Erin

When I was a child, we had the annual family road trips during Christmas vacation. Except it was NJ-South Carolina-Florida-NJ, and my father's songs of choice were "Slip, Slide and Away" and "The Devil Went Down to Georgia'. Every time I hear those songs I immediately grit my teeth and turn the station! The only memories I get are of being trapped in the car for 20 hours with my mother, sister (who always managed to get car sick) and my father singing loudly and off-key. <BR> <BR>So far I've traveled to Mexico (3 times), England (3 times), France (twice), Spain, Italy, and Brazil. I just returned from a four day trip to Montreal...for those of you who haven't been, I highly recommend it! Montreal is a lovely city and the people are very friendly. What's next is a return trip to Brazil in February...can't wait! <BR>

lori

As a kid, the annual summer family trips to the Catskills, the Adirondacks, Hershey PA, Gettsyburg PA, Lancaster PA, Williamsburg. The song was Peter Frampton's 'Do You' from the live album. Then joined a drum and bugle corps and travelled to such hot spots as Kansas City, Buffalo, South Bend, as well as St. Thomas VI and the Rose Parade in California. Got married, and was introduced to Europe on my honeymoon (what a guy!!). Germany, Austria, Switzerland. Then (separate trips) Ireland, England, France (2), Italy, Bermuda (6), Orlando (WDW), Ft. Lauderdale (college break as well), Cancun, LA, San Francisco, San Diego, Vermont, Maine, Cape Cod, Las Vegas (3 going on 4, Washington DC, Boston, and who knows where next. Think my husband and I like to travel much?

suzann

Folks, <BR>I guess I'm one of the lucky ones here; my father worked for an oil company, and I was born and raised in Saudi Arabia (which, by the way, is a place of serene beauty and wonder!). For 13 years, our family travelled through the Middle East, Europe, and the Far East as regular as clockwork. Though I don't remember all of it, that travel left with me the need for . . . more! <BR> <BR>I spent half of a year in a boarding school in Montreux, Switzerland, when I was 13, and I spent one year of college in Paris and one year in Montreal. <BR> <BR>After that, I spent 20 years in the Army and lived in Germany and Korea. I've been back to Korea twice on my own -- again this place should not be overlooked as a travel spot even if only for its cultural antithesis to the west. <BR> <BR>So . . . I've been to: <BR>Saudi Arabia <BR>Lebanon <BR>Egypt <BR>Japan <BR>Philippines <BR>Korea <BR>Canada <BR>USA <BR>Greece <BR>France <BR>Netherlands <BR>Germany <BR>Spain <BR>Ireland <BR>England <BR>Italy <BR>Switzerland <BR>Yugoslavia <BR> <BR>Now that I'm retired, I usually vacation in Paris, Montreux, or Grindelwald. Saving for these trips is a major commitment in my budget. I'm not rich, as most of you have also said, but European travel is a high priority for me. <BR> <BR>Here's to more!! <BR>Suzann

julie

Took my 1st european trip with a girlfriend in 1972 -- backpacked through most of Euope for a month - even went to Yugoslovia and stayed with her relatives. <BR> <BR>Got married in 1973 and my husband and I took a backpack for a month through Europe. Loved every minute of it! <BR> <BR>In 1982 - went on a business trip with my husband to Ethopia -- one of those places I would never have gone on my own! <BR> <BR>The following year I won a trip at work and we went to Egypt and cruised down the nile. Many memories again for us. <BR> <BR>This year we took our 17 year old son and did Paris and Rome. What a difference between going as a young single woman and travelling with my teenager and husband. Every trip was wonderful -- something special to each one. Looking forward to more -- we will probably include some of the US in the future.

dan

As a native European - and a homesick one - I travel back often. <BR> <BR>A very good way to find cheap and charming accomodations, that Americans seem to be mostly unaware of, is contacting the tourist office of the country you plan to visit, and asking for a list of small hotels and "pensions" in the town or village of your choice (you might have to contact smaller locations directly, but the national tourist office could provide leads as to how to). <BR> <BR>

