Last year was the first time I went to Europe twice. In fact I managed to make it 3 times in 12 months. Though currently I have no plans to visit anytime soon. If it makes you happy then do it. 

I did the same thing last year, spent new years eve and winter break, then went back in Oct. for 2 months.  I’ll probably be back again this Oct, might just stay until new years this time. 

how do you afford to go so often?  And what kind of job allows you so much vacation time?  Tell me so i can go as often as that!!!

I am a typical college student with plenty of time, but empty wallet. 3 months ago I went to europe, and my mom almost killed me. 

Usually, it’s once per year.  However, there have been a few years in the 80’s, late 90’s, and 2001 – I happened to travel over there twice each yr.

 
I mostly travel eastern europe and always in the low season, cheaper prices and much cheaper airfare.  I picked up a second job last summer. 

Usually once a year to go visit my cousin in london which i usually tie into a few other places while i’m across the pond.
cheers
howie

Hmmm. Justifying traveling. Why justify anything you do? If you can afford to do something that you like, I am not sure why you need to justify it.

I am fairly well traveled. My aunt asked just asked me if I knew how many countries I had visited off the top of my head on Saturday. I couldn’t, I had to actually figure it out. Then came the response I often get when people hear how many places I’ve visited – “wow, you are very lucky”. For my early travels (teenage years), yes I was lucky to have parents who helped me out. But the majority of my trips were ones I planned and paid for. I have made choices in my life that allowed me to travel. I travel less now (every few years) because I have chosen to buy property and furnish my place (no more hand me downs). Last summer I went to Spain and Portugal. This summer I am saving up to buy some new furniture. Choices. I am planning to take a deferred leave from my job in 4 years so I can travel during the off season for a few months. Less money coming in for a few years – great opportunity in the future.

Now, if you are NOT funding your travels on your own… then you may want to get creative in your justifications! []

To answer the question of how often I travel. In University, I traveled almost every year – finding summer courses that took place overseas (still allowed me to work for half the summer). When I lived in the UK for two years I traveled every 2 months for 1 week stints. Now I plan a trip every 1-2 years. I like to go for a minimum of 4 weeks at a time (summers off). Most, but not all, of my trips have been to Europe.

Before moving, it was 1-2 trips per year, but it was only 2 when Icelandair had really good offers! I stayed with friends part of my trips, which also helped with costs.

Well, this will be my second trip ever, and will come slightly more than a year after I got back from my previous one (can’t believe it’s been THAT LONG!!)
 
If I’m not TOTALLY broke after this one, I might try to winter break trip idea too…
 
And yeah, I’m a college student with a stupid job that doesn’t mind if you leave as long as you come back (since there’s such a high rate of people realizing how stupid it is and quitting). I actually became a college student after my last trip… before then I had just been saving up money for a LONG time and didn’t mind blowing it on something awesome

 
That seems to be the mentality of most North Americans.  A lot of my friends talk about wanting to travel “some day” but they go spend $40 for a night out and they eat mostly fast food at $5 a pop.  I still go out a bit, but I try to have a few drinks before, or start my night at the bar where a good friend works and I can drink for cheap. 
 
Another thing people don’t realize is that when you travel for 2 months or more, it gets a bit cheaper.  First off, you loose that vacation mentality where you just want to spend your money in the time allowed for the sake of enjoyment, you’re more concerned with better value purchases and the fact that you’re traveling for so long is the real enjoyment of it.  Secondly, that amount of time justifies cutting off your bills at home; cable, internet, cell phone (most companies allow you to put your contract on hold @ $5 per month), electricity bill should be a lot cheaper, etc.  All of that will save you a couple hundred.  Now if I could just find a way to save more on my auto insurance while I’m gone. [>:] 
 
 
 
 

Rob, can’t you just put it on hold while you’re gone? My company had no problem with it. Actually, I cancelled it right before I left, then my mom decided she’d like to use my car while I was away, so I re-activated my insurance policy… and it was cheaper than it was before I put it on hold!!! Look into it!
 
But yeah, I totally understand that mentality of the “some day” people. My travelbuddy that just bailed on me seems to have that kind of thing going on. He has all this $ saved up, but is moving back to our home state and getting an apartment with someone like 2 months before we would’ve left. He seemed afraid like he wasn’t going to have enough for some reason. Apparently he is desperately afraid of credit cards too, which is weird to me; if it wasn’t for creditcards, I wouldn’t even be able to go to Europe! Then when he finally pulled the plug on his end he started saying all this stuff about how he wants to “save his money” so when he has a family one day he isn’t going to be screwed. Mind you, he’s 2 yrs younger than me (I’m 23, almost 24)… I mean, I can totally respect not wanting to be in the hole when you have kids, but dude… it’s like the amount of money you will save up while working at the tire store is going to cover it anyway. It sucks because I know how much he would have a blast over there, and by continually putting off, he’s just never going to do it.
 
