Any One Else (Obsessed)

There are wose things than being a European Travel Junkie. We're lucky enough to be going to Scotland this August, but are already looking forward to the next trip beyond that one.

So are you keeping your DVD set in your day bag, for now?

You've come to the right place, Tony. Join the crowd...

Many of us are obsessed enough to be spending a lot (too much?) of time on this website. Welcome!!

Welcome to the club!
We live in a country (US or Canada) that has less history, when compared to Europe. That may be a part of the fascination, that there's more history in Europe. And different cultures to observe, even as outsiders.
Some Europeans, when they visit N. America, say, "it's great, everything is so new."

Guilty! I'm even going so far as to start a local monthly travel meeting to get together with like minded people and talk about travel. I've gotten bit by the travel bug big time ;-)

We hear you, obviously!

My only thought is don't let your travel obsession drive you to buy a lot of stuff, from RS or elsewhere, unless you're sure you need it. Europe will be there when you're ready and able to travel again, and so will all the paraphernalia.

Go for it, Angela. Good luck! Some of us have been encouraging this for a long time. But ignore Frank's request for franchise fees.

tony,

I think it's safe to say that the majority of the group here (including myself) are "obsessed" with European travel to varying degrees. I agree with Andrea that many of us spend a bit too much time on this website (albeit "enjoyable time").

Rather than think if terms of "going back at least one last time", you might consider your next trip to be the first of many enjoyable return trips to Europe. I'm sure you'll notice a world of changes since you lived there. I'm also in my '60s and I'd still like to continue travelling to Europe on a regular basis. At this point I have no interest in going to the far east or elsewhere (although I wouldn't mind a week or so in a warmer climate in the winter).

You'll find that the group here is very knowledgeable and many have an enormous range of travel experience. You'll also notice that this is a very "polite and friendly" website and everyone gets along well. When you decide where you'd like to go on your next trip, post a note as I'm sure you'll get LOTS of good suggestions. You may find that it's possible to travel more cheaply than you might have anticipated.

Cheers!

You just might be preaching to the choir, Tony. Doesn't everyone have 45 RS episodes saved to their DVR? Don't most couple's have matching color RS rolling bags? Here's an article that chun shared a while back, it discusses how for some people the actual planning of a trip is as important an activity as the trip itself.
Enjoy, there are worse things we could be doing!

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/11/travel/what-a-great-trip-and-im-not-even-there-yet.html?emc=edit_tl_20140510&nl=travel&nlid=65909356&_r=0

Hi. My name is Douglas and I'm a European travel addict...

Hi Douglas!

Ken, have you looked at the RS winter tours? I've been fortunate to go on two-Sicily and Nice, both in February. Much warmer there than Colorado and I would also bet warmer than Canada that time of year! Relatively speaking, reasonably priced. Tony, know you're not alone!

I'm an addict too! A few months back I was avoiding this website and my other travel related past times because circumstances dictate we can't go this year (for the first year in several), but that didn't last. I'm here every day again! It's certainly bittersweet reading about and occasionally commenting on others' adventures.

I work in a public library with a marvellous travel section. That means when I have a whim about any destination I'm steps away from the guidebooks and DVD. At any given time I have on my library card guidebooks on four or give different destinations, and other related topics (history, etc). Right now I've got Brittany, Switzerland, South Italy and New York City. I also take the year olds we get rid of when the new batch arrives.

I guess it could be an obsession... but I just like to think of it as finding out what you like and going for it!

I look at this site every day, the only time I'm not planning my next trip is when I am on one, and one of my best ways to cheer myself up when I'm in a bad mood is to look at pictures of former trips. I guess I am obsessed, too! I am looking forward to a meeting this weekend of our St Louis area travel group so I can talk about European travel with some like minded people.

@Ron-the BA flights between Denver and London certainly seem to be fuller these days. They're doing a great job of marketing to both Americans and Brits, and in the winter, a lot of Europeans are flying to Colorado, where the skiing is better (in my opion and apparently theirs) than in Switzerland, Austria, North Carolina, Utah, etc. People also have to fly home, so the plane's full of Yankee, British, and other accents. BA and the other airlines have figured out just how many seats they and their partner airlines can sell, every flight, every direction. As for last-minute price deals, I'm not sure -- the planes pretty much seem to be full before that becomes an option! Good luck with your garden (many French and other Europeans would support your "biologique" veggies), horse riding, and big dog, and in making future trips!

@Tony in Nashville-maybe Rick could at least throw in a free moneybelt for you, as "commission" for signing up 2 friends for one of his tours :-)

@ Angela & Leigh,

Getting together with like minded people who love European travel as much as you do is very rewarding. Most of the people in my life would not be interested in talking about it. But I know that every month I will be meeting with my friends who were brought together by this Helpline (forum) and I really look forward to it. We loan each other books, DVD's and travel items. We help each other in many ways. Right now I'm eagerly awaiting emails from Susan & Monte who are in Paris, wanting to know how each day is going for them. I guess I'm just saying that it's nice to have people to share this interest (obsession) with!!

tchurc44,

i can say I'm addicted to travel. but i don't care or will seek out a cure.

