I've been to Europe a couple times as a teen and young person but I don't have any desire to go back. For me it's more stressful than fun.

Anonymous wrote:My ILs never stop traveling, and I just don't get the obsession. Sometimes it seems like they do it to feel superior, take pictures, and be able to tell other people they travel extensively. They come back exhausted, and they don't use their knowledge of other countries to become less racist and classist themselves, or to make the world a better place. It's just an exercise in narcissism.

My aunt and uncle are like that.

Each time they travel, it's as though Edith and Archie Bunker have landed in a "foreign" country.

Anonymous wrote:I will not be friends with people who haven't left the USA. I grew up outside the USA and it's hard to deal with people.

As a first generation who's traveled, I understand you a tad bit . However, you're arrogant, too, and while I usually hang with travelers, too, you would be off my list.

Anonymous wrote:I am terrified of flying, I would need to be drugged.

The cheap drinks on the plane work very well.

Trust me; I know all too well!

turbulence? What's that?

Anonymous wrote:My ILs never stop traveling, and I just don't get the obsession. Sometimes it seems like they do it to feel superior, take pictures, and be able to tell other people they travel extensively. They come back exhausted, and they don't use their knowledge of other countries to become less racist and classist themselves, or to make the world a better place. It's just an exercise in narcissism.

this is a good point. people do what they want. and why not have tangible things instead?

I enjoy traveling, but the fun for me is almost the planning and anticipation. I have a hard time relaxing enough to enjoy it when I am finally there.

I will not be friends with people who haven't left the USA. I grew up outside the USA and it's hard to deal with people.

It is expensive. We've taken our kids to Europe twice, so we've been through it.

Tickets are $800-$1000 per person. Off-season isn't an option if you have kids who need to be in school, unless you're homeschooling, we we aren't. If you're renting that stupid house with your ILs, then they are picking up part of the $2-3K/week tab, so the stupid house is actually probably cheaper to you than 4 tickets.

We stayed at modest B&Bs, away from the tourist centers. The tab was over $1000 a week each week. Part of the problem is that European hotel rooms generally have either one king/queen or two twins. So you can't get the whole family into that Holiday Inn room with 2 king-size beds, like you do in the states. We stayed in some places with "family rooms" consisting of 2 connected bedrooms, but the bill was still $1,000 for five days.

And the dollar SUCKS at the moment. About 1.45 euros per dollar, even worse than the 1.25 rate we got 3 years ago. It's $60 for 4 sandwiches and 4 cokes, and it doesn't get cheaper if you eat the local cheap paninis or meat pasties. The fact that you don't have to tip doesn't make up for this (unless you tip 45%).

Anonymous wrote:I have a close friend from college who is highly educated, makes a lot of money, and does go on vacations--but has never been abroad. Occasionally she'll talk about it but has never followed through. Ultimately, I think it's just a case of ethno-centric standards--no matter where she went, she'd feel uncomfortable about different standards in service, cleanliness, etc. to the point that it would ruin her trip. She's been to NY and DC but hates them because of what she perceives as rudeness, etc. I'm sure if she actually did go to Italy (she talks about it) she'd hate it because the food isn't like Olive Garden, the service sucks, the hotels are old crap, crazy drivers, etc.

I have a friend like this. She once stood me up in Milan (yes I said Milan). I was there on business and we had planned that she meet me there. She made it as far a Newark airport and then bailed, she just could not deal with leaving her comfort zone.

It is not that expensive.
Foreign cities are clean
And in the end cheaper because there is no culture of tipping, waiters and staff are actually paid a real wage. So it all evens out in the end

Anonymous wrote:

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

Seriously? It IS expensive.

I concur--we just spent $800-some per person on tickets to Spain. Almost 3x more than my last tickets to the W. Coast, and 4x more than a flight to Florida. Then add in the extra $$ everything costs due to the crappy exchange rate, and international trips are super expensive.

And I am not going to stay in a youth hostel with a bunch of 21 year old hippies or find a local grocery store and make my own sandwiches for every meal. I dont live like that in the U.S. and refuse to do so in order to "experience the world".

A coworker once told me they'd rather use the money to buy tangible things than to travel. So very sad.

Anonymous wrote:

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

Seriously? It IS expensive.

No, it is not!

You just have to be smart. Travel out of season, pick the right hotel, wait for tickets to go on sale, be frugal and watch your priorities at home.

Like a PP said it can be cheaper than renting that stupid huge house to spend 2 miserable weeks with your ILs and drive 10 hours back.

Because I am an uneducated nitwit who prefers to spend my money on NASCAR races and Hooters wings.

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

Seriously? It IS expensive.

My ILs never stop traveling, and I just don't get the obsession. Sometimes it seems like they do it to feel superior, take pictures, and be able to tell other people they travel extensively. They come back exhausted, and they don't use their knowledge of other countries to become less racist and classist themselves, or to make the world a better place. It's just an exercise in narcissism.