I'm 38. Born in NYC to French mother and Irish father - so have been travelling to/through Europe since birth. I am bi-lingual so I went to university in France - after that I lived/studied in Ireland and the UK and Belgium and Germany for a while. I now live and work in Paris - where I met my husband. He is Austrian. We spend our time between Austria, Ireland and the US when we are not working. We travel about a lot in Europe for fun and we also both travel quite a bit for work.

I'm learning German - albeit slowly.

For travel style - my husband calls me "Strictly 5 star" - though really I'm just 4.5.

My hobbies are writing, reading and doggies.

I am a 44 yr old American born woman, born and raised in Dallas. I am married and have an almost 19yr old son who is in his freshman year at Indiana Univ. My husband is a musician and managed bands so he traveled abroad before I did. My first trip was in 1999 to Italy and Prague. Since then we have tried to go about every year and a half or when we can afford it. I am so thankful that I was able to take my son, starting at 12 yrs of age to Paris, Switzerland and Italy twice before he left for school.

56 year old woman. Born and raised in Wilmington, Delaware. Passed a class in High School and took my first trip to Europe in the summer of 1966.
Ahem, got married shortly (no children!) thereafter and couldn't afford to travel but dreampt, read, researched, yearned for it.
No college degree but worked very hard and learned and now am a Paralegal with a major law firm.
Got divorced after 26 years ... paid off divorce debt, saved up and joined 13 of my nearest and dearest to fly to Paris (1 day) and then we self-barged for 1 week in Burgundy. I was back to Paris solo the following year.
Saved more, bought myself a condo, on the day I moved in met the man of my dreams and married him last October.
We bought an old Victorian house we are rehabilitating (or the money pit.) While we dated we traveled to meet his family spread out in Germany. We honeymooned in St. Tropez and Paris.
Life is sweet. I'm longwinded. And before yesterday I was SuzieC, but Fodor's wouldn't let me logon or respond often.

Hi,
I'm English but live in Ohio. I travel to UK and Greece several times a year, plus short trips to other places - often Italy or Spain.

Carolena

I'm 33 and live in Northern Virginia with my husband and two cats.

I visited Europe for the 1st time when I was 3 and then again when I was 5 with my parents and grandparents. I really don't remember anything, but I do have the pictures to prove it and to cherish.

In 1996 my roomie and I did the backpacking trip to Europe for 25 days and visited Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Italy.

Recently in the summer of 2006 my husband and I took our honeymoon over to Germany and Switzerland. The 2nd leg of the trip was to be spent with my sister in Provence and Paris but on the day she was to fly out, she wasn't able to come. So I flew home early. I was crushed .. I'd been looking forward to a sister bonding trip!

We attempted to schedule another France trip (my sister and I) for this summer '07 but I found out 3 months ago I'm pregnant and am due at the end of September so I am now, again, in the process of planning a trip to Paris, Provence and Burgundy for June '08 ... and again with my sister!!! The 3rd time is a charm, right??

I should preface the last sentence above by saying that we recently attempted a quick trip to Miami, but due to the snow and freezing rain, I couldn't get out of Dulles .. so I stayed home. That was our second attempt at sister bonding.

Forgot to add I'm Serbian, Croation and Italian.

I live in the north of England and spent my 50th birthday last October in New Zealand - far enough away from home to avoid any surprise parties. I have 2 grown up children and an 18 month old grandson.

When my children were small, we spent many years exploring the UK on holidays, my husbands job on the railways giving us cheap travel before we could afford a car. Our first trip abroad was to visit my father's family in Czechoslovakia (as it was then)in '89, before the fall of communism there. It was quite an adventure, as we travelled by rail and spoke no Czech.

We have since got the travel bug and have had many holidays abroad. Often we go on cheap packages, which we use to get inexpensive flight+accommodation, then hire a car and tour the area. We have also done a few independant fly/drives. With a combination of airmiles and budget airlines we have had quite a few long weekend city breaks to Prague, Krakow, Budpapest and others. Though we've been to quite a few countries now, including Czech Republic, Italy, Croatia, Turkey, Canada and New Zealand, our most visited destination is Greece. We've been to the Greek mainland and islands for around 15 holidays now (I'm starting to lose count), usually choosing new locations to explore for a week or two. I just love the relaxed, laid back feel of Greece and the friensliness of the people. To me going to, exploring and and experiencing a place is more important than staying in expensive hotels or eating in top restaurants, though in recent years the budget has not been quite so tight and we can go a little more upmarket.

Apart from planning holidays, we enjoy hiking (not too strenuous), visiting gardens (and gardening) and photography. The last 18 months I have surprised myself by becoming a doting grandmother, which takes up a lot of my spare time.

I'm a Canadian, born in Montreal, but raised in Vancouver, BC.

I have 2 kids (7 and 3 1/2 year olds) and a wonderful husband who is catching my travel bug.

I have travelled to Hawaii, Arizona (x5), Mexico (x2), Montreal (x2), and Italy (x2).

First trip to Europe was in 2005 to visit my BFF in Florence. Two glorious weeks wandering through Tuscany sans children and husband.

By the time I was getting off the plane I was planning the next trip, which took place last September. Another 2 weeks showing my hubby La Dolce Vita of Florence, Siena and Rome. He fell in love with Italy...we want to get back there in the springtime (maybe 2009?)

We are planning a trip to Arizona for this fall, and a trip to Paris next Spring (both without the kids).

I stumbled on Fodors when planning my first trip to Europe, and have become completed addicted!! I did spend some time on "other" travel boards - but this one is by far the most invaluable and knowledgeable about anything and everything to do with Europe. I can't keep away!

It helps keep me focussed on my goal to get back to Europe as soon as possible. It is a great community and the tips and reports are invaluable.