Every time i get back from a trip, I'm looking/planning for my next one - at least as long as my job holds out.

happy trails.

Anyone who has posted 11,246 times must be obsessed about something.

....Some Europeans, when they visit N. America, say, "it's great, everything is so new."...... The other comments that I often hear are, How empty the US is especially western areas. How great the roads are. And, of course, how cheap it is.

And it so true how thin our history is. When I was in high school, the first white child born in our county was alive and walking the streets of our western Nebraska town. And the new forest in England is over a thousand years old.

Hi,

If you think you are obsessed by this tormented desire to go to Europe, count me in too. I've been obsessed with traveling to Europe since I first went at 21 in the summer of 1971. Now twenty trips and 43 years later, that travel bug still has not left me, and the obsession to continue going over there is the driving force behind the planning for the next trip. I've only fine tuned my way of traveling. Be glad you're obsessed.

Wow, lots of us OBSESSED people out there. I appreciate all the comments and learning there is no pill or shot for this obsession. LOL! Not obsessed enough to have thousands of posts yet but who knows how many I will have before this ends. Many of you have fun with your posts and I enjoy reading all the posts as I can.
No interest in anywhere but Germany, France, Italy, Austria, and Switzerland so that is what I read about and plan for. Envy all of you that can travel yearly but I just have not been able to do that. So, for now I will just enjoy everyone's posts, watch my videos and hope for a 2015 trip maybe. Noticed tonight that the 2015 early tours are posted on the tour site. Thanks again to everyone who knows what this feels like. Happy travel and planning to everyone.
Tony

We started traveling about 21 years ago and have been going to Europe every year since then - except missed one year - we were scheduled to fly on 9/11 so didn't go that year. We just returned from our 20th trip to the UK - if you can believe it. That's how much we love it there. We have been to other countries too but really focus on the UK. What I've been feeling lately is a sense of sadness in wondering when our last trip will be. We noticed on this last one that it took a lot more energy and the flights are horrible. When I came home I thought that was probably the last trip, but one week later I'm thinking about the next one. Yes, I'm obsessed too and don't want to give up on European travel.

Yes! Once I discovered how much I enjoyed travel--Europe as well as Canada--I was doomed. I'm single and still working so for now 2 weeks is the most I can do, but those 2 weeks make the other 50 bearable. This website is a wonderful way to research and get ideas for other trips, and one of my favourite pastimes is going on Expedia and planning trips--lately I've been amusing myself with the logistics of a trip to the UK, seeing London and Edinburgh again, travelling by train to other towns in England, Wales and Scotland and then flying or ferrying to Ireland for a look-see.

For us , it's not an obsession , it's closer to an addiction . We are in our late sixties and since we began to travel to Europe five years ago , rather than satiating our desires , they have only increased . There are worse things in life .

Add me to the list! I'm on the website multiple times a day, watch the tv shows (and others), and peruse the tours often. I'm also addicted to TRAVEL-SIZED Products (toothpaste, etc)! It seems every time I'm in the drugstore (or Christmas Tree Shops here in New England), I am compelled to buy them - just in case I need to fly/drive somewhere at the last minute (mind you, this has never actually happened). Oh well - it's harmless I suppose.

Add me to the list.

Our trip to Scotland is 85 days, 9 hours, and 37 minutes (thanks Andrea for the vacation countdown app). And the 4th of July weekend in Carmel, CA with the dogs is only a week away! While walking our dogs this evening, my husband and I were discussing 2015 vacation possibilities. We are going to skip Europe next year and do a couple of US vacations. So for next year, we are thinking a drive up Hwy 1 along the coast with the dogs to Portland, visit Oregon wineries, then Columbia river, then a trip on the east coast to coincide with the NY Marathon, maybe DC or New England. Then back to Europe in 2016 for our 30th wedding anniversary. Maybe Spain & Portugal, France, or back to Italy???

If we don't have anything planned by the time we leave for Scotland, when we get home I will spend hours and hours getting the next trip planned and booked. To me, vacations (travel) are the "carrots" that keep me going (work). Without anything booked, going to work every day gets a little harder.

Welcome to the club!

Obsession is also defined as bewitchment. Europe casts a spell. Enjoy it. Life is too short not to.

I didn't start traveling outside the U.S. (and Canada) until 9 years ago. I got my first passport at age 60 and have been making up for lost time. I'm a Travel Addict and proud of it!

Count me as one of the obsessed! And Rick Steves got me started, too! I had taken a trip early in life with college friends to England, and loved every minute of it, and have gone back many times since. Then I started watching the Rick Steves travel shows on PBS, and I was hooked!

How can anything that makes you so happy AND makes you learn about other countries and their people be wrong? I think it is a wonderful pastime.

Welcome, Tony, you've come to the right place, and we're glad to have you here! Join our little party!

