Desperate to travel...

[Capetan Mihali]

So I thought I would create this vanity thread to see if the esteemed members of this message board have any ideas.   

I feel gripped with a Wanderlust that is almost as strong as my Weltschmerz, and I want to go somewhere outside the City of Philadelphia that is not Tampa, Florida.

The only problem is I have little in the way in disposable income after my psychotherapy and alcohol bills are paid.  And I'll probably have no one to travel with since all of my friends are either too busy, too broke, or too embarrassing/insane to travel with.

So what are some good deal destinations in February/March, when I'll hopefully have some more dough and time? 

I can speak bad Spanish and bad French; enough to act like an schmuck, but also to understand when someone is calling me one to my face. 

I could visit a friend in Miami and stay with him, which would be cheap, but maybe not exciting enough.

Las Vegas for the buffets?  I have no interest in gambling.  Maybe just a short jaunt to Atlantic City on a gloomy winter weekend will satisfy me.  Drink a half-pint of Laird's vodka under the boardwalk, take in a few porno films, and retire to the Murdered Prostitute Inn.  I could even meet up with DGuller on one of his reckless gambling adventures.

I know it probably sucks, but I've always kind of been interested in visiting Kansas City. 

But ultimately I would like to go somewhere semi-"exotic."  Mexico and Quebec (and Anglophone Canada  as well ) are calling to me but I don't really know where to begin.

Any thoughts or experiences concerning solo budget travel?

[Richard Hakluyt]

I think you should tell us how many days you will have free and what your budget is. Otherwise it will be impossible to make a worthwhile comment.

[Capetan Mihali]

I think you should tell us how many days you will have free and what your budget is. Otherwise it will be impossible to make a worthwhile comment.

I guess you're right.     I would say I'll have up to 1 week free.  As for budget... I really don't know how much the basics of traveling cost.  I don't think I'll realistically have much more than about 500 dollars to blow on a trip.  Though I could live dangerously and put another few hundred on a credit card.

[Ed Anger]

If you are into music, there is always the Rock n' Roll hall of fame.

Pro:

Fairly close to you
The building is nice.

Con:

It is Cleveland.
In Winter
Oh, the agony.
Exotic, if polacks and dazzling urbanites are exotic.

[Barrister]

Get a passport.

Figure out roughly when you want to go.

Check the online travel sites, and pick up a last minute deal and go where seems good.

For example, you could go to Mexico City from Nov 27 to Dec 1 for $390.  Includes travel and hotel, food extra (but it's Mexico - you could eat for under $100).  Or Palm Springs, California for $337 from Dec 4-6.  You get the idea.

[garbon]

Why would he go to Palm Springs?

[Barrister]

Why would he go to Palm Springs?

It seemed like a place where 60+ year old retirees go to sit y the pool and drink mixed drinks.  It seemed like it would be up Mihali's alley.

[Razgovory]

Why anyone would visit Kansas City is beyond me.  I suppose if you really like Ribs... 

[garbon]

It seemed like a place where 60+ year old retirees go to sit y the pool and drink mixed drinks.  It seemed like it would be up Mihali's alley.

Palm Springs is really quite dull unless you are trying to pick up a 60+ year old retiree.  I don't think it would pass the exciting enough mark.

[The Minsky Moment]

The only problem is I have little in the way in disposable income after my psychotherapy and alcohol bills are paid. 

Redundant; pick one.

There, problem solved.

[The Brain]

Sounds to me like wherever you decide to go you plan to end up where you began. Is that really what you want?

[Admiral Yi]

Do you have a car?  That expands the options.

[Malthus]

I think you should tell us how many days you will have free and what your budget is. Otherwise it will be impossible to make a worthwhile comment.

I guess you're right.     I would say I'll have up to 1 week free.  As for budget... I really don't know how much the basics of traveling cost.  I don't think I'll realistically have much more than about 500 dollars to blow on a trip.  Though I could live dangerously and put another few hundred on a credit card.

$500 doesn't go very far these days. You'll have to buy a box and mail yourself somewhere nice. 

[Barrister]

Let.s see...

You can get a return flight on a cheapo-airline like Southwest for $200 (after taxes).

Stay in a hostel for $25 a night.  Six nights would be $150.

Still gives you $150 for food/expenses. 

It can be done.

[Capetan Mihali]

Do you have a car?  That expands the options.

No.  And, also I am deathly afraid to fly.     In retrospect, making this thread was pretty pointless and I apologize.  Thanks everyone for the advice, though.