32 and Never Been Abroad or done anything Interesting

_Brian · 08-02-2016 06:11PM

Speedwell wrote: »

You probably won't hear this from anyone but a former resident, but if you really want a lovely time, try Texas in the spring. Stick to the Austin countryside and the central-west portion of the city of Houston. In Austin, particularly in the outlying town of Fredericksburg, you'll get local wineries, farms full of bluebonnets and lavender, gorgeous scenery, horse rides (if you like that), concerts and cultural events of all sorts, and restaurants to die for. In Houston, there is an entire district of museums and galleries, but the Menil Collection is always a jewel and the best place in the city to take a picnic lunch and a book (it's free), the opera and symphony are world-class, and did I mention restaurants? Let me mention restaurants. Let me mention restaurants again. The beach is reasonably nearby and the weather will be warm enough to enjoy it.

I spent a few stints with Work in Texas and hated the place, based in Dallas, but I'd never return, last time work wanted me to go I refused.

Personal preference I suppose.

Hemerodrome · 08-02-2016 06:13PM

I see no reason why the OP should take trips to parts of Europe that are so close they might as well just go to the other side of Ireland. **** the Isle of Man, inbred kip. Go and see Florence, Rome, Nice, Marrakech, the alps, the Sahara, the Adriatic coasts, Athens and plenty of others that are only a single flight but offer some real change and exotic scenery and cookery. And don't overplan, go and get lost and enjoy it. And don't wait to have company, just as good alone, far more flexible, make new friends and ride loads of European crackers. Tell the girls I said hello and tell the fellas sorry I wiped their eye. Go and have a ball.

Cienciano · 08-02-2016 06:14PM

Reactor wrote: »

Maybe a week in Rome might be nice, although Simon Reeves Greece documentary last night was the reason I made this thread.

Do you be bored on City Breaks? Like a city the size of London or Paris will be mostly just housing and offices wont it? It cant all be shops and museums, do you join tours or just make a shopping list before you go and tick the places off as you visit?

Get a guide book. Top 10 guide book or something. Paris and London have enough famous things to see to keep you occupied for 5 days solid.

Speedwell · 08-02-2016 06:14PM

_Brian wrote: »

I spent a few stints with Work in Texas and hated the place, based in Dallas, but I'd never return, last time work wanted me to go I refused.

Personal preference I suppose.

No, I understand, I can't stand Dallas either. Truth. I was in nearby Fort Worth when the staff of the hotel I was staying in (also for work) decided I was a witch because I had a deck of Tarot cards on top of a pile of books in my room, and refused to clean my room for a week. Note I didn't recommend Dallas to the OP, heh.

Aglomerado · 08-02-2016 06:33PM

Emmitt Whispering Visitor wrote: »

Do city breaks. A few days in Paris, Berlin etc are a good start. Lots to see and do without the club scene.

+1. And stay in hostels - not necessarily dormitories - if you want your own space you can get a single room, but the communal kitchen/ living areas mean you can interact with other guests if you like. This is what I do when I travel by myself.

tuisginideach · 08-02-2016 06:33PM

City of Bath is a beautiful place too ... and the Cotswolds.

Junkyard Tom · 08-02-2016 06:46PM

Aquadome Tralee.

Ken. · 08-02-2016 07:01PM

You don't have to leave the country. For the last 4 years my girlfriend and I have been trying to visit as many of the OPW's national monuments as possible. On their map there are 92 places and we've been to more than half now. Pick an area where there are a few grouped close enough together and try get to them all. Its great fun.

We camp and most places are €10 per night to set up a tent

trebormax · 08-02-2016 07:02PM

Reactor wrote: »

What would you do/where would you go to start if you were in your thirties and had never been anywhere or done anything exciting? I dont like partying/nightclubs so that kind of holiday can be ruled out, I suppose nice views and interesting museums/walks would be the kind Im looking for, moneys not really an issue, any suggestions welcome...

