speedz99 145 Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 I have heard of 1.30% from a bank in Columbia.Dude, you don't want to get involved that kind of action. $10-12K seems like a lot for a 10 day vacation. Planning on living like a king over there?It does seem like a lot for 10 days...maybe not if it includes kids and multiple countries (and therefore flights) will be involved.I mean, hell, the girl in Vegas Vacation is Chinese Mexican or something.Legs of a thoroughbred tho. Link to post Share on other sites
ajs510 122 Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 This is actually a running joke in Vegas Vacation. I mean, hell, the girl in Vegas Vacation is Chinese Mexican or something.Her boobs were pretty great in Felon. About the only two things watchable about that movie. Link to post Share on other sites
dna4ever 2 Posted May 10, 2011 Author Share Posted May 10, 2011 $10-12K seems like a lot for a 10 day vacation. Planning on living like a king over there?It probably is a high estimate. Most likely 12 days, but includes airfare to London, Paris, and Rome and rail through Venice, Florence and doing a shit ton of sightseeing and excursions. All the hotels are bed and breakfast and doing stuff like the private gondola rides, etc.10 day package for 2 including airfare right now is about $5K including flights, hotels, rail, transfers, etc. So I'm figuring 12 days with a full slate of stuff to do, $10K should be safe.Dude, you don't want to get involved that kind of action.lol Link to post Share on other sites
dna4ever 2 Posted May 10, 2011 Author Share Posted May 10, 2011 Oh and I decided to just do the savings account. thanks for all the input. Figure the extra few books I 'may' make is not worth the risk, rules, commissions, etc. Just keep it simple. Link to post Share on other sites
hank213 1,823 Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 Her boobs were pretty great in Felon. About the only two things watchable about that movie.It's times like this I wish we had a way to bookmark a particular post to review later. I think I simply must google the scene mentioned but not so much so that I want to get fired. Link to post Share on other sites
dna4ever 2 Posted May 10, 2011 Author Share Posted May 10, 2011 While I'm in dream mode, I put together a list of sight seeing/attractions I would like to do: Link to post Share on other sites
SBriand 4 Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 While I'm in dream mode, I put together a list of sight seeing/attractions I would like to do:I have been to Inverness twice. Great small place. You can take a nice tour where they take you to the Loch by bus and then you get on a little boat and tool around the Loch and end up at Castle Urquhart or however it is spelled. Pretty decent trip. If the Nessie Experience Museum is still around I suggest it for a good laugh. Depending on how long you are there it's a pretty small place and can get a lot of the sight seeing done in a day. We rented a car and just started driving north and that was a really cool time. The countryside is great and we drove all the way to Ullapool and ate a nice lunch right by the water. Took a train up to the Kyle of Localsh and headed over to Skye for the day. Great fish cakes but watch out for falling lobster. Link to post Share on other sites
dna4ever 2 Posted May 10, 2011 Author Share Posted May 10, 2011 I have been to Inverness twice. Great small place. You can take a nice tour where they take you to the Loch by bus and then you get on a little boat and tool around the Loch and end up at Castle Urquhart or however it is spelled. Pretty decent trip. If the Nessie Experience Museum is still around I suggest it for a good laugh. Depending on how long you are there it's a pretty small place and can get a lot of the sight seeing done in a day. We rented a car and just started driving north and that was a really cool time. The countryside is great and we drove all the way to Ullapool and ate a nice lunch right by the water. Took a train up to the Kyle of Localsh and headed over to Skye for the day. Great fish cakes but watch out for falling lobster.That's awesome. We both love castles and the lure of Loch Ness is something we have always wanted to do.The Scotland portion would be the portion we would cut out most likely if budget or time becomes an issue.I haven't mapped all this out or anything, but was thinking something like:3 Days in London, I understand Stonehenge takes a huge chunk and basically a full day due to travel.2 Days in Paris.3 Days in Rome1 - 2 Days in Venice2 Days in ScotlandThrow in some travel days and that's about a 14 day trip. Not sure how realistic or unrealistic that time frame is, but it's still in 'dream trip' format right now and just trying to start the budget process. Link to post Share on other sites
Skeleton Jelly 2 Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 While I'm in dream mode, I put together a list of sight seeing/attractions I would like to do:I'm not sure all those are "family-appropriate." Link to post Share on other sites
hank213 1,823 Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 I'm not sure all those are "family-appropriate."I've been assured that the Vatican is working hard to clean up its act. Link to post Share on other sites
