planning a trip

[diva]

so i've decided to not spend all my money on clothes and save up for a trip somewhere

i really want to go to dubai in february, but i'm not sure how i'm going to plan something like that. i might have a place to stay for free, but if i don't, there's no way i could afford to stay there

i've been reading up on contiki tours, has anyone ever been? i want to go to turkey maybe

i'm pretty fine with doing the solo thing
in fact, i'd rather be able to do my own thing than worry about if the people i'm with are having fun

other possibilities are georgia (my brother goes to school there and it would be fun to party with the college students)

someone offer up suggestions
i've never really been on vacation before

i've saw on the news last night that british airways is pretty much giving away tickets to london..throwing in two days and two nights hotel

[LDUB]

Krista (krisamata) did a contiki tour recently. I think it was Western Europe?

[mojo]

www.lonelyplanet.com
if your doing the backpacker deal. and not. it has a very useful forum which people will answer virtually any question you have.

enjoy your trip:)

[ash1ee]

my parents just booked the same condo in florida that we've gone to every other for as long as i can remember. and i'm heading down for 2 weeks in the summer. soooo exicited. yes most people say that florida is filled with old people andboredom...but honestly...all i need is the beach, pool and shopping and i'm as happy as ever.
I usually take 2 trips a year. One with fam, and one with friends. I think a road trip down to california in the spring is what i'm going to plan for first!!

Hopefully you can plan a great trip...I love vacations and I'm sure you defin. deserve one!

[shorerider]

^^I hate florida! Shitty food, shitty hot, shitty flat, rude people, fat people nothing to do, really. Oh, and it's expensive.

[mindgurl]

Originally Posted by diva

i've been reading up on contiki tours, has anyone ever been? i want to go to turkey maybe

i know a few people who've done these tours and REALLY liked them

the best thing for you to do is decide where you want to go and then plan from there.

there is a difference between travelling and vacation. do you want to see culture/history of many places, or do you jsut want to go relax on a beach?

[cubed]

Originally Posted by mindgurl

the best thing for you to do is decide where you want to go and then plan from there.

wow, who would of thought a linear course of action would work best in a situation like this.

[diva]

Originally Posted by ash1ee

my parents just booked the same condo in florida that we've gone to every other for as long as i can remember. and i'm heading down for 2 weeks in the summer. soooo exicited. yes most people say that florida is filled with old people andboredom...but honestly...all i need is the beach, pool and shopping and i'm as happy as ever.
I usually take 2 trips a year. One with fam, and one with friends. I think a road trip down to california in the spring is what i'm going to plan for first!!

Hopefully you can plan a great trip...I love vacations and I'm sure you defin. deserve one!

i've always wanted to go to florida
miami especially
i've heard that the nightlife is insane, have you gone clubbing there at all?

right now i'm thinking costa rica (after seeing some pics that agrodave posted on a different forum) or turkey

i think that it would be easy to go travelling by yourself, but going somewhere like atlanta or miami would definitely require friends

thanks for the lonely planet link, mojo
i don't know why i didn't think of that sooner

[diva]

Originally Posted by mindgurl

there is a difference between travelling and vacation. do you want to see culture/history of many places, or do you jsut want to go relax on a beach?

i want to do both, which is why i'm leaning towards turkey

[mindgurl]

Originally Posted by cubed

wow, who would of thought a linear course of action would work best in a situation like this.

go figure eh

obviously you've never been a travel agent

middle east/usa/europe(by backpack or tour) are all completely different trips

until she decides on a destination she can't exactly start planning anything

however i would suggest if she does choose middle east, she could do a stop over in europe, this would allow her to at least see one city/country, or possible travel around from there.

also depending on her budget if she can decide on what time of year she plans to travel it can also make a huge difference in costs of flights and accomadation.

[diva]

^ if i plan a two week trip to turkey would i be able to visit any middle eastern countries as well?

edit: it's a little dangerous, which i kinda like...midnight express styles

[mindgurl]

Originally Posted by diva

i want to do both, which is why i'm leaning towards turkey

turkey, while i've heard it is an amazing country apparently isn't that safe, especially for a female travelling alone. i'm pretty sure that contiki will have turkey on a few of their itineries.

[mindgurl]

Originally Posted by diva

^ if i plan a two week trip to turkey would i be able to visit any middle eastern countries as well?

edit: it's a little dangerous, which i kinda like...midnight express styles

turkey/middle east are more of a final destination on their own. the flights/travelling in between can be dangerous and expensive.

also remember for most of these countries you will have to obtain visa's which can run anywhere from $100 to $300.

[shorerider]

here's my pics from costa rica:
http://www3.telus.net/public/ulrich_...sta%20rica.htm
it's a great place. If you are heading to the pacific coast, do yourself a favour, save 5 hours of driving and fly into Liberia. San Jose is an OK city, but nothing special, IMO.

[diva]

Originally Posted by mindgurl

turkey/middle east are more of a final destination on their own. the flights/travelling in between can be dangerous and expensive.

also remember for most of these countries you will have to obtain visa's which can run anywhere from $100 to $300.

hrm..i'm pretty sure that i read on the dubai government site that canadians didn't need a special visa to enter the country
pretty sure that would apply to most of the countries in that area as well

[diva]

Originally Posted by shorerider

here's my pics from costa rica:
http://www3.telus.net/public/ulrich_...sta%20rica.htm
it's a great place. If you are heading to the pacific coast, do yourself a favour, save 5 hours of driving and fly into Liberia. San Jose is an OK city, but nothing special, IMO.

most of the flights leaving from portland were headed to liberia, i believe. well, a few of them at the very least

i think i've seen your pictures before
they're awesome

i think i'd fly out of the states, oregon specifically, to save myself a lot of the taxes and take advantage of the competitive airline industry

my brother got a return flight from Georgia to Oregon for $250 a month ago

[ash1ee]

Originally Posted by shorerider

^^I hate florida! Shitty food, shitty hot, shitty flat, rude people, fat people nothing to do, really. Oh, and it's expensive.

i love the humid weather....i don't go to shitty restaurants....i don't talk to rude people(sure i'm a snob too)...my family isn't fat and lounging and shopping are plenty to do on a relaxing trip....vacations are for spending money.

memo to you...then don't go back.

[mindgurl]

Originally Posted by diva

i think i'd fly out of the states, oregon specifically, to save myself a lot of the taxes and take advantage of the competitive airline industry

if this is the case i would suggestion finding a travel agent in the city you plan of flying out of and get them to quote you prices as they will know the best deals originating from that city

for all visa informations www.visaconnections.com

[shorerider]

^^donut worry, I won't go back! my distaste for that state is well known. Key west is...bearable, but that's about it. There's just better places to go than some wanky yankee state, IMO.