I want to travel damn it...

[azucena]

Mar 29, 2019 12:10:30 GMT -5 wvugurl26 said:

$2k with flights probably isn't very realistic for the spring break time frame. We are going to Jamaica over Easter. It's spring break for our friends in another state. The resort has a kids stay free deal. I'm not sure if that increased the adult price? We are staying 5 nights, it's $2300 for the 2 of us. We didn't go cheap on the room category.

I could swing $2500-3000, and we all have current passports.  Are you headed to an all-inclusive?

[wvugurl26]

Mar 29, 2019 12:33:54 GMT -5 azucena said:

Mar 29, 2019 12:10:30 GMT -5 wvugurl26 said:

$2k with flights probably isn't very realistic for the spring break time frame. We are going to Jamaica over Easter. It's spring break for our friends in another state. The resort has a kids stay free deal. I'm not sure if that increased the adult price? We are staying 5 nights, it's $2300 for the 2 of us. We didn't go cheap on the room category.

I could swing $2500-3000, and we all have current passports.  Are you headed to an all-inclusive?

Yes, all inclusive. Jewel resort Runaway Bay. I paid $600 for our flights.

The rest of our group booked through a travel agency but the price I was quoted was the same I would pay booking direct.

I'll report back after Easter on how it is. The resort is sold out for our dates. I think we booked in November last year.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Mar 29, 2019 7:04:23 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

I want to travel but not alone and all the singles or women only trips are very overpriced. There’s a killer deal to a fancy Bimini resort but double occupancy. I asked about paying for two, still less than $400, but they want the extra person wining and dining.

Tauck tours does not have a single supplement.  My neighbor uses it and she was very happy with them.  She has done several river cruises with them, and land tours too.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Mar 29, 2019 12:33:54 GMT -5 azucena said:

Mar 29, 2019 12:10:30 GMT -5 wvugurl26 said:

$2k with flights probably isn't very realistic for the spring break time frame. We are going to Jamaica over Easter. It's spring break for our friends in another state. The resort has a kids stay free deal. I'm not sure if that increased the adult price? We are staying 5 nights, it's $2300 for the 2 of us. We didn't go cheap on the room category.

I could swing $2500-3000, and we all have current passports.  Are you headed to an all-inclusive?

You might want to try Mexico. Several years, we went to Playa del Carmen, and staye at The Reef Playacar.  I’m not sure what the rates are now, but a few years ago we flew out of Seattle there for 10 days.  I want to say I paid about $1800 for that trip, all inclusive.  My sister’s kids really enjoyed it, and there were things for them to do there.

We stayed at Blue Diamond last year when we went.  It was quite a bit more, but we got a great deal through Costco travel.  Prices are much higher now.

What I do is look for packages, but then I double check to see if I can get better rates breaking packages up.  Twice, I got really good deals from bookit.com, the last time we went it was less to break it up.

[wvugurl26]

My in laws love Tauck. They have excellent accommodations. They also got in after hours and small tours of different places. You also don't have to haul your luggage. The amount of walking isn't bad either.

Because believe me I heard all about how they don't have you walking all over when we were in Disney last November!

[zibazinski]

Mar 29, 2019 11:59:25 GMT -5 tractor said:

Mar 29, 2019 11:33:51 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

DD is working and my girlfriends are either married or caring for parents. 😢

Sounds like a great way for a “mature” single guy to get some free travel opportunities. I’d love to travel with some random person, and am comfortable sharing a room with anyone. My wife wouldn’t be too happy with me but if I’m ever widowed...wait, would that make me a professional “escort”?

I’m not paying another’s way. Didn’t you read Athena with the guys expecting her to pay for them?

[Deleted]

Mar 29, 2019 23:31:12 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

I’m not paying another’s way. Didn’t you read Athena with the guys expecting her to pay for them?

Small correction- the guy I'm dating wouldn't expect it and probably wouldn't accept it if I offered. I agree with you, though; DH made considerably less than I did but we were married, he was a spectacular stepfather to my son (who badly needed it) and he did a lot of things to help support me in my career. I was comfortable in that situation picking up his airfare and paying for most of the meals and incidentals. It would be another matter entirely for me to spring for Business Class airfare to Europe for a guy I'm dating even if I do like him enough to share accommodations!

[seriousthistime]

I've watched carefully as people age and how they decide where and when to travel.  When I was a very young adult a woman I worked with passed away two weeks before her planned retirement on her 65th birthday.  

