I miss the family and all, but I chat with them on skype almost daily, but there's nothing else I miss from Canada. To be on the road long term, I guess one needs a bigger motivation and desire than just getting away from something else. For me, it's the deep rooted desire to see the world, or at least as much of it as possible. But also, you need to have something else going on for you to last that long, say like wanting to take your existing business overseas and that's what I'll be doing as well in the process.

In April, I'll return for a couple of weeks home to recharge the batteries before hitting the road again to Brasil till June. I'll return home on time for the Montreal F1 Grand Prix and I'll leave again in October, for 6 months in South America. And then, repeat the cycle. I'd eventually like to mini settle down in some places: Buenos Aires, Milano, Barcelona, Bangkok and Medellin and a medium city in Brasil, with spending 6 months in each over the next 2-3 years. Of course, in between in the summer, I'll take some shorter trips to Europe.

Post: #15

(12-12-2010 01:31 PM)Entropy4 Wrote:  These guys have always had something seriously off about them. Whether the traveling is the cause or the effect, I don't know.

Can you elaborate?

Post: #16

(12-12-2010 01:31 PM)Entropy4 Wrote:  I will add, that I've met a handful of perpetual travelers over the last couple years... guys who have basically been on the road non-stop for 3-5+ years without ever settling in one place for any more than a few months at a time.

These guys have always had something seriously off about them. Whether the traveling is the cause or the effect, I don't know.

Just an observation.

Most of my foreign friends in Aspen travel constantly. Some of them only go between Argentina or Brazil and the states, around 6 months in each, or some go from the states, back to Brazil for 2 months, then to Argentina, then to Europe, wherever they can or want to go. They are awesome people and have many exciting adventures to share, and very cultured. I nothing "off" about them. They're just people in their 20's and 30's that love to travel and see the world, and take advantage of what's out there. Most of them love to snowboard. Some follow winter wherever it goes e.i. spend the winter in Aspen, when summer comes around, go to Argentina and spend the winter there, and repeat, the endless winter.

Post: #17

Well here is my dellima, my house is on the market and once it sells I am not sure if I should rent a local apartment or put everything in storage and take off for 3-6 months. After this last trip of getting tired after 4 weeks, I am having my doubts of takin off for 3-6 months. Now I am considering having a local base then come back every 6 weeks or so, rest and take off after a few weeks... thoughts?

Post: #18

(12-12-2010 09:22 PM)kali Wrote:  Well here is my dellima, my house is on the market and once it sells I am not sure if I should rent a local apartment or put everything in storage and take off for 3-6 months. After this last trip of getting tired after 4 weeks, I am having my doubts of takin off for 3-6 months. Now I am considering having a local base then come back every 6 weeks or so, rest and take off after a few weeks... thoughts?

I recommend storing your shit for the first trip, then return and get a place. Over the last few years I have been staying with family when in the U.S. but it is seriously starting to suck. Definitely saved some money though. I still feel to an extent I'm still on the road doing this. Having your own place will help you get back to reality. Consider getting a roommate, as it'll cut some cost and they can look after your shit while away.

As for travel time I'm w/ Entrophy4. Three Months is my max. Although, that last trip was strictly for pussy and booze. I think doing something constructive while traveling will make long trips more bearable. Next time I plan on doing some more reading, working out, and possibly taking some online classes, like project management, OSHA 501, for example.

Post: #19

(12-12-2010 01:48 PM)Badstuber Wrote:  

(12-11-2010 11:24 PM)Lumiere Wrote:  Am best part of 1.5 years into my current trip

How is that possible?

Its quite easy once you have a passive income stream going

Post: #20

Yeah but don't you get tired of living from your suitcase and all of that....

Post: #21

(12-13-2010 01:43 AM)Badstuber Wrote:  Yeah but don't you get tired of living from your suitcase and all of that....

I dont have a suitcase.

Post: #22

I've done a couple of trips around a year in length or a bit longer. I'm from the UK and it is very normal to take this length of trip, really nobody will bat an eyelid or be impressed if you take off travelling for a year. It's typically referred to as a Gap year and is taken between finishing university and starting work.

We also have a very easy path if you don't have much money of a one year work visa in Australia which is very easy to apply for and the main purpose is for you to do some casual work to fund your travels, if you're a little older and have more experience you may be able to take on better paid more professional jobs.

As to the point of getting bored or homesick, I can't think of a much better lifestyle at this age, travelling around, meeting loads of people, partying, shagging a bunch of foreign girls, lazing on beautiful beaches, lots of crazy adventures and then doing a couple of interesting jobs or volunteering for something different. The only problem the majority of people seem to suffer from is adjusting to life once they return, getting a job, responsibility etc.

Post: #23

It seems now that no trip is long enough for me. Started off travelling properly with a month in Europe then home for 4 days then a month in Aus / Asia and I remember worrying a lot before these trips about how I'd cope with being away from home for so long. Went in pretty quickly. Next trip was 6 months in SE Asia and I only came home because I ran out of cash. Last trip was 4.5 months in S, America and was simply not ready to come home at all, missed nothing from home and wasn't even close to being homesick, again money (or lack of) made me come home.

I couldn't do a short trip anymore, if I'm gonna do it then I need to do it properly and really explore the region I'm visiting. A 2 weeks or even a month trip just wouldn't cut it. Think 3 months would be my minimum but more is optimal.

I'm much happier when I'm on the road and a better person too, at home I'm bored and unhappy. I've seen that there are places out there in the world that I'm much more suited to than here. I simply don't miss home but it's obviously nice to come back and see my parents every now and then. If I could find a way to travel / live abroad full time then I would without hesitation but as it stands right now I can't seem to figure out a way to make that happen so I travel for a few months, come home and get some work then save like mad to get away again. The thought of travel being on the horizon keeps me going, I'm well and truely hooked!

Post: #24

Ive travelled a fair bit but interestingly my recent month in Asia was the first time I actually considered returning early. Moving from place to place got to me.

I think my next extended trip will involve just 1 spot, allowing me to feel more like a local than a tourista.

Post: #25

If moving is getting to you then why not just stop and recharge for a week or so. Countless long journeys, shared space (for those of us who stay in hostels), early starts and late nights, lack of sleep etc can get to anyone but if I just relax for a while and get a private room if need be for a few days and don't really push myself to do much I soon get over it.

Travel is an addiction for me it seems, my life is consumed by it. I wish I could find a way to fund some much longer term travel. Would love to travel around the world, settle for a few months at a time in places that I really liked and explore everywhere I want to go but haven't been able to yet. All boils down to money though.