Where To Take A Month Holiday For Two?

December 22, 2007 8:19 AM

My girlfriend finishes school in July and starts work in September. We'd like to spend a month abroad during August. What are good locations where we can live comfortably and be able to have a lot of experiences - touristy and not? While we don't have a budget set yet, I'd think we'd be looking at between US$3000 and US$5000.

We'd originally discussed Europe, but the idea of New Zealand or Australia has come up as well. I've lived in Australia and spent a month traveling New Zealand before. She's studied in London.

posted by chriswarren to travel & transportation (11 comments total)

Your money will go a long way in Eastern Europe and it's incredibly beautiful - Czech Republic, Croatia, Latvia, Poland, Hungary. Beaches and seaside, lakes, cities like Prague and Budapest, all very cheap.
posted by fire&wings at 8:25 AM on December 22, 2007

Also, if anyone has any advice or resources for finding an apartment to rent, information on locations and doing this sort of holiday, I'd really appreciate it.
posted by chriswarren at 8:32 AM on December 22, 2007

http://www.transartists.nl/ has lists of sublet apartments in Europe. Summer is high season in Europe so the costs will be higher. If it's off season in New Zealand, maybe that is a better choice. I'd check the exchange rates before you get your heart set on anything. The US dollar isn't worth diddly right now.
posted by 45moore45 at 8:43 AM on December 22, 2007

Consider Southeast Asia. Your money will go far there and there is so much to see.
posted by Falconetti at 9:59 AM on December 22, 2007

Hotels, food, and attractions are an extremely good value in India. The nicer hotels (5 and 6 star) are just as expensive as US hotels, but the more spartan places can be had for $10 to $40 a night easily.

Their trains and air travel are also very reasonably priced.
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 10:12 AM on December 22, 2007

South Africa. Yep, I know it's winter down there, but it's stunning. The hostel scene is beautifully developed. http://www.coastingafrica.com/

The whole thing is tied together with a traveller's bus system, the baz bus.

You can also spend some time in Namibia and Mozambique. Most of the travellers I met there were spending 4-5 weeks in the country.

It's safer than your mom thinks, it's beautiful, it's off the radar screen for North American travellers. Go.
posted by thenormshow at 11:16 AM on December 22, 2007

The Greek islands are awesome and the ferry system also goes to Istanbul, Cairo, Cyprus and Italy. It's pretty cheap in the off-season ($30-50/ night for two) and there is a TON of stuff to do on teh different islands: diving, hiking, ruins, nightlife etc. Best of all you don't have to plan anything ahead of time.
posted by fshgrl at 12:43 PM on December 22, 2007

Good god, go to Southeast Asia. With $3-5000, you can spend the entire month smoking dope on an idyllic tropical beach in your own private bungalow. There will likely be better things to do, but that's up to you.
posted by borkingchikapa at 3:26 PM on December 22, 2007

I say go to Europe, and I mean as much of it as you can. Back pack it. With a $3000-$5000 in American for a budget, the both of you have plenty to live off of if you are smart about it. Do not stay at the well known cities. If anything, stay at nearby, suburban areas and rent a bike out for the day and ride that to the main city. This will not only save you on hotel expenses since you are going there during the season, especially if you stay at a local bed and breakfast or even some restored monasteries, you will be able to enjoy the outdoors and the landscape. I do not know just how outdoorsy you both are, but the scenery and the adventure of it all is very romantic if you guys do the adventure together. Ask the locals, true locals, for the best places to eat in town. Chances are, they will not only advise good food, but affordable as well.

Also, by backpacking Europe, you both choose what you see, when to go, and where to go. Most local bed and breakfasts or mini hotels do not require advance reservations, so you can just throw a dart on the map one day and decide to go there. Furthermore, and I think this is the most important aspect, your European trip will not be the typical one. You can both look back and discuss the sentimental moments of your small findings on the way to the big city or scenery you have picture of, but are not found in books. A month is quite a bit of time for any vacation. In Europe, you guys don't even have to stay at a lodging establishment every night. Plan to pack a sleeping bag too, so that you can be on your feet for a day or so to enjoy the land and not overspend on the commercialism and tourism of Europe.
posted by dnthomps at 3:40 PM on December 22, 2007

I second southeast asia. I spent 3 months there on less money than you have to spend in one month and I lived like a king. I also think its much more interesting to spend your time travelling through non-westernized countries and taking yourself out of a culture that is more-or-less the same as yours. I also spent time in NZ and OZ which I loved but my most memorable experiences were in developing countries where I really felt like I was completely immersed in surroundings and cultures that were totally different.

I recommend Laos, Vietnam and Thailand. Laos is wonderful.
posted by postergeist at 9:30 PM on December 22, 2007

I would recommend Brazil. Obviously I am highly biased as I live here BUT the month of August is low season for tourism and as such everything everywhere is cheaper. If you are even mildly adventurous you can be on a white sand beach in the morning and dining in a five star restraunt in the evening followed by an evening at a jazz club or disco.

Sao Paulo is the South American equivalent of New York you can find anything there. Rio is beautiful but one needs to be a bit more "aware" not so much for gun toting thugs just for the typical bastard cab drivers! The rest of the country is very much more "homey" and tourist friendly. I highly recommend the coast of Sao Paulo, The Amazon is incredible and Florianopolis is also beautiful. The entire area has incredible food and 4k USD equates to a low level executives quarterly salary. Beer quality is excellent and can be had for under a dollar per half liter. Churrascaria style dining ("e.g. fogo na chao") typically runs around 10 USD per person in the bigger cities and a holiday inn quality hotel runs 35 - 50 in the off season. If you head into the interior of Sao Paulo, Minas Gerais or Curitiba staes the scenery is incredible and that 5k is basically a years income. Live like a king, eat like a king, drink like a king and be treated like a king.

Best of Luck
posted by zona_sul at 5:53 AM on December 23, 2007