Suggestions for Mid-tour leave

juggerbot

I'm in an Army Reserve MP unit getting mobilized for deployment. I'm looking for suggestions for my mid-tour leave, since they're looking for time estimates from us right now to see if we can get the time we want. So far, it will be 18 days form when we hit out port of destination. If anyone went somewhere awesome for their leave, I'd like to know where they went and when. So far, a few people have been talking about Oktoberfest, which I wouldn't mind, but I don't imagine there will be much of a chance of sightseeing in Germany since there will be so many people there. I also would like to go to PAX, both because college has prevented me from going the last four times, and I've been thinking of moving to Washington when I get back, but I'm not sure anyone else would go, and I don't know if I can fill the other 15 days I'm in Seattle.

From what we've heard so far, we'll be in country around April 1st, and we're scheduled (lmao) to get back in January. Since we have to take leave at least 60 days from those dates, that gives me a time frame of May to November. Thanks.

Limp moose

Oktoberfest sounds awesome. Plus if you have 2 weeks you can see quite a bit of Europe it's not that big and they have trains everywhere. Just a word of advice make sure you take leave later in your tour than early. Nothing sucks worse than coming back from leave. It just makes you see how much more time you have left. If you come back and only have 60 days left its a lot more bearable than coming back and having 5 months left.


But in the end I would do what you think will be the most fun for you.

Victor15b

I went to Germany for my leave, and OMFG I cannot wait to go back.

A good majority of the population speaks english. The public transportation is great, you can get just about anywhere via bus, train or boat. The cities are incredibly clean. There are no public intoxication laws, I say again, there are no public intoxication laws! I had a blast when I was there.

I spent my first week in Frankfurt going to bars, the red light, and festivals. There's always some kind of festival going on. Then went down to visit my cousin who lives in Wuerzburg and we went camping down in Bavaria.


Only a few downsides:

Things are pretty expensive over there, especially with the current exhange rates.

Bottled water is damn near impossible to find, and when you do find it its expensive.

You have to pay to use public restrooms over there, so carry change on you at all times.

When you go to bars or clubs CHECK THE PRICES OF THE DRINKS BEFORE YOU BUY ANYTHING!!! A lot of times the flirtatious hostess will come up to you and suggest a drink, like a gin and tonic or something, and flirt with you and coerce you into buying more until the bill somes and you see that gin and tonic is listed for $40 per glass. Its a pretty common scam they like to hit american tourists with.

Regardless, if you do decide to go there, Im sure you will have a blast!

Quid

When I took my time off on acount of being so stressed out I spent my two weeks relaxing in Florida in a cheap hotel by the beach. In terms of out and out interesting things you could probably do PAX and take a cruise to Alaska, many of which leave out of or near Seattle. Seattle also has a good bit of stuff to see on its own.