What would you do backpack through Europe for 2 months or live in Oahu for a whole year?

I am going to graduate college and want to do one of them. I have always been obsessed with hawaii, but want to travel through Europe. I feel that I can do more and see more things in Europe than hawaii, but am torn between both. What would you do now? I am 23 years old and graduating college in a couple months. Hawaii (Oahu)......or Europe (Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Greece, Poland). I have enough money to do either just having a hard time which one.....I have $8,000. I thought Hawaii would be awesome, because I am from Chicago, and staying there the whole year through winter time and coming back for christmas then going back to 80 degree weather, would be sweet. Whereas 2 months is just 2 months,....I am SOOOOOO TORN I am going back and forth between the two!!!!!! I cannot decide, like a kid in a candy store. I am so excited too. Thanks for your advice

What would you do backpack through Europe for 2 months or live in Oahu for a whole year?
Ironic you are asking this,I thought about living in Europe for a year or going to Hawai'i ( although I already lived in Europe so it was put on the backburner for later re- consideration) I have decided to spend a year in Oahu ( teaching )..I havent been to Hawa'ii yet, but am very excited..although back to you..I would not recommend giving up on Hawai'i, but I would say go to Europe if you can...you will see so many different cultures and countries and it was a life changing experience for me , my time there transcends any other trip or stay I have been on....I backpacked a whole summer and absolutely loved it... you never know, perhaps you can still live in Hawai'i for a few months or after when you return especially


since you have a degree and should be able to find work there easily..good luck !


Hawaii has many beautiful flora and fauna to offer you and you should be able to go there for a year too...who needs to get a nine to five job anytime soon?


go where your heart sends you , dont let answers on here influence you!
Reply:I've lived in Oahu right out of high school and would like to backpack through Europe for 2 months! I've also been to Greece and would like to go back eventually.
Reply:Out of those 2 choices, I'd live on Oahu for a year. However, if you do plan on doing that, there is no way $8K is going to last you that long. Everything is expensive there. Everything. Unless you plan to get a job to supplement what you already have saved you wouldn't be able to survive for a year. Good luck.
Reply:Hands down Oahu is the best. It is beautiful here. and it has a lot of sun and excellent beaches. ( hit anywhere except waikiki. it is completely overcrowded.
Reply:i would go to europe! maybe only because i lived in hawaii almost all my life. i went to europe when i was 14 in the summer of 2001. i went to some of the places you mentioned...france, germany, italy, switzerland, holland,..etc...13 countries in total...i think, i don't remember. it's a trip i wanna re-do. back then i paid $6,300 for my tour with a company called globus. it was for a month and included plane, hotel, transportation, at least 1 meal per day, some tours and other activities. in total i probably only spent about $6,600 because i was seriously broke! i couldn't even afford to buy souvenirs. (my aunt paid for everything.) i think it would cost more now. anyways, it's a trip of a LIFETIME! you will definitely experience more there! especially because if you get bored in one country you can drive on over to the next. you can only do so much on oahu. being there for a whole year and all. you get bored after the first month or so...after you've done all the touristy stuff. i think the only way it would get more exciting is if you fall in love there. so europe? my co-worker just got back from there...his wallet got a whole in it because the us dollar is weak there. it went down while he was on his trip. he said italy was the most expensive place...i totally agree...it was when i went there. when we were in rome we paid $32 us dollars for two icecream cones. they were GIANT but still...$32? that was ridiculous! there are just so much more things to do in europe...im sure you've done research on it already. good luck...both places are wonderful! whichever you choose have a fantabulous trip.





alooooha!
Reply:I'm also graduating and I'm moving to Maui in June for my job. I'm going to be doing a cross country trip right before I leave because I'm poor. Of your two choices I would pick Europe. Theres so much to see there, while Oahu is just like any other place, theres only so much to do after awhile. I would want to see more of the world even if its for less time.





