Do you think travel overseas is a luxury only a few ones can enjoy?

[kitty71]

and you DO need money for doing it? I have heard mixed reviews about it. I mean there are people I know that even can enjoy a trip locally domestically or they dont eve know their own country beause some things are expensive and much less will have enough money to travel overseas.

Even if you find the cheapest fares in food, accomodations, tourist attractions plane tickets and dont buy lot of stuff just like small things like souvenirs, still you need quite amount of money to travel to other countries. Four years ago I travelled with 2 cousins to Europe for like 3 weeks. I did not have a lot of money back then to travel and my cousins and I even split accomodations, food fares so it won't cost a lot of money individually but still I spent some amount for sure One of those couisns have more money than me so he took the advtange to buy things that he knew he will never buy in our country so he bought a few expensive stuff even gifts for some people but also to show off by saying " I bought this in Europe". This was my cousin 2nd time in Europe as he travelled 2 years back before his sister and me. My cousin is of the idea of you only live once so you might as well spend everything you have, even if you then owe a lot in credit cards and you end up in just debts, that is my cousin motto. Well personally that is not my motto at all. I will never want to owe any debts to anyone, much less banks just because I have to take a trip to another country and enjoy life. I never travel for the reason of shopping and still you do spend some money. My male cousin once said to me in Europe: "Do not refrain from buying a thing you like here, cause you never know if you will return again and besides that is the reason you have a credit card, worry later you later will pay it". Im not like my cousin Im too conscious about my money and how to spend it, Im a frugal person and I hate paying big amount of money on a credit card and have debts.

Updates

+1 y

Anyway like I said I split with my cousins back then and we tried to book cheap accomodations and try to eat just like sandwiches or hamburgers or pasta, simple stuff and still you spend money on it. Overall this trip for me cost me more than I thought and my work is not of a top executive or anything similar. So at the end traveling even if you find the cheapest thing in many things, still it is expensive and not everyone can do it and you do have to spend more than enough money to really

Updates

+1 y

enjoy it, even if you want to save money little bit, you just can't.

Currently things are not the same economy wise , things are expensive everywhere, in this times and more so with the crisis. My male cousin one more time is planning his 3rd time to Europe this year again with his sister and he asked me to join them one more time, he says this time we won't be 3 weeks like before only 12 days and less cities, less $$ he told me, yea right

[Red_Arrow]

It is not a luxury that most Americans can afford these days. Many years ago it was much easier to afford, but exchange rates have changed, as well is income levels among Americans. I have driven into Mexico a few times, and that is still easy to do. And a friend has traveled through much of Canada which includes foreign cultures in one nation. Also, back when those trips were made, passports were not needed.
I was in the Navy back then and traveled to many countries around the world. We were respected back then and the people were glad to see us. Unfortunately, that is not as true any more. The exchange rates are not so much in our favor, and Americans have lost respect in much of the world.
Back then I took a month of leave from the Navy and had my wife fly to join me. We stayed at nice hotels, but they were not big name hotels at all. We ate most of our meals at local restaurants, but some were delivered by the hotel to our room. We traveled through three countries and enjoyed it all! I know we would not be able to afford that trip these days.

[kitty71]

Yes now is difficult and still there are people who travel like 5 times a year. I know those people. I know you only live once and of coruse is nice to travel, get to knoew ne coutnries, culture people and food but if you dont have money sorry you can't do that, is that simple regardless if where you go you try to save many things but at the end even if you save in many things at the trip you at th eend spend money even more if your trip was for instance Asia or Europe. My male cousin loves to travel cause he says you only live once sure but he earn good money to do so and like to show off and brag when he travels (something I dislike in people who travels, bragging and shwoing off just because they can afford it and others can't) For instance he went to Europe in 2015 withhis best close male friend (his friend alreayd passeda away at 47, one year and a half ago), then 2017 he travel again to Europe with me and his sister. In 2018 he went to Mexico with his deceased guy. At the end of 2019 he w3ent to Cuba with the deceased friend ( his last trip from the friend). In 2020 like in Feb before the pandemic started one more time to Mexico with his girlfriend. He went in 2019 to Peru with his kids. Last year around October one more time to Mexico with again his girlfriend. Aned just the end of this year again to Mexico this time with his teenage kids. ANd he is planning to go to Antigua Guatemala and again his 3rd time to Europe in August with his sister and he asked me to join him one more time.

[kitty71]

But the odd thing is he had never ever had visited the USA cause he does not have a US visa, and also because I remember him saying when I went with Europe with him that for him USA he is not interested in visiting it, USA can't compare to Europe, he once said, he does not find anything appealiing if he visits USA. Also he had visited Panama.