Wow! Glad to know that it's not just me. I, too, am pretty much obsessed with European travel and want to start planning my next trip even before I get home (or leve home!) Our next trip is 72 days (haven't counted hours yet). I (and sometmes with my husband) have been to Western Europe and beyond (once to India on a mission trip and once to Morrocco) including Greece, Turkey, Croatia, Slovenia,Poland, and Hungary. This coming trip will be my 15th and I will be 74 years old. We are already planning to take one of our grandaughters on the "grand tour" next summer when she graduates from high school. In 2011 we took our grandson (her brother) and another grandaughter, He has become an addict at 19. His mother, my daughter, is a flight attendant so he is always flying somewhere when he is not in school or working. He is planning to be a commercial pilot after he graduates from college. He already has his pilots license and works at the flight school. My daughter warned me that he will "probably show up" somewhere along the line when we take his sister next summer. This year we are taking our first RS tour to Berlin, Vienna and Prague. I have been to all but Berlin but my husband hasn't. We've run out of friends to travel with so that is our main motivation to take a tour - the people. Hope that it is worth the extra money! We'll be taking our grandaughter next year on our own - God willing!
Barb in Twin Cities, MN

For those of you who DON'T live in North America - Do you and/or your friends and family think of travel as an obsession/addiction?

I don't know anyone here in Israel who hasn't traveled to foreign countries. Yes, I'm sure there are many, but not in my acquaintance - and that includes many who grew up here. My sense is that many Europeans also think of travel as an common pursuit that is done on a fairly regular basis. From the number of Chinese, Koreans and Japanese I've encountered in my travels, the impression is that they were just waiting to be able to afford to go.

So the corollary question is - why do so many North Americans think travel is an odd thing to do?

Chani,

Hello. And hello to Tel Aviv! Last summer, I visited Israel (Tel Aviv, Dead Sea (Ein Gedi), Jerusalem, more) and loved every second of it! But first to your question: Why do so many North Americans think travel is an odd thing? A couple things come to mind.

North America is somewhat separated from the rest of the world and used to the partial isolation. The Eurasian landmass has, I believe, 12 time zones, but the 48 contiguous American states have only four time zones. (Alaska has two time zones, and Eastern Canada has three time zones, but two of those are separated by a half-hour.) Some lines from Shakespeare's "King Richard II" apply to us: "This fortress built by nature for herself/Against infection and the hand of war." That speech has limited application to North America, however. England's aristocratic heritage has no echo here. It also calls the English "this happy breed of men," but Americans to this American do not seem happy a lot of the time.

Another thing that comes to mind is the attitude of European descended Americans about Europe in the 20th Century. I love Europe and have visited 12 times, but when I was a kid, a lot of Americans, with quite a bit of reason, regarded Europe negatively. Two world wars, the Holocaust, the lingering effects of famines and almost constant strife resulted in hundreds of millions of dead. Though I'm only 49 years old, my dad served in the Pacific campaign with the U.S. Navy during World War II and my grandfather in the U.S. Army in Europe during World War I. My family is tied to world history. In recent memory, Europe was a dreadful, violent place. Because of my academic background--two literature degrees, with a lot of philosophy and history, too--I have a more balanced view of Europe. Indeed, I have come to love Europe in large part due to its history of ideas, art and literature.

A last point is that Americans can be a bit naive and provincial. That's not necessarily a bad thing. We have no history of Hitlers, Stalins and Maos. Having said that, some Americans embrace limitation, it seems. An acquaintance once told me, "We have everything here that they (Europe) have." That's rubbish to me. Do we have the city of Paris? Do we a 2,500-year-old history of art and thought? Do we have the European people?

Again, greetings to Israel. Cheers, Craig

@ Craig...Your points are well taken; why didn't you get your degrees in History focusing on Modern Europe? I started out as a literature major, changed over to a more cold blooded subject like History.

@chani
I can speak only from my experience, in the middle of the US. I can go hundreds of miles in any direction, and still be in my homeland, doing business in English with dollars, and supported by familiar infrastructure. Most people in my age and class have little to no interest in foreign affairs, history, or curiosity about other cultures. It is just not something learned in school. Europe is a long expensive trip from home among people speaking strangely and eating strange food. The caricature of Europeans we see on TV makes it seem like Americans will be unwelcome or potential victims. We prefer the safe comfortable version of Europe we get at Epcot Center, or Las Vegas.
Well into the '70s, the image of European travel that middle class Americans had of European travel, was either the big bus high speed grand tour, or the back-packing, train-station-sleeping college kid experience. What Rick Steves (and others) have done is make European travel seem more achievable to middle class people that have an interest but had no reference for how.
So the Americans you see in Europe are the exceptions: people who have the means and interest to travel beyond the borders, in those strange places.

Re the last 4 posts:

I think many more Americans would travel to Europe if Europe was next door and the US was smaller.
Americans (i mean those living in the middle region of N. America) travel widely in the US, presumably because it's cheaper and more convenient, than a trip to Europe thousands of miles away at the end of an expensive airfare.

Europeans, presumably, travel widely within Europe, for the same reasons as above, it's more affordable and convenient--something Europeans can do on a modest budget, even on day trips or weekend trips.

I'd propose this possible explanation: Many more Americans would travel to Europe, if European destinations were only a few hundred miles away from the US.

