Looking for help on international travel

I enjoyed Cardiff and Swansea when I went to Wales on business a few years ago. But yeah, it ain't cheap. You pay for a Coke and think, that's not so bad, I only paid a dollar. And you realize, no you paid a pound, so it was two bucks a Coke -- and that wasnt' so good.

 

If not Europe, where would people suggest to go if you can only travel summer months and don't have thousands of dollars to spend? Anyone been to South America, or have suggestions?

 

Canada.

 

OK, besides Canada and Mexico. I'm talking away from the North American continent.

 

That's not really true. I've been to Amsterdam 4 times and never encountered a drug seller (outside of a coffee shop) once - night or day. I'm a woman and I've always felt very safe in Amsterdam, the red light district aside.

 

Paris is phenomenal. Don't believe the French-hate-the-Americans thing. I could live there in a heartbeat (if you'll give my daily ration of ESPN and the NYTimes).

But Europe is expensive . . . very.

 

I was braced for the hate-Americans thing in Paris but found no sign of it. I did find the one bar with Sunday night NFL though!

 

Peru- Machu Picchu

 

Paris and London are both amazing cities, but as has been noted, very expensive. If you do a lot of advance planning and homework, you can find ways to economize without missing out on seeing the best of both cities. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that in London, no matter the season, hotels are VERY expensive and not up to US standards in many cases, especially on the lower end of the quality spectrum.

I completely agree with Doc, though. Your money will go a lot further during the non-tourist season.

Feel free to PM me, especially with questions about London.

 

My sister has traveled extensively — Australia, Argentina, Europe, Brazil, etc. — any maintains that her favorite vacation, BY FAR, was Vietnam. Incredible food, incredible sights, very nice people, DIRT DIRT DIRT cheap and very worth the money...