Do U Travel?

[rs0460a]

A good many folks talk about "traveling" when they retire.* DW/me decided to "not wait", and in doing so, have traveled to more than 20 countries over the last 10+ years.* This was "instigated" by an observation we had about 15 years ago, when we were in a Vegas casino and saw some folks with their walkers, and oxygen tanks, at 3 a.m.!

My wife's feeling is we travel when we can still (physically) travel (off to Yellowstone in late spring, and a Med cruse in the fall - Venice <Italy> to Santorini <Greece>).

How about you?*

- Ron

[Nords]

Spouse is going to Bangkok & Pattaya next month. She claims she doesn't want the Navy's money, it's her last COBRA GOLD trip before she turns the job over to her Thai counterpart, she just enjoys the camaraderie and the shopping... yeah, whatever, honey, can you find us some cheap tae kwon do gear? Unfortunately Grandma & Grandpa will also be traveling next month so the kid & I will be staying home for her "summer" school class.

Gettysburg/Washington DC this summer. Our kid liked her school trip there last year and wants to do the entire Smithsonian Museum of Nat'l History before it closes for overhaul. I figure the U.S. Naval Academy's statute of limitations has expired, too, so it'll be safe to show her what fun we had in college and visit an old shipmate there. Stay in school, kid, and study hard.

The PRIDE OF HAWAII will arrive in the islands this June, so later this year we should start seeing a few discount cruise bargains. I'd really like to know what NCL would do if we showed up at Pier 10 some Sunday afternoon with our passports and our luggage only a couple hours before the underway, offering to pay some ridiculously low fare.

Kiffman Tae Kwon Do in Kahului, Maui is having their second annual tournament this November. If we're lucky enough to repeat last year's experience, we'll dine at McD's the night before and watch a local boxing club's matches. Quality father-daughter time!

2007... it'll be time to start the college-visit marathons. The process will no doubt be at least as interesting as the destinations...

[astromeria]

I'm very glad I climbed mountains when I was in my 20s--I sure as shootin' couldn't do that now* Regular sightseeing travel to Europe and India has been just fine in my 40s & 50s. I figure on doing whatever I want to do by age 65, just in case. Then if all I can do is drive a coupla miles to the beach and sit in a lounge chair, that ain't bad.

[Rustic23]

Not any more. In the past the ‘job’ has taken us to Europe, Asia, Canada, Mexico, and just about all of the States. Spent three years in Hawaii, three years in Europe, and visited other garden spots like Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Korea, Philippines, Japan, and about a dozen South Pacific Islands.

For those that do travel my question is: Why? One thing that came through in our travels is most people on this earth are just about the same and the earth looks the same in France as it does in California. There old things in England and Thailand and just about every country you go to. Do people travel because the think they have to see these things? I can understand travel to see friends and family. Travel to see the worlds largest banana or most crawfish? I do like cruising but that is more like a 24 hour restaurant than travel. I could care less about where the boat goes. I hate airplanes! Well I should say I hate coach and can’t afford first class. Now give the that seat up front with the other guy with a window facing forward and maybe flying would be fun. Personally I think people travel because they can come back and name drop all the places they have been. Yea! Like my first paragraph!

[grumpy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rs0460a A good many folks talk about "traveling" when they retire. DW/me decided to "not wait", and in doing so, have traveled to more than 20 countries over the last 10+ years. This was "instigated" by an observation we had about 15 years ago, when we were in a Vegas casino and saw some folks with their walkers, and oxygen tanks, at 3 a.m.! My wife's feeling is we travel when we can still (physically) travel (off to Yellowstone in late spring, and a Med cruse in the fall - Venice <Italy> to Santorini <Greece>). How about you? - Ron

Ron,

Sounds like we are travelling a similar route. In late June we are going to Utah (Zion and Bryce Canyon and the Utah Shakespearean Festival) and to Las Vegas. Then in October we are cruising from Rome to Monte Carlo, Naples, Athens, Santorini, Mykonos, Olympia and Turkey with finish in Venice. We took two cruises in 2004 and really enjoyed them (no travel in 2005 while we were furnishing the new house).

Grumpy

[Caroline]

Quote:

For those that do travel my question is: Why?

"The world is a book.
He who does not travel only reads one page."
--St. Augustine

Without travel "I would have wound up a little ignorant white Southern female, which was not my idea of a good life." -- Lauren Hutton

I made that same decision several years back, RS.* I think it started about the same time that people I knew started dying!* * *I hear you about those folks on oxygen tanks!* *(If you haven't been to Santorini or Venice, you have a REAL treat in front of you.)

Since then it's been Greece, Italy (twice), Ireland, about 10 backpacking trips through Utah over the years...* Mexico City... Omaha (!!!), New York and DC., Civil War battlefield tour...* Vienna...

I like a mix of city and outdoors.

Last year, Africa.* Climbed Kilimanjaro, took a safari, and saw Amsterdam on the way home.* (Seeing Africa forever changed my view of my own United States.)* This year it's Chicago in spring and Mt. Whitney in September. Everest base camp in Oct. in Nepal. Either that or we stay in Thailand and vicinity -- it all depends on what those pesky Maoists do next.

