Over the past couple of years, I’ve begun to travel. Kris and I have been traveling in groups, but that’s expensive and leaves me feeling isolated from the cultures we visit. I have the itch to travel more, and to spend more time off the beaten path. Meeting a swarm of travel bloggers at the recent World Domination Summit has just made this feeling stronger.
As a result, I’m going to do a little solo travel. Kris isn’t interested in “roughing it” just yet. Plus, her hours aren’t as flexible as mine. (I can write from anywhere, right?) So, I’ve looked at the calendar for the rest of 2011 and have picked out three extended periods during which I’ll travel alone.
But where will I go? That’s a great question, and one for which I have no answer yet.
My first window of opportunity comes during early August. I’d love to visit a Spanish-speaking country in the Western Hemisphere, but which one? Cuba interests me. So does Mexico. And what about Ecuador?
At the end of August, I think I’m going to hike Hadrian’s Wall in northern England. “You’ve been talking about that for years,” Chris Guillebeau told me on Sunday. He’s right. I’ve been wanting to do this ever since I met him, but I’ve never had the guts to go. Well, now I’m going to do it. (And I’m actually toying with the idea of simply spending the entire month of August in England and France. We’ll see.)
Chris also had another piece of advice for me. “You should just go,” he told me. “Go now. Don’t wait until August, but leave tomorrow or next week.” Tempting. But I’m too much of a traditionalist to just jump ship like that, I guess. I have some commitments I need to see through. But once those are done? Well, I’m not adding any more commitments to the calendar. I need to scratch this travel itch, don’t you know.
Enough about travel! I know many of you get bored by the subject. Instead, let’s look at some recent personal-finance stories from around the web.
First, today Trent at The Simple Dollar posted 15 shopping rules of thumb. I don’t usually like list posts, but this one made me consider my own shopping habits. I’m not actually much of a shopper anymore, but when I do buy things, I actually adhere to many of Trent’s suggestions.
Next up, my pal MP Dunleavey stirred the pot over at Daily Worth today. She complained that there are insufficient, overpriced, erratic child care choices for working families, and dozens of readers chimed in with their own experiences. Kris and I don’t have kids, but we know parents with similar predicaments. How do you deal with these sorts of dilemmas?
Elsewhere, Meg Favreau at Wise Bread shared her number-one favorite frugal tip last week. It’s not what you might think. In fact, it’s decidedly GRS-y. Favreau says her top frugality tip is simple: Persevere. “When trying to achieve any goal, there will be trial and error. There will be setbacks. The most important thing is to keep at it.” I like it.
Writing at Dumb Little Man, Celestine Chua offers 6 simple ways to say “no”. As I mentioned over the weekend, I’ve managed to craft a pretty amazing life by learning to say “yes” to the things that scare me. But I’ve also developed a bad habit of simply saying “yes” to everything, which leaves me drained. I’m starting to say “no” more, and Chua’s advice will help me do this.
Finally, Jay wrote to point out that ING Direct is for sale. Its Dutch parent company is looking to get out of online banking in the U.S. What will this mean for ING Direct customers like me? I’m not sure. Something tells me it may be time to look at other online savings accounts.
GRS is committed to helping our readers save and achieve your financial goals.Savings interest rates may be low, but that’s all the more reason to shop for the best rate.Find the highest savings interest rate from Ally Bank, Capital One 360, Everbank, and more.
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If you do come back to England, I might have to buy you a coffee at Heathrow airport. Your simple financial advice got me to Japan, Portland and Hawaii back in 2009! I paid for it all in cash by squirrelling away £300 a month over a 10 month contract.
The frugality I have learnt from your website has meant I can go to university without worrying about starving to death or hitting the Bank of Mum and Dad up every month.
Thanks JD
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Don’t “just go NOW”, take care of your commitments and do some research in the meantime so your experience can be great. You could check out couchsurfing websites or something similar so you can stay with local people. I know hostels have been popular in the past (it’s been a while since I’ve travelled) but I found that you end up hanging out with a bunch of backpackers who spend all their time comparing bus schedules. And for getting off the beaten path and going where the whim takes you, renting a car in South America is great. Have a great time!
