Last time I really planned for a trip (save little weekend trips), it was for a four month trip. I spent a lot of time researching, reading up on the different places, talking to different people, arranging and organizing things....

Now I have a terrific job (one of the best jobs out there for me! A librarian at a women's nonprofit) so I can't just quit my job to travel for several months. I'm planning a trip right now to Brazil and I'm only going for 2 1/2 weeks. ("Only?" my coworkers would say! I am even exceeding my paid vacation time.) I spent so much time getting my visa, vaccines, shopping for supplies, arranging things, flights, etc....and I just feel like it's so much more expensive and a hassle, and even worse, depressing, to be only going away for a few weeks. I know I'll just get a taste for Brazil, and while I'm grateful for that, I have a feeling I'll be quite sad on the plane back.

Anyone have any similar emotions?

I know exactly what you mean, after 6 months of floating around, doing odd jobs, and travelling as much as I wanted (about 4 of those 6) I'm now in the position where I really need to settle down and do some work for a while and its depressing the hell out of me.
I want a job and I want a home but by committing these I'm also making the decision to seriously reduce the quantity of travelling I do, which I'm not entirely happy about.

I guess the main thing is whether it also reduces the quality of your travel too? I don't think it has to; when I have unlimited time I tend to be very lazy; find a place I like and end up staying there far longer than I ought, whereas if you have less time you will be much more motivated to use your time wisely.

The other thing to bear in mind is; after a decent period of time at your wonderful job you may be allowed to take sabatical / a career break and go travel some more knowing you have a job to come home to?

Well, I was going to say that I like short trips because they are cheap and require less planning ... but you ripped holes in that theory.

What about staying closer to home next time? Go somewhere interesting in Canada or the States. No worries about vaccines, languages, or visas. Lots cheaper too.

If I ever were to get depressed over a "short" trip, I think of the people who don't get paid vacation, who can't afford to go further than their own backyard, or even afford to take a day off. Then I get over the depression of only a 2.5 week trip.

Sorry if that sounds cold, but put it in context and realize how lucky you are to get the time off at all, when there are so many people who simply can't.

Oh no, Annie, I totally know what you mean. I feel like that too, but then, of course, sometimes I'm thinking more about myself.

Eventually, I hope to negotiate an unpaid of leave of absence to do some traveling, but for now, I feel envious of those on RTW or planning RTW. I just have to tell myself someday.

And yes, I know how lucky I am.

I know what you mean. I haven't done a short trip yet, but for the first time, but I'm certainly contemplating it for the future, now that I have a job I want to keep, and that comes with a not entirely indecent vacation alotment (3 weeks to start, 4 weeks in my 5th calendar year...2010). And it's hard to justify spending the $800 to $1500 it will cost to fly to the different places I'd like to visit for just a few weeks.

But what can you do. I might just save up some vacation time, so I can take a longer trip every couple of years, but that's about it. You can't go without a job in the long term, and working and quitting every couple of years won't advance your career much. So, make do with what you've got. If you like your job, at least the time at home isn't so intollerable.

I've never done a multi-month trip (I'm not sure a term overseas really counts, does it?), so I'm one of those folks who gets two weeks (or so) a year... And yes, I'm usually bummed that the whole thing is ending when I'm on the plane ride home. I read these boards all the time and envy the heck out of people who spend months in a place I've barely seen (or, more likely, never even visited). And then I have experiences like I did this morning, when I was leaving the dentist's office and the receptionist and I were talking about Italy.

"I've only been three times," I said.

"Oh, I'd love to visit someday," she replied.

So then my "only three times" started to feel quite luxurious, indeed.

(Of course, I spend a heckuva lot more time wishing I had more time to travel than remembering I've traveled quite a bit more than many of the people I know... So I hear ya, cherie. )

It is not depressing. YOu are focussing on the wrong thing, is all. YOu get to take two weeks to leave behind everything. You are getting a vacation., as you are a traveler, you should be trained to get the maximum potential out of that time away. You are lucky. Bananas is right. Lots of people would sell their youngest to be able to get a break. You get one. Cheer up, kid.

And who doesn't feel sad on the plane back? A guy gone for eighteen months will feel like he still needs more time. It's the nature of the beast. Melancholia is important. Keeps you ranging for the next time.

Have fun.
D

quote:

guy gone for eighteen months will feel like he still needs more time.

See, that's just not true. When we were coming home from out last trip, after 5 months, we were both ready, and excited about the potential of being home. Of course, it took less than a month for that to wear off.

I was just thinking about how weird it was, when we stopped in Paris for a week on our last trip, about two weeks before our flight home, and we realized that our wind down time after the real trip had ended but before we actually flew home was as long as a lot of people's whole holidays. Now that's a depressing thought.

Great topic. I just got a job where I get 21 days vacation, and i'm not even taking anything for a whole 2.5 weeks. Instead I'm doing 10 days in Paris/Prague (school trip, but not itinerary-ized except for company visits in the daytime) and then almost 2 weeks in Argentina/Uruguay. A long weekend to Montreal, and a long weekend in Puerto Rico, and i think it works out pretty well.

It is kind of sad that I can't pack up for 4 months and wander through south america. But having money direct-deposited into my account while i'm in Buenos Aires, and knowing I have health insurance while i'm there is nice too. It's a bitch of a tradeoff, but it works for me. And if you like the job you come home to it softens the blow of flying home after only 2 weeks.

quote:

Originally posted by 2wanderers:
And it's hard to justify spending the $800 to $1500 it will cost to fly to the different places I'd like to visit for just a few weeks.

Yeah, I have trouble with this too.
Although, if you really want to go somewhere and can only find a certain price and only go for three weeks, I say it's very justifiable. I think it's when you plan on returning to the area or nearby countries in the near future that your overall travel becomes less cost-effective, and a tougher decision -- though it doesn't mean you still can't find plenty of reasons to justify the extra cost.


And yeah, Piecar's right...

I do and I don't. I just take the trips one day at a time and when it comes time to leave I usually do. Last time I went on a trip it was for two weeks in Alaska. that was two yearts ago and I haven't left yet. If I like a place I stay as long as I like. Find a job or series of jobs and hang around.

I don't find them depressing as such, but I tend to feel like I've missed out on doing things because there's only so much you can fit into a shorter holiday.

But then, that just gives me an excuse to go back to the destination at some time in the future to do the things I didn't get around to doing the first time.

I know exactly what you are talking about. I spent 1 month in brazil last year. However, to max out all the things you paid for (visa, shots, etc.) just go back again if you want more.

But no matter what the time you spend in Brazil you will be depressed...

Enjoy yourself and just think of your friends stuck back home. Would you wanna trade places with them??

I am in the same situation. I have spent so much time researching this 3 week trip to asia i want to take in april/may...my personal opinion is that if you can get away for many months sure thats great, but reality for most is that is impossible.

So better to go off for 2.5 weeks then never get to Brazil. The people who say "oh well i'll go later in life," usually don't...

I have done both types, and I actually prefer a quicker, faster paced trip. It's just my personality and nature...