My mother and stepfather didn't travel much except to Bermuda.  After my mother had her heart attack at age 70 they didn't travel because, even though she could, they didn't want to be away from her doctors.  She died at 79.  He died the next year at 83.

I am past the age for full retirement (according to SSA) and not only didn't retire but took on a more managerial role at work. I replaced someone who retired at age 73, but had always taken at least one nice vacation with her husband every year.  After she retired, they went on a long cruise during which her husband contracted pneumonia, was in a third world hospital for a week, and then was flown to the US for even more hospitalization.   After nine months they are still spending their lives going from one doctor's appointment to the next, no end in sight.

On the other hand, my XSIL goes on lots of Road Scholar trips by herself, which is not only affordable for her but gets her moving when she's at home so she keeps in shape for the next trip.  She's almost 80.  She's always asking me to go.  I could never do it.  I don't like camping.  I like indoor plumbing in the room.  When I was in my 30s I made some late night trips to the restroom at the campsite and as we were leaving the place we saw the warning about rattlesnakes.  Not my idea of fun.  

I'm about to head out to Europe.  So many places, so little time!  As they say, we must "strike while the iron is hot."

[jelloshots4all]

Recommendations for Punta Cana, DR please? My girl friends and I just went to Jamaica last month and are looking to plan another trip for March 2020. I found an all inclusive in Punta, with the same resort we loved in Jamaica. The rooms are $220 a night, but flights aren't out yet.

Anyone have experiences in Punta Cana? Recommendations?

[weltschmerz]

Apr 1, 2019 22:28:39 GMT -5 jelloshots4all said:

Recommendations for Punta Cana, DR please? My girl friends and I just went to Jamaica last month and are looking to plan another trip for March 2020. I found an all inclusive in Punta, with the same resort we loved in Jamaica. The rooms are $220 a night, but flights aren't out yet.

Anyone have experiences in Punta Cana? Recommendations?

My friend was bitten by a monkey in the Dominican Republic.
That's all I've got.

[weltschmerz]

Oh, and she found herself a handsome young lover 25 years her junior.
Are you interested in monkeys or handsome young lovers who don't speak a word of English?
The monkey couldn't speak English, either.

[jelloshots4all]

Mar 29, 2019 12:39:20 GMT -5 wvugurl26 said:

Mar 29, 2019 12:33:54 GMT -5 azucena said:

I could swing $2500-3000, and we all have current passports.  Are you headed to an all-inclusive?

Yes, all inclusive. Jewel resort Runaway Bay. I paid $600 for our flights.

The rest of our group booked through a travel agency but the price I was quoted was the same I would pay booking direct.

I'll report back after Easter on how it is. The resort is sold out for our dates. I think we booked in November last year.

Book in Sept if you are going to Jamaica over Spring Break.

Highly recommend Marvyn Gale for airport transportation or tours.  Wonderful!!  We took a day trip to Blue Hole, Dunn's River Falls, Schotkies for lunch and Luminess as night.  They picked us up on the opposite end of the island, but transportation and admission to all those places only cost $100 a person.  We were gone from 8am-10pm and our drivers kept us completely safe. 

[jelloshots4all]

Apr 1, 2019 23:05:07 GMT -5 weltschmerz said:

Oh, and she found herself a handsome young lover 25 years her junior.
Are you interested in monkeys or handsome young lovers who don't speak a word of English?
The monkey couldn't speak English, either.

Handsome young lovers heck yeah!!  But I'm not going to be a sugar momma

LMAO weltz!!  Either would be like dating my kids friends!!  Handsome, don't want to know about the lover part, as they are my daughters age.

Monkeys?  Yes I have 15 yr old boys at my house non stop!! 

But they do all speak some form of English through symbols on texts

Thanks for the laugh!!

[thyme4change]

Mar 31, 2019 19:23:29 GMT -5 seriousthistime said:

I've watched carefully as people age and how they decide where and when to travel.  When I was a very young adult a woman I worked with passed away two weeks before her planned retirement on her 65th birthday.  

we must "strike while the iron is hot."

My old boss, who I adore, is maybe 12 years older than me. His wife got sick and after three painful years, passed away. My boss was crushed, but I could see how after being her care-giver he was ready to figure out how to move to a new phase. Shortly after that, he had a debilitating stroke. After sitting at my desk crying for a month, we started planning our trip to Australia. I am now terrified I won't have time to do what I want, and also terrified that I will spend all my money and be old and poor. Blows.