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I have to agree. I travelled impulsively when I was young and I probably would have saved a lot of more money had I actually made a plan.
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Hi,
I totally agree with you Diane. I have already travelled both ways: studying for the trip and trips where I just went.
The most remarkable trips where those which I studied about the culture of the place, as well as the old cultures which were around it.
I loved to see with my eyes, things I studied.
That gave me great pleasure.
If I were you I would do something like this. Plan and study before. Afterwards go.
Also. If I were you, I would reserve sometime after October to come to Brazil, both: North and South.
We have wonderful places here, which you will only be able to see here, like the second greatest waterfall in volume in the whole world, Iguazu Falls, some fantastic islands, amazing caves, forests and landscapes, and so much more that I do not dare to tell you everything.
So I would consider comming here after October (inclusive), when temperatures start to get better in whole Brazil (South and North).
If you need anything, just ping me, I can give you my e-mail so that we can chat better.
Also, comming here you will be able to try something that you can only try here, like our Garapa, açaà na tigela and plenty of other things.
Just come!
Cheers,
Lauro Valente
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We were just in Brazil and the temps were wonderful in late May! We had beautiful weather and friendly people. We also saw the falls.
Going in the summer time in Brazil might be a bit much for someone from Oregon. FL? sure. OR? hmm. It was just right for us from Poland–between 20 and 28C. Really nice.
And we did see the falls! They were spectacular.
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See? I told you!
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Good links. Though the 15 shopping rules of thumb are really subjective. Some people want things over experiences, or size over speed. I say buy what you want, it’s your money!
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OMG, ING is being sold. That it horrible. I loved getting people started with high yield savings by using the $25 bonus as enticement.
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The US has some pretty nice places to visit too. Just sayin’. From the redwood forests, to the gulf stream waters… New England leaves in the fall, Southern wildflowers in the Spring, Santa Monica in the summer… this country is pretty darn beautiful and varied. There’s amazing regional foods, all sorts of history, museums, factories, shows… If you’re going to just pick up and go, it doesn’t all have to be overseas or in a different hemisphere. There’s a lot of experiences a short flight (or a longer drive) away from Kris. I know you did a little on your book tour, but there’s lots of amazing places you missed.
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It’s really good fun to do a roadtrip from Seattle to San Francisco, down Route 101. There is a fantastic hostel just outside of Forks called the Rainforest Hostel, run by a lovely man called Jim. It’s $10 a night and would be great if you wanted to go explore the Olympic rainforest.
There’s loads of cool stuff on route- Marsh’s Free Museum (and the world’s largest frying pan!) in Long Beach, the Oregon aquarium in Newport is pretty good, there’s a giant statue of Paul Bunyon and Babe the blue ox as you get into California, loads of beautiful bridges to cross etc. The California academy of sciences is amazing, well worth the entrance fee!
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Interesting how most comments are travel, travel, travel! (but not in August in most of Europe–they’re right about that. France too. ever sit on the route de Soliel in July or August? I have. not fun)
But no one has addressed the exchange rate. I get paid in dollars and live in euros….right now it’s downright difficult to make ends meet. The dollar/euro rate is currently about 1.5. The pound is hovering in about the same place.
If you are going to travel, at least right now, you do need to plan. It will be far more expensive than it usually is.
That said, I, too, look forward to traveling to the UK sometime this month or the next. Edinburgh is one of my new favorite places.
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Check out couchsurfing.org. I’ve had some incredible experiences with local hosts, and staying in people’s homes means you experience the place very differently and see how people live. If you do this, go with a curious mind and desire to get to know people you stay with. Many people are happy to host but want to feel a sense of connection. And, I’ve learned, people are entertainment. I’ve had some very gracious hosts and wondered, “could I really be that interesting?” But people are interesting and these experiences have been such a pleasure.
