Why never been out of the country?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People saying it's expensive doesn't know what they're talking about!

Seriously? It IS expensive.

it doesn't have to be expensive. you all are talking europe [spain, london, paris], but what about eastern europe? what about asia or south america? you don't have to travel first world. i find third world travels much more interesting and the dollar goes further.

You are still missing the point. Plane tickets are expensive. Or is there some new, cheap, 3rd world travel option I don't know about?

Also, many people (myself included) have no interest in traveling to a 3rd world country. I'm sure you think I lack a global perspective and don't want to be my friend, but that's fine with me. When I take my precious vacation time, I want to relax.

Maybe you do lack a global perspective if you think that 3rd world travel can't be relaxing. Think beach in Thailand. You can get a cabana on a practically private beach for $100/nite. But you're right... plane tix are expensive. They are to the West Coast too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People saying it's expensive doesn't know what they're talking about!

Seriously? It IS expensive.

it doesn't have to be expensive. you all are talking europe [spain, london, paris], but what about eastern europe? what about asia or south america? you don't have to travel first world. i find third world travels much more interesting and the dollar goes further.

You are still missing the point. Plane tickets are expensive. Or is there some new, cheap, 3rd world travel option I don't know about?

Also, many people (myself included) have no interest in traveling to a 3rd world country. I'm sure you think I lack a global perspective and don't want to be my friend, but that's fine with me. When I take my precious vacation time, I want to relax.

Well then, your answer should be -- it's much more expensive to travel to the high-class places and to dine, lodge, and relax in the luxury I prefer internationally than domestically.

[Anonymous]

Travelling nanny again- I should also mention that I grew up in Canada, so fortunately I was able to pay off my student loans in a couple years. I went to a top university but in Canada the government subsidizes education. However some of my tips would still work for families, since you have more expenses than I do, you can earn more airmiles if ou get the credit cards/debit cards. It might take a couple years, but you could accumulate enough points to not have to pay the airfare, and just have to pay accomodation. For example, I had to buy a gift on Nordstrom.com for a wedding registry. The gift was $200 (a lot in my budget but anyways!!) with that I earned 5miles per dollar spent just for using the American Airlines eshopping mall, then I earned an additional 2miles per dollar spent because I paid with my AA mastercard. So for buying that wedding gift I earned 1400 miles. If you can play the game well, you can earn miles quickly. An award flight to europe is 35,000 miles so in a couple of years a family really could afford to take a trip together. You can even use airmiles to pay for your entire vacation.

Anyways sorry to keep posting, I just want everyone to be able to see the world, and want to pass along the information. I've been to over 50 countries (not bragging, I stayed in a youth hostel in most of them!!) and I could never afford to do that on just my salary alone. Airmiles has really improved my quality of life. I dreamed for years to travel to Egypt, Russia, Iceland, etc, and I made it happen. My salary is not very high, but if you look for them there are lots of ways to travel (even as a family) on a budget.

[Anonymous]

Nanny again, wasn't mentioning my lack of student load debt to be rude (I'm always afraid of ruffling feathers on here!!), just wanted to say I understand how travel is harder for people in the US and I never judge people who don't travel. But there are ways to travel if you are low income or on a tight budget.

[Anonymous]

barf

[Anonymous]

Great tips traveling nanny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To me it is about priorities. My child learned more about this world from seeing that children in India don't have the same things in India she does than at the fancy beach house in Delaware or at private school. But we all care about different things.

I care about giving her a world per

I live in here and I have no beach house, nor could I afford private school. You could just come over to our house for some samosas.

[Anonymous]

What I got from this thread. Is I should not travel and go on a poverty tour to Appalachia.

Oh, and I'm a bad parent for taking my kid out of the country.

[Anonymous]

For those who will not associate with people in the US who don't travel abroad: When you get to another country, do you also refuse to talk to anyone there who can't afford to travel outside their own country? If not, what's the difference?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People saying it's expensive doesn't know what they're talking about!

Seriously? It IS expensive.

it doesn't have to be expensive. you all are talking europe [spain, london, paris], but what about eastern europe? what about asia or south america? you don't have to travel first world. i find third world travels much more interesting and the dollar goes further.

You are still missing the point. Plane tickets are expensive. Or is there some new, cheap, 3rd world travel option I don't know about?

Also, many people (myself included) have no interest in traveling to a 3rd world country. I'm sure you think I lack a global perspective and don't want to be my friend, but that's fine with me. When I take my precious vacation time, I want to relax.

Well then, your answer should be -- it's much more expensive to travel to the high-class places and to dine, lodge, and relax in the luxury I prefer internationally than domestically.

Nope, the answer is it is expensive just to GET to any overseas destination. So if I'm spending that much money, I would choose first world. But since I can't afford to spend that much, I will rent my beach house and count my blessings that I can afford that much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I do have a sense of reality. Why are you saying I don't? Traveling can be cheap if you really want it to. But as we read before some are not willig to stay at a simple B&B, they prefer a fake beach with waiting staff to bring them drinks. Whatever.

My family back home is far from rich but I knew early on what I wanted and I've been working hard for this. Too bad some people don't know about the *tricks*.

We're low middle class and my 12 mo old has been to South America, Asia and the Middle East. It can be done if you want to. The thing is that some of you just don't want to. That's what I've been trying to say but seems like you're not really interested. All you want is to throw a pity party for the less fortunate. Go ahead do it but at least use some plausible argument.

You have yet to prove your contention that "travel is cheap." Brazil seems to cost several thousand dollars. The recent Vietnam and Italy examples are even more expensive.

You also refuse to accept that "prioritizing" is impossible when it means digging into necessities and basic needs. I don't know whether you have a mortgage, but many people do. Many recent US grads have significant college loans, which is not the case for you If you went to college outside the US. Saving for college is an important priority for many low income families - how are you doing on that? THESE ARE NOT "WRONG-HEADED PRIORITIES," THEY ARE NECESSITIES FOR MANY PEOPLE. There, is it clear now?

Why do I get the eerie feeling that Marie Antoinette is lurking somewhere in cyberspace with this thread?

Been to Vietnam. My 3* hotel in Hanoi including a pho bfast and the most delicious lemonade I've ever had was $20/nite. Pho on the street was $1. Sandwiches 75 cents. Not expensive at all. It's just the getting there.

And still you're completely missing the point: IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO GET THERE, IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW CHEAP THE EATS AND ACCOMADATIONS ARE!

[Anonymous]

And all assuming you guys can get a visa to go "there", right? Americans often forget that they don't necessarily can just go somewhere out of the blue. Sorry to break it to you, you might need an official authorization to enter a few countries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And all assuming you guys can get a visa to go "there", right? Americans often forget that they don't necessarily can just go somewhere out of the blue. Sorry to break it to you, you might need an official authorization to enter a few countries.

But are these countries people typically like/want to visit?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And all assuming you guys can get a visa to go "there", right? Americans often forget that they don't necessarily can just go somewhere out of the blue. Sorry to break it to you, you might need an official authorization to enter a few countries.

But are these countries people typically like/want to visit?

It depends on what kind of person you are. And the country's diplomatic relationship with your country of citizenship.

[Anonymous]

I haven't read through all of this, so I apologize if this is a repeat, but...

I say it's all a question of priorities, even moreso than money. Betting that 90% of the people who claim they can't afford overseas travel have cable TV.