[lynnerself]

Mar 31, 2019 19:23:29 GMT -5 seriousthistime said:

On the other hand, my XSIL goes on lots of Road Scholar trips by herself, which is not only affordable for her but gets her moving when she's at home so she keeps in shape for the next trip.  She's almost 80.  She's always asking me to go.  I could never do it.  I don't like camping.  I like indoor plumbing in the room.  When I was in my 30s I made some late night trips to the restroom at the campsite and as we were leaving the place we saw the warning about rattlesnakes.  Not my idea of fun.  

Only a small number or Roads Scholar trips involve camping. Are these the ones she's choosing? We are just back from a Roads Scholar trip to Costa Rica. Regular tour with decent rooms, bus transportation, our baggage handled for us and an amazing tour guide.

There was a fair amount of walking, and yes at least 3 women in their 80's.

[NastyWoman]

Apr 2, 2019 9:01:20 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Mar 31, 2019 19:23:29 GMT -5 seriousthistime said:

I've watched carefully as people age and how they decide where and when to travel.  When I was a very young adult a woman I worked with passed away two weeks before her planned retirement on her 65th birthday.  

we must "strike while the iron is hot."

My old boss, who I adore, is maybe 12 years older than me. His wife got sick and after three painful years, passed away. My boss was crushed, but I could see how after being her care-giver he was ready to figure out how to move to a new phase. Shortly after that, he had a debilitating stroke. After sitting at my desk crying for a month, we started planning our trip to Australia. I am now terrified I won't have time to do what I want, and also terrified that I will spend all my money and be old and poor. Blows.

And that is the basis for my life philosophy: Live like you are going to die tomorrow and save like you will live to be 100.

Your Australia trip was a great first step  

[TheHaitian]

Apr 2, 2019 9:01:20 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Mar 31, 2019 19:23:29 GMT -5 seriousthistime said:

I've watched carefully as people age and how they decide where and when to travel.  When I was a very young adult a woman I worked with passed away two weeks before her planned retirement on her 65th birthday.  

we must "strike while the iron is hot."

My old boss, who I adore, is maybe 12 years older than me. His wife got sick and after three painful years, passed away. My boss was crushed, but I could see how after being her care-giver he was ready to figure out how to move to a new phase. Shortly after that, he had a debilitating stroke. After sitting at my desk crying for a month, we started planning our trip to Australia. I am now terrified I won't have time to do what I want, and also terrified that I will spend all my money and be old and poor. Blows.

After not doing it for many years because I was terrified of being old and poor, after Europe last year I decided the alternative was worse....

Too much of the world out there to see and Explore only to die not having seen much of it!

So even if it is just your own city (been exploring DC with DD on my days off) or the next state over (Philadelphia this summer and the beach) or a land far far away (hoping Rome next year or 2) ... I plan on just going for it!

[phil5185]

Too much of the world out there to see and Explore only to die not having seen much of it!

OTOH, after you die how will you know that you didn't see it?

[chiver78]

Apr 2, 2019 18:22:30 GMT -5 phil5185 said:

Too much of the world out there to see and Explore only to die not having seen much of it!

OTOH, after you die how will you know that you didn't see it?

wow.

[TheHaitian]

Apr 2, 2019 18:22:30 GMT -5 phil5185 said:

Too much of the world out there to see and Explore only to die not having seen much of it!

OTOH, after you die how will you know that you didn't see it?

Don’t care much for what happen after I am dead but while alive I will for sure know I did not see it!

[Cookies Galore]

Apr 2, 2019 16:50:24 GMT -5 TheHaitian said:

Apr 2, 2019 9:01:20 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

My old boss, who I adore, is maybe 12 years older than me. His wife got sick and after three painful years, passed away. My boss was crushed, but I could see how after being her care-giver he was ready to figure out how to move to a new phase. Shortly after that, he had a debilitating stroke. After sitting at my desk crying for a month, we started planning our trip to Australia. I am now terrified I won't have time to do what I want, and also terrified that I will spend all my money and be old and poor. Blows.

After not doing it for many years because I was terrified of being old and poor, after Europe last year I decided the alternative was worse....

Too much of the world out there to see and Explore only to die not having seen much of it!

So even if it is just your own city (been exploring DC with DD on my days off) or the next state over (Philadelphia this summer and the beach) or a land far far away (hoping Rome next year or 2) ... I plan on just going for it!

Message me for all the recommendations! I love my city!