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Also AirBNB.com is one where you don’t have to reciprocate because your paying the local to stay with them. Or get an apartment for a week or two, and experience different neighborhoods. Hadrian’s wall is amazing, and England has fantastic museums all of which are free. Also some of the best meals I had when in England where in the museums (Victoria and Albert especially sticks out) for very cheap. Paris is the opposite on the other hand, avoid the Louvre cafe like the plague!
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JD,
My husband just got back from a one month trip (solo except for 1 week) to Peru and he loved it!
-Charlotte
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>>ING
Rumor Central reported a while back that Ally Bank was buying ING. Not sure if still true.
Ally is the reincarnated name of GMAC.
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JD! Consider Canada…you have many fans up here, and I’ll buy you a pint.
That said, I hear you about the travel bug. This year for me: Austin, Hartford, Grand Cayman, Bermuda (this week!), Cape Cod, San Diego, and this November Cape Town, South Africa.
I’m not sold on solo travel tho, I always feel like if I’m seeing someplace awesome I want to be sharing it with someone I’m close with or the experience is lessened to me somehow. In your shoes I’d want to take Kris, but I suppose you can always take her back with you!
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Re: gap childcare… Our town is pretty good on this. DC’s daycare offers babysitting on holidays (for extra $$), the local children’s museum offers daycamp during week long gaps, and the local gymnastics place has drop-in care. I understand there are also about a million local vacation bible schools willing to step in during these gaps, though I don’t know much about those. Another place to look is “mothers day out” places, which are more common in cities.
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Guatemala is an awesome base for taking Spanish lessons and exploring Central America. I took one on one Spanish classes in Antigua this spring and there are many, many language schools there. I also stayed with a host family which forces you to practice and emerses you into the culture.
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If Ireland is on your list, my husband and I will be moving there in mid July (Dublin) and will even have a guest bedroom/bathroom
.
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Backpacking is a lot more fun than tour groups. You meet all kind of people and you’re on your on schedule. Have a great time.
Belize is nice, but they speak English there so…
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The childcare article reminds me of when I worked 2nd shift. I was lucky bc I had family willing to pick up the slack for me. Without them it would have been incredibly difficult and expensive to find child care for the hours I was away!
And I second the recommendation to cone to New England in the fall!
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You will go to England and France for a month, and it will still not be enough.
Do it!
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Miss Milk, I love this. It reads like a fortune from a fortune cookie. But it makes me want to pack up and go right now.
Actually, I spent part of the afternoon (walking back from lunch) imagining how I’d alter my packing from what I took to Africa. I know I’m going to use my backpack, for instance. But what will I take? I’m excited already. Six weeks until I go…somewhere!
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It doesn’t really matter what you take. Bring some clothes and a camera. You’ll be fine. They sell things in Europe if you absolutely must have something you forgot to bring with you.
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We also got electric lighting and antibiotics recently Tyler – let the good times roll!
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They do have stuff, but it’s not all the same as what you’re used to in the U.S. Some is better (inexpensive OTC drugs in Spain!); some is not as good (ineffective deodorant in Spain, Italy, and Germany). So bring an extra deodorant, and no drugs.
Or just make sure to bring enough of whatever you can’t live without or would not want to change.
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DON’T take a baseball cap, fanny pack, khaki shorts, white sneakers with socks.
Myself and all the other natives will laugh at you for looking like a very American tourist.
The shorts and sneakers are okay, but no-one wears a bum-bag here unless they’re jogging, and only chavs wear baseball caps.
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Ha… I went to England and France for 2 weeks and it was WAY too long. I couldn’t wait to get to Spain!
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If you come through Paris, PLEASE let me know! You’d be more than welcome to stay here.
Check out Couchsurfing. My oldest son (24) is a humanitarian aid worker. Although he is young, he has done aid projects through HS and college. When he first got to Tadjikstan for a grad school internship, he told me he was staying with friends until he could get settled in at his NGO’s guest house. I was so relieved, I said, great! Then I said, um, I didn’t even know you KNEW anybody in Tadjikistan!
And that’s how I learned about Couchsurfing.
