Quote: (04-21-2015 01:15 PM)Enigma Wrote:
I haven't, because I'm too busy hitting up EDM festivals on less-touristed beaches in the Philippines, where the alcohol is (significantly) cheaper, the ratios are better, and they're not filled with obnoxious Western women and drunk "bros". How many 50-year-old white guys do you think are at these three day beach parties sleeping in tent cities?
Again, almost every country has events and scenes that cater to young people having fun. I'm not saying don't party with young people, I'm saying you don't have to run down a check list of all these events that are now so popular that they're oversaturated with annoying tourists and thirsty dudes. If you want to do that, great, but this idea that you "should" go to x place at x age is not only boring as hell, it guarantees you're going to be surrounded by every Joe Schmo who had the same bright idea you did.
That's what I'm talking about when I say "The Lonely Planet experience", and that's why if you look in almost any thread on this forum about Mexico, Thailand, etc., guys tend to steer clear of those "popular" parties.
There are plenty of opportunities to get drunk, wild, and have fun all over, particularly in the Americas and Europe.
I think you're trying a bit too hard to 'fight the power' here - and rage against the evils of mainstream events. Obviously if the OP has no interest in events like Spring Break or the Full Moon Party or backpacking in Europe he shouldn't do them. But what a lot of people are saying in this thread is that if he DOES have an interest in doing these things, then he should prioritize doing them while hes in his early 20s - and leave the city breaks to NYC, Moscow, the extended month long stay in Budapest etc etc till hes older.
Quote: (04-21-2015 09:22 PM)Adrenaline Wrote:
Some very interesting thoughts here and a lot to take in- some suggestions I never even considered. For example, I've never had the urge to go to spring break. I'm guessing that it's very similar to schoolies for those aware on Australian culture?
Also, the general vibe of this thread is that South America, and in particular Brazil, is best done in the 20's? That surprises me, because I always considered it on the same level as Eastern Europe.
I absolutely loved Spring Break both times when I went. When I did Cancun: it was 7 nights of unlimited alcohol nights (most pool parties & nightclubs are $40-ish in, then open bar). It was glorious sunshine and beautiful beaches, just a perfect 25C/80F every day. And most importantly it was full of 20 year old American girls in bikinis. And the whole 'SPRING BREAK WOO!!' mental attitude was fantastic, girls just seemed really really slutty down there. There's nothing like chatting up a girl in a bikini at a free booze swim up pool bar, then retiring to her room a few hundred metres away within 30min of meeting her...
The negative side to it (there are quite a few threads on it on the forum actually - have a search if you do start considering it seriously) is largely down to the sometimes horrible ratios. During the day at pool parties it can be 60/40 men/women. But by 1am in a nightclub you could be looking at 90/10 men/women. So you just have to learn to get your game on EARLY. It's also a very, very physically competitive game environment. If you're not in great shape (and good with high energy club game) you'll completely crash and burn - thats another reason a lot of guys hate it.
The same positives & negatives also apply pretty much identically to the Greek Islands & the Full Moon Party in my experience. These kind of holidays are very much either love/hate - depending on what sort of personality (and body) you have.
Re: Brasil (or South America), I think the advice to do it in your 20s is so you can do it backpacking, if you desire to do it that way. When you're backpacking you have the option of hitting on the other slutty backpackers in your hostel, as well as on locals in bars. And you're also able to make friends with other backpacker dudes, if you're traveling by yourself. Bear in mind too lots of young Brasilians stay in hostels when visiting other parts of the country - you won't just be banging Australians!
I think my personal ideal for Brasil would be to do it once while in early 20s, doing the whole younger/backpacker scene. Then do it again in early 30s when you're more established (and have money) and do the baller AirBNB + nice clubs kinda thing. Time/money/life permitting of course! I've yet to manage to the second half of that, mind you...