Jameika

I always think it's funny that people say those who travel must be rich, b/c most of the frequent travelers I know are certainly not rich. <BR> <BR>I have been to several cities in the contiguous United States (some as a result of family summer vacations, some as a result of business trips) and visited Alaska two summers ago. Love New England so I visit MA,CT every winter. <BR> <BR>Two years ago, my first trip to Europe began with a visit to London. I returned to England again this past spring and took the ferry from Wales to Ireland. Last summer, I visited friends in Spain and on the way back home stopped in Paris for a couple of days. <BR> <BR>This summer I visited Canada and Mexico for the first time and will be going to back to Mexico soon! <BR> <BR>My list of places to go next is too long, but on the international intinerary for next year: Rome, Amsterdam, and Bogota. <BR> <BR>I am by no means rich. I think it is a trade off. Some people choose to buy other things, others choose to travel. <BR>I loved that "afford it, schmord it--we're going!" comment. Hear, hear!! <BR> <BR> <BR>

Jo

I'll add my two cents worth... I'm 25, and only left home for the first time 4 years ago. Since then I've been travelling continuously, as well as working abroad (in the travel industry which helps) in 3 different countries. I have spent time in the following countries: <BR>England <BR>Wales <BR>Scotland <BR>Ireland <BR>France <BR>Spain <BR>Portugal <BR>Italy <BR>Turkey <BR>Austria <BR>Germany <BR>Belgium <BR>Netherlands <BR>Czech Republic <BR>South Africa <BR>New Zealand <BR>Australia <BR>Thailand <BR>Japan <BR>No, I'm not rich - I just save hard, light eating/drinking habits, moderate living. November I am quitting my job and spending 6 months making my way from London to Capetown. I will be spending 6 weeks in Israel, Jordan and Egypt, before flying to Nairobi and spending 4 months travelling through Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa again. After that, I have no serious plans (and I'd say no money left!) but will next aim to travel through Scandinavia. <BR>Travel is a bug - and yeap - I'm bitten! <BR>

Adam

Fascinating discussion! I have had the travel bug since ever I can remember. When I was a kid I always wanted to live abroad and knew that one day I would. I've now lived in Belgium (I'm Scottish) for almost 20 years. Living in an expat. community rather fuels ones urges to travel and an interesting thing I have noticed is that a lot of the expats I know were not born in their own countries due to their parents being also expats. In my case, my parents were in the military and I was born in Pakistan. So far I have clocked up the following: 44 countries: Andorra, Angola, Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, E. Germany (one week before reunification), Ethiopia, France, Gambia, Gibralter, Greece, Guatemala, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Luxemburg, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, UK, USA and West Germany. I'm going to Venezuela later this year so at last I'll hit South America! <BR> <BR>I've been to the USA which is definitely my favourite destination 6 times and have visited 19 states: Massachussets, New Hampshire, Maine, California, Nevada, New York, Minnesota, Michigan, Texas, Illinois, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Florida, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and New Jersey. <BR> <BR>I'm not rich but not poor either and not particularly old - 41. I guess that not having responsibilities like kids etc I can channel my financial resources into travel which is becoming more and more essential to my lifestyle.

kay

I first traveled out of the US as a college student for a summer-long Russian language institute, held in Finland and Russia. That summer I also went to Sweden. In the 20 years that passed before I returned to Europe (alas) I did live in Canada (living in Vancouver, Ottawa and Toronto and visiting all 10 provinces). Since 1985 I've done the following (plus 45 states and two cities in Mexico): <BR> <BR>1985-Rome, Florence, Amsterdam <BR>1986-Vienna, Budapest,Paris,London, Liverpool <BR>1987-London,Hong Kong,Xiamen <BR>1988-London <BR>1989-Moscow,London <BR>1990-Moscow,London <BR>1992-Paris, Blois,London <BR>1996-Wuertzberg,Essen,Rothenburg,and Rhine Valley <BR>1997-Black Forest, Baden Baden, Heidelberg,Bad Wimpfen, Schwabish Hall, Frankfurt, Salzberg <BR>1998-Prague,Berlin, Dresden,Leipzig <BR>1999--this October: London,Oxford,Bath,Cotswolds,Salisbury, <BR>Avebury <BR> <BR>Even though my husband and I have begun yearly trips to Europe, it seems it's never enough. I would go twice a year if I could, and then I bet even that wouldn't be enough!

up

Up.