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By the way, my 58YO single former boss Couchsurfs too!
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J.D., funny you should post this while I was writing my own piece on Isla Mujeres, Mexico. Europe is great, but Mexico is cheaper! Check it out sometime. Happy travels!
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I was just at Isla Mujeres…what a fun little island!
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I first discovered that island 4 years ago- it was heaven. My husband and I are planning a trip there this year sometime before the whale sharks leave. Hope you guys got to experience the whale sharks!
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Go to Ecuador! I was fortunate enough to spend two weeks there in 2008 and it is one of the most gorgeous, refreshing places I have ever been.
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Also, you guys seem REALLY tight. I think it’s great that you are willing to travel on your own without Kris. But, to be honest, three times sounds like a lot. I hope Kris will plan some “treats” for herself too during that time.
I reckon it could be harder on you both than you think.
Hey Kris, the invitation is for you too!
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I’m so happy for you and all the travelling you’ve been doing J.D. but I have a question. For the trips to Africa and Europe you talked about how long you’d been saving, how you were able to shift some things to fill the budget. Also, when shopping for an item, you talk about thinking about it (30 day rule) and whatnot before pulling the trigger to make sure you really want it and the money is there. So where is the time spent budgeting for the solo travel? Granted, you’re not leaving tomorrow as Chris G. urged you to do, but it seems more impulsive. I know you’ve been thinking about it for awhile, but I didn’t realize you were already saving to budget for it?
Even though you can write from anywhere, a lot of your expenses will not decrease with you out of town. You’ll still have to pay the mortgage, utilities (slightly lower), car insurance, etc as well as the costs of traveling. Can you suspend your Crossfit membership while you’re gone for an extended trip? (if so, that would definitely pay for your food costs) You’ll still be making money but your expenses will be up for those weeks/months no matter how frugally you can travel. And if you find you get tired of hostels every night (or whatever), you’ll need to budget for a few unforeseen splurges.
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Hey, Jaime. Great question.
The trips we took to Africa and Europe were expensive. They were booked through tour agencies and our lodgings were posh. I’m not kidding. We had to budget and shift things around if we were going to make them work.
The kind of travel I want to do on my own should be much less expensive. Much less. As in, I could travel for six months or a year on what we spent in Africa instead of just three weeks. But I’m not planning to spend that much, anyhow. I have a travel fund already set aside, into which I’m constantly adding more money. So, I have the cash there ready to be used. And I’m going to use it.
Yes, I can suspend some costs (including Crossfit) when I’m gone for extended periods.
I’m eager to try this. I understand that there’ll be some bad moments, but that’s okay. I’m willing to take the them in order to try this.
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Wonderful!
I was a little concerned at the seeming impulsiveness of it, but you’ve got it covered. You’ll love it I’m sure and I’m definitely envious.
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Sarah said: I went to England and France for 2 weeks and it was WAY too long.
I’m sorry, but I don’t understand this. There is SO much to do in both countries, whatever your interests.
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I was just pointing out that you never know. I was really excited about France but just didn’t have a good time, for a variety of reasons.
I went to Japan and Thailand on one trip – I thought I would love Thailand and didn’t give a lot of thought to Japan. I ended up loving Japan and the time in Thailand was ho-hum.
I enjoy travel but I have to say I don’t understand the zeal that so many personal finance people have for it. It’s almost like people get addicted to the thrill of paying off debt and accumulating wealth, and when they hit a plateau (“third stage of personal finance”) they need a new way to get that high.
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JD after paying off all my debts and saving money, last year I took a big holiday – something I always wanted to do – and spent a month in Greenland and in Iceland. It was the experience of a lifetime – sitting on the deck of a small ship and watching city-block-sized icebergs float by… meeting Inuit people, having coffee in their homes. The drive around Iceland was spectacular as well.
I had planned and saved for the trip for some months, and it all went without a hitch. Even the luggage arrived when expected. I took beautiful photos and put them into a book; but for me what remains of this trip is the sense of freedom, of discovery, of profound joy and nary a moment of loneliness.