I'm also going to propose an additional hypothesis: That some people living in geographically very small countries (for example, Israel, excluding, say, the Negev) may be motivated to travel, in part (and assuming they can afford to do so) by what is called "cabin fever" (a term used in N. America)-cabin fever being that psychological feeling of confinement that is caused by living for a lengthy period in a small geographical area. I know this was true for me when, many years ago in a military situation, I had to live in a very small place for a couple of years--periodically, you just felt that you had to "get off the island" (unfortunately getting "voted off the island" was not a possibility).

First of all, Craig, I am so glad you liked my little corner of the world. And I'll be in Chicago in 3 weeks, so can we organize a meet-up? I'm sure there are a few others around here.

I worked for a few years in the San Francisco Bay area, with professional people who had good incomes and took fairly expensive vacations. Several had never been outside California and had no plans to. The ones who traveled to foreign countries were almost exclusively the ones who'd been born in one (for whatever reason, about 1/2 our staff), and they weren't the ones earning the big bucks. Most of the people I knew outside of work had strong Jewish identities and had either been to Israel or were planning/hoping to go, but nowhere else. Yes, the West Coast is far from Europe, but I used every opportunity (vacations, holiday weekends) to travel by car (the West is wonderful, the national parks are superb, the history is fascinating, the scenery is beyond description). The people who understood me were the "foreigners."

My point is that for millions of Americans who can afford to travel, vacationing means staying home and going to a ball game. Even when they do go away, they don't do much. I often talked with rangers at the big national parks and took advantage of the (free and excellent) programs they offer. Veteran rangers told me that there were fewer and fewer programs given and they were shorter and shorter - because people didn't come to them, even though there were more and more visitors to the park. When I was growing up in Chicago, my dad got 2 weeks vacation a year and for at least one of them we took a family trip. We couldn't afford much, so it was by car, but I saw every sight there was to see in Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan. And I miss those A&W floats.

Oh - I know where ya'all are coming from! Since I was a teen, I've wanted to go to Greece and Scotland (haven't gotten there yet! I have an obsession with Italy now, Venice specifically - we'll have been there all 4 trips over...counting this Sept). Then in my 20's and 30's, I discovered Rick Steves and Rudy Maxa on PBS. (I still actually had VCR tapes with the shows on them! Finally got rid of those earlier this year). So for years, hubby and I really couldn't afford much more then close by driving distance trips...Boston, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto was the farthest away we ever got. In 2008, we finally saved enough dollars and air miles to go to Europe - London (and Portsmouth where my sis lives) and Italy to be precise. We were able to save money on accoms by couchsurfing...and met some wonderful people on the way. Before going, we thought if we could go every 5 years, we'd be doing good. Well, let's just say that first trip opened the floodgates. While on the trip...we said...maybe every 3 yrs - there is sooooo much to see! Within a week of getting home, we were planning to go back in 2010. And that 2010 trip was bad - we crammed a lot in - lots of moving around, which only whetted my appetite to return to these places at a more leisurely pace - Switzerland most of all.

We have interspersed with trips to the US on the 'off' years (tho we are hoping for our dream Australia trip in 2015 - hubby's 50th bday and our 25th anni). We did get back in 2012, and have our current trip planned for Sept (Italy...again, with my mom). And when hubby retires in a few yrs (come on Freedom 55...or 50!) I hope we can go every year. We are lucky in that we never had kids (by choice) and our mortgage was paid off 18 mos ago with a generous gift from my in-laws, so financially we are in a good place. But I am always looking for last years guidebooks (have a shelf full) and reading Rick Steves and watching videos and reading stories and buying magazines about travel. And when I am planning a trip (one of my absolute joys in life!) I do so much research, I think it starts to annoy my husband...lol.

Oh well, I guess there are worse things to be obsessed with!

Chani,

It would be a pleasure to meet you!

You are talking about what is sometimes known as a "cocooning." This describes people who retreat from the stress of life into their houses, which are their havens. Some people live in what are known as McMansions and just hang out at home when they have time off from work. That concept, I think, is more prevalent on the coasts, which have substantially more wealth, than in the Midwest. Another term is "staycation." Because we live in an era of conservative politics, where money is shoveled into the pockets of the wealthy and the crumbs are distributed to everyone else, staycations are more prevalent. Some people cannot afford to travel, especially those with families. Others have just never developed a love of travel.

My family would do the same as yours when I was a kid: vacations to lakes in Wisconsin, Michigan or Missouri. I remember A&W root beers, but I remember more vividly Stuckey's outlets. These were roadside convenience stores on Midwest highways, but I believe they could be found in other parts of the country. My parents used to buy us kids taffy, which are pure sugar, at Stuckey's. Kids love their sugar! Stuckey's are still around, but there are not as many as in the 1960s and 70s.

Fred,

I got English literature degrees for a couple reasons. One is that in high school I started to love anything well written, whether it was a newspaper article, a haiku or an 800-page Victorian novel. My love of writing has only intensified as I have gotten older. Ironically, I wish I had gotten my second degree in philosophy. Late in my academic career I developed a love of philosophy, Plato and the other Greeks especially. Ultimately, it is intelligence and wisdom that matter. To me it does not matter where a person gets these, whether it is literature, religion, history, philosophy, science or life experience.

