August 2010 Weddings
Do the creep.
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
**branz OPEN ME!**
I had a nervous breakdown last night and told DH that I feel a bit empty because we're not travelers and haven't done anything. I don't want to go to crazy faraway lands, but I'd love to visit Europe in the next 5 years. Most notably England and Scotland since that's where our ancestry is-- he's a Mc and my maiden name was a Mc.
Anyway....
You just got back from Italy. Have you been anywhere else? I can't remember whether you were the 8/10 who had done some traveling before. If so, please tell me it's not an impossibility to travel because sometimes I feel like it is, what with money and time and flying and everything else. I've seriously never been farther west than St. Louis or farther north than NYC. Vacations as a child were to see Grandma. I've flown by myself once to and from Chicago to visit an ex boyfriend while we were dating.
I totally sound like a little country bumpkin. I swear I'm not! I've just never really traveled!
Anyway....
You just got back from Italy. Have you been anywhere else? I can't remember whether you were the 8/10 who had done some traveling before. If so, please tell me it's not an impossibility to travel because sometimes I feel like it is, what with money and time and flying and everything else. I've seriously never been farther west than St. Louis or farther north than NYC. Vacations as a child were to see Grandma. I've flown by myself once to and from Chicago to visit an ex boyfriend while we were dating.
I totally sound like a little country bumpkin. I swear I'm not! I've just never really traveled!
Do the creep.
Re: **branz OPEN ME!**
Hi Louie!! Sorry I've been suuuuper busy and haven't been on TN for days. We got kittens so I've been obsessing :-)
***This response is epic long, and strictly my opinion, but I hope it helps!***
I never went anywhere except to visit Grandma either growing up. "Family vacations" were just that; visiting family! :-/ That's a huge reason why I wanted to make a point of travelling a lot as an adult.
First off, I totally understand why you feel travelling is far off sometimes. Flights are overpriced and the dollar is weak, so travelling to Europe in particular is super expensive. BUT! IMO, travel is NOT so far off as it seems if you do a few things first.
I need to admit that my DH and I are obnoxiously fortunate to have a strong income and job flexibility that lets us travel several times a year on larger scales trips (one week or more). Even so, I have plenty of friends with "normal" jobs and incomes that make a point of traveling somewhere once a year. Anybody can make that happen!
First off, make the choice to travel! Get it in your head that you will be going somewhere and stick to that plan. You may start by looking into spots in our very own U.S. of A. since there are so many wonderful places to see right here, and the domestic flights will be shorter and cheaper than an international flight.
You helped budget for your wedding didn't you? You can certainly budget for a vacation. :-) Set up a block of time well in advance so you can tell how long it will take you to save the money you need, week by week. If it's 6 months, then that's how long it takes. You'd be surprised how easily money will appear when you need it sometimes. I literally had no idea how I was going to get an extra $325 a month when I got my car back when, but I sat down with a calculator, and I realized the money was there all along, I had just been spending it on...nonsense! And that was back when I was single and making virtually no money.
I have only been to Italy in Europe, but I've traveled to lots of other places in the U.S. and abroad, and the best thing I can suggest to you is that you and your DH should do plenty of research before going somewhere. If you travel on the cusp of peak season you're in good shape; you get the best weather possible with the best rates to match.
Find ways to save while on your trip by doing a grocery shop when you get to your destination, and have snacks and breakfast or lunch foods handy so that you can save money eating out. Dinner out is the best anyways :-)
Tripadvisor.com is my friend, and it helps me find smaller, often less expensive hotels when we travel. If you can get AAA discounts or similar, always ask hotels when you book! Also, if ever possible, book a hotel with expedia or similar and pay in full up front. They are often fully refundable if plans change within three days of travel.
And when you book your flights, if you choose less favorable times like early morning or overnight, you can save money there too. Also book during the week, rates are cheaper than if you book on a Sunday.
We use our credit card to our advantage. We only spend what we can pay off in the next billing cycle or two, max. If used responsibly, a credit card is not an enemy! Get a capital one card for travel to Scotland and England, and anywhere abroad because there are no fees for international charges!
The sad truth of European travel is that right now if you're American, it's dang expensive. But not totally impossible! Just be ready to save up a good long time for that one. Start today! You guys are young 20's, and I know you're not TTC, so you can have that huge trip in a year or something.
And to satiate you until you can get across the pond, I'm a huge fan of day trips! Get in the car and drive somewhere new. We're fortunate to live in the Bay Area, where we can drive to Yosemite, the beach, wine country...I'm sure there are places to go that are within a 3 hr drive or less (that's kind of our max for a day trip) that can make you feel like you're "away from it all" for a while.
I think my DH and I travel practically. We don't go crazy on useless souvenirs, we carry-on our baggage, and we research research RESEARCH to get the best rates on everything we can. We don't need a 5 star resort, just a clean, comfortable hotel room in a good location. We always have fun!
Hopefully something in this epic long reply has helped you feel better and more positive about getting to travel. You truly just need to make it a priority and decide that it's happening, period. You may not get to Europe this year, but you certainly will sooner than you think if you plan ahead and are proactive. I'll help you look into it if you want! I love planning this kind of stuff. :-)
We can talk anytime girl! Whatcha think??
Thanks for taking the time to write down everything branz!
DH and I made a pact that we're going to the UK within the next 5 years. I even saw him watching UK travel guide TV shows last night. It was cute. Thank goodness he is a researching fiend when it comes to EVERYTHING!
I know I'd be nervous venturing away from the States, but we're only living once. And once kids arrive, I can kiss traveling abroad goodbye, at least for a few years.
I'm saving what you wrote. I don't have many friends that travel aboad. Everyone's all about traveling to the Gulf Shores or Myrtle Beach or FL.
Since DH gets 3 weeks vacation starting next year, I told him I'd love to see California since an aunt and uncle went to SF and wanted to stay there! DH wants to see Yellow Stone and I want to visit Canada/Niagra Falls/etc.
Maybe we just need to road trip it next year and see the Western part of the US! Exciting to plan and actually take trips that are more than a few hours from home!
Thanks for everything branz and I'll probably be hitting you up with more questions as we go!
Do the creep.