Ask HN: How/Where to take a month off
14 comments
I also want to say that Portland, OR is one of the coolest cities I've ever been to. I went for RailsConf two years in a row... when RailsConf moved, I kept going back to Portland.
Only now I go for a week.
Pinball and micro-brew cider in every pub, seriously laid back but lots going on artistically, musically and otherwise.
Only now I go for a week.
Pinball and micro-brew cider in every pub, seriously laid back but lots going on artistically, musically and otherwise.
I'm coming to the end of a one-year working "vacation" here and would highly recommend a visit as well.
The public transportation is ample (and growing) and everywhere else is bike friendly. Good food is abundant and cheap if you hop between the many food carts. Plenty of unique bars which all serve some sort of food, too. The selection of beers brewed in and around here are endless.
It does rain a fair amount, but almost never more than a trickle during the day; I don't wear anything more than a sweatshirt most moist days. All the precipitation isn't without benefit and makes the city and surrounding areas absolutely beautiful in the spring, summer and fall. Real, dense forest and the coast are only an hour and a half's drive away and the city is littered with well maintained parks.
We don't get quite as many musicians coming through as Los Angeles or Seattle, but a fair amount (of the ones I'm interested in at least) do stop-in. I do find the local music scene lacking. I'm sure there are more events like these, but all of the art galleries have open houses (with free booze) the first Thursday of every month Downtown, and the last Thursday on Alberta.
We are heading back home to Los Angeles soon, but only to be closer to friends and family for a bit longer. Portland has definitely made the list of places to return to.
The public transportation is ample (and growing) and everywhere else is bike friendly. Good food is abundant and cheap if you hop between the many food carts. Plenty of unique bars which all serve some sort of food, too. The selection of beers brewed in and around here are endless.
It does rain a fair amount, but almost never more than a trickle during the day; I don't wear anything more than a sweatshirt most moist days. All the precipitation isn't without benefit and makes the city and surrounding areas absolutely beautiful in the spring, summer and fall. Real, dense forest and the coast are only an hour and a half's drive away and the city is littered with well maintained parks.
We don't get quite as many musicians coming through as Los Angeles or Seattle, but a fair amount (of the ones I'm interested in at least) do stop-in. I do find the local music scene lacking. I'm sure there are more events like these, but all of the art galleries have open houses (with free booze) the first Thursday of every month Downtown, and the last Thursday on Alberta.
We are heading back home to Los Angeles soon, but only to be closer to friends and family for a bit longer. Portland has definitely made the list of places to return to.
I ended up being there for first Thursday this month! Sadly I was feeling mopey and anti-social, so I really didn't take advantage of the opportunity.
It's weird, I saw the best show of my life at Dante's (Extra Action Marching Band) but I've now been back four times and have never been tempted back in. It always just seems like trashy bar bands?
It's weird, I saw the best show of my life at Dante's (Extra Action Marching Band) but I've now been back four times and have never been tempted back in. It always just seems like trashy bar bands?
thailand. and make it more than a month.
A cheap cabin just off the beach is $100/month with cleaning lady.
Lunch (chicken on a stick/or something thai, some friend banana, a drink) is $0.50. Dinner will be $3-4. The view is nice, and so are the sunsets.
Lunch (chicken on a stick/or something thai, some friend banana, a drink) is $0.50. Dinner will be $3-4. The view is nice, and so are the sunsets.
I'm very interested in Thailand. How big of a concern is the current political situation over there?
Honestly, not at all.
You're a westerner (I assume white), and the Thai people know you're their lifeblood. Unrest stays well away from the tourist areas of bangkok. Besides you'll be out of bangkok on a beach. No one will go to any effort to blow up some sand.
You're a westerner (I assume white), and the Thai people know you're their lifeblood. Unrest stays well away from the tourist areas of bangkok. Besides you'll be out of bangkok on a beach. No one will go to any effort to blow up some sand.
I'm planning to go to ko tao ($200 for an open water PADI course & accomidation) and just snorkel/dive for several weeks. It's a really good place to be. Snorkeling is one of the best kinds of exercise there is. It's not too hard, but you can do it for hours and it's really fun and you feel it when your done.
Another option is the perhentain islands, tioman island or siporna archelegpo in malaysia. Malaysia has better infrastructure compared to most of south east asia. You can get unlimited 3G internet for certain ($6.50 a week USD prepaid) with celcom on those islands. (not sure with siporna).