George Holt

Started with Corfu in 1979. I loved the outdoor living, eating dinner al fresco in a beachside taverna. One of the nice things about the med for us Brits is that you hardly ever need a jacket! <BR> <BR>In 1980 a friend and I packed our rucksacks and set out to visit a friend in Ankara Turkey. We marvelled at Istanbul (I'm afraid I'm an Istanbul junky) and flew down to Antalia, bussed through Konya, Cappadocia and Ankara then back to Istanbul. A couple of years later, money was short and Turkey expensive to get to at the time, we packed again for what I can only describe as a pilgrimage to Nemrut Dagi in the east of Turkey. Our entire three week trip was geared around getting to an from Nemrut except for a week spent cruising back from Mersin to Istanbul on the ferry calling at all the ports along the coast. <BR> <BR>Totally hooked by this time I was back in Turkey a couple of years later on a coach trip, covered more in one of the two weeks than in my entire first visit and did the Aegean coast as well. Back a couple of years later with some friends from the previous coach trip to tour the eastern and southern borders of Turkey, from Trabzon round to Antakya and on to Antalia. Sadly another tour with the same company covering the more arcane archaeological sites was dropped from the catalogue before I could take it. <BR> <BR>Struck by the convenience, if not the economy, of coach tours I started working my through the Cosmos Tourama catalogue. In no particular order 'Spain, Portugal and Morocco', 'Corfu and the Peloponese', 'The Balkans', 'Athens and the Peloponese', 'Turkey' (again!) and this year 'Andalucia'. As a solo traveller I find coach tours a great way to meet people, much less impersonal than a hotel. <BR> <BR>I take other trips, not coach, whenever I have the time and money. I've been to Malta several times, Tunisia, Provence and Burgundy, Crete, Rhodes and Eilat Israel (with a side trip to Petra). I tend to book a package beach holiday and fill the time with local excursions, I'm not one for the beach. <BR> <BR>The future? I've never been to Italy, I'd like to see Florence and Tuscany especially. I really should get around to Egypt and I'd like to go to Cyprus at some stage.

top

a time capsule! this is cool... if anyone who posted almost two years ago, would like to weigh in again & tell the group where you have been, since you last posted - and tell us about it! have you gone where you wanted to go? <BR> <BR>

kk

I remember and love this thread. Darn, but I've not gone anywhere out of the US since I last posted. Would love to read of others' trip lists, though. kk

Steve

Hi all, <BR> <BR>Interesting Thread. I'm from Wales and it's amazing seeing how what is a common vacation for our American friends can be an exotic location for us. <BR>The carribbean for instance seems to feature in most of the lists in this thread whilst is seen as being an expensive long haul destination for Brits. <BR> <BR>Anyway , my travel history. <BR> <BR>Started with annual family holidays to Newquay in Cornwall (Yes I was one of those Brits who clog the place up during August), and Broadhaven in Pembrokeshire. <BR>Then when flights to the Med got cheaper in the early 80s we began annual holidays to the Balearic islands of Spain - Majorca, Menorca. <BR>At 18, just before starting college my parents were good enough to bankroll a backpacking trip around Europe for a month. Two friends and I covered France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy and East Germany (Well Berlin at least, when the wall was coming down). This was a wonderful experience and the next year we went back for 3 weeks in France, Holland and Belgium. <BR> <BR>Then holidays with friends to Ibiza and Corfu, and Portugal, before proposing to my then girlfriend in Crete. <BR> <BR>For the honeymoon a fortnight in Antigua and St.Lucia, leaving the continent for the first time. <BR> <BR>Leaving on Saturday for 3 nights in Champagne, and hopefully back to Switzerland and Italy in the summer. <BR> <BR>I still haven't made it to the States, maybe thats next. <BR> <BR>As for money. Same as most of the other posters ie. Not poor, not rich. As flights get cheaper it seems possible to get much further with the same money. <BR> <BR>Keep on posting. <BR> <BR>Cheers <BR> <BR>Steve

