You're doing great!!

My only advice to my younger self would have been to learn at least one other language. For you, that might be something you want to start doing now while you're still working, take language classes?

Save money. That's probably the most important single thing to be able to make travel happen.

For fun, read novels set in foreign places you are interested in, read travel memoirs, watch travel programs on TV, read travel magazines, spend countless hours on internet travel forums (only partly kidding!).

If you'd like to explore Asia, I'd recommend starting in Hong Kong or Bali. I lived in Asia for a couple of years, and these places are lovely for Westerners because they aren't too different, however very interesting!

Don't unknowingly accept the offer of a free ride to Dublin from drug smugglers going through customs in Ireland with 25 kilos of hash in the car, though from my experience if you don't get caught they'll buy you dinner once you get to Dublin.

So that's what you were busy with last week FMT?

My advice to my younger self would be "just do it". Buy the plane ticket and go. Don't worry about finding someone to go with - which was always my "problem". I've finally recovered from that and am having a blast because I just moved to Paris!

I took a "Western Civilization" course from my local collage, so I could better understand the history of Europe. It helped quite a bit.

Stu Dudley

OMG French Mystique! Talk about education through experience...

In 2010, our son spent a semester in Cordoba during his junior year in college. While there, he traveled quite a bit to major cites in Europe (and yes, you guessed it, on our dime!, including Morocco. I told my husband, there was something wrong with the picture as we have never set foot in Europe. We decided to take the opportunity to visit our son while living in Cordoba. It was a whirlwind trip, spent 3 days in Sevilla and Cordoba, then flew to Florence for five days. We have been hooked ever since. Last year, we visited Venice and the lake area for a week and another week and a half in Switzerland (BO area). This past June, we spent 18 days in France, Paris for a week and the rest in Provence and Cote d'Azur (thanks to Stu Dudley as well!). We fell hard for France, so hard we are already planning a 3-week trip back to France next June (even though Central Europe and Croatia were up next on our list).
Like your Mr. Javachip, my husband is not too keen on traveling to Asia (he's open to South America) but I'll keep working on him.
Thank you for this post as I am benefiting a lot from it- s my husband is also a teacher and can only take extended vacations in the summer. We have a few more years before we can retire, but we are looking forward to being able to travel in the Spring or Fall.
Thank you all Fodorites for sharing your experiences and wisdom!

That's interesting. I think most people would be open to Asia before South America. But who knows?

I would say not to focus too much on future plans. The future is always uncertain. Do as much as you can now.

I traveled even when I had very little money, buying air tickets from sketchy consolidators who met me at the airport half an hour before boarding time; staying in youth hostels; and sleeping in couchette cars and on ferry decks. I once lived for days on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I don't regret a day of it.

When I grow up I want to be Stu Dudley!

Holy Cow French Mystique!!!

Hmmm, one would be don't eat right by the big attractions and never where they have pictures of the food or multiple flags posted in the windows or door. That screams the food is probably going to be bad and over priced.

Do some research about the places/sites you will visit while on your trip. I was kicking myself after returning from London and seeing the movie "Elizabeth"--- or reading "Marie Antoinette" after Paris. A lot of info that would have made visiting certain places more interesting.

Rent an apartment if you don't use hotel services.

Visit local markets even if you don't know the language.

Have a pen and paper so you can write it if you are not being understood (my French is awful). We try to print the name and address of our hotel or apartment on a card to give taxi drivers.

Learn to use the trams and buses as they are great ways to see the cities as you get to the next location. We always stuck with the subways for years.

Get advice from other travelers---our trip to Rome was the trip that we "did" the best and it was because of Fodorites and their advice.

@ FrenchMystiqueTours

Just curious: In your experience, if you <u>knowingly</u> accept the offer of a free ride to Dublin from drug smugglers going through customs in Ireland with 25 kilos of hash in the car, and you don't get caught, will they <u>still</u> buy you dinner once you get to Dublin? ;-) To quote denisea, "Holy Cow" FMT!!!

