Take out a couple grand for a nice international/hawaii vacation and put the rest in ETFs. Using it for a big down payment would be tempting, but I'm not sure where I want to settle long term yet and only plan to buy one house in my life. Plus housing prices are now higher than they were pre great recession and I prefer to get a value (next recession....).

4cards;1863773 wrote:...dream vacation to Europe (France, Belgium, German, Italy, and Greece) and if anything is left over, spend it on golf.

Add Ireland and Scotland to that vacation and play golf on some of the world's best courses.

since I have to spend it in 30 days...

The lake house needs new windows....$15 K
...it also needs to be painted...$8K

Need to remodel the master bath at home....$11K
Trade in the Accord for a new one ....that'll take $16 K

and I'm done.

HitsRus;1863950 wrote:since I have to spend it in 30 days...

The lake house needs new windows....$15 K
...it also needs to be painted...$8K

Need to remodel the master bath at home....$11K
Trade in the Accord for a new one ....that'll take $16 K

and I'm done.

$15,000 for windows? You must have some huge windows

wildcats20;1863905 wrote:Honestly, I would probably jump over board. 6 months on the water...no thanks.

Open water would be a bit rough, but they do so many shorter trips, and spend time in more calm waters because it's so long. I think it's a week or so to cross the Atlantic from South America to Africa, which would be by far the toughest stretch. But man, with that cash, you have the aft deck president suite with a private chef and butler...if make it work lol.

I've never seen the appeal of cruises. Seems very basic to me. I much rather just fly to countries and immerse myself in their cultures. I feel like cruise vacationers just touch and go most countries and they are missing out on a lot. Not to mention it is much cheaper to plan travel on your own vs letting a cruise do it.

like_that;1863982 wrote:I've never seen the appeal of cruises. Seems very basic to me. I much rather just fly to countries and immerse myself in their cultures. I feel like cruise vacationers just touch and go most countries and they are missing out on a lot. Not to mention it is much cheaper to plan travel on your own vs letting a cruise do it.

If you don't have to fly to the port, it really isn't that expensive when you factor in travel costs and food. And most of the countries popular cruises go to in the Caribbean you don't need to be there more than a day or so. Now if you're going on a European cruise I'd agree with you. I guess the appeal is that you get to see a variety of places, and while doing so you are spending time in the sun and drinking on the boat.

like_that;1863982 wrote:I've never seen the appeal of cruises. Seems very basic to me. I much rather just fly to countries and immerse myself in their cultures. I feel like cruise vacationers just touch and go most countries and they are missing out on a lot. Not to mention it is much cheaper to plan travel on your own vs letting a cruise do it.

I look at cruises as a vacation for relaxing. As you know I love to travel, and would kuch rather just go to the places. But that is more stressful. If I'm spending $5k that I can't use for anything truly useful, I'm getting a nice, long, relaxing trip out of it where I don't have to do or think about any of the meals or planning.

Laley23;1863988 wrote:I look at cruises as a vacation for relaxing. As you know I love to travel, and would kuch rather just go to the places. But that is more stressful. If I'm spending $5k that I can't use for anything truly useful, I'm getting a nice, long, relaxing trip out of it where I don't have to do or think about any of the meals or planning.

I guess I just don't see the difficulty in booking your own flight, hotel/airbnb, and then exploring a city on your own. It's not difficult to find places to eat. I don't see that as stressful at all, but that's just me. I have done it numerous times and never felt stressed, but always felt like I was relaxed after that particular vacation.

Zero interest in ever going on a cruise.


Fuck that.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2293265/Carnival-cruise-ship-Dream-overflowing-toilets-sewage-fail-St-Maarten.html

Automatik;1864002 wrote:Zero interest in ever going on a cruise.


Fuck that.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2293265/Carnival-cruise-ship-Dream-overflowing-toilets-sewage-fail-St-Maarten.html

Even if I won a trip on a cruise, I would ask for the cash value instead.

iclfan2;1863984 wrote:If you don't have to fly to the port, it really isn't that expensive when you factor in travel costs and food. And most of the countries popular cruises go to in the Caribbean you don't need to be there more than a day or so. Now if you're going on a European cruise I'd agree with you. I guess the appeal is that you get to see a variety of places, and while doing so you are spending time in the sun and drinking on the boat.

My future sis in-law and her husband have been on several cruises where they didn't need to fly to the port. My fiancé and I have traveled to several countries for the same amount of days as their cruises (or more) and never once have we paid half the amount they paid for any of their cruises.

like_that;1864005 wrote:My future sis in-law and her husband have been on several cruises where they didn't need to fly to the port. My fiancé and I have traveled to several countries for the same amount of days as their cruises (or more) and never once have we paid half the amount they paid for any of their cruises.

I guess it depends on what level of room you get and what time of year. I have never seen cruise prices that high unless you are getting a balcony or suite. And it could also be that flights from here are more than a big city. What kind of countries are you talking about? Also, I'd rather save and splurge to go to Europe than on a cruise, but I could technically go on a 6 night to the bahamas now for under a grand for 2 people excluding tips/alcohol/excursions (I just wouldn't want to). I'd guess most cruises after all expenses would be similar to the same time period at an all inclusive.

like_that;1864005 wrote:My future sis in-law and her husband have been on several cruises where they didn't need to fly to the port. My fiancé and I have traveled to several countries for the same amount of days as their cruises (or more) and never once have we paid half the amount they paid for any of their cruises.

Agreed, not my bag. Just spent 2 weeks in Portugal (Multi city) including a lavish hotel in the Durro Valley, airbnb everywhere else. Spent half of what my friends who did a resort in Mexico for one week spent.

Take off to Europe for a 25 day vacation. Whatever I have left... 5 days should give me enough time to spend it.

I loves cruises, and I also love planning my own vacation and spending several days in a city of my choosing. It doesn't have to be either/or.