Michael

Nice question,and fun to read everyon'es replies. Working backwards - <BR> <BR>Nov00 - All Asia Pass with Cathay Pacific -Itinerary still in planning <BR>Mar00 - Ireland <BR>Nov99 - Hong Kong-Singapore-Hong Kong <BR>Mar99 - Barcelona Spain <BR>Nov98 - Hong Kong-Bangkok-Hong Kong <BR>Mar98 - London & Paris <BR>Nov96 - Paris <BR>Sep95 - Rome, Siena, Florence, Venice, Lugano, and Zurich <BR>sep94 - Nice, Avignon, Narbonne, Grenoble, Gstaad, Interlaken, Bern and Geneva <BR> <BR>additionally: Ive been to Puerto Rico, St.Maarten, Key West, Aspen, Montreal, Miami, St. Croix, Chicago, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Boston, Atlanta, Kansas City, Detroit, Philadelphia. <BR> <BR>Best Chinese Dinner ever: In Kearney, Nebraska!

Carol

I was always fascinated with Europe and was so fortunate to marry my high school sweetheart who joined the AF to avoid the draft. He was stationed near Madrid Spain so we had a 5-year honeymood in Spain. We traved around Spain in the 70s and drove up through France, Monaco, Italian Rivera and Alps, Switz. Flew to London for a week. We used to drive up to Andorra for 3 days at a time, visited Germany and took a tour to Salzburg. <BR>In the 80s we were blessed with a 5-year tour in Germany. Traveled all over there and to France. I could go to France for lunch and be home before the kids got home. It was great. Went to Greece twice and took the 5-day cruise as well as seeing the mainland, so that took us to Ephasus in Turkey. We flew back to Spain twice more, toured Netherlands, took weekends in Paris, toured England, drove thru Denmark to Norway for a few weeks, flew to Budapest, Moscow and Leningrad, drove to Belgium. Then we were stationed in TX and had no money for a long time but now the kids are grown and I'm going back to Europe. Went to Greece again 2 years ago, Spain last fall and am going to Paris in a few months. I just love Europe. I would keep going back to the same places over and over again too. I love Madrid and I love Greece but there are so many other places to go that I love also!! <BR>Carol

MaureenGP

Ohhhh, I just can't resist this! Didn't travel much as a kid (oldest of 5 kids, no budget for vacation travel), although I did have the opportunity to drive West (well, my dad drove) when I was 7, and remember the Grand Canyon, Disneyland, and the Pacific Ocean. As a teenager, my aunt took me to New Orleans. My godmother lived in NYC, and took me to the World's Fair and my first Broadway play. I will always be grateful to these two women for opening my eyes to a larger world beyond my little neighborhood! <BR>In college, visited my Dutch penpal in Canada (where she was visiting her married sister). <BR>Next trip out of the country was my honeymoon to Puerto Rico and St. Thomas. <BR>Since then, my husband and I have traveled in the USA to Texas, Florida, New England, and points in between, and I travel to visit my mother in Charleston, S.C., one of my favorite cities. <BR>Other travels: <BR>Canada: Niagara Falls, Thousand Islands, Toronto, Montreal and Quebec <BR>Europe: Spain (Madrid, Toledo, Segovia, Avila) and Italy (Rome, Florence, Sorrento, Pompeii, Capri) and a return trip to Spain this summer! <BR>Caribbean: Bahamas, St. Thomas, St. John, St. Maarten, Puerto Rico, Cuba <BR>Mexico: Mexico City, Acapulco, Taxco <BR>Hawaii: (I KNOW it's the US, but it's really a world unto itself!) Oahu, Kauia, Maui and the Big Island <BR> <BR>I have truly loved every trip, and the older I get, the greater the wanderlust. We are spending a month in Spain this summer, and then next year I hope to visit France and Belgium, and maybe toss in London. <BR>Next best thing to actually traveling, is reading about all the places you have been or want to see...