I just have the mentality of, why not do this when I’m young. I don’t have kids, I don’t have a mortgage, and I don’t have a preachy wife telling me not to go, while she blows our savings on shoes. I have my whole life to sit around in America working at a stupid job I hate. At least when I’m at that point, I can look back and say “man, remember when I was in [insert awesome country here]? That was awesome.”

hmmm.. I didn’t ask about having it “put on hold” specifically, but I did mention my situation and they said all they could do is drop me to the minimum coverage.  Maybe my company doesn’t do the on hold thing, or maybe they were just being a typical insurance company- robbing me for every dollar they can.  If you cancel your insurance and don’t buy another, the state will remove your liscense plate so you can’t drive, so that isn’t really worth it.  But I wonder how quickly they come looking for it…or what happens if they can’t find it.  [] 
 
Yeah, call me selfish, but I’m going to enjoy my life however I choose for as long as I can. 
 
I think I am going to start trying to get some of my friends inspired about traveling this winter break.  Convince them to save up this summer, throw guide books at them, keep mentioning the incredible beer, etc.  I don’t like being a manipulative person, but they want to do this…they just don’t know it yet. 

I go on a trip every year, but it’s not always Europe.  There are lots of other places that I want to see to.

My 1st trip was in 2001 (2 weeks), and then I didn’t return until 2005 (did the month+ backpacking thing).  Now i’m making my 3rd trip back this summer for another 2 weeks. 

In between the Europe trips, i’ve taken 3 major trips in Canada (both the East and West coasts as well as central), and 2 trips to the Caribbean/Central America. 

After this summers trip to Europe, i’m planning on taking a little break.  I’m planning on taking a trip to South East Asia or South Africa (probably March or April 2008 for about a month).

ive been saving money for the last three summers not know what to spend it on, first it was a new laptop, then helping pay for my car, and then the gas for that.  SO much money gets sucked into my automobile.  Well i made the choice to go this summer but only with the help of money ive loaned from the parents, plus birthday and christmas gifts in the form of a planeticket.  Im in college now and in a really competitive major.  Dont know if i can go again anytime soon, I was hopeing that after i graduate taking three months in europe before i start the real world, and maybe before that a cross country road trip to the west coast over a month and a half.
 
I have to work the rest of the summer to pay back my parents and then ill probably just have enough to do and break even.  But credit cards are the devil, seriously its dangerous to spend money you dont have unless its from your parents
 
I just wish that when i join the work force ill have a job that i can enjoy and that allows me enough time to vacation, at least one month out of the year.

I went 7 times in 2006 and have 2 under my belt so far this year.
Sound impressive?  Not really, I live in the UK about half an hour from Stansted airport which is a major hub for low cost airlines.  You can fly to more or less any European destination from there.

My work mates take time off to paint their living rooms or shit like that, thats what weekends are for.

I travel to Europe 2 or 3 times a year. How you might ask? Marry a German girl They are very family oriented and always want to go back home.  Then we always hit up one new spot per trip.   How do we afford it? Its simle…we dont keep up with the Jones. I would rather take a trip and learn about another culture, or meet someone new then have the newest 56000” TV.

About once every other year, not nearly enough.

Whenever I can afford it, and have the opportunity.
Last year I went twice, that was great.
Don’t know that I will get to Europe at all in 2007, though.
That’s just how it goes.

Seven times, maybe eight.  First time in 1993 (high school exchange trip), was broke all of my student life  (though I did spend a summer in Hong Kong, but accomodation was free, and I funded my spending by working there) and didn’t make it back till 2000.
 
I didn’t go in 2001 because I poured every extra penny into paying off my student loan. Made it back in 2002, and have been back every year since (I think I went twice in one year in 2005).
 
Paying for the trips hasn’t been a problem since I started working.  It’s the time I don’t have. It’s a freaken long flight from the west coast to Europe
 
My mom USED to freak out whenever she finds out I am planning on going to Europe (again, her words not mine).  One day she was complaining about the money I “waste” on my trips.  I pointed out that she spend WAY MORE per day on her visits to Hong Kong (which I pay for) when she doesn’t even have to pay for accommodation (she stays with family).  I could account for where every single penny of my money went, can she account for where she spend MY money.  That ended the conversations pretty quickly.  She hasn’t bothered me about it since.
 
My co-workers used to do the whole “you must be rich to go to europe all the time”, that is until they got to know me.  I have now even converted a few of them to my side. 
 
If you are a student, travel as much as you can now.  Another few thousand on to that student loan ain’t a big deal.  That is my one BIG regret.  While you are a student, you have the time, but not the money.  Once you start working, you have the money, but not the time.  You will never get a chance do that 3 month trip EVER AGAIN (well unless you quit your job). 

Yes, But you are closer to Australia and Asia then me from east coast


Exactly. I really regret that I bought a car.