How often do you travel and how do you pay for it? (cruise, hotel)

[arch_genesis]

There are some places I need to visit.

Italy/Sicily
France - Nice, Paris
Spain
Addis Ababa
Dominican Republic
Australia
Tokyo
Shanghai
Sao Paulo
London
oh and Ireland beautiful Ireland

[Wilkester]

I travel at least twice a year. I take Globus escorted tours. Globus allows you to make payments on their tours. I believe you have to have your tour fully paid for 45 days before the tour starts. When you first book one of their tours, you have to put a deposit down on the tour. If you want a cheaper tour, you could try their Cosmos brand which is slightly lower in class but, I believe it's still good. Cheers!

[bob swanson]

I travel a lot in the USA, a few times a year. Outside the USA a couple times a year. I consider travel a must and make sacrifices to be able to travel. I guess the only disheartening factor of travel these days is the airlines. Not necessarily all of their fault but they do make it difficult and uncomfortable but a necessity. I imagine it just puts the adventure back into getting there and back. I've been to Spain a couple of times in the last few years and loved it, even without speaking the language. Was in Brasil for 3 weeks last year and didn't like it. I even traveled with a Brasilian and she was put off and apologetic. Obvious problems with Gov't graft, crime, over crowded, unbelieveable traffic and noise. It seems every aspect of staying there was incountered with either thievery or dishonesty. They've made an art in getting your money. Probably not unlike a lot of "third world nations".

[BlueWillowPlate]

I used to try to make a big trip (outside the US) twice a year, now it's more once a year, but I do not really have a set formula.
The way I pay for it is methodically searching for cheap airfare, and I do not stay in very fancy lodging. I couchsurfed for the first time this last trip, though when younger I couchsurfed before there was an official designation and website for it.
I travel independently, but might use a tour if I were going someplace kinda dodgy.
Bob, I agree with you about the airlines. We did okay on our recent trip, but have had some *interesting* experiences.

[PA2UK]

We usually travel out of the country twice a year (though this year might only be once) and do day/weekend trips within the UK a few times a year. I have family in another country so usually at least one out of country trip (sometimes both) is to see them rather than visit somewhere new for vacation. This year, we're combining them - we're meeting family in Jamaica!

[Pilgrim21784]

So far (about half-way into our 3rd year of retirement) we've been doing 2-3 major tours/trips per year (US & abroad) with some individual road trips thrown in here and there. Funding comes primarily from current income (pension & investment cash). We've become fairly adept at using "last minute" travel deals (where a tour provider discounts prices very significantly within a few weeks of launch) and have been greatly enjoying our experiences.

[wheelsup]

I work for an airline so when my wife and I go overseas we pay entrance taxes only. Sometimes we'll spring for 1st class, that is $100.

[Mooseketeer]

We tend to go abroad at least twice a year , and always have quite cheap holidays by doing home exchanges which I would recommend to anyone who is a bit more independently minded. We also do "closer to home" week-end, week long exchanges as well.


Basically you stay in someone's home whilst they stay in yours and you also exchange cars so your only big cost is flights and you have lots of spare cash for going out and having a good time.

It enables us to spend a month as a time in San Francisco , Estonia, Mexico, France , germany etc... for a tiny fraction of the cost and we get a whole house all to ourselves rather than a small hotel room.

We love it because you get to truly experience the country, and feel like a visitor rather than a tourist.

We are even doing a home exchange for part of our Honeymoon in New England this year as it has become a way of life for us.


I am not a resort/cruise type of person and tend to dsilike hotels ( especially chains) so home exchanges are perfect.

We basically have very luxurious holidays every year for almost nothing. Fabulous and fun.