Travel style? I like simple but comfortable - enjoy the idea of slow travel - sticking to one or two cities instead of hopping from place to place. Love the idea of renting an apartment and staying "close to home" for a period of time and really getting a feel for the place I am visiting. I have a budget - try to stick with it, but won't pass up an opportunity to have a marvelous bottle of wine, or that extra gelato, or that incredible pair of shoes.....

I am an international man of mystery, devastatingly handsome, a cordon bleu chef, connoisseur of all the fine arts, champion at the most gentlemanly sports and able to perform absolute miracles with any money you care to entrust to me. Oh, and charmingly modest with it.

MissZiegfeld, I live in South Africa with my husband and my soon to be married son lives a short distance away. We run a family business in textiles, haberdashery, and crafts.
We are in our early 60's and I am the one that has the travelbug.
Mention one word about Paris and I'm packed!

I started travelling late in life when my son was 2 years old and hit Europe and Israel for 6 weeks.
Since then we have travelled extensively to the Americas, Asia and Europe.
My Favourite city is Paris, followed by London and would ya believe Singapore!

I cannot remember how I got onto the Fodors board some three years ago but the folks here are great and I've met several in person.
Fodors is a great place to visit either on a daily basis or just now and then.

Patrick London,

Are you also a good lover????

I am a 38-year old single female living Maryland, right outside of DC. I moved here in May ’01 from Pennsylvania where I had lived since the early 90s. I grew up in New Jersey. My first overseas trip was a college-trip to Spain when I was 20. I went to Italy when was 23 and fell madly in love with the country. I have been there 4 times, the last in January ’05. I hope to get back next year. I have also been to Arizona, California, Nantucket, MA, Florida, and some other places along the east coast. I am going to Puerto Vallarta next month for the first time. I would also like to go to Macchu Picchu and Ireland within the next few years.

I sometimes travel alone but sometimes with a friend. I like to trip plan a little because it is fun to do so but I am not rigid, planning every moment. I came to Fodor’s basically out of boredom at work and find the heated discussions on the lounge amusing.

Whooooo are you..

Who---who..

Who-who..

I am a 40 year old Canadian with English parents who completely took for granted the fact that we travelled to Europe most years, and somewhere else if not Europe, every year growing up. My (not at the time) husband and I backpacked around Europe in 89 - me because the only thing I enjoy more then travelling is planning travelling, and him because although he came from a non-travelling family and is definitely a homebody rather then a rambler, he thought I was hot ;-) Since marriage, mortgage and kids, travel has taken a back seat (though my husband and I honeymooned in Wales, and drove around the Scottish Highlands a couple of years after that pre-kids) I still keep up my hobby of travel planning!) I came to this board as part of planning for what has now been rescheduled as a 3 week trip to France in June 2008, when the boys will be 7 and 10. My travel style has been, and will be for this trip, research, research, put together several different itinerary options, planned out to the most minute detail, and then discard them on minute 1 of the trip, knowing that the process of planning and researching has equipped me to be spontaneous!

Hi

I'm Gard...I live in Stavanger on the south west coast of Norway. You can read a bit about me and my wife on my homepage http://gardkarlsen.com/about_us.htm . We like to travel and I enjoy making trip reports and posting pictures from my trip on the homepage. When I'm not working I like to go to the movies, play squash, drive my Harley, cook etc

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

Note that the majority who answered this thread are women. Perhaps men do not like the question?

I am male, 61, and of lately from Salt Lake City.

I traveled to Germany first on the taxpayer's dollar in the US Army. I fell in love with the country. Unknown to me at the time my wife was then attending the Univ of Maryland extension in Munich. We met later, sharing this love of traveling, especially in Germany.

I have lived in Germany for 6 years, she for 9 years. We both have traveled in other European Countries. I had a tour in Vietnam. As our youngest is about to go off to college, we have time and opportunity to get back to traveling. Wonder where the money will be found?

Regards, Gary

I subscribe to Budget Travel Magazine, and also have Fodor's website right on my google homepage - that's how I started with the message board here at Fodors. I am 52 years old, but my hubby is not interested in traveling anywhere in Europe. He and I took our first Cruise to the Western Caribbean - we really enjoyed it. I am originally from South Africa, now live in Sitka, Alaska USA. It's a little expensive traveling from an island in Alaska (Sitka is on Baranof Island), so I use my "free" miles (I rack them up pretty quickly using a credit card) to fly to the East Coast, and shop around to get a really good deal to London. I have been to London & Ireland twice, 2002 & 2004. Once with my mom, and once on my own. I have friends in London, but I don't know anyone in Ireland, but I truly love Ireland. It's so easy traveling solo in Ireland, very safe so I don't really mind solo, although it would be more fun with someone to talk to. I would like to go back sometime this year - probably around Oct, November. I go back to South Africa every two years to visit family. I would also like to go to Paris or the South of France. I love to travel, but I don't make too many travel arrangements in advance, like B&Bs etc. Because I go out of season (cheaper that way), there is always plenty of accommodation.I like B&Bs, but don't mind small hotels either. Next trip, I want to rent a car, although I have heard it's quite risky driving in Ireland - I would definitely need a navigator....no way will I do that by myself! I am looking forward to my next trip.

Duff Man says: Duff Man! but doesn't know who he is.

Hi. I am a 32yo female. Born in Greece, raised in Chicago. Took trips back to Greece growing up and of course never appreciated it until I had to pay for it. My husband hadn't traveled outside of the state until we were engaged. Now he enjoys "tagging along". I love the planning process and as soon as I have come back from a trip, I begin planning my next. Right now I am planning a trip to France for sometime in the near futer.

Ira - Who is Ira - Who is Ira - Who is Ira?

and who is intrepid Dukey? (Go V.C.U.)