Ah, Tony, Tony, Tony...(or was it Tony Toni Tone)...

I recently endured another spell of 'European travel sickness'. It typically goes something like this: there is a catalyst - perhaps a Travel Forum question, a TV show, a news article - that gets me started. Then, I either watch a travel video (usually Rick Steves), I read the RSE Tour Reviews (although they are pretty crappy as they are currently posted online; that's a different thread), I look through the RS Tour offerings/intineraries and imagine myself on the tour, I peruse some new carry-on luggage, etc. Next thing I know I'm watching RSE videos (I own everything The Man has ever put out), and especially bad these days are the Tour Experience videos - I pretend I'm actually going to take the tour...and they might be my tour mates ;-) I usually end up watching both Tour Experience videos (one older, one newer) for maximum pain. I can 'blow' an entire day/weekend on this. There are usually bottles of wine involved. At some point I realize I've gone from maximum travel-dreaming fun to 'I'm so depressed because I'm never going to take one of these tours with those people' LOL! I have to stop, cold-turkey, and get back to reality.

I promise myself 'I'll never do that again', but...I'm just.not.that.strong.

And no, that's not me checking out the travel-sized products in the stores ;-)

If I own every show RS ever made, why would I watch the PBS specials? ;-)

Speaking of PBS, why would I watch any of those 'Italy From Above'-type programs? That would just be masochistic ;-)

I never look at, much less actually purchase, the newest 'cool thing' in travel - luggage, travel clothing, accessories, etc. ;-)

I never consider buying something new and think about how heavy it would be to travel with it ;-)

I'm gonna get a glass of wine...

Eileen, Eileen, and after a couple bottles of wine, maybe ILEN. LOL! You sound like so much fun and being obsessed with R/S travel is so much fun. Like you, I watch the videos of places I know I won't go ,but they are still interesting to watch. I found myself checking out old scrapbooks on the site a couple evenings ago. Found one from a 2012 My Way GAS tour that was great. Even e-mailed the couple that put it on the site, but have not heard back yet. As it was 2012, they may not even use that address now. They did a side trip to ULM that was wonderful, and the church they visited was just beautiful. ULM is about 16 miles from where I went to school in the early 60's. Hope to visit Leipheim again on my next trip. Also, I'm still waiting on the R/S day bag I purchased last week. Hope the mail man comes soon as I have stuff to put in it even though I'm not going anywhere. Maybe I can keep my empty wine bottles in it as I watch old R/S videos over the holiday weekend. Isn't obsession fun.

Obsession is fun...until the crying begins... :-(

Eileen, really you need to come on up to Moscow for our Idaho/Eastern WA travel meet up. I thought I was the only one who has watched the tour experience ~multiple~ times. I want those people on my tour. Especially the couple who are laughing so much they can't talk to the camera. And yes, my tour guide from Heart of Italy is on there and um hummm I talk to her. That is nuts.

Yes, growing up meant car trips to relatives and Stucky's...

Now I can't get enough of European history. Just spent some time with folks in Eastern Belgium who are living in a family farmhouse older than almost any structure in the state of Idaho. That just boggles my mind and makes me want more and more.

I'm so glad to know I'm not alone, having watched the tour experience video more than a few times! I also thought the laughing couple seemed like perfect tour mates! I haven't even been on an RS tour!

I was trying not to torture myself and stayed away from travel stuff for awhile because we can't go to Europe this year; I've recently given in. Resistance was futile!

I'm kind of like James (Texas), Ken (British Columbia) and Nigel (U.K.) I'm one of those well traveled people that has a pretty good working knowledge of certain areas of Europe. There are still many countries and regions that I've never been, however.
I started traveling to Europe in 1970, while studying at the University of Innsbruck, And I have have honestly lost track of my number of trips. I'm naturally inclined to travel back to Bavaria and Western Austria--like James is inclined to travel to Budapest.
I don't know that I'm really obsessed, but I really enjoy traveling in my mind prior to the actual travel.
I work very hard to find really great airfares, but they're increasingly hard to find. With essentially 3 airline partnerships controlling the supply of airline seats, airfares continue to go up, up, up. Our airfares this year were $728, but I don't know if we'll ever experience such fares again. When the airfares go up, I look for bargain North America airfares.

We like to travel to Europe every other year. In our off years, we've been recently traveling to Canada. And our second "big" vacation most years is a cruise--but I'm getting tired of visiting Mexico.
After visiting Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna and Prague this Spring, next up is Hawaii in the Fall. It's going to be our first trip there since our honeymoon 27 years ago.

In the meantime, I'm trying to stay away from European travel forums, as there's a limit on travel costs. It's got to where half the fun of the trip is in the preparation for the trip--finding rooms and methods of travel between cities, etc.

I'm just thankful for all of those that are willing to share their travel experiences and knowledge online. After all, most of us want to see the sights, eat the food, soak up the culture and history--on $20 a day. Well, that's now out of the question.

