I've never left the country, and I've never been further east than Memphis, Tennessee (I'm from Arkansas). Mainly finances, but also obligations at home. I promised my boyfriend that if I actually graduate from college we'll go to Europe the summer before I start Law School. I want to go EVERYWHERE!!!

It's more about priorities than it is about money. My family is not rich by any means -- they are pretty solidly middle class. My parents both believe that experiences are more valuable than things, therefore they sunk a lot of money into travelling, education, concerts/theater, etc. Meanwhile, our living room couch is about 30 years old, my mom is perfectly content to lounge around the house in jeans and thrift store tee shirts, and when I was growing up and my sister and I begged to go out to a restaurant for dinner, "It's too expensive" was a frequent reason why we didn't. ;) I know plenty of people who have just as much money as my family or more and don't travel because it's "too expensive," yet they think nothing of shelling out $40,000 for a new car when they have older ones that work just fine.

I'm not placing a value judgment on this, because I'm not always in agreement with my parents on the "experiences are always more valuable than things" train. But it really isn't THAT difficult to travel if it's something you really want to do.

Also, a lot of people assume that travel is more expensive than it is. My trip to Austria and Germany my sophomore year of high school, for example, was about $1300 (of which I paid for half and my parents covered the other half). Granted, that's not petty cash, but it's also not a staggering sum of money. I know middle-class families who bought their kids that much in birthday presents every year, easily. And my father travels very often (2-3 vacations a year plus business trips) and does tons of research while planning trips, plus he always makes a cursory effort to learn the language of the country before visiting. I know people who have gone to Mexico, stayed in the Best Western in the tourist zone of Mexico City, rented a car to drive down to Acapulco, blown $100 bucks a night on clubs, etc. -- of course that's going to be expensive! But if you're willing to stay in some smaller hotels where the owner doesn't speak English and the room is the normal size of a Mexican hotel room (i.e., breadbox-sized), you walk around the city instead of driving and take the bus instead of renting a car . . . to, oh, Zijuatenejo instead of a touristy place like Acapulco -- things start getting a lot cheaper. Again, as you said, because my dad knows so much about most of these countries and has travelled a lot, I've had advantages that a lot of people don't have in regards to this. But making an effort to know what you're doing really does cut back on costs pretty drastically.

I wasn't talking about YOU specifically. I don't know your reasons...I'm referring to people who ARE scared or unaware of the beauty of other cultures...These people do exist. I've met them...If this isn't you, I'm glad :) No one SAYS someone HAS to leave the US...There are plenty of things here to see and do in one lifetime...

I fully admit that the reason I have traveled so extensively is because of my parents. I'm thankful for it and I don't take it for granted. I've visited many Asian countries because I lived in Japan and it was easier (and cheaper!) than flying from the US.

There have been trips I paid for on my own like my Spring Break trips to San Diego, Key West, and the Bahamas but my parents were giving me some money when I went to school.

Now that I'm on my own, I can't travel as much since I can't afford it. My trip to London a few weeks ago was on my parents' dime (but it was a Hanukkah gift!) and it was family vacation. I have been saving up some $$$ from my paychecks because my friends and me want to take a Greek Islands cruise this summer where I'll get to see Athens and Crete.

I'm glad that I've been able to see so many different places. It's opened my eyes a lot to different people and cultures. Traveling overseas is an amazing experience and, if you can afford it, you should leave your own country at least once.

Since our families are paying for it all, who wants to buy an original Picasso and bid for Donald Trump's assets? ;)

-Rudey

The only way I've traveled has been on my parents' dime! Since my father's passing, my mother and I only get to spend a limited amount of time together thoughout the year and this is how we spend our time together....BUT IT ADDS UP!! I work for a non-profit now and they don't pay you a lot! Add in working in the DC area and rent on a 1-br being $1000+?!! Forget it...I can barely afford to cross the street!

You will have an awesome time, I wish I did it before law school :)

While I have had the opportunity to travel extensively within the US, I didn't have the opportunity to travel overseas until I worked a summer abroad in college. And my parents (who were well into their 50s by then) had never gone overseas until they came to visit me. They were very generous with their assistance in paying for my trip, which I am extremely grateful for.

I think money definitely plays a big factor. While you can sacrifice some comfort to extend your dollar, many people would rather choose not to. And that's okay, it's their prerogative. I absolutely want to be able to offer my children the opportunities my parents were able to offer me (and we were definitely not rich, either, while I was growing up) and expose them to different cultures and ways of thinking.

I've been to Mexico, Canada, England, Ireland and Scotland, as well as 45 states.

As far as places I'd like to go, I've always said I'd like to visit every continent, except maybe Antarctica. Because that's just too damn cold.

Yeah I have some friends in NYC. These girls are soooo cute. They work for non-profits too and went to expensive private schools growing up and then to great colleges. Their parents help with rent, food, clothing, and travel. I think they're quite the lucky characters! :)

-Rudey

I've been to Mexico, Canada, Caribbean and France. And plan to hit more every single year for the rest of my life. This year- Ireland.

My parents are too busy wasting my inheritance on trips to Alaska and Hawaii.

Damn them!

I've only been to Canada and Mexico, although I have visited every state in the Union except for Alaska.

My failure to travel overseas isn't due to a lack of money or a lack of desire. Its due to a lack of TIME. When I was a child and didn't have the choice of where to vacation, I spent my summers in Arizona visiting my grandparents. When I got older, my summers were spent in SAT, LSAT and bar prep, summer school, internships and work. After I graduated, I accepted a job that didn't permit me to takeextended time off. Its only been since last September that I've had the freedom to take more than a week off.

I promised my relatives in Greece that I was going to go spend a few weeks with them this summer, but even now, my personal circumstances are conspiring against me and I doubt I'll be able to go. I'd love to say that I could go in the summer of 2006, but the next round of contract negotiations will be in full swing by then. I'll be lucky if my boss lets me go home to brush my teeth and change my clothes. :(

If you haven't guessed, my inability to go overseas is a real sore spot!

My parents lent me the money. I had a lot I had saved up in the bank ahead of time, and I paid the rest off within a year or two of getting back. I realize I'm lucky in this aspect.

It's like S&S said... my parents brought me up to believe that experiences are worth more. Sure, we may all drive old clunky cars and not have a lot of material things. But if you give up eating out once a week or those new shoes or something like that, the money adds up. I know people who have saved their pocket change for two years and have been able to afford nice vacations. If you want to do it badly enough, you'll find a way.

My friend bought a Picasso. He was really bragging about how cultured he was. His parents pay for his school and he borrowed some money from them to buy it. He can't believe everyone doesn't own their own Picasso.

-Rudey

My friend worked 80 hours a week. He always bragged about what a great job he had and how rich he was. He bought 150 dollar Uggs and expensive suits, yet he still whined like a little girl when other people's parents took them on vacations because travelling was "too expensive" for him.



Does anybody else think that's hilarious? Because I certainly do.