I realize its not quite the same thing, but at 27 I've started to think along the same lines. I basically do the UK a few times a year, thinking of switching up because I have never really done further afield properly

Oranage2 · 08-02-2016 07:10PM

I've been in over 35 countries, I love travelling, Thailand and south east Asia has it all really imo.

Cienciano · 08-02-2016 07:12PM

Aglomerado wrote: »

+1. And stay in hostels - not necessarily dormitories - if you want your own space you can get a single room, but the communal kitchen/ living areas mean you can interact with other guests if you like. This is what I do when I travel by myself.

Communal kitchens and living areas? I'd rather stay at home

wakka12 · 08-02-2016 08:26PM

BUDAPEST

mikeym · 08-02-2016 08:30PM

Cienciano wrote: »

A week in New York or London. Both great cities with loads of world famous landmarks, great restaurants and no language barrier.

+1

I loved going to both last year

And I highly recommend the Open Bus Tours to get around both cities.

To Elland Back · 08-02-2016 08:35PM

I think the key to success is finding a place that is pretty straightforward to get to without too many connections, a climate you find comfortable and the type of food you enjoy. Any info on that front?

Cienciano · 08-02-2016 08:51PM

To Elland Back wrote: »

I think the key to success is finding a place that is pretty straightforward to get to without too many connections, a climate you find comfortable and the type of food you enjoy. Any info on that front?

And no language barrier. New York or London

JohnCleary · 08-02-2016 08:58PM

Cienciano wrote: »

And no language barrier. New York or London

Nonsense. I've been to plenty of countries with language barriers. OK so some of them (such as Thailand) most people spoke English. But go to rural Vietnam / Cambodia / Laos and don't be surprised if people have no English... no problem!

Even when we were in the bowels of Ukraine with no English, we got by... felt a little more dodgy over there though.

Wesser · 09-02-2016 02:08AM

Hi there. I remember your original
Post and it's great to see your planning a nice trip. I would suggest keeping it simple with a 5 day trip to a city in Southern Europe such as nice, Rome or Athens. Don't over think it just pick somewhere and book.

TheLastMohican · 09-02-2016 02:33AM

Oh for God's sake. Why all the sanctimonious b/s.
Go out, have a few jars, then a few puffs and afterwards get pulled by a cougar who keeps you locked in a penthouse for 48 hours on a diet of fillet steak, green beans, potatoes and sex.

MarkAnthony · 09-02-2016 02:39AM

Being someone who 'peaked' in their early twenties in regard to the 'interesting ****' all I can say is enjoy whats ahead. As you've said money isn't an issue, enjoy yourself, the rest will come.

daelight · 09-02-2016 02:52AM

TheLastMohican wrote: »

Oh for God's sake. Why all the sanctimonious b/s.
Go out, have a few jars, then a few puffs and afterwards get pulled by a cougar who keeps you locked in a penthouse for 48 hours on a diet of fillet steak, green beans, potatoes and sex.

Lol,, I knew a Dutch guy this happened to while backpacking Aus.. and he was captured by an Irish cougar no less! After his 2 day 'ordeal' he was twice, ney, THREE times the man he was before he was led out of that pub near Kings Cross ....

jimgoose · 09-02-2016 12:14PM

Aglomerado wrote: »

+1. And stay in hostels - not necessarily dormitories - if you want your own space you can get a single room, but the communal kitchen/ living areas mean you can interact with other guests if you like. This is what I do when I travel by myself.

I would rather lock my self in the coal-shed and shave my head with a cheesegrater than go within a thousand yards of a hostel. Bored, sophisticated local ladies will assume that you are poor and carrying some hideous disease, and will instead wish to bounce up-and-down on the man who is staying here:

http://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-0711-ibis-antibes-sophia-antipolis/index.shtml

...which he can nowadays do for a rather reasonable €60 per night. I've used this one a few times, and I recommend it - quite nice.

enda1 · 09-02-2016 02:03PM

Go skiing for a week.

esforum · 09-02-2016 02:11PM

few city breaks to start with, usual places. London, Paris, Madrid or Amsterdam.