dna4ever 2 Posted May 10, 2011 Author Share Posted May 10, 2011 Email back from my party pooper travel agent:"I think 3 countries with 5 cities is WAY too much to do in one trip. You will be packing, unpacking and traveling more than you will be vacationing. Also keep in mind that you will have an overnight flight to get there and will start your first day very tired. If you try to include too many countries you will not have the time to enjoy any of them. You will barely get highlights of each city before you are moving again. I just spent 5 days in Paris and did not have time to see everything. You can easily spend 10-14 days in Italy alone. I would recommend something like 3 or 4 nights in Rome, 3 or 4 nights in Florence and 3 or 4 nights in Venice if you choose Italy. London and Paris can easily be done in one trip. I would split the time evenly and take the Chunnel between the countries." Probably sound solid advice, but I couldn't help think this when I read it: Link to post Share on other sites
brvheart 1,752 Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 I actually like traveling. That part of the experience would be fun for me, so I would personally just blow off the travel agent dude. But everyone's different. Link to post Share on other sites
dna4ever 2 Posted May 10, 2011 Author Share Posted May 10, 2011 Hey look kids, Big Ben, Parliament Link to post Share on other sites
hank213 1,823 Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 I would tend to agree with the agent. If I try to cram to much in to a vacation it just starts to feel like a job. Maybe Rome for 7 days: At least one day to try and get past the jet lag. Isn't flying West to East always worse? If you pay for it and make the reservation I think you can catch a 90 minute-ish train to Florence and do one or two days there.Then you could wing on over to London and jam with the Stones for another week. I suppose you could do an overnight or two night stint in France partway through if London bores you by taking the train and chunnel to Calais. Link to post Share on other sites
ShakeZuma 585 Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 dude aren't you like right beside dollywood? Link to post Share on other sites
ajs510 122 Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 I've been assured that the Vatican is working hard to clean up its act.So much win. Link to post Share on other sites
AmScray 355 Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 If you're handy with working on cars, you can buy junkers on craigslist, fluff/buff and flip them. I know a guy who makes an extra $20-30K a year doing that. Link to post Share on other sites
Balloon guy 158 Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 While I'm in dream mode, I put together a list of sight seeing/attractions I would like to do:London is almost nailed, add Bath to the list, which is usually included with the Stone Henge trip.Paris is done too, I didn't find it that wonderful, so a day via chunnel was enough for me, but I did not do the Louvre so that could be another day there.Rome looks good, you have to wear long pants in the Vatican, If you can squeeze in a trip to Pompeii that is pretty awesome.Never been to Venice, heard good things.Inverness is pretty busy there. You will have a hard time fitting in a round of golf. I played Royal Dornach, and it was awesome. Try to get there when it is sunny and not windy though. Link to post Share on other sites
ahosang 0 Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 While I'm in dream mode, I put together a list of sight seeing/attractions I would like to do:Give England a miss. Especially London. It's a sh*thole. Seriously. No sw. London's a toilet. Expensive dump. I'm trying to help you here... Link to post Share on other sites
mrdannyg 274 Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 While I'm in dream mode, I put together a list of sight seeing/attractions I would like to do:If you can, do St Mark's square at night, and be prepared to spend several bucks on the evening. Leave a few hours in the middle of a day to drink a bottle of wine on the Spanish Steps in Rome. Research restaurants in Rome, even if it is just googling the name before you walk in. There are plenty of tourist traps and plenty of excellent places.If you are looking to cut time in a place, I found Venice disappointing, especially compared to Rome and the rest of Italy. A little 'disneyish' compared to Rome, Florence, Sorrento, Positano, etc. Link to post Share on other sites