No matter where you go, go for it !!
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As a someone who likes good Scotch (didn’t you mention you like Caol Ila), you HAVE TO go to Islay, the mecca of Scotch.
Read Peat, Smoke and Spirit to get into the mood.
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Shhh. Don’t tell anyone, but I’m sipping some Caol Ila even as we speak. My go-to Scotch is Ardbeg, but Caol Ila is my fallback.
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I really enjoy both of those, but these days I have fallen in love with Lagavulin 12-yr cask strength (56.5%) ….. very special, and puts some hair on your chest.
Tried some Ardbeg Corryvreckan the other day, also very nice.
But seriously that book is a good read.
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My tipple of choice would have to be Glengoyne (12 year old cask strength), but I’ll admit to being incredibly biased as it’s my local distillery.
Come to Scotland JD – you could visit Glengoyne and the West Highland Way isn’t a million miles away, allowing for exercise, scenery and frugal holiday fun!
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Just a word of warning on Cuba, you’re still not allowed to go there as a tourist so you wouldn’t want to advertise a visit on your website. I visited ther, legally on a student visa, and it was very interesting.
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There are ways to go legally, as you’re aware, but just to clarify, it’s not illegal to travel to Cuba. It’s illegal to spend money in Cuba. Of course, traveling to Cuba almost guarantees you’ll spend money there, but actually being there isn’t the problem.
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There are legal tour groups to Cuba where part of your time is on “humanitarian mission” and the rest doing organized tourist stuff.
I went last December and it was great! But JD you won’t be able to go and just wander around (US restriction on tourists, not Cuban). Definitely not a cheap trip either.
I know Americans who’ve gone there illegally through another country. But very expensive fine if US decides to make an example of your.
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Thanks for mentioning ING Direct being on sale. That got my attention as I have checking and savings accounts with them. That’s too bad because I like the no fees and no hassle when it comes to banking with them. I will wait and see what happens next. Anyway, your travels sound fun. Good luck!!
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Ah, Cuba. As the holder of only a U.S. passport, I’m legally not allowed to go there. I assume you’re a U.S. citizen, too, J.D. Do you also hold citizenship (and a passport) from another country? If not, then you’re in the same boat as me. Of course there are ways to do it, but…well…maybe I’m too paranoid, but I wouldn’t write about it on a public blog. Unless I was traveling on a humanitarian or educational mission or something and had special (and legal!) travel permission, of course.
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Would love to host you in Singapore if you decide to make it out to Asia (Sing. can be a bit one-note, but is a great “launchpad” for SE Asia)
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August is the month when most Europeans go on vacation – check to make sure certain things aren’t closed.
May I recommend Chile? Beautiful South American country which has so much flora and fauna to offer and of course, Spanish speaking. In addition, once you get to Santiago, it’s a mere 1 hour flight to Buenos Aires, a cosmopolitan city in Argentina.
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I came here to say the same thing about August — don’t go then! I am a huge fan of shoulder season travel. Try to go just at the end of the tourist season because plenty of things will be open but it won’t be as crowded. September is just as likely to be nice in the British isles without the crowds of August. I went to New Zealand for a month (mostly on my own) from April to May a few years back, and it was wonderful.
As far as Latin America, Ecuador is fabulous. But be sure to check the State Department updates. They can tell you which countries are safest and if you should avoid any areas. Also, I recommend getting the “Lonely Planet” books for roughing it and solo travel.
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What would be closed? I live in Europe (Poland) and this is when Poles visit other European countries as well.
We’ve visited Germany, Denmark, Italy the last two summers and all was “hopping” where we went.
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A girlfriend and I hiked Hadrian’s Wall for a few days about 20 years ago. The scenery was incredible and the place just oozed history.
Get on the plane now!
On a side note…everyone has a place or places that they would like to visit someday. But many times I have seen people get talked out of going where they really wanted to by well meaning friends or relatives.
“Forget Greece, you should really go to Italy.”