Another option is the perhentain islands, tioman island or siporna archelegpo in malaysia. Malaysia has better infrastructure compared to most of south east asia. You can get unlimited 3G internet for certain ($6.50 a week USD prepaid) with celcom on those islands. (not sure with siporna).
I don't know how it is now, but two years ago in Ko Samui the 3G internet was unusable. For example I never managed to log in to Facebook with it. It would work for a few seconds, then the connection would disappear for a minute and then work for a few seconds again. We had more luck getting a very cheap cabin next to a very expensive resort and use their wifi. Forget the internets, bring a few good books and enjoy your stay =)
Absolutely no concern. I've just had a colleague come back from a three week holiday there (both in Bangkok and traveling around) and he said that there was no sign of any disturbance or nothing abnormal. He does this holiday every year so he has some perspective on this.
His only complaint is that his favorite shopping mall was torched during the riots, but other than that now is a perfect time to go as any.
His only complaint is that his favorite shopping mall was torched during the riots, but other than that now is a perfect time to go as any.
I'd second Thailand. Head either to Ko Pha Ngan on the east coast or Ko Phi Phi on the west. Don't book anything. Take only a backpack. Amazing food. Amazing people. Not remotely like the sleazy parts further north.
> thailand. and make it more than a month. A cheap cabin just off the beach is $100/month with cleaning lady.
Yeah, but for anyone going to Thailand: Don't pre-pay for a month anywhere, there's a decent chance you won't like the first city you wind up. I was going crazy in Bangkok after a week so I caught an overnight train to Chiang Mai and much preferred it there, stayed there for the rest of the month my visa was good for. Staying flexible is good travel advice anyways, but especially in Thailand where various places are very, very different.
Yeah, but for anyone going to Thailand: Don't pre-pay for a month anywhere, there's a decent chance you won't like the first city you wind up. I was going crazy in Bangkok after a week so I caught an overnight train to Chiang Mai and much preferred it there, stayed there for the rest of the month my visa was good for. Staying flexible is good travel advice anyways, but especially in Thailand where various places are very, very different.
Depending on when you're going to be able to take the time off, I can recommend Cape Town, South Africa. By avoiding the traditional tourist traps you should be able to find a place to stay for a reasonable price once the football world cup finishes in early July and there's a lot of choice when it comes to food. Language is not a problem, as pretty much everybody speaks English.
The broadband is decent these days, albeit quite a bit pricier than US or European broadband equivalents, but it should be suitable. Cape Town also has a fairly active start-up community, if thats important to you.
Others may have had a different experience, of course, but I've always found the area around Cape Town to be incredibly relaxing and conducive to good ideas.
The broadband is decent these days, albeit quite a bit pricier than US or European broadband equivalents, but it should be suitable. Cape Town also has a fairly active start-up community, if thats important to you.
Others may have had a different experience, of course, but I've always found the area around Cape Town to be incredibly relaxing and conducive to good ideas.
I've heard Cape Town is very dangerous... is it?
Yes and no. Cape Town does have a high violent crime rate compared to most Western cities, but the key thing to understand is that like the rest of SA the vast majority of that crime is concentrated in specific areas like the townships (slums) on the outskirts of the city. For the parts of the city and areas outside the city that a foreigner would likely stay Cape Town is quite safe and definitely safer than Johannesburg.
Opportunistic crime does exist, but provided you use the same kind of street smarts you would use in most big cities and don't do things like walk alone in unfamiliar areas after dark, don't make yourself an easy target and don't be oblivious to your surroundings, you should be able to avoid being the victim of opportunistic criminals.
Opportunistic crime does exist, but provided you use the same kind of street smarts you would use in most big cities and don't do things like walk alone in unfamiliar areas after dark, don't make yourself an easy target and don't be oblivious to your surroundings, you should be able to avoid being the victim of opportunistic criminals.
It's pretty hard to give advice without additional information about what you're into. I mean, you could go to NYC, or Nova Scotia, or Belize, or Hawaii, or Paris, or Montana, or...
Point taken.
I'm not a fan of driving. I'm looking to avoid cooking my own meals (so a nice set of restaurants in walking distance would be great). Also, per the earlier comment, I'm not bilingual, so I'd like to avoid places that are hostile towards that (I've heard rumors about Paris, but I'm not sure how true they are).
