re: Want your opinion.

That's one of my main concerns and why I thought the student loan idea was a very good one. It may be taking advantage of the system, but it would get me into the range that I posted. Other than that, I would have to rely on good credit and the low income that I am making as a part time employee.

My graduation gift from my parents will most likely be the flight. I have pretty well to do grandparents, I just don't know how I feel about the concept of asking for that amount of money.

Yep, want to totally immerse myself into that lifestyle with no worries in the world for an extended period of time. Kind of like Ari at the end of Entourage on a much cheaper scale . My other idea was to go to the islands (St. John or somewhere), but that seemed far more expensive. For the people saying go to multiple place, I have done all that. I have been to Paris, Rome, Venice, Madrid, London, Frankfurt, etc. Hell, my parents live in Madrid and my grandparents lived in Naples my entire childhood.

Where did you go?

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Where did you go?

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LSU Law runs summer program in France; also went to the Italian coast. Tuscany is actually one of the more expensive areas if I recall correctly. But I think $5-7 K is plenty enough budget, especially if mom & dad are chipping in tickets. Just travel like a 23 year old and accept that you're not getting air conditioning or Michelin starred restaurants every night.

I spent 2 months in Finland one summer and got a reduced "special" rate at a hotel from a buddy. That one was like $500 a week all up.

Spent 2 weeks living at each of the following in apartments and or houses: Grand Canaria Canary Islands, Palma de Mallorca Spain, French med coast outside marseille, a small town outside Amsterdam, a few months in England on the channel coast in a small town, Baltic coast in Sweden, Baltic coast in Germany.

If you get on like home away or can get a local to hook you up with a guest apartment in a house or something similar its great.

I would stay for a week for what my friends were paying for a night in a hotel.

One place in netherlands was like an 8 bedroom house, was like $5 a night for each person who stayed there. I spent more in beer each day than on housing.

I had to travel to get to city centers, but I really enjoyed the off the beaten path spots.

That is exactly what i'm looking for.

Before graduate school I plan to say "screw it" and go spend a long time in Europe. I've never regretted the dollars I spend when traveling and the life experiences are amazing.

I already take one major trip a year while working. Life is too short to always be frugal...I am the rest of the year.

Didn't read the whole thread, but definitely read this part...

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Also, by this time next year she will most likely be my fiance. She has put up with and stuck with me through thick and thin for a long time now. I'm not gonna find anything better from a woman/future wife.

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Two ways for you to handle this...

1. Don't take her unless she is 100% the one
2. If she is 100% the one, take her, and propose the last few days you're there.

The only thing I truly regret in my life is not traveling abroad while I had the time but not the money. Now I have the money but not the time.

As for your GF, only take her for the whole trip if you know she's the one you want/plan to marry. Otherwise, as another poster suggested, recommend that she come visit you for a week.

I suppose that if I were in your position I'd do it. It probably is the last chance to go for that length of time.

BUT...

I would interpret your need to do this as a sign that money might have a tendency to burn holes in your pockets. After your vacation and if you get the job you mentioned you're going to want a car. You're going to hit the lot looking at a Honda and then begin to think, "I've got no student debt, I deserve to reward myself" and it's off to the BMW lot. When lookifng at a house you might decide that you need the extra 1000sqft. All of these purchases might occur while you decide to delay investing the correct percentage for retirement because you figure you'll "catch up" later.

Maybe I'm wrong but what I posted is how the majority of Americans screw themselves.