Folks, go wherever your heart desires and don’t let ANYONE dissuade you.
“Hey vern, why are you going to China? Yuck!”
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Hadrian’s wall and the areas round it are lovely (my parents go on holiday to Northumberland most years, just because it’s so beautiful). Don’t worry about August being quiet – it might be the case in France, but in the UK, you’ll find all touristy places open and busy. Have you thought about youth hostelling? You don’t have to be a “youth” any more, they are very affordable, and you can meet an amazing variety of people. I would think about booking accommodation in advance in the UK in August, as stuff does get booked up.
If you’re passing through Oxford, I’d be happy to show you round.
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Touristy places in England will be *very* busy (from memory the English school holidays start in August).
Scotland, on the other hand, will be fairly peaceful as our kids will all have had their fun and will be heading back to school in a bad mood
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I was going to mention “youth” hostels too – particularly up near Hadrian’s wall, in the Yorkshire Dales and in the Lakes, they’re cheap but decent accommodation. I’d also second the “come in September” suggestion as August will be busy and not necessarily better weather (unless you want to visit the Edinburgh festival or something else that is August specific).
We’ve visited Hadrian’s wall a few times and to be honest, found it rather underwhelming – but the landscape really is beautiful. My favourite spot up there is a bit further north – Lindisfarne/Holy Island, a tidal island just off the coast near the Scottish border.
If you make it down into Yorkshire, I’d be up for a cuppa
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Hi J.D!
Having read your post about travelling and writing, I must definitely advise on Lisbon, Portugal.
Its’ traditional and calm streets and sightings are a must for people looking to meet a diferent and simple culture and you will definitely be inspired by the surroundings!
And now a plus: it’s one of the most cheapest and at the same time beautiful and interesting cities in Europe!
Have a look at a famous blog about Lisbon: http://www.golisbon.com/blog/
Wherever you decide to go, I hope for the best
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Consider coming to the UK in September rather than August. School holidays will mostly be over, and the weather can be lovely (remember English weather is ALWAYS unpredictable!). Everything will still be open. Youth Hostels (YHA is the official body) can be lovely (but varied) and some local pubs are fun to stay in as you can eat, drink and chat with locals in the same place as you sleep.
Don’t try and cover the whole UK in a few weeks, there is too much. Pick some places and enjoy them rather than running all over the place. I hate it when tourists state they are going to ‘do’ England, Scotland, Cornwall and London in a week. Such a shame! They must spend all their time on the motorways.
Northumberland and The Lake District are two beautiful areas of the country. We hiked a few miles of Hadrian’s Wall a few years ago on New Years Eve. It was thigh deep in snow and quite dramatic. It’s an impressive place and one really wonders how the Italian Soldiers managed living somewhere so different from their hot and sunny homeland.
Have fun!
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This sums up the English experience perfectly. If you’re coming in late summer, early autumn, you will get so much more out of your trip if you avoid London. In London you can do pretty much anything at any time, but hiking, exploring the countryside, appreciating architecture in places like Bath and Oxford, having a peek at Windsor castle; all these things are much nicer in late summer when the weather’s winding down from it’s summer peak.
Do lots of walking and treat yourself to a proper afternoon tea with scones!
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Oh, and the Lakes will be packed in August as it’s prime tourist season. There will be Japanese and US tour groups. Really consider leaving it ’til Sept!!
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JD, glad to see some votes for Scotland so hope you will make it “this side of the wall” – if you are planning on Edinburgh we have the Festival going full swing in August and as the previous poster says the Scottish schools go back mid August so things will be a bit quieter. PM me if you are passing through Edinburgh, my couch available. I know you like cats (I have one cat) but hope you also like dogs as we have one of those too
janis
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Why not combine travel with work to save money? You are a blogger, but I guess you also do public speaking? Try to get invited by an organisation in the UK to organise a workshop or lecture for them. That way, your flights are paid already.
This is how I see the world – I’m an academic and often invited for lectures and conferences, and always combine 2-3 days of work, with a couple of days or even a week off in the same country. The only hassle is having to bring both work outfits, papers, laptop; and travel outfits.