None of you are truly obsessed. If you were you would mortgage the home and use the money to buy a small business right in the heart of Europe. Then you would leverage that business to finance multiple trips to Europe every year. When you realized that you needed even more trips you would take the kids out of college and use the saved money to expand the business to bring in more travel money. Retirement? Never! You know you are going to pass away peacefully on the road. Naaaaaaa, that would be a silly idea. Never mind.

James, the owner of the company where I work loved europe and travelled there yearly. He was in great shape and always active. While riding a bike in Italy a few years ago he had a massive heart attack and died right there on the road. Not a bad way to go, doing what you love, in a place you loved to visit. Sure beats how many of us pass. Give me a bike in Italy anyday.

@ tony,

not obsessed, but "focused".

i use to spend my free time first, Sailing, then it was firearms, then it was horses, now its travel. I just "focus" on the one thing and everything else is 2nd, 3rd, 4th....priority...ect. I dont try to do everything before i die, but spend the time i have doing what i want and have a passion for at the time. Its not that i dont want to Sail, or shoot or ride horses now, but i "focus" on travel more. whats nice is that what i like to do isn't exclusive, so if i feel like it, i will try to incorporate Sailing or horses into my trip. If i go to some place that is firearm friendly, i my check out what to do there. If not, theres way more things to keep me occupied.

happy trails.

I am the same way, but it's been going on since my first trip to Europe 12 years ago. But my obsession is with travel in general and not just Europe. I have a book case full of travel guides, DVD's and of course scrapbooks from my trips. We are scheduled to to France in March and I can't wait. A friend of mine's mother-in-law went to Italy when she was 95 and she is now my roll model. Keep dreaming and planning until you can go.

In flying over especially from the west coast, two practical matters must be dealt with: the distance and the more expensive air fare. If the fare were somehow ridiculously low r/t, say $500 in the summer for being cooped up in a 10-11 hr. bare bones flight, I would have more opportunities to satisfy my Europe trip addiction (good word here) and obsession.

My first Europe trip was in 1968. The next was twenty years later. Then thirteen years after that. Then five years. Then four. Then three. Then eleven months. And now I'm planning another trip nine months after that.

See a pattern here? Sounds like an obsession to me. :)

On that next trip I'm taking my 14-year-old grandson (already in his second year of studying Latin) to Rome. I'm hopeful he will inherit the travel obsession, instead of spending adolescence lost in video games and pop culture.

Travel is the one hobby I doubt I'll ever regret wasting time on (maybe along with remodeling/landscaping).

I love College Football, but limit myself to just a game or two a week. Otherwise the weekend would be gone and I'd have nothing to show for it.

My only regret with my travel passion is I haven't done enough. No matter how much I travel, I won't see everything before I die, so I'm likely to always feel that regret.

How well does Eileen know everything RickSteves? I went to a travel conference with her and watched her lip-synch his entire speech verbatim.

Obsessed? Just because I research airline flights weekly, read this helpline at least 1-2 x day, talk with our RS friends for up to 8 hours at Panara bread once a month, watch our vacation slide show photos or video every morning with our coffee and keep every penny to put away for Europe, and find people to talk to wherever we go who "get travel". I meet lots of people at work and always find out who the travelers are, after work we watch travel shows. Obsession? Yep......but nothing else matters as much! The love is in the bones! You either have the disease or you don't, and we are very, very sick :) Only the sick ones can relate to eachother!

What a great thread! We took our first trip to Italy this year, and at age 60, we're just starting! I too am on this forum daily, have looked at scrapbooks on Italy, and just booked our first RS tour. Southern Italy next May! I can't wait! This year's trip was on our own, Florence, Rome, and several day trips around those two cities. It was great, but I'm excited about the RS tour next year.

I'm definitely obsessed with Europe and traveling!

Not sure if obsessed is the right word, but overly enthusiastic!?

I left my 2.8-year-old twin for two-weeks last year with my husband while I trotted around Italy. My daughter very sadly asked that I never go to Europe without her again, and I promised that I would not. So, now I am planning a spring 2016 London, Paris, and Amsterdam trip with them (questions to be coming soon!). I must say, I am super excited to share this with them! Been to two out of the three, so figured it would be a good staring point. They already are familiar with most of the landmarks due to the books we have read (the Madeline books are great as well as this Disney series of all things I have found).

Hello, Im Frank a recent European travel addict.
It started three years ago when I quit smoking cigs and saved up some money fast. I decided to use the money to get away from my crazy family during the Christmas holidays and go to Prague. Here it is three years later and Im about to leave on my third holiday trip to Prague. This year will include Budapest, and a stopover in Vienna to see some friends. Not to mention a side-trip to Dresden from Prague. Now it seems when Im not actively planning a trip, Im on here (and other travel sites) just soaking up the knowledge and reading about places in Europe I might want to visit in the near future. Alas, I have since picked up the cigs again, but I plan on putting them down when I get back from Prague this year, and hopefully the money I will save will help pay for a trip over the water this summer....