Outstanding travel footwear (and also somewhat attractive) is difficult to find. So, many years ago, I learned, whenever I found the perfect shoes (walking, sandals, low heeled pumps) to buy another pair or two and save them for travel. Styles are often quickly discontinued. We also only add new clothing when we really need it and all must be suitable for travel. And, everything must match everything else. And, the garment must be perfect with regard to fabric, fit, flattery.

For the ladies, pare down, way down, your toiletries and beauty products. Most, regardless of cost, are worthless, anyway. Cut back on quantity of product - you don't need a handful of shampoo, just a very small amount, to get the job done. Pare down the cosmetics. You don't need more than a very few shades of anything - shadow, eyeliner, lipstick, nail polish.

We save dining out for when traveling and now rarely eat out (even fast food) or rely on takeout. Preparing your own food is not only better for you, it saves a fortune, especially over time.

We used to go away for long weekends every quarter (a respite from our jobs), but have cut that back to once, maybe twice, a year, and just for the weekend.

We will be keeping our cars as long as possible, but did replace all our appliances with quality models we hope will last as long as we do. The newer models save a lot in energy and water usage and do a better job. I do believe our new (well it's nine years old now) paid for itself because it keeps foods (especially produce) a lot longer. And, we've enjoyed the use of them all these "extra years".

After our first international trip, we stopped buying gifts for relatives and friends. They really didn't want or need them. And, we do very little shopping for ourselves, usually just one item that will be useful once home and remind us of "being there".

It's a challenge, but we also endeavor to mix splurge with frugal during our trips. Sometimes, it's worth every penny for a taxi or a transit pass versus "walking everywhere". Even if you're reasonably fit and can do tons of walking, there are times when riding conserves time and energy, and also enthusiasm. When your time is limited, it's far more valuable than saving a few dollars here and there on transportation.

On early trips, however, we would splurge on one or more (allegedly) "worth every penny for the experience" dining destinations. Most were not, really. So, now we focus on really good food without regard to places with Michelin stars, gigantic flower arrangements, more staff than patrons.

We also learned to not necessarily dismiss cruises or organized tours. When we visited Ireland, our escorted tour was nicely paced, everything was organized for us, there were no crack of dawn "have your bags by the bus at 5AM" departures. The included hotels and food were a bargain compared to the cost had we booked independently. And, our Viking cruise through Russia was one of our best trips.

We fully, realize, too, that it's best to do all you can while you can. You just never know what health issues may occur in the future. Or, when your get-up-and-go will have got-up-and-left.

We are so, so, grateful, for all the trips we took when we were far more energetic - and the cost of all was much, much lower!

A huge lesson we figured out early on was to focus on places most appealing to us and to not try to cram in all the "must sees" of everyone else, rather enjoy what we got to and not worry about what we did not.

We've learned to more just enjoy being there, enjoying the scenery, the culture, the food, and relaxing all about, versus charging all over packing in as many "must see, must do" as possible.

For younger selfs... makes me think what my daughters would need...

So :
Choose hotels / places to stay with good wifi.
Allow for some McDo.

Also have a good book always with you - never know what can happen.

I assure you that I definitely UNKNOWINGLY accepted a ride from drug smugglers. They seemed like such a nice couple on the ferry the night before so when they offered a ride in the morning I gladly accepted. Though for such a nice couple I found it odd that the quite attractive woman kept making passes at me all throughout the evening. Once I realized what they were up to I said to her "So you're not really a couple, are you?", to which she turned to me slowly, smiled, shook her head and winked at me as she said "Nooooo."

Is that when someone took your profile picture?

FM

Then you should explain now what you did AFTER you had dinner...

We were all very happy for desert!

I wish we had started traveling internationally at a younger age.
We have rented apartments, cottages and villas all over Europe with great success, one to two weeks each. Once retired, stay abroad longer. We usually go for a minimum of a month.
And go to Asia too! We love it more each time we visit. Happy traveling!

Bob Seger's lyrics, "I wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then." Every age has its wisdom. We like to think that we are wiser as we grow older; but, I believe not. I would rely upon your current view of what matters most in travel. You would not want to follow in the footsteps of some old foggy like me.