Then railing across europe. Fly into spmewhere cheap and easy to start from and go. If moneys no object at all then dont book, if you want to be sensible then do some prepaying and planning. Open tickets can work out well

If it turns out the travel bug has well and truly bitten, open air tickets.

From a meet people point of view group events like the charity walks, etc can work well if you are shy.

esforum · 09-02-2016 02:11PM

few city breaks to start with, usual places. London, Paris, Madrid or Amsterdam.

Then railing across europe. Fly into spmewhere cheap and easy to start from and go. If moneys no object at all then dont book, if you want to be sensible then do some prepaying and planning. Open tickets can work out well

If it turns out the travel bug has well and truly bitten, open air tickets.

From a meet people point of view group events like the charity walks, etc can work well if you are shy.

Aglomerado · 09-02-2016 02:47PM

jimgoose wrote: »

I would rather lock my self in the coal-shed and shave my head with a cheesegrater than go within a thousand yards of a hostel. Bored, sophisticated local ladies will assume that you are poor and carrying some hideous disease, and will instead wish to bounce up-and-down on the man who is staying here:

http://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-0711-ibis-antibes-sophia-antipolis/index.shtml

...which he can nowadays do for a rather reasonable €60 per night. I've used this one a few times, and I recommend it - quite nice.

Good price.

Just as an aside: The types of hostels I stay in are rather good with lots of extras - here's one I stayed in (lovely quiet private room) recently: https://www.tripadvisor.ie/Hotel_Review-g189158-d1201652-Reviews-Lisboa_Central_Hostel-Lisbon_Lisbon_District_Central_Portugal.html

Much more to them than stinky gap year backpackers!

(I just find hotels a little bit impersonal if I'm away for more than a couple of days)

jimgoose · 09-02-2016 03:21PM

Aglomerado wrote: »

Good price.

Just as an aside: The types of hostels I stay in are rather good with lots of extras - here's one I stayed in (lovely quiet private room) recently: https://www.tripadvisor.ie/Hotel_Review-g189158-d1201652-Reviews-Lisboa_Central_Hostel-Lisbon_Lisbon_District_Central_Portugal.html

Much more to them than stinky gap year backpackers! (I just find hotels a little bit impersonal if I'm away for more than a couple of days)

Mmm, not bad and I certainly see your point. However, to me there's nothing wrong with "impersonal" while on a trip, and the word "hostel" still makes me break into a cold sweat at the thought of sharing bunk-beds with a bisexual Rastafarian named Juergen. :pac:

Aglomerado · 09-02-2016 03:56PM

jimgoose wrote: »

Mmm, not bad and I certainly see your point. However, to me there's nothing wrong with "impersonal" while on a trip, and the word "hostel" still makes me break into a cold sweat at the thought of sharing bunk-beds with a bisexual Rastafarian named Juergen. :pac:

I did see a naked Danish guy in one of the primitive hostels along the Camino de Santiago. He'd pulled his jocks up by the time I found my glasses.

jimgoose · 09-02-2016 04:10PM

Aglomerado wrote: »

I did see a naked Danish guy in one of the primitive hostels along the Camino de Santiago. He'd pulled his jocks up by the time I found my glasses.

This is the very thing - it's always Naked Danish Guy with his underpants issues, and never some hot young Bo Derek lookalike. :pac:

the_syco · 09-02-2016 04:10PM

Goto Amsterdam. Don't drink. Get high. Or stay sober, visit all the museums, Anne Franks house, Auschwitz, etc.

RobertKK · 09-02-2016 04:14PM

the_syco wrote: »

Goto Amsterdam. Don't drink. Get high. Or stay sober, visit all the museums, Anne Franks house, Auschwitz, etc.

That would be slightly out of the way...

32 and Never Been Abroad or done anything Interesting

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