A couple of coworkers I barely know recently took trips to Iceland and Rome (separately). I think I may approach them about starting up a local travel club. I know with me, part of the addiction is that European travel was always something that "rich people did" or something I would do "someday". Well, someday is now, and all I can say is, better late than never (Im 47).

My husband and I, now both over 75, are co-dependents. We got the bug bad when we lived in London for a year, during which time I was an exchange teacher. The academic calendar is good for traveling. We visited France (2x), Ireland, Sicily, and spent 3 weeks touring Wales, the Lake District, and Scotland. We also did numerous day and weekend trips. I attended a conference in Northern Ireland. When I retired shortly thereafter, we began our venturing with a trip to Europe every second year. We quickly realized that we could manage one every year, and we've never looked back. We've done 6 house exchanges, and I've lost track of how many trips in toto. I know the number for Italy will be 16 in April; and, perhaps a dozen for France. We have a trip coming up in April, and I'm already doing preliminary spade work for 2016. While we don't let the house crumble into ruins, a paint job or carpet replacement can always be postponed. But we have a clear sense that there are some finite number of years left for travel. As a bumper sticker I once saw says, "we're spending our kids' inheritance." (Their response is, "Go for it Mom and Dad.") My husband frequently replays his RS and Rudy Maxa dvd's just to relive the great times we've had in the places they show. We're addicted and unapologetic.

You know you're truly addicted when you return from a trip and 1)sort through your photos and make a photo book; 2)make a dvd of your photos with appropriate instrumental music; 3)visit this site 2x per day and TA for the locations of your next trip;4)continue to look at your books and dvds while planning your next trips and have given up on having any one else appreciate your travels; 5)are always planning a couple of years ahead. We're also in our late 60s/early 70s and realize we may not be able to travel this way for much longer but we're going to enjoy experiencing different countries (and our own, mostly via RV travel to our beautiful state and national parks) while we can. Learning new things keeps us mentally and physically fit. Interacting with other travelers we meet and our other experiences expands our minds and keep us young (young thinking, at least). In our personal lives we know no one who travels independently as we do so this forum is a great place to 'meet' kindred spirits! Thanks to all for all the great posts.

Not sure we're obsessed, but ... the flight to Paris isn't until Thursday and we're sitting here on Monday looking at packed suitcases. Started planning this Christmas markets trip on the plane home from last year's October trip. And our retired-people morning usually includes a PBS dose of Burt Wolf, Rick Steves and Rudy Maxa (our lodging choices are closer to Rick's than Rudy's)

I'm obsessed too. I am getting married in March, and have spent almost every waking moment (when not at work) planning our honeymoon in France. I have yet to figure out any details for the wedding (other than it is going to be quick, tiny, and cheap)... But I have 3 guidebooks (still waiting on RS France 2015 to be published, the suspense is killing me!) and have already created a few alternative itineraries... And I scour this forum and the internet daily for ideas and information. I'm so happy there are so many obsessed travelers on here sharing their thoughts!

Hahahaha....that post really made me laugh out loud, Laura! Leaving Thursday and packed already! HA! Have a great trip!

Hey Laura, have you repacked yet or just still watching the suitcases? LOL! glad to see so many on the site in the same shape I am in. Talked to a doctor about my obsession and he said I could go into lockdown for 17 days @ $200 per day. I opted to keep the cash and plan another trip. Put Rick's convertible carry on bag, & 3 packing cubes on my Christmas list. Was really upset on Sunday as Antique Roadshow was on PBS instead of Rick's show. I have all his shows, but still look forward to each sunday afternoon in Europe with him. Isn't OBSESSION wonderful!

For Frank and Tony -- suitcases still on display ;-) Weight 23.5 pounds per the bathroom scale. But my big down coat DOES have some empty pockets...

I find I need to be planning a trip at all times. Making those train reservations and searching for a room/apartment/B&B makes my heart beat faster. Conde Nast, National Geog Traveler, Rick Steves, hiking-in-Europe books, and "Dove" TV here in Italy feed my need, scratch my itch, make me want more!

My husband constantly asks "When are we going again?" but I am constrained by a pesky job. Yesterday he suggested we start thinking about our winter trip for Dec 2015/Jan 2016 (we leave Dec 23 for this year's jaunt)! The man has it as bad as I do and I only convinced him to get a passport in 2008. So obsessed we decided to stay here when I retire next year -- no more pesky job! Not ready to go back to the U.S. just yet as we have not seen enough of Europe.

Okay Laura, you leave tomorrow, so that packed bag is like a siren song to you by now huh? :) Holiday in Paris? Any side trips planned?
I leave for Prague next Friday, and while I don't have my bag packed yet, I DID put on few things on it TO be packed sometime next week (but not Monday! haha).

Oh yeah, guilty as charged! I am in my early 60s and visited Europe (specifically Paris) with my daughter and her French club (daughter is a French teacher) for the first time in 2013. We spent a week and I've been obsessed ever since! My husband & I celebrated our 40th anniversary in 2014 and we went to London for a week & Paris for another week. It was amazing! The bad thing is that we talked with a couple from Seattle in a restaurant one evening & they had just come from Italy...so we are going to Rome & Venice in 2015 as well as another week in, where else, Paris! I can't wait. I think we'll take a break though after that (although I won't guarantee it) and let our finances recover. LOL So yes, I am now a European Vacation addict. My Bucket List includes Ireland, more of France, Germany & Amsterdam. In my head I am always planning! I don't have a suitcase packed but I do have my handy packing list and could be ready in a heartbeat. Merry Christmas to you too Tony and to everyone else.