dna4ever 2 Posted May 11, 2011 Author Share Posted May 11, 2011 dude aren't you like right beside dollywood?LOL, we go to Pigeon Forge every year and I've only been there once. I'm definitely missing out.London is almost nailed, add Bath to the list, which is usually included with the Stone Henge trip.Paris is done too, I didn't find it that wonderful, so a day via chunnel was enough for me, but I did not do the Louvre so that could be another day there.Rome looks good, you have to wear long pants in the Vatican, If you can squeeze in a trip to Pompeii that is pretty awesome.Never been to Venice, heard good things.Inverness is pretty busy there. You will have a hard time fitting in a round of golf. I played Royal Dornach, and it was awesome. Try to get there when it is sunny and not windy though.Good stuff, if we even made it to 2 or 3 castles in Inverness that would rock.Give England a miss. Especially London. It's a sh*thole. Seriously. No sw. London's a toilet. Expensive dump. I'm trying to help you here...Appreciate the tip. Only thing I REALLLLLLY want to see in London area is Stonehenge. Westminster Abbey, Abbey Road would be really cool. As far as Big Ben/Parliament and the other stuff, just seeing it and taking a quick picture would suffice me. Would be cool to ride the London Eye and see the views from there though.If you can, do St Mark's square at night, and be prepared to spend several bucks on the evening. Leave a few hours in the middle of a day to drink a bottle of wine on the Spanish Steps in Rome. Research restaurants in Rome, even if it is just googling the name before you walk in. There are plenty of tourist traps and plenty of excellent places.If you are looking to cut time in a place, I found Venice disappointing, especially compared to Rome and the rest of Italy. A little 'disneyish' compared to Rome, Florence, Sorrento, Positano, etc.Right on, I've heard similar things about Venice from a few other people. Someone told me about a little rural place I should hit up instead and I can't think of the name of it to save my life right now, but it had a number in it like '3 something' or '5 something'. Would be find just spending a train ride to Venice, doing the gondola thing, hitting up a winery or wine bar and calling it a day.Love the tips and feedback guys. First $500 deposit going in today. Link to post Share on other sites
mrdannyg 274 Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 LOL, we go to Pigeon Forge every year and I've only been there once. I'm definitely missing out.Good stuff, if we even made it to 2 or 3 castles in Inverness that would rock.Appreciate the tip. Only thing I REALLLLLLY want to see in London area is Stonehenge. Westminster Abbey, Abbey Road would be really cool. As far as Big Ben/Parliament and the other stuff, just seeing it and taking a quick picture would suffice me. Would be cool to ride the London Eye and see the views from there though.Right on, I've heard similar things about Venice from a few other people. Someone told me about a little rural place I should hit up instead and I can't think of the name of it to save my life right now, but it had a number in it like '3 something' or '5 something'. Would be find just spending a train ride to Venice, doing the gondola thing, hitting up a winery or wine bar and calling it a day.Love the tips and feedback guys. First $500 deposit going in today.I'm sure you'll do the gondola thing because it is so classic, but you can get the exact same experience just walking around. You can't see everything of course, but the stuff you can't see is just boring walls. The walkways go through all the pretty/interesting places, and the shops there are better than you'll find in other places. Link to post Share on other sites
dna4ever 2 Posted May 11, 2011 Author Share Posted May 11, 2011 I'm sure you'll do the gondola thing because it is so classic, but you can get the exact same experience just walking around. You can't see everything of course, but the stuff you can't see is just boring walls. The walkways go through all the pretty/interesting places, and the shops there are better than you'll find in other places.As FCP Bob was telling me on MSN, I could just save my money and do 90% of this stuff in Vegas Link to post Share on other sites
ajs510 122 Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 As FCP Bob was telling me on MSN, I could just save my money and do 90% of this stuff in Vegas Which is what I'll be doing next month, you should come! LOL Link to post Share on other sites
speedz99 145 Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 I really like what you're doing here with the five hundo a month thing. I've been assured that the Vatican is working hard to clean up its act.Heh.Email back from my party pooper travel agent:Hmm. I guess there really is a reason for travel agents post-internet. I think he or she just made your vacation a lot better.I actually like traveling. That part of the experience would be fun for me, so I would personally just blow off the travel agent dude. But everyone's different.You actively enjoy taking cabs to airports, waiting for flights to take off, sitting in a cramped seat, going through customs, getting another cab, going to another hotel, checking in, and figuring out what to do next...five times in 12 days? That sounds like fun to you? More fun than actually being in a city for long enough to see what you want to see, get an idea of where everything is located, know a little more about the culture, etc? If you're handy with working on cars, you can buy junkers on craigslist, fluff/buff and flip them. I know a guy who makes an extra $20-30K a year doing that.How much time a week does he have to put in for that? Link to post Share on other sites
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