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This is why I travel too much! But also how I went to Europe free the last two times.
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If you go to Mexico head to the Yucatan. Best food in all of Central America, some great ruins, and Merida is simply lovely. Guatemala though is much cheaper and held many more surprises since I knew so little before I went. Ended up spending near six weeks there, just couldn’t leave.
Traveling solo is a gift, because that is when you are most open to new experiences. You are more approachable from the perspective of other travelers, and are more likely to initiate conversations that lead to new and exciting friendships. And it is always easier than you think it is going to be.
Keep us in the loop! I read your blog for money articles, but love it when you talk about travel too.
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First time commenter here, long time reader. Some suggestions re: Spanish speaking: What about Spain? I know it’s in Europe, not in the Americas, but it’s a lot more complex than you may think. You see, the country was formed out of many kingdoms and regions that are very different from each other (and they don’t always get along very well) and places like Catalonia, Basque Country, Galicia are very different from Madrid and even more different than Andalucia, in the first 3 they even have their own languages besides Spanish (or Castilian as it is known there). Spain is considered the “mother country” of Spanish speaking countries. Here in the Americas, how about Puerto Rico? (disclosure, I’m from PR myself but I’ve lived stateside for 27 years now). It is definitely Spanish speaking but it is also part of the US so you don’t need a passport. The old colonial city of San Juan looks like it was taken out of Spain and transplanted in the Caribean. The countryside is beautiful, but watch out for crime anywhere in the island, whether city or countryside. It’s a crazy place but you could spend some time there, and because of its location you could fly to almost anywhere else in Latin America, and although island PR’s speak mostly Spanish, you could always find somebody that speaks English in a pinch although they feel very intimidated by it. Oh, we do murder Spanish as we can mix it with English into “Spanglish”, that will be very interesting! Another place which is IN the US but is very exotic would be Taos, Santa Fe, Albuquerque in New Mexico. The area is very rich in their mixed heritage composed of Native, Spanish, and Anglos, it’s easy to forget you are in the US when you are immersed in that area’s culture. Just some thoughts for you to consider…
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The Alhambra is the most beautiful place I have ever been to in the world.
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I agree. The guidebooks all say you can do Granada in a day, and I completely disagree. I spent 5 awesome days there just exploring all the little warrens in town.
Also, from southern Spain, you can do Gibraltar (a really interesting place — it’s still a British colony) and even take a day trip over to Tangier. I loved Tangier, and I can’t wait to get back to Morocco. Nicole, it’s quite similar to the Alhambra in all the Moorish influence.
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Having just been to Spain a few months ago, I can second (or third?) the suggestion to consider a trip there. Going to Granada and Alhambra was my favorite part of the trip. BUT…the language spoken in Spain (Castilian Spanish) sounded very different to me than that spoken in the Americas. Keep that in mind. Also, I hear Spain can be very warm in August or even September.
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“Ay, !Que Calor!”
But at least it’s more of a dry heat in most of Spain– in Valencia I was able to survive pretty well by keeping my hair up and constantly drinking water. And napping with the blinds closed during siesta.
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I have been in and out of England many times over the last 35 years due to marriage. I love the national parks: the Brecon Beacons, Snowdonia, Yorkshire Moors, the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path. There are coastal paths in many parts of Britain where you can walk for miles, stopping only at a pub for a bitter. Beautiful!
As for Latin America, I love Mexico, where I live (wrote a post for GRQ on that), but I also recommend both Guatemala for its beauty and its rich indigena culture, and, my most recent discovery, Colombia, which has in my experience the friendliest people I have ever met.
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About childcare:
This is an interesting article that echoes what I think:
http://althouse.blogspot.com/2011/06/dont-send-4-year-olds-to-school-send.html
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JD,
Come and visit Indonesia! I’ll buy you a steaming cup of the local beverage; Kopi Luwak. It’s the world’s most expensive coffee. (Just don’t ask where it comes from).
