Bob dobbs, my mother, at the age of 50, took her first trip out of the United States via a freighter to Japan (she left us 4 kids home with my non-domestic-but-fun father and a goofy-but-fun babysitter.) Mom had a friend who had some sort of connection with a shipping company, and they were the only two "non-crew" on the ship. That 3-month trip in the summer of 1961 radically changed her life -- among other things, it inspired her to spend the next 40 years of her life travelling to as many places as she could. She never travelled by freighter again, but she also never stopped talking about it.

My husband travelled by cargo freighter (which also took about a dozen passengers) from Australia to Europe some 40 years ago when he was a child. He has very fond recollections of their six week trip. In fact I can hardly ever recall him mentioning the trip in Europe itself, it's only the trip over he talks about.

I do recall reading several years ago that if you look really hard it is possible to still do a freighter trip but they are small freighters and probably just going around the Pacific a bit.

Economy seat jet setter.... is something like a coach potato?

I'm a coach-section CRJ-er.

Wow, I've always wanted to be a jet setters - never before realized I was. Awesome - and I am a seasoned one to boot!!!! heehee

queener...I'm something worse..I'm a low cost potato :)

Come to think of it maybe we should be offended, afterall!

seasoned = real old
jet setter = stuck in the 1960's
;-)

Im only 28 and consider myself a 'seasoned' traveller for sure! So far...ive been to 15 countries. Doesnt fit the old age definition.

Seems the freighter travel world is still active.

http://www.freighterworld.com/

This is even better than being named Person of the Year by Time.

To quote <b>fishee</b> <i>&quot;So the newsweek article sounds like it was on vacation rentals? I hope our favorite rentals don't start showing &quot;no availability&quot; 12 months out...&quot; </i>

The article, <b>The More, The Merrier</b>, was about generational travelling (kids, parents, grandparents all together) and tips on helping you plan for such an event. It gave links to several websites, including fodors.com.


To quote <b>fishee</b>, again.. <i>&quot;The Caribbean forum discusses sand quality quite a bit -- lots of references to white sugar to black volcanic.&quot; </i>

and, to quote <b>mclaurie</b> <i>&quot; Haven't you seen all the threads on the south of France about which towns/beaches are sandy and which are pebbly? Shame on you, artstuff.&quot;</i>

The sand quality reference was do to my shortsightedness. I've never even been to the Caribbean Forum, nor have I been clicking on threads about France's beaches. Right now I'm planning an autumn trip to Germany and I have tunnel vision. Although, France is on our short list of places to visit (we've been to Paris).

To quote <b>neverthere</b> <i>&quot;This is even better than being named Person of the Year by Time.&quot;</i>

I figure this counts for my &quot;15 minutes of fame&quot;, even if I do have to share it with a bunch of seasoned jet setters!

Peace, Robyn :)&gt;-