One trip for 6 months or 12 trips for 2 weeks each?
 

Which would you choose for visiting Europe?

I had the good fortune to spend 6 months in Europe, just traveling all over and soaking it all in and it was fantastic.

Trouble is that was 2003! And circumstances are such that I haven't been able to get back.

I have been living off my memories of those great times and I was totally OK with it... but now I am getting that itch.

So what would YOU do if you had no restrictions, go to Europe for 6 straight months or take 12 - 2 week trips?

three 4-week trips

make that six 4-week trips

math!

I've never been able to get away for this long but I'm guessing that 6 months would feel more like living somewhere rather than holiday. Living in europe already might make a difference. I think i would need an object or project in mind - study, work, of some sort after a short while; also \i think that home-sickness might be a problem with a trip that long.
but I wouldn't mind trying.

Totally would rather have 12 - 2 week trips....I'd have Europe to look forward to every year for the next 12 years! And it would let you experience travel with different life circumstance, experience, financial situations etc. as the years go on...that's my two cents...

Each year I'd like to do (1) one three week trip where I visited maybe 5 or 6 different cities in a given area, and (2) one 7 to 10 day trip in an apartment in a single location, where I could just soak up that one place.

Wow. You guys are good at math!

I'd prefer 12 x 2 week trips, one every quarter, but that would work out far more expensive than one 6 month trip!

Hmmm, with 24 weeks, I'd start with one 4 week trip to Paris, then with my remaining 20 weeks, do six three week trips (two trips per year) and then go back to Paris for those last two weeks.

(1) 3 month + (3) 1 month

I have horrible jet lag and difficulty with the time change so 12 two week trips would be my very last choice.

Not to mention, longer trips save on plane fares.

Damn, I wish I had this problem. I'd opt for 2 weeks 12 times.

Twelve trips of two weeks.

In fact, I'd submit that with learning how to travel smarter/cheaper each time (and the increasing value, through investing, of the money, plus higher income, and putting a little more away over time)... I'd submit that you can get annual two week trips for the next 15 years... for the cost of the six month trip.

Despite the added cost of 14 additional trans-atlantic trips.

And I advise shorter trips for first-time Europe travelers, in postings here... all the time.

Best wishes,

Rex

As much as I would love to try and live someplace for six months, it is just too long for me to be away from family. So, if those are my only two choices, I would definitely opt for 12 two week trips.

I actually don't like to be away for more than two weeks. We have a dog, a garden, a house, a DD and SIL, and 3 Aged Ps. Even two weeks is stretching it for us!

I've lived on Santorini in Greece twice for 6 months. I wouldn't exchange that experience for anything. Getting into the daily flow of life in any country other than one's own is an invaluable teacher, not to mention the opportunities to meet others from all over the world who visit. If you have a chance to do it, DO IT!!

Hi A,

I think I would do 8 x 3 weeks.

One trip 6 months - for sure - but maybe too much for Europe.

I appreciate that your question was specifically about Europe but if you had that long wouldn't you want to branch out? I find it impossible to imagine that you wouldn't.

You know you could go to North Africa, or the Middle East - assuming of course that you can find them on a map. Or even India.

But I'd like to hear from the two-weekers.

Let's hear how you did it and where you went.

Oh Fuzz you're right, I could have done a lot of things in 6 months. I could certainly have gone around the world but I had my own reasons for doing what I did. So please don't find it too impossible to imagine!

I was a geography major so if you need help finding places on your maps, I'm your girl!

I hit a wall at 2 months, and I need to get home to pay bills etc. That is waht I would do---2X3.