I plan on dying with my (hiking) boots on.

[MasterBlaster]

Quote:

I'd really like to know what NCL would do if we showed up at Pier 10 some Sunday afternoon with our passports and our luggage only a couple hours before the underway, offering to pay some ridiculously low fare.

It is my understanding that people used to be able to do that. Over on the cruise forums people used to post about getting this great deal or that. However post 9-11 they want to do a passport screening for un-desirable people (no that's not you Nords).

So As I understand it they cut off the bookings about 2 days prior to sailing.

They'll still probably cut you a deal (2-days before the cruise) but you'll have to do it over the phone with their office.

[poboy]

Going to Antigua, Guatemala in July to see artist, musician, composer,* playwriter, table waiting , city dumb kids volunteer son.* An art gallery is having a show? viewing? wine drinking ? beer bash? of* his works and we will be there.*

[Nords]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rustic23 For those that do travel my question is: Why? Do people travel because the think they have to see these things? Travel to see the worlds largest banana or most crawfish?

In our case it's been because there's an event to attend or because the kid wants to reprise a school trip at her pace. We also like including visits to old shipmates in the itinerary, especially if they're retired too and our paths wouldn't necessarily cross otherwise.

We grownups like to go diving on reefs for sights that we can't see in Hawaii. For some reason actually being there on the dive is better than the DVD, even though the surface sights & sounds could just as well be viewed electronically.

A lot of today's travel, especially before ER, is the logistical hassle of getting there & back. When you fly in for six or eight months, however, maybe travel's not such a bad experience anymore.

Otherwise I can't imagine why anyone would go to Wall Drug or "South of the Border"...

Quote:

Originally Posted by MasterBlaster It is my understanding that people used to be able to do that. Over on the cruise forums people used to post about getting this great deal or that. However post 9-11 they want to do a passport screening for un-desirable people (no that's not you Nords). So As I understand it they cut off the bookings about 2 days prior to sailing. They'll still probably cut you a deal (2-days before the cruise) but you'll have to do it over the phone with their office.

Well, I'm not always a big tipper...

We ask this question every time we're in the terminal and we just can't get a straight answer. We live literally 30 minutes from the pier and we're well-documented after our previous NCL cruises, so you'd think that they'd even give us a call on Saturday night if their bookings aren't going well!

But with a kid in school and bunny care to be arranged, we're not as footloose as we'd like to be. One day we'll get that pierhead jump down to a science.

[lazygood4nothinbum]

growing up did lots of boating with family in northeast, florida, bahamas & caribbean. otherwise haven't really seen much of the world, not even this country. never really bothered to travel on my own, preferred saving money and had responsibilities here anyway. always planned on a retired life of travel.

now i'm planning first for a few summers' travel to get out of the florida heat. my first few months away might be hawaii. i've heard so much about it; can't wait to see for myself. also i'd like to spend a summer or two in toronto & downeast but also i want to concentrate mostly on inland travel for now.

then i thought i'd venture off continent for maybe 6 months to a year at a time. i really want to see africa but i'm afraid if i ever pet a lion cub i just might never return home.

if i don't wind up as a park ranger in africa, i'll be selling the house, buying a boat and traveling like "afloat" around north & south america, visting coastal towns with winters diving the caribbean. or if i find someone to join maybe a 5 to 10-year circumnavigation.

i'm really looking foward to this new phase of life. i'm very impressed by stories others tell of their travels. love reading about them. you all are very inspiring.

ps

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rustic23 For those that do travel my question is: Why?

i can tell you precisely why i want to travel: i want to see just where it is i've been.

[MasterBlaster]

Last Minute Cruise Ideas (Part II)

What you can do at the port upon check-in/boarding is to ask how much an upgrade will be.

Some of the cruise forums suggest that at the port you can get that balcony room or the Royal suite for quite a bit less than it would cost if you had booked it directly. This assumes that these (upgrade) cabins are available of course. It's all supply and demand. If the supply is high you just might get a great deal.

It doesn't hurt to ask.

[FlowGirl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rustic23 For those that do travel my question is: Why?

Because its fun. *I definitely understand people who don't like the hassle of travel, but the spouse and I truly enjoy seeing new places. *Also I grew up surrounded by people who had barely left their hometown and had a very limited perspective on life and the world - I just knew at an early age that I didn't want to be like that. *

I also feel like international travel has made me a much more confident person that I would have been otherwise. *We always travel independetly, and knowing that I can step off of a plane pretty much anywhere, not speaking the language, and do alright, has I think developed my ability to handle other kinds of challenges in life.

RS - we are making travel a priority right now too. *Last two vacations were India and Spain. *There's enough of this world to see that I don't think we'll be bored in retirement. *Agree about health and fitness level - one of my most memorable trips involved biking 30 miles all over Angkor Wat. *I think we had a much different experience there than the people who took cabs (or tour buses) in the morning, went back to the hotel for lunch, and then popped back into the park just in time for sunset. *

[Jarhead*]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rustic23 Personally I think people travel because they can come back and name drop all the places they have been. Yea! Like my first paragraph!