Not sure where I fall on urban versus scenic. I wouldn't want to be out in the middle of nowhere, but if all the niceties of civilization are there then a scenic environment would be nice.
I'm not a fan of driving. I'm looking to avoid cooking my own meals (so a nice set of restaurants in walking distance would be great). Also, per the earlier comment, I'm not bilingual, so I'd like to avoid places that are hostile towards that (I've heard rumors about Paris, but I'm not sure how true they are).
Not sure where I fall on urban versus scenic. I wouldn't want to be out in the middle of nowhere, but if all the niceties of civilization are there then a scenic environment would be nice.
Where are you at?
The best vacation I've had by far were two months I've spent in northern India - getting around with just English was not a problem, violent crime is uncommon enough to not be an issue at all (especially outside of Delhi) and it was dirt cheap (that was 6 years ago - I've heard prices have risen since then but it should be still extremely affordable if you're from a western country).
It was a bit of a culture shock at first, and India's big cities are definitely not for the faint of heart (or cleanliness-obsessed) but the Himalayan hill stations offer great scenery, a very different culture & generally very friendly & helpful locals.
The food is also great and extremely cheap (<$1 for a basic and very filling main-meal at a typical dhaba).
Most Indians don't own a vehicle, so mass transport is plentiful (if not very efficient). I didn't have a car there and never wanted one either.
The best vacation I've had by far were two months I've spent in northern India - getting around with just English was not a problem, violent crime is uncommon enough to not be an issue at all (especially outside of Delhi) and it was dirt cheap (that was 6 years ago - I've heard prices have risen since then but it should be still extremely affordable if you're from a western country).
It was a bit of a culture shock at first, and India's big cities are definitely not for the faint of heart (or cleanliness-obsessed) but the Himalayan hill stations offer great scenery, a very different culture & generally very friendly & helpful locals.
The food is also great and extremely cheap (<$1 for a basic and very filling main-meal at a typical dhaba).
Most Indians don't own a vehicle, so mass transport is plentiful (if not very efficient). I didn't have a car there and never wanted one either.
Parisians are usually the rudest towards visitors during the summer. And rightfully so, the tourists in July truly embody every negative stereotype ascribed to tourists, multiplied by millions.
Many people seem to consider the San Francisco area pretty scenic, and kinda urban, and conducive to hacking, and tons of good, cheap food... The only problem is that it's an alternate climatological universe where it can seem very cold in the summer.
Many people seem to consider the San Francisco area pretty scenic, and kinda urban, and conducive to hacking, and tons of good, cheap food... The only problem is that it's an alternate climatological universe where it can seem very cold in the summer.
I'm assuming you are from the US (?).
I liked the Czech Republic. Cheap, good beer & most people speak good English.
Everyone I know who's been to Croatia has loved it, too.
The Netherlands is fantastic, too, and people there seem to speak better English than a lot of supposedly-native-speakers.
If you want English speaking, then Australia & New Zealand might work, or various Pacific islands.
I liked the Czech Republic. Cheap, good beer & most people speak good English.
Everyone I know who's been to Croatia has loved it, too.
The Netherlands is fantastic, too, and people there seem to speak better English than a lot of supposedly-native-speakers.
If you want English speaking, then Australia & New Zealand might work, or various Pacific islands.
Czech Republic might be good choice. I am living there and it is reasonably cheap, high speed internet is also very cheap (I am paying about $35/month for 100 mbps both ways) and weather is ok, during the spring and summer.
Croatia is ok too. I've been pretty much everywhere in this country (I spent week on different location each year for past 15 years). Great weather and landscapes, but during the summer there is crowds and crowds of tourists.
If you want to travel and see things then I recommend Morocco, very very cheap country and also safe. There are numerous internet cafe in each village (1 hour costs around $0.5 - $1). I spent one month last winter there and love it. I travel more then 2000km, see waterfalls, deserts, mountains and there is also some beaches too.
Croatia is ok too. I've been pretty much everywhere in this country (I spent week on different location each year for past 15 years). Great weather and landscapes, but during the summer there is crowds and crowds of tourists.
If you want to travel and see things then I recommend Morocco, very very cheap country and also safe. There are numerous internet cafe in each village (1 hour costs around $0.5 - $1). I spent one month last winter there and love it. I travel more then 2000km, see waterfalls, deserts, mountains and there is also some beaches too.
