Oldmyst

Five times. First in 1983 on our honeymoon to London, Rome, Florence and Venice. In 1985 to Paris and Louire Valley before becoming parents. Three times to Italy since 2003, visiting Florence, Tuscany, Amalfi Coast, Venice, Lake Como, Milan, and Rome.

TexasAggie

Hi TheVagabondLady,

Your comment about how you used to think "only the rich go to Europe" brought to mind a conversation I just had with a co-worker. She was exclaiming how nice it must be to be able to afford to travel to Europe so often and saying how unafforable it is for most people... I had to laugh b/c she drives a brand new Audi (with a very high monthly payment) and lives in a massive new custom-built home purchased with an interest-only loan. On the other hand, DH and I drive older cars that we own outright and live in a moderate-sized home which we will pay off several years early. Different strokes for different folks I guess!

Madison

I'm not even close to most of you.

2001 - Paris
2004 - Paris & London
2005 - Paris
Next trip is Rome, Florence, Venice & Paris. As with some of the other posters I started later in life. My Aunt started traveling at 59 and took a big European vacation every year until she could no longer travel. Her last European vacation was when she was 86. Now she remembers nothing of her travels.

traveldawg

We have been fortunate. We lived in Germany in 70/71 while I did my time in the US Army. I had a great job in the Army and we traveled a lot at that time and fell in love with Europe.

Since that time we have managed over 25 trips back. Still have more on the agenda and more places to see before we hang up the traveling shoes.

We have friends that have never been one time. This is hard to imagine but some people simply like to stay at home and watch life go by on the television.

Leaving soon for trip #26.

iloveparis

I'm 70 - took first trip as a college student in 1954.
Fell in love. I've also lost count with some on business - probably around 40.

lhopp

Bob the Navigator-Dalmatian coast and Greece?! You don't see that combination too often. Can I ask what your itinerary is for this trip?

We are planning Greece (Athens and Cyclades) for 2007~were considering adding Venice to that at the end, but aren't sure that is wise or we'd have enough time with 14-15 days. Are considering saving Venice for next time back to Italy. What do you think?

StephCar

Fun! Let's see, first time to Europe was in 1992 as a starving student. Since then, I have returned 7 times for vacations with my 8th trip scheduled this summer. I also travelled there way too many times to count for business (maybe 10+), which although was fun, was not the same as vacations where I was free to explore. (Although I did turn 3 business trips into vacations.) Now that I think about it, not bad for a 35 year old mom with 2 small kids. Europe is just like air to me though, I need it to be alive.

SusanEva

First trip in 1986, when we took two months off for a job change (England, Scotland Wales, Switzerland).

We were able to return in 1996 when we went to visit our son during his semester abroad in Florence.

Since then 2 more trips to Switzerland, 4 more to Italy, 2 to Russia, 2 to Poland, a long swing through Benelux, Germany and Austria and Prague, 1 to France, 2 returns to England/Scotland, a trip to Ireland, and one in Sweden.

Total of 18 trips. My husband is insisting on a trip to Australia/New Zealand before we can return to Europe

bobthenavigator

Ihopp, Just a touch of Greece---we did 19 days there in 1997. This time is just Corfu, Delphi, and Athens at the end of that Adriatic coastline.

ShannonMarie

I can't even remember, because the number is so large and many of the trips I took there was when I lived there.

ShannonMarie

*correcting myself* I mean when I lived in Lyon.

mcnyc

5 times, 4 of them in the past 3 years. This summer to a whole slew of European countries will make trip #6 for me (#4 for my mom, #3 for my dad, and #2 for my uncle).

And if my business trip is successfully negotiated, the latter part of the trip will be a vacation, making this summer's trip #7 for me.

While I feel fortunate to be so blessed at 30, I hope to travel so much in the near future that I forget how many times I've been!

kenderina

All of you are very lucky..I'm 38 and have never been to America ! My budget is tight even for Europe !!

rex

Age 52. 24 trips. 1st in 1969 at age 15, then the next 23 between 1986 and 2005. 8 or 10 of those had at least some business, and 10 of the others were involved with groups in one capacity or another (usually as planner/leader; mostly family, friends of friends of family).

Currently struggling with trying to find a balance - - I would personally choose to go to Europe once or twice every year - - versus other opportunities and urges (wife and other family members) to travel to other places also; Hawaii in January and Virgin Islands in May (plus other short getaways - - Los Angeles, Carolinas, Cape Cod) for this year; only so much time and money to allocate to all my wanderlust itches!

Still holding on to the hope (now only a delusion?) of Cyprus in late September - - only if Alitalia honors my $39 biz class fare - - if not, maybe another dream opportunity will fall from the sky for this fall.

Best wishes,

Rex

marigross

I took my first trip to Europe in 1999(Italy) at 29 with my then-boyfriend...It was love...with both - Europe and him.

Since then we have been three more times on full vacation (two Spain and one Switzerland), two times half business/half vacation and four times mostly business with a day trip tagged in the begining or the end.

I am curently 37 and will be going to Switzerland in July

SeaUrchin

I started vacationing in Europe back when I thought oui was pronounced oy as in oy vey.

laartista

First time when I was 19. Now at 40 I've been 9 more times since 1999.

cantstayhome

I'm 33, been 7 times now. Took my 20-month old and 72-year-old mom to Italy for their first trips to Europe last week! Hope it will not be my mom's last and am trying to figure out where to take her next - too many choices!

wvmom

Four times -

England & Scotland as a teen with my parents;
Europe with a Eurail pass as a college student;
Rome last spring and
Paris in December in my 40's.

I'm tentatively planning my 5th trip in October to Spain.

For many years I wished I could go overseas, and last year I finally decided that I wasn't going to just wish any more. Two trips in 2005, and now I'm hoping for at least one trip a year until I'm either sick of it or unable to travel.

ms_go

My first European trip was in 1979 at age 15. I'm now early 40s and have had 14 vacations in Europe, one trip that was half work/half vacation (but paid for by work!), and about 20 business trips (maybe one-third of which have allowed at least a few hours of free time). Trip 15 is coming up in about seven weeks - that will also be European trip #7 for our 13 YO daughter.