[thyme4change]

Apr 2, 2019 15:23:08 GMT -5 NastyWoman said:

Apr 2, 2019 9:01:20 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

My old boss, who I adore, is maybe 12 years older than me. His wife got sick and after three painful years, passed away. My boss was crushed, but I could see how after being her care-giver he was ready to figure out how to move to a new phase. Shortly after that, he had a debilitating stroke. After sitting at my desk crying for a month, we started planning our trip to Australia. I am now terrified I won't have time to do what I want, and also terrified that I will spend all my money and be old and poor. Blows.

And that is the basis for my life philosophy: Live like you are going to die tomorrow and save like you will live to be 100.

Your Australia trip was a great first step  

Unfortunately those things aren't compatible. Trips to Australia aren't cheap.

[NastyWoman]

Apr 3, 2019 10:12:29 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Apr 2, 2019 15:23:08 GMT -5 NastyWoman said:

And that is the basis for my life philosophy: Live like you are going to die tomorrow and save like you will live to be 100.

Your Australia trip was a great first step  

Unfortunately those things aren't compatible. Trips to Australia aren't cheap.

True that. However, it doesn't have to be Australia or the equivalent all the time. You can snatch up a deal for a cruise if that is what you like, or cheap tickets somewhere to Europe, South America, whatever.  It is fun to go places you've never been (provided you exclude war zones and other undesirable places) and just explore

[thyme4change]

I will never cruise. Days on a floating barf bucket with a thousand other people? Nope.

I've been lots of places, and travel at different price points. I can't do what I want and still save as if I will live to 100.

[tcu2003]

Apr 3, 2019 10:20:15 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

I will never cruise. Days on a floating barf bucket with a thousand other people? Nope.

I feel this way about large cruise ships. River cruises, though - the Nile river cruise I did while in Egypt is still one of the best vacations I’ve had. So beautiful, so much history, and a great experience.

[Deleted]

Apr 3, 2019 10:20:15 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

I will never cruise. Days on a floating barf bucket with a thousand other people? Nope.

I thought that way too.  I'm an extreme introvert and hate being around crowds of people, but I really enjoyed my first cruise.  It wasn't what I was expecting at all.  People are off doing their own thing or in their cabins and I had lots of time to myself and areas with few people to recharge.  Now I find myself perusing the available cruises from time to time. 

Nobody barfing that I noticed either. 

[chiver78]

Apr 3, 2019 10:22:59 GMT -5 tcu2003 said:

Apr 3, 2019 10:20:15 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

I will never cruise. Days on a floating barf bucket with a thousand other people? Nope.

I feel this way about large cruise ships. River cruises, though - the Nile river cruise I did while in Egypt is still one of the best vacations I’ve had. So beautiful, so much history, and a great experience.

I find this odd. the larger vessels are generally able to absorb rough sailing better than smaller ones. or is it the crowd that's the off-putting item? that, I can understand

[souldoubt]

Our cruise in the Mediterranean had over 2,300 passengers on it and the only time I was annoyed was when we were waiting for our excursion to be called and some people couldn't follow simple instructions and not stand in the walkways.  My wife gets motion sickness in a car but never had issues on the boat and there was no barf to be seen in any public areas.  For me aside from looking out at the passing scenery after a while it didn't register that we were on a boat.  I'd love to do a smaller cruise and think we definitely will some day but those seem to cost a bit more.

[weltschmerz]

Apr 3, 2019 10:20:15 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

I will never cruise. Days on a floating barf bucket with a thousand other people? Nope.

I've been lots of places, and travel at different price points. I can't do what I want and still save as if I will live to 100.

I'm not a fan, either.  When I travel, I like to experience different cultures, different people, different food, different lifestyles and different music.

I don't want to be stuck on a boat with a thousand other people JUST LIKE ME, eat food I can get at home and have entertainment I can find in my own city.

[thyme4change]

Apr 3, 2019 12:50:40 GMT -5 souldoubt said:

Our cruise in the Mediterranean had over 2,300 passengers on it and the only time I was annoyed was when we were waiting for our excursion to be called and some people couldn't follow simple instructions and not stand in the walkways.  My wife gets motion sickness in a car but never had issues on the boat and there was no barf to be seen in any public areas.  For me aside from looking out at the passing scenery after a while it didn't register that we were on a boat.  I'd love to do a smaller cruise and think we definitely will some day but those seem to cost a bit more.

I don't understand the appeal of a floating resort. When we were in Cayman the boats would roll in and all those tourists were stuck on a couple of streets that were absolutely nothing like the rest of the island. Those people technically have been to Cayman, but they didn't experience it. If I just want to do the activities, why not just stay on land?