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Hey everyone! I've been watching the forum for about a year and a half now, reading information and getting the hang of how others travel and I've finally got the courage and funds to go on my worldwide trip!

A bit about me, I'm a 21 Canadian who can speak English, French and basic German. I've done some traveling to Costa Rica, the States, Ireland and Germany. I was in northern Germany for 3 months living and have also been to Berlin for two weeks. My interests for this trip are to get my PADI along the way at some point, be a beach bum somewhere for a bit, maybe in the Thai islands or Indonesia. Go to Europe at some point, I fell inlove with Berlin, I loved how it was a big city with so much character and so much to do, the nightlife was amazing too but that's not a big priority on this trip, but the point being I want to visit other European cities that can give a similar vibe like that. I want to go to picturesque smaller places and towns such as Innsbruck and Bavarian towns as well (based on what I've seen pictures of). It'd be nice to go to Australia as well and do the east coast and the outback. So there are some ideas!

As for budget I'll have about 33K Canadian. I plan on buying point to point tickets as much as possible unless the country requires proof of onward travel. I want to be as flexible and open minded as possible so I'm not tied down to having to be somewhere because I have things pre booked. I plan on staying in hostels, eating cheap meals for the most part, maybe a night out once or twice a week, I prefer to travel slowly rather than seeing the world from just an airplane or train, I realize I can't see everywhere at once. I was thinking of leaving in a year or year and a half ish, there's nothing holding me back after April of next year (that's when my lease is up), but it'd be nice to save even more of possible. I don't have a certain time limit that I can travel for, just for when funds run out basically. I'm aware of the Schengen rule and Visas for certain countries and everything.

I guess my question is with what I've given for info what would you seasoned travellers recommend I do?

Thanks in advanced! Michelle

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1

Go to a travel agent?

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2

Well, see if any of those companies have a sequence that looks suitable then price it out for yourself. Its expecting a lot to get strangers here do an itinerary for you.

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3

I've done that and all they've recommended is booking RTW tickets, Contiki, Topdeck and G adventures tours, I'm trying to stay away from those things

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4

I just wanted suggestions of some places people had been similar to what I'm looking for is all

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5

Obviously you've got a long time before you go (or can even buy tickets ;-)

You have only mentioned 2 regions I think..Europe and SE Asia..plus Australia?

So....for me I'd prioritise.Which of those 3 interests you the most? I'd book a flight to there,when you have decided (and when you can).Then do what I want there,and stay as long as I want/can.

When you have finished with that one,then either...go to the 2nd priority..or (if you want/if you have no more money)...go home.

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6

On the specifics..you can do the PADI in loads of places.Both Thailand and Indonesia are great places to do it..

In Europe,Bavaria has what you are looking for..but many parts of Eastern Europe do too,and they are a lot cheaper (and not in Schengen either).

You might want to consider season/climate (eg European summer is Australian winter) as well as cost (eg Oz will cost you 4 times more per day than Indonesia).

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I realize you mentioned Europe (and my response fails to include it)
but the top SCUBA-training oriented locations I have heard of are
- Thailand (around Phuket)
- Australia (north shore but I forget where)
- Egypt (but I really don't know how safe that is any more)
- Florida and Hawaii (great, but kind of expensive).
- Indonesia (I know nothing about it)

Taiwan has some great sites, but most of them are so close to shore they are considered snorkeling destinations not SCUBA destinations and I don't think the English language SCUBA-instruction thing ever really took off there.

There is a SCUBA forum on this site. Click on Thorn Tree Travel Forum above, scroll down and look for it. Over there they discuss all sort of exotic places.

Edited by: LongIslandBob

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8

Lucapal- My two main focuses are Europe and Australia. I have found a direction flight from where I live to Frankfurt that flies from May-October and it is always a standard fare of €275 so I figured do that and head in the Black Forest and Bavaria.

Which countries would you specifically say have this in Eastern Europe? I've been looking in a lot more of the Central Europe area, including Paris and maybe Amsterdam.

As for climates, I was looking up information today and thought if I did Europe from the end of May/beginning of June to the middle of September (spending time in countries outside of the Schengen too) and than flew to Australia and spent about two months there than went to SEA. My only issue with SEA is I don't know how to go about the climate there. It kind of seems all over the place

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Longislandbob- Thanks a bunch, I'm looking at maybe doing it in Queensland

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