lola

Never traveled anywhere much till I was 21, in the 1960s, and haven't stopped since--now into triple digits! I do it professionally as well as personally, so that's what's kept me going. I have been most all European countries including San Marino, Lichtenstein and Andorra, but not some of the Eastern European countries, such as Bulgaria. I have not been to Australia/NZ, South Sea islands, much of Africa. So there are many places left. Plus, I love to return to favorites.

Monica

Hi everyone! <BR> <BR>My Father worked for the federal government, so we lived in many places. I was born in Madrid, Spain. We moved to Del Rio, Texas; Springfield, Virinia; Panama, Japan, Okinawa, and Hawaii (graduated there in 1979). While a young child we visited family in Massachusettes and Puerto Rico and a few other places in the states. Parents divored and Mom, my brother and I moved to Florida. I took several cruises to the Caribbean: Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, st. Maartin, Aruba, etc. From there I moved on to Maryland to work for the government. From that point I started my own travels. Spain, France, and Italy twice each; Greece and a short visit to Istanbul; and in 2 weeks our first trip to Germany! I've also enjoyed NYC, NC, SC, PA, VA. I've been to San Francsico, Denver, and a few places in Texas. Cheers!

Christine

Well besides all the whitewater rafting trips, mountain biking, kayaking and hiking when I lived in Seattle and Alaska the past few years has been something like this: <BR> <BR>November 1997 San Francisco/Napa Valley, <BR>London England, Avebury, Bristol, Cardiff <BR>February 1998 Whistler, British Columbia <BR>September 1998 Queensland Australia, Port Douglas, Daintree Rainforest, Sydney, Hunter Valley wine region <BR>January 1999 Grand Canyon/Las Vegas <BR>February 1999 Park City, Utah <BR>March 1999 Sun Vally, Idaho <BR>April 1999 London, Bath, Bristol, Amsterdam, Moved to Holland from Seattle <BR>May 1999 Paris, France <BR>June 1999 London, Brugges, Antwerp <BR>July 1999 Luxembourg <BR>August 1999 Northern Michigan <BR>September 1999 Munich, Innsbruck, Hiking in the Dolomites, Venice, 5 days in a Tuscan farmhouse, Florence, Siena, Pisa, Cinque Terre, Monaco, Cannes, Grenoble <BR>October 1999 Back to Paris <BR>November 1999 Vienna <BR>December 1999 Christmas in England with the in-laws <BR>January 2000 Moved to Switzerland-near Luzern <BR>February 2000 Les Arcs, France <BR>April 2000 Lake Como and Bellagio <BR> <BR>Last weekend: Mountain biking in the Lauterbrunnen Valley near Interlaken <BR> <BR>This weekend: Zermatt and hiking around the Matterhorn <BR> <BR>Next weekend: London <BR>The following weekend: Venice and Verona <BR> <BR>Coming up this summer: overnight hikes in the Alps, Chicago, 3 days canoeing in Boundary Waters, MN, Aida in Verona, and Rome. We're planning a trip to Nepal, Africa and Thailand within the next 2 years. <BR> <BR>And I've been keeping myself busy exploring the local environs (I have a view of the Stanserhorn and Mt. Pilatus as I type) <BR> <BR>As you can probably guess I love traveling and since I am fortunate enough to live in such great places I take full advantage of it. We are not by any means wealthy, traveling is our priorty right now-oh yeah it helps to be married to a European who contracts. Happy travels to all! <BR>