csdp1516

The GMAT prep book I bought from eBay is not only collecting dust but has served as a constant reminder of what I haven't accomplished. It's been sitting there for 5 years like a nagging jerkoff and I swear to all things thick and blue, that sucker is landing straight in the recycle bin once I stop typing!

After working like a dog for many years, for the first time in my life I have time and money to travel -- usually it's one or the other -- and I'm also unmarried with no children (yet?) and very fortunate to still have healthy parents that don't need assisting.

Some of my immediate and long term goals are:
GOAL 1 ---> 15 month whirl around the world preferably 3 weeks to a month in each chosen place.
GOAL 2 ---> Explore parts of all the continents by the time I reach a certain age.
I'm halfway to this goal and don't feel the need to accomplish this in the next 15 months. I have time. However, in the 15-month frame, I'd want to spend a month in Australia, a month in New Zealand and a month in Asia. The rest will be in Europe.
GOAL 3 ---> Own 5 small properties around the world with nice views.
I only have money for 1 property at the moment (or 2 very small ones) but scouting for the future 3 or 4 properties during my travels. I'd like them to be somewhat varied.
GOAL 4 ---> Give back. Never stop giving back.

The very preliminary, flexible and flawed draft:

august LONDON
sept AMSTERDAM
oct SWITZERLAND or CROATIA maybe both
nov BARCELONA
dec PARIS
jan SYDNEY
feb NEW ZEALAND
march ESTONIA or TOKYO, SINGAPORE, PHILIPPINES, BALI, THAILAND
april 1-21 BUDAPEST (3 wk)
april 21- may 12 VIENNA (3 wk)
may 12 - june 5 BERLIN (3 wk)
june 5- june 19 GREECE (2 wk)
june 19- june 25 ST PETERSBURG (6 days)
june 25-june 31 MOSCOW (6 days)
july LONDON
aug EDINBURGH, IRELAND
sept 1-19 OPEN
sept 19-sept 31 FINLAND (11 days)
oct 1-21 FRENCH COUNTRYSIDE---MARSEILLES, DORDOGNE, LOIRE, BORDEAUX (3 wk)
oct 21- nov 21 PARIS
nov 21-dec 15 ITALIAN COUNTRYSIDE OR SPAIN
dec 16 back home (spend Christmas with family)

Envisioning my dreams and seeing them in process are all steps to getting closer. I know this may all sound crazy but in my head it's not. And I wish you the best of the best with your own goals. I know many have done something similar or at least have thought similarly. I want to hear from you. Share your goals. Let's talk and make it happen. Please pass down your wisdom and knowledge oh ye world!

hetismij2

Have you heard of the Schengen zone? If not you need to look it up now. It will seriously dent your plans unless you have an EU passport.

csdp1516

--- the 90/180 law. I thought I was cognizant of it in the itinerary. Where did I mess up?

rialtogrl

I don't think the Schengen situation is going to seriously dent your plans (choose Croatia, don't choose Estonia, stay Sept 1-19 in the UK) but if you aren't already aware of the 90 days restrictions in the Schengen area definitely check them out.

Seems like you might want more time in Asia though? Since you will already be there, why not?

rialtogrl

Sorry I didn't see your second post!
Switzerland is Schengen but Croatia is not..
Estonia is Schengen..
Probably you mean for those September open days to be in the UK.

csdp1516

I must've been looking at a wrong map on Google! Thank you for pointing this out! I didn't know Switzerland and Estonia were part of it. I'm intrigued by Croatia but why not Estonia? I was considering Tallinn? Has anyone explored that area?

rialtogrl

I have not been to Estonia but friends of mine loved Tallinn. If you go there consider knocking some time off from Vienna or Berlin and adding Estonia in the summertime when it is warmer and when there are festivals

csdp1516

Thanks for the ideas! I'm flexible lengthening time in Asia to 6 weeks -- I have plenty of time now which I'm still finding weird but hooray. I am solid on Tokyo in Asia and the rest are flexible. Many spots to choose from and your ideas and experience would be really useful to me. I would rather take the train as much as possible -- maybe 6 hours max? -- and avoid extremely harsh climates or monsoons. Many spots to choose from and your ideas and experience would be really useful to me.