Yep. *My youngest brother and his wife fit that category to a T.

They live about 300 miles from us, spent a couple nights with us after a trip they made to Europe. *They put us through about 4 hours of pictures, explanations, blah, blah, blah.

The next morning, my brother and I played a round of golf. *He started up again.

"Hey, Big Guy, we came out to play golf. *Glad you had a good time, but enough already. *As a matter of fact, if you ever put us through another marathon of pictures, etc. after one of your trips, I swear I'll drop my trousers and show your wife my scar, compliments of the N. Koreans. *(Had no pictures).

He knows I'll do it, and so we should be home free now.

[planning101]

It reminds me of going back to babyhood childhood where everything you see, feel and taste is new and exciting. Also, I am not planning to wait till my retirement age. Somehow it's hard to see an old woman carrying a backpack traveling from one quaint town to another in a foreign place, sleeping on hard surface, hiking across the jungles to reach the elusive waterfall or scenary atop the mountains, island-hopping via kayaking, or immersing myself in Japan while attending the language school and staying with the host family for a few months or so.

Just do it while I am able. While I am still energetic and willing to make a fool of myself. While there are still no major responsibilities (e.g. kids) to take care of.

[VoyT]

Caroline, love the St. Augustine quote.* I agree!

* *I think some folks are homebodies, and the rest of us have an itch to see what's out there.* I know I certainly wanted to see what was beyond the lower-class neighborhood I grew up in...

* * DH and I are in the same camp as a lot of you -- there's no guarantee we'll live to retirement age, or that we'll be physically able to travel when we get there, so let's go now!
* * * Most of our travel has been in the US, though we've been to Japan, and I've been to Australia.* Personally, I hope to walk on the Great Wall some day!

[donheff]

Why do you travel? Because we like it - just like some others don't. Most people I know travel to places more exotic and/or expensive than we do so it sure isn't about name dropping.

Last fall we went to the Galapagos Islands. That would bore some folks to tears, but DW and I liked it more than any trip we have been on. This year it was San Francisco a couple of months ago and Hawaii in August (DW gets some of the cost covered to attend ABA meetings). NY City this weekend. Hopefully, Belize for some diving at Christmas. When DW retires we have budgeted for a lot more trips (unless the big crash gets us).

Don

[Nords]

It occurs to me that another good reason to travel is for experiences that I've simply been unable to duplicate here on Oahu at any price, let alone at the prices I'm accustomed to paying: Thai food and Thai massages.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jarhead* "Hey, Big Guy, we came out to play golf. *Glad you had a good time, but enough already.

Mighta been a revenue opportunity. You could have bet the game on him paying you money if you win or you agreeing to view another four hours of travel photos if he wins...

Of course your siblings are probably too smart experienced to be goaded into playing golf with you for money.

[sgeeeee]

We have always enjoyed travel. When we were still working, we tried to make one multi-week trip outside North America every year and as many shorter trips as our schedules would allow throughout US, Canada and Mexico.

Today, in 3/4 time retirement, we make about 20 trips a year that are over 1 week in duration. A lot of these invovle camping and/or backpacking. We are doing this while we still can. We figure we can do cruises and typical tourist trips when we are too old to enjoy a more rugged vacation. So far, we still make about 1 trip outside North America each year.

[Eagle43]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jarhead* Yep. *My youngest brother and his wife fit that category to a T. They live about 300 miles from us, spent a couple nights with us after a trip they made to Europe. *They put us through about 4 hours of pictures, explanations, blah, blah, blah. The next morning, my brother and I played a round of golf. *He started up again. "Hey, Big Guy, we came out to play golf. *Glad you had a good time, but enough already. *As a matter of fact, if you ever put us through another marathon of pictures, etc. after one of your trips, I swear I'll drop my trousers and show your wife my scar, compliments of the N. Koreans. *(Had no pictures). He knows I'll do it, and so we should be home free now.

Hey Jarhead, you ever play St. Andrews?* How about Pebble Beach?* Hawaii, anyone can tell you, has some magnificent golf courses.* Tom Friedman starts his "World is Flat" book talking about playing golf in India.* You could combine your favorite pastime with travel, make some slides, and bore your in-laws.* And, you still have that scar!* *

[Jarhead*]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eagle43 Hey Jarhead, you ever play St. Andrews?* How about Pebble Beach?* Hawaii, anyone can tell you, has some magnificent golf courses.* Tom Friedman starts his "World is Flat" book talking about playing golf in India.* You could combine your favorite pastime with travel, make some slides, and bore your in-laws.* And, you still have that scar!* *

Eagle43: Geography makes very little difference to me re: Golf. I've played Pebble Beach 5 or 6 times. (Tournaments). I enjoyed myself a helluva lot about 4 times, when I was hitting and scoring well. A couple of times, when I wasn't, not so much. (About a 300 mile trip).

St. Andrews is more of a museum than a golf course. (Not fond of museums).

Hawaii has some fine golf courses, but so has Calif.

Different strokes.

Have fun traveling, but no slides, please.

Jarhead