[MTC29]

For the average north American: Canadian or USA, international travel is far from being out of reach. Shop airfares closely, and well in advance, and you'll be amazed at how cheap it can be fly. Book at the last minute and you'll be paying a huge money.

Once abroad, local hotels are comfortable and inexpensive. I used to say that if I was the only one in the hotel who spoke English, I knew that I was staying in the right place! The same with restaurants. Buses are inexpensive, and you get a chance to mingle with the locals. The problem is that if you don't speak the language, you are quickly ignored.

Credit cards, I should say the right credit cards, can save you a big money while traveling. I've taken a lot of free flights and stayed a lot of nights in free hotel rooms thanks to credit cards.

As I've grown older, I tend to prefer staying in the Hilton. I also like traveling by cruise ship. Yes, it is very expensive, but I don't have to lift a finger to do anything: on board ship, everything is included.

[kitty71]

Why credit cards can save me big money?

[InventorofWarp]

You can get rewards for flying with the right credit card company.

[kitty71]

@InventorofWarp I know that rewards but I barely use credit cards the reason I dont have rewards on my credit cards.

[MTC29]

I have an American Express card which is tied with the Hilton. I also have cards which generate airline miles. In both cases, those cards have saved me a lot of money, on flights, and hotel rooms. Take a look at various card to find what you need.

[kitty71]

The thing is taht debit cards do not give you rewards only y credit and I barely use credit cards I only use debit. To be honest I use my credit card jult like twice a year that is the only time I use a real credit card the rest only debit I use.

[InventorofWarp]

Dude.
You're 50.
What's your credit score?
I got my first credit card when I was 19. I use it regularly and I'm STILL just building a history on mine. It takes a FUCKING long time, especially if you fuck it up like my parents did.
It's my mein Opa (Grandpa) is 84 and has like sparkling credit. He's one of the few people I know whose credit is north of 800.
Meanwhile I've fucked up on mine too with student loans and stuff and gone the way of my parents, I'm lucky if I'm sitting above 500 right now.

[kitty71]

@InventorofWarp What my age has anything to do with using a credit card? I use only debit cards I barely use credit cards.

[kitty71]

@InventorofWarp My parents never gave me credit cards at all when I was y ounger I earn mine to have it when I was older

[InventorofWarp]

It has to do with I'm surprised someone at 50 doesn't have a credit card.
Typically people start building credit from their 20s at the latest. You can't finance a car, obtain a loan, and in some cases even gain employment or an apartment without passing a credit check. It's surprising.
I never had anyone give me a credit card either. Like I said, I got my first one when I was 19 because I wanted to start building credit so I could finance my first car. Which I did when I was 21.

[kitty71]

@InventorofWarp Well I dont live in the USA and like I said I only have one credit card, per se the rest of my cards are debit cards not credit cards. Why you need a credit card to look for a job? or earn an employment. I dont even have a car, I dont pay apartment either.

[InventorofWarp]

I'm not American either. Still working on building credit, it's useful anywhere in the world. Money is the one universal language.
You don't need a credit card for employment but some jobs will run a credit check on you as a form of character check for security on you. Same as apartments will.
How do you live if you don't have a credit card, car or pay your apartment?

[kitty71]

@InventorofWarp But why my employer needs to know how is my credit or my personal mney is not in their business. I mean sure they pay you a salary but they dont need to know in what I spend or not spendmy money it is my business not them

[kitty71]

@InventorofWarp You dont need a credit card to live. I mean not necessarily, People use their debit cards in order notto ahve cash on hand,. You can pay many things with the debit cards not necessarily it has to be a credit card. Or you did not know debit cards exists? Where I live if a person rents an apartment the landlord never check the person credit, is not part of my countrys requirement. I mean as long as the person who rents the apartment have money to pay, no need to check on a credit score. For example, I rent an apartment and thee landlord tell me the apartment cost this and you give me first like a down payment, then each month I pay the landlord for the rent. But befire renting the apartment here in Costa RIca landlords do not check credit score,, the landlords what it matters to them is to get paid each month the rent, period, they dont do any reserach about the person score in order for them to know if they can pay the rent or not. That is the person business, not th e landlord business.

[kitty71]

Of course there are many people who only use credit cards for many things but most they use debit cards,

[InventorofWarp]

I'm aware people use debit cards I've just encountered enough situations here in Canada anyway where part of my job requirement was processing funds and part of the security vetting me for that required me to have a credit check. Or when I rented apartments they ran my credit.