Alternative:
replace the first or second Paris to Portugal -- Lisbon and Porto? And take a week from Amsterdam and consider Brussels and Bruges. Lots of juggling!

csdp1516

Sorry, typos!

Kathie

Your order of places makes no sense. You start in Europe, then go to Australia and New Zealand, then SE Asia, then back to Europe. And you haven't got nearly enough time in SE Asia. You've listed four countries for you SE Asian time (although you list Estonia as an alternate to SE Asia!). If you want a month in each chosen place, you need to cut the number of destinations.

Do you know about Around the World tickets? Go to the Air Travel board here - there are a number of detailed posts about this.

csdp1516

Kathie -- sorry I know it sounds all messed up and frustrating. It's a pre rough draft! I've never been to Australia or New Zealand, once to Asia, so I'm still narrowing down. I didn't mean to go to all the Asian cities listed, just considering them.

I wish there was a magic wand that calculates the best weather, price, seasonal activities that correspond to the best place to explore then abra kadabra -- the itinerary is set! So I came here for you guys' expertise! Read about the Around the World ticket once but was not enticed. Don't remember the terms at all but might work for this so I'll look it up again. Thanks!

bilboburgler

What is GMAT and how do you prep for it?

NewbE

http://www.mba.com/us
Why wouldn't you Google before asking?

janisj

>>Why wouldn't you Google before asking?<<

Why wouldn't you think twice before posting a snarky put down?

"Google is your friend" or "From my Google search it looks like . . ." gets the point across w/o being such a crab.

tom_mn

Bali is nice but not the most interesting or prettiest part of Indonesia, and the Philippines and Singapore are so-so destinations. Would think about adding Java and Cambodia or Viet Nam, and Myanmar if you want an adventure. A month is short for Australia also. If you are looking at a world tour, probably 2-3 months of Europe is enough.

nanabee

GOAL 3 ---> Own 5 small properties around the world with nice views.


How will you manage these properties on a monthly basis? Do you plan to have someone like a property manager fill in for you? Personally I think I would limit property investments to your own locale because you would know the market better, the tax provisions, and can oversee the property and not rely on someone else (much less five other people). That could be a disaster for fraud and major headaches IMHO.

bilboburgler

I did google before asking, you probably don't understand how google works, but it becomes more personalised as you use it. I asked because I didn't know.

annhig

I have had a number of clients with property overseas, rarely has it been problem free and often ends in tears. we also owned a holiday home in the UK for about 10 years, spent a lot of money on it, and sold it for exactly what we paid for it. OK we had a lot of nice times there, but it cannot be said to have paid for itself.

Another factor to take into account is how much travelling you could do for the cost of those 5 properties - you could probably stay in 5 star properties for weeks on end for what they will cost you.

you will need detailed advice on the tax and property laws in each place [that does not come cheap] and to keep this up to date. Information on inheritance laws [and divorce laws if applicable] would also be required.

A further problem may be getting your money out if you should decide to sell, remembering that what looks like a stable country now may be a war zone in 2/5/10 years time. or hit by natural disaster/s. And governments change as do currency rules.

bilboburgler

GMAT very interesting, thanks for the link. Looks like a very US thing, don't you just love American branding?

Not sure why anyone wants to own property all over, you can lease or rent so easily. The issue of growing population, liquidity, moving hot zones etc. The few of my friends who are very wealthy tend to limit themselves to just two properties, lets face it, once you have one mansion for the country and one town house in London, Paris etc why do you need more.

One area I would be concerned about is inadvertently becoming a tax citizen of a state you only own a house in. While dual tax situtations between two countries are intended to ensure you don't pay twice I can promise you that any surprises just makes lawyers wealthy.

NewbE

Oh, I don't understand how Google works? Your self-regard is astonishing given that you couldn't procure a simple answer for yourself.

As for you janisj,
<"Google is your friend" or "From my Google search it looks like . . ." gets the point across w/o being such a crab.>
Sorry to burst your bubble, but hall monitors like you always come across as crabs. What was your interest here, btw? Thought so.