Great thread, Tony! It has been very interesting and has produced a lot of conversation! One of my favorite threads of 2014! Thanks for posting this question.

From one Nashville resident to another, thanks Rebecca. We need to work on the 1st Nashville travel meeting after the new year.
I just got my new Rick Steve's convertible carry on and packing cubes in the mail, so that got me excited again. I sat down last night and looked at Rick's BOE 14 day tours for 2015 and pretty well figured out what the dates would be for BOE 2016 tour and have 9/17/16 down as the date I leave. Not sure if that is planning way ahead or obsession taking over again.

Ok, Im sitting here all packed and ready to go, and my buddy is on his way to take me to the airport. Im off to Prague! Happy travels and Merry Christmas everyone!

Frank, have a wonderful trip and enjoy the holiday's in Europe. This trip will cure your obsession until you get back. LOL!
Merry Christmas too you as well.

Tony and Rebecca,

I live in East Tennessee and would be interested in participating in a travel meeting in Nashville if you decide to try it. Sounds like a great idea!

Tony, Rick Steve's convertible carry on and packing cubes; what a great Christmas present to yourself! The RS BOE tour sounds great!

Cill, Yes, we would love to have you join us!

Rebecca, Cill and I make three. That is a good start for our travel meeting. Looking forward to it after the first of the year. Cill, Rebecca and I both live in the Mt Juliet area which in on the east side of Nashville. We will be in touch soon. Rebecca the bag and cubes are a great gift and when the R/S bag and packing cubes arrived, I almost wanted to pack even though I was not going anywhere. Now that is OBSESSION. Also put American Airlines gift cards on my Christmas list. Makes a pretty good gift if you fly with them, never expire so with the high airfares right now, anything helps. Only place you can buy them is online but don't know why they don't offer them wherever gift cards are sold. Would much rather have a $100 airfare card than a retailer card. Right now, Nashville to CDG and return from Rome is $1418. Does not looks like it will get cheaper. Gas is $1.94 here now so airlines have to be making more than ever right now.

Did someone mention OBSESSED? I usually acquire my obsessions one at a time....fortunately for all of those around me ;)

I'm pretty obsessive about Disney.....2015 will be the first year we aren't planning a trip to either CA or FL to satisfy that itch. It's ok, though, because we are traveling to Europe for the first time on a 21 day RS tour! I joke that the only Europe we "know" is what we get from EPCOT! Totally obsessed with this trip.....but I think it's a wise thing to be obsessed about. It's a lot of money to spend and we definitely want to get as much out of it as we can....problem is, our trip isn't until April and I'm already "obsessing" over where we will go next time, lol!

We aren't retired yet, so that work-thing has really gotten in the way of my having fun. Of course, need the job to pay for the trip. Vicious cycle!

Tony, I think you should go ahead and pack your RS bag and packing cubes if you want to, just for the fun of it! Then take things out and pack a different combination of clothing. Carry it around your house a bit, and see if you want to travel a bit lighter. It would be fun to experiment!

Your idea of asking for American Airlines gift cards for Christmas was brilliant! I didn't know they had them! That's what I'll be asking for next birthday!

We have another who may want to participate in our get-together. Amy from Clarksville, TN, is currently in England on her trip. Maybe she will want to meet with us when she returns.

Rebecca, sounds like we have a good start for the Nashville area travel club. I also noticed a post from Florence, Al also and may contact him soon. That would give us five if he would come. American does not really advertise their gift cards and not sure why. You can get them mailed for a charge, or e-mailed free of charge. Minimum is $50. I gave a $100 card to a friend for Christmas and she was really excited to get it.. My next trip is $1400 on AA right now so if I get a few cards as gifts, that might cut the cost by 25% or more. About the RS bag, well I have already opened every zipper and checked it out completely. Very well made and will easily hold everything I need for two weeks. In four days, I can say my next trip is next year. I am doing BOE 14 and am already excited about that. I have finally found a travel partner for that tour and so glad of that. Last two trips over were alone and even though I had a great time, just more fun with someone to share the trip with. Obsession is as bad as ever and I love every minute of it.

Yesterday was 138 days since the end of my last trip ... and 138 days before the start of the next one.

But who's counting?

:)

Hey Jeff! I have a lot more than 138 days till my next trip but already have a folder started with hotel info, Paris info, budget info, and several other things. Planning is so much fun. Was only on this site 5 times yesterday. Must have had a busy day.

Completely and totally obsessed. My wife and I dreamed about Europe for years. And finally, we were there. And we've thought about pretty much nothing else since we returned.

And yes, we have watched most of Rick's videos, including the tour experience ones, and have read a number of his books (travel guides included). Just feeding the hunger. :)