Vacation

[ryan]

We were watching this show tonight called Rick Steeves Europe, where this guy goes around and visits many of the countries in Europe. On tonight's show he was visiting Spain. My wife loved it because she used to live there (for a short while anyway), and I thought it looked amazing. He said that Americans have the fewest vacation days of most in the world and that we need to take more. I was thinking about it, and realized that I didn't start having vacations until we had our first baby (Hanna), which was about 10 years after getting married... since Hanna arrived (and now Karena), we try to take two vacations a year, 2-7 days. I just got back from from a 3 day vacation here (great time). Though I wish we were vacationing in Europe, but that's a much bigger investment in time and money. But it got me thinking... many of you guys are in Europe–what kind of vacations do you take? How long, and where do you go? Also, if you were (or have been) in the US for the last 35+ years, where would you go on vacation?

[Marty Walker]

There was a study done here (Australia) recently about why so few Americans visit: mainly because, as you mentioned, you get short holidays and secondly, Australia is a *really* lengthy plane journey from the States, especially the east coast. The other problem with coming here is it's such a huge place and to get around you have to fly everywhere. So y'all use up your precious relaxing/sightseeing time with more flights. Pffff. And that's not so good with kids either.

If I was taking the fam to Europe for two or three weeks I'd most likely pick three cities and stay at each one for a week. My choice would be perhaps: Paris, Prague and Berlin.

[fenton]

Hi Ryan,

I assume you are self employed, so you could go for a couple of weeks with you family to various places in Europe (or somewhere else) and stay in appartments via https://www.airbnb.com or http://www.9flats.com and work from there ...no?

been to the east coast of the US when I was 14 Boston (went to school there for a couple of days), New Yourk & Florida. California and the rest of the US west would probably my no1 choice for an US trip.

Usually I go on ~ 4 week trips, but stay around one area and make sure I can work from there.

[pwired]

No good news from spain. Haven't had vacation since 10 years. Portugal, Greece and Spain suffer the most from the economic crisis compared to all the other european countries. 30 percent unemployed and many jobs are payed now without social security, take it or leave it. The government does only little control and doesn't care much. So it's surviving here. Except if you find a job in a hotel or in a bank. They still pay you all the social security and holiday money. But since I am originally from the Netherlands I can tell you how dutch people take there holidays. Usually 2 to 3 weeks in July, August or September, this is high season. First the north, then the middle and last the south of the Netherlands. You have to use up all your 5 weeks holidays before the end of the year so the rest is taken during the year and in december with santa claus 6 december and with christmass 25 december. In the summer most of the dutch go to the south on a camping in Italy and France or the touristic south coast of Spain or the fantastic climate on the canary islands (only 4 hours flying). Almost all hotels on the canary islands offer an all-in package, that is flight ticket, bus transport, hotel room, breakfast and dinner all included for 1 cheap price. However this hotel formula has destroyed many local restaurants and bungalow parks on the canary islands. The last 10 years the east became popular too like thailand. Very friendly and hospital people (thanks to buddhism), cheap hotels, bungalow parks, beautiful nature, fantastic kitchen and climate. Many real estate companies in spain and on the canary islands are looking now for housing to rent in thailand and do good business.

[Manol]

Ryan if you would ever come to Spain we got place four you four at home, Valencia.

[arjen]

I visited the United States twice: the first time I went to New Jersey and New York. The second time to Washington. Next time I want to go to California (San Francisco) or Louisiana (New Orleans).

[DaveP]

It's interesting to read other people's perspectives on this. Although I am in Europe (UK), we are not part of mainland Europe, so I think that makes a big difference, not only to the practicalities of seeing the rest of Europe, but of attitudes towards the rest of the continent. While someone living in Spain could easily drive to Portugal or France, we have that annoying and expensive 22 miles of water to cross (the English Channel/La Manche). It doesn't make any difference to aeroplanes, but to everything else it does.

As far as duration and timing of holidays goes, I come from a part of England (the North West - Liverpool, Manchester, the Beatles, the Mersey sound, Factory Records, the seat of the Industrial Revolution, the world's first passenger railway etc are all within 30 miles of my home town), where traditional Wakes Weeks still play a significant part in people's holiday schedules. That said, the ubiquity of cheap air travel has made the rest of Europe much more accessible. I know, for example, many people who have held their stag party (bachelor party) in Amsterdam in Holland, Bruges in Belgium and even Prague in the Czech Republic.

If I were to make suggestions to anyone from outside Europe of where to go in Europe, some of my favourite places would, of course, be 'my' bit of England, but also London, Scotland, Normandy in France, some of the less developed parts of Spain, and just outside Europe, but not until things there settle down (if they ever do), Egypt is extraordinary.