There is a requirement for decent broadband, so that rules Australia, and our friendly neighbors :/
Broadband isn't that bad here.
For a traveller, you'd want wireless. If you want fast Telstra's prices are high but they give you the best datarate: http://www.telstra.com.au/bigpond-internet/prepaid-wireless/...
If you want cheap, you can get similar datacaps for about 50% of the price (but generally the speed & coverage isn't quite so good).
For a traveller, you'd want wireless. If you want fast Telstra's prices are high but they give you the best datarate: http://www.telstra.com.au/bigpond-internet/prepaid-wireless/...
If you want cheap, you can get similar datacaps for about 50% of the price (but generally the speed & coverage isn't quite so good).
I suggest you start with the "when" part of things - most places have a peak tourist season and a bad weather season. You will probably want to avoid both of those!
That said, I'd give a big +1 to the Australia suggestion. I'm a Brit, but I've emigrated to Oz after I came on holiday here a few years ago. It's definitely a relaxing place to live and there's loads of nice locations (the typical travellers route is down the east coast with a detour to the outback). There shouldn't be much of a language problem (once you work out what Ozzies mean when they talk about their thongs), prices can be anything from fairly cheap (shared dorms in a youth hostel, but not as cheap as SE asia) to very expensive. There's a huge variety of stuff to see.here (beaches, mountains, deserts, weird animals).
That said, I'd give a big +1 to the Australia suggestion. I'm a Brit, but I've emigrated to Oz after I came on holiday here a few years ago. It's definitely a relaxing place to live and there's loads of nice locations (the typical travellers route is down the east coast with a detour to the outback). There shouldn't be much of a language problem (once you work out what Ozzies mean when they talk about their thongs), prices can be anything from fairly cheap (shared dorms in a youth hostel, but not as cheap as SE asia) to very expensive. There's a huge variety of stuff to see.here (beaches, mountains, deserts, weird animals).
Presumably you are from the US since in the civilised world most people get a month off every year ;)
A relatively simple but interesting and easy-to-branch-from trip would be to hit one of the big Mediterranean cities; say, Rome, Marseille, Barcelona, Mostar, Athens, Istanbul, Tunis, Tripoli, even Cairo. Hang out there for a bit and then take a ferry to another one (or a smaller place). If you get bored of the Med, you can make trips inland.
A relatively simple but interesting and easy-to-branch-from trip would be to hit one of the big Mediterranean cities; say, Rome, Marseille, Barcelona, Mostar, Athens, Istanbul, Tunis, Tripoli, even Cairo. Hang out there for a bit and then take a ferry to another one (or a smaller place). If you get bored of the Med, you can make trips inland.
I stayed here for a week, and it was perfect:
http://www.villascarrizalillo.com/
- not a tourist trap - authentic (but not "too" authentic) - relatively easy to get to - wifi - quiet and you can be left alone with your thoughts
Enjoy your vacation.
http://www.villascarrizalillo.com/
- not a tourist trap - authentic (but not "too" authentic) - relatively easy to get to - wifi - quiet and you can be left alone with your thoughts
Enjoy your vacation.
Check out Peru for a few reasons:
July / August = peak season.
Peruvian food is delicious.
You can catch Peru's Independence day(s) at the end of July (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiestas_Patrias_%28Peru%29)
July / August = peak season.
Peruvian food is delicious.
You can catch Peru's Independence day(s) at the end of July (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiestas_Patrias_%28Peru%29)
I'm in a pretty similar situation, and I've decided to go to Berlin. It's cheap, international, english is widely spoken, good public transport, internet shouldn't be a problem and there's a start-up community there.
I have this bookmarked - http://sivers.org/sakurajima
Are you willing to drop the fast-internet requirement?
check out santiago, chile. its cheap, and has a huge european influence from what i have read.
I've got enough expendable income that travel costs aren't really an issue, though I'm not looking to burn through a ton of cash in the process. I don't have any family/kids to worry about, so it'll be just me traveling.
I'm looking for a nice location (or set of locations) with high speed internet and a relaxing environment to spend a month resting and focusing on my own ideas. I'm not bilingual (though I'd like to be), so if the location is international, I'd need to be able to make my way around without having to learn another language ahead of time.
With that in mind, are there any suggestions? A one-bedroom or studio apartment on AirBNB looks like it might be fun to try out, just not sure where to go.
Thanks in advance!