Vacation Ideas on the Cheap

September 19, 2009 3:08 PM

How should I spend my vacation time (by the end of the year)?

I've got almost 4 weeks of vacation time left this year. I need to use it by the end of the year. I can only carry over a week and there's no cashout option. I'm also a bit strapped for cash. I don't want to take a staycation and I'd like to get out and explore a bit. I live in Toronto. I don't own a car.

I'm not completely broke or anything like that, I just need to be as efficient as possible. I can rent a car for a road trip and maybe camp along the way. I'm into cities (they don't have to be huge) and exploring things that are "really different." For example, I find this really fascinating. A "personal" transit system in a little university town that was built as a test in the 1970s. I'm also pondering a trip on the Ontario Northland Railway to James Bay, but it's a little up there on what I'd like to spend and would only kill half a week or so. I hear Cuba is cheap, but I'd like to save that for another time.

It may be possible to stay with friends in Phoenix, Baltimore, Nova Scotia, Atlanta. I've been to Ottawa, Chicago, Montreal, and most of eastern Ontario and I'd like to see something new.

Anybody got anything fascinating?

posted by hylaride to travel & transportation (7 comments total)

If I were you and could get my hands on reliable transportation, I'd take all of December off and crash all of my friends' holiday parties. Seriously, you could just wander around from gingerbread house to ham to cookies to roast beast or whatever.
posted by oinopaponton at 3:15 PM on September 19

As a former WVU student, I just want to say--the PRT is much more exciting in concept than experience, at least after you get stuck once or twice a week traveling between campuses. ;)

I heard they're possibly working on an upgrade, though, and it's a fun, cheap thing to do and show your friends.
posted by miratime at 3:25 PM on September 19

Have you considered getting a thirty day bus or rail pass that will allow you to travel somewhat randomly?
posted by mareli at 3:51 PM on September 19

Do Moab and other southern Utah sites in the Fall when it's cooler. There are lots of easy hikes, you'll meet people from all over the world, and I swear at times it is like you are on another freaking planet. Plus, it's on the way to Phoenix. If you do it and don't like it, I will mail you a crisp U.S. dollar bill.
posted by mecran01 at 6:48 PM on September 19

Colorado, Utah - they ain't too cold yet. Fall color up in the Rockies should just be coming in. Montana should be in full color in a week. I know you don't have a car, but see if you can rent one.
posted by notsnot at 6:52 PM on September 19

This isn't particularly fascinating, but long vacations can get... long. I hear your antipathy of the staycation, but you might want to look at something in the middle like 1) "living" in a new city for the duration of your break or 2) taking a 1-week vacation, and using the remaining days to take off every Monday, or every Wednesday, until the new year.
posted by whatzit at 10:26 PM on September 19

With 4 weeks available, how about using some of it on making new friends while doing charity work? There is Habitat for Humanity but there are lots of other options -- most of them cheaper.

On the other hand, if you are unlikely to get 4 weeks to do what you like again for a long time, you could research cheap air tickets to Rome and go and live in a youth hostel there on bread and cheese.
posted by Idcoytco at 1:23 AM on September 20