[kitty71]

@InventorofWarp Not in Costa Rica they dont run your credit when you rent an apartment. As long as the rent is paid the landlord does not need to know if that person has money or not money or a good or bad credit somwhere else. The important thing is for the landlord to receive the money period. Of course for other type of services in Costa Rica you do need to have a good credit especially when you ask for loans at banks or buy appliances with credit at big appliances stores

[Dinklex3]

Nah, anyone can travel if they put money aside.
I'm the exact opposite. When i travel i like to shop, buy people souvenirs, and stay at expensive hotels.
It's sad how cards get such a bad rep. Credit cards are not bad as long as you have the money to back them up. If you do then you have nothing to worry about. You can get discounts, cashback, and other little bonuses.
In 2019 I spent about 7k on vacation. I purposely racked up my credit cards and paid everything back in a couple months.
Im with your friend on enjoying your youth as long as you're responsible and know you can pay it back.

[weysally]

sorry I haven't read all what you put, no I think travel is open to all, like my husband and I we worked for what we have,

[CaptainOverthink]

Anyone can travel. Its just a questuon of how laid back you want it to be. I mean you can live in a hotel with all the benefits if that's your thing.
But if you want to play it smart you do your research, save up money and go when the time is right. Sometimes you'll have to sacrifice something.. but you always do. Every choice are thousands of don't and won'ts.

- Food you can make if it's too much but most of the time poor countries have cheaper prices.
- Tourism is overrated, better find your own way.
- As for living there are lots of ways:
Couchsurfing, hostels, camping, hostfamilies, vehicles. It's all about planimg your expenses and checking you margins.
- Finding the means to get there is all about checking what's available at what times.. flight-tickets vary in price depending on type of day.. Workdays/holidays/weekened/seasons etc.. and from what company. Not to mention what travel method you use.
- I hear train is the cheapest and sometimes you even get to do a hop-on/hop-off city to city destination and back.

Another way is to use what you already have.. you expertise. Take a job in a foreign country. You can always go back.

[SeekerOfBooty]

Depends on how and when you fly.
You can get return flights from Europe to either US or Canada for as low as €300 if you buy off season and long enough ahead.

I've been to Vancouver from Vienna for €300 (cca $340) and you can get a similar rate for Toronto, Los Angeles and NY.

Of course, this means being very limited by destinations, airlines and having to organize your trip months ahead.

[Phoenix98]

With how the prices for tickets are yeah at least right now at least for overseas flights.

Most people can't afford 8,000$-15,000$ for an economy class ticket for an all around trip.

Which is fucking ridiculous for that price you could almost book a flight on a private jet.

[Jay3344]

I traveled in my twenties using a work exchange program called WWOOF ing. It made things way cheaper for me. There are more programs like this now but basically you need to pay for travel, so it’s a great way to see other parts of the world. Used it to live in Hawaii for 4 months and Italy for 2. It was awesome.

[exitseven]

There are lots of people that go on tours of Europe without breaking the bank. Where I used to work they had a tour every summer with one of the professors. The price was reasonable and everyone I knew that went said it was good.

[Kabluie]

My career requires plane travel, I've gone to many overseas places cause of client locations, and also used points for fun.

[jahaims]

It isn't a matter of opinion. Most humans today cannot afford to travel overseas.

[kitty71]

But others may disagree with you or me saying any person can travel if they save and plan well

[jahaims]

It doesn't matter if someone agrees or disagrees when it is a fact. That is the beauty of a fact. Most humans alive today do not make enough money to travel on a plane.

[msc545]

It takes a lot of work and planning. If you have money you can pay somebody to do these things for you generally speaking

[kitty71]

Moeny to pay someone to do what things for me?

[msc545]

Reservations and other travel arrangements can be very complex, difficult, and time-consuming.

[Redstang88]

Nah, I’ve been pretty broke for most of my Audrey life and still managed to see some awesome places

[hhhffg7889]

No. If someone wants it bad enough they can get there

[Dargil]

Almost anyone would enjoy it, but not afford it.

[XXblack88]

Yes, I think going overseas is a luxury.

[emperor90]

Yes it is unless u save and save

[kitty71]

I agree with yu but many peopel I heard say anyone can travel you just have to find the right choices to do so. I disagree on them. For me travel is with people who have enough money to spend and dont even say about those who travel like 5 times a year wow!!

[Wise4myage]

No, thousands of people travel overseas.

[LegendaryIcon]

for the rich and famous

[Dora89]

Yes I save money to travel. Yearly.

[Iron_Man]

I have

[EaterPeter]

Yes.