I'm not denying the usefulness of taking trips or even going skiing as a graduate student --- I did all that when I was a graduate student. The problem is that the original poster wants to take these trips regularly in a very planned out fashion, and this strikes me as a very bad, not to mention expensive, idea. The student's mind should not be looking forward to their next trip a few weeks from now. The student needs to develop connections with his peers. And any time inspiration hits him, he needs to be able to go down to the lab or library and get working.

Basically, getting a doctorate is *supposed* to be an all-encompasing obsession and is hence inherently isolating. Why would anyone (from a developed country... I can understand how some people from poorer countries get PhDs in order to get their foot in the door immigration-wise) go for a PhD if they did not want to completely immerse themselves