Also I was planning on doing a South America trip or southeast Asia trip when I graduated. This was before I realized how little money I had and that I only had three weeks before I had to start work. My reasoning was that I could do Europe or cross country anytime in my life with my family. But I would never bring my family to 'dangerous' places like South America or Asia. So I say you do that. Live it up while youre young and unattached. And I'm still thinkin about taking a year off after a few years of work to travel. You can come with me then. haha
Reply:Europe probably is a better idea for a graduate. Just because you probably won't have time (after getting a job) to do a 2 month travel over there. However, you can always fly to Oahu and enjoy the beauty, after all, we belongs to the States.





To be honest, right now might not be a good time to find job on Oahu. Aloha Airline just close down for business and ATA has shut down their operation too. Together, over 2,000 lay off people are looking for job on the island. Needless to say, the airfare will probably be higher in the months to come.





Oahu is a very expense place to live. With only $8,000 on hand, and if you can't find a job and an apartment/roommate to share within 6 months, the money may only last shorter than you plan.





Here a little break down on the living expense you may occur on Oahu on per month basis:


- $1,000 rental for a decent 1 bedroom apartment in a town


area, not include utlitity (which may run from $40-100)


- $40 bus fare (please don't get a car if you are here for a year only, gasoline is too expensive)


- For food wise, it is way expensive than mainland. A gallon of milk selling at Wal-mart right now is $5. Daily home cook meal might cause you $15 a day, which calculated to about $450.


- Well, just add another $200 for other expense such as going to movie, clothing, scuba diving accessories, a once a month dinner out etc.





So, you are looking at $1,700 for a month if you didn't get a roommate in time. If you can secure a job on Oahu before you come, you might be better off with the budget.





Oahu indeed is a beautiful to live. You may not want to leave after a year. But bear in mind, it is an island. Some friends of mine left because they have nothing else they want to explore.





Whereas, in Europe, you get to go around many places and experience different cultures. I have heard that you may even able to get some odd jobs there to survive a little longer if you want to.





Anyway, congratulation for your completion of college. Yes, do enjoy yourself no matter where you choose to go. After starting work and getting family/financial liabiltity, it become a little harder to travel that long.
Reply:I'd go to Hawaii. First off your $8000 is really only worth about $4000 in Europe.





In Hawaii you could get a job and stay there longer - like forever..... Go to Hawaii, bar tend in a resort....eventually find a real job.
Reply:First Of All...Congrats on your Wonderful accomplishment of graduating College! Now that being said...I can understand your excitement but what makes you think you can survive for a year in Hawai'i on $8000.00? I really don't want to burst your bubble but unless you plan on holding down a job while you are there...there is no way...where are you going to live? what are you going to eat with? Unless that is all being taken care of with outside funds besides the $8000.00 you have as a little spending money...I don't know how you would do it.
Reply:i would live in hawii for a year it is so beautiful there


congrats on graduating college
Reply:I'd say go to Europe. I'm from Chicago and I live on the Big Island. Been here since I was 12. Can't imagine living anywhere else. But what the one person said is true. If you like it here you won't want to leave. So go to Europe, spend


$6,000 save the $2000 come back to Chicago work for a little while, and come out to Hawaii with the idea of Living Here. You can get by on less if you are frugal. Back packing Europe is something you can only do while you are young. I am 32 and there is no way that I could backpack Europe right now. I have two kids and commitments. I did my adventuring though. I have no regrets because of it. Hawaii is here, it is great! But it will be here, your ability to do adventures like you find in Europe will pass. Some advice, Thieves in Europe are


bad, so hide your valuables in a inner pocket, tie a rope to your backpack, and put it on your wrist if you are in a hostel, and don't except drinks from strangers. And have a blast!





Also I Like the Big Island better then Oahu. More adventures. I haven't done the camping section on my website yet, but there is some good info on the Volcano


http://www.bigisland-bigisland.com/Volca...