GD
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Gerald
Am I right in guessing an animal’s bottom?
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I never get bored reading about travel. I loved my vacation in Chile for diversity – Atacama desert (driest place on earth), Santiago (Spanish colonial city), Chiloe (one of the wettest places on earth), Patagonia and Easter Island. Vacations should be planned – it is a lot of (cheap) fun to plan and think about the vacation then go on the vacation and then document the vacation – 3 vacations in one.
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I’d reaffirm suggestions to plan instead of leaving on a whim as well as support your decision to get away from group travel. People in tour groups definitely seem more isolated from the places they are visiting. I’m glad you have the flexibility to stay abroad for so long! I, personally, hate week long vacations where you’re just hopping from tourist spot to spot.
Leaving group travel doesn’t mean that Kris has to rough it. If you instead plan simpler trips focused around one city and day trips to others it’s quite manageable to DIY and still not feel harried.
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Puerto Vallarta in Mexico is quite lovely. You can stay in their downtown and avoid the resort areas completely. The dining scene is wild–all this international cuisine is available due to the population demographic–plus all the usual yummy local stuff. Beautiful beaches. But there may be too many tourists for your tastes. Look into it and see what you think!
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That’s great that you’re planning to travel! From personal experience (I lived in Barcelona for 4 years and have now been in Florence for nearly 2), I’d like to suggest avoiding Spain and Italy in August; and based on friends’ experience, the same goes for France. Everything shuts down and the people all head to the beaches, leaving the cities packed with tourists and only the bad restaurants that cater to them open (the crowded beaches aren’t much better, though, really)! This year my partner and I, both freelance translators, are taking advantage of our clients shutting down (they literally close their offices for most of the month) in August and moving to the U.S.!
If you wanted to have lots of time to write, you could rent a room in a city in Europe in August, but that does not guarantee you a very authentic experience and will probably be more expensive than other times of the year, unfortunately!
Keep us posted on where you’re heading & I’ll be sure to send tips if you’re going somewhere I know well.
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I visited Ecuador a few years ago and had a lovely time. It’s also very cheap–you can stay in some nice hostels for $8/night. Also, Ecuador accepts American dollars, which makes things less complicated.
A few places to check out:
Mitad del Mundo: (middle of the world)–you can straddle the equator
Banos: known for their mineral baths. Great hike up a mountain to a statue of the Virgin Mary. Active volcano (Tungurahua)…check ahead of time to make sure it’s not *too* active.
Otavalo: a little town known for its market. You can walk around town and meet some locals who do weaving from their homes.
Also, you might be able to catch a boat out to the Galapagos Islands from Ecuador.
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If you want to visit Ireland and don’t mind a little bit of group travel, I heartily recommend Paddy Wagon Tours. I am NOT a group travel person, but I wanted to see the countryside without having to drive myself around. It was fabulous, and I felt like they really worked to make sure we linked in to the local culture. Plus, you can take a three day tour in amongst a larger solo trip with no problems.
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Travel: I’m old – listen to me – you’ll never regret any trip you take. I’ve done solo, tours, extensive planning, it’s all good in different ways. My list is still long and my funds limited but I don’t plan to miss any opportunity. (Honestly, my favorite is solo)
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Ecuador is pretty cool. We did a mountain biking trip where they drive you to the top of a peak near Quito, 14-15,000 feet high, and you just go down for a couple of hours. Plus a stop at some cheap hot springs on the way. The Andes, rainforest, beach, Galapagos – which might get restricted soon if it isn’t already, hiking in the jungle, so much to explore. Quito is also an underrated colonial town, amazing churches, ice cream, cheap and tasty meals. The roads are a bit scary coming down from the mountains,but I can’t recommend Ecuador enough.
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Please don’t tell the entire internet when you’ll be leaving town and leaving your wife at home alone. We already know what you and Kris look like, what your house looks like, your approximate address, etc.
Maybe I’m just a bit paranoid cause I sped through the Stieg Larson trilogy last week! In that vein, think about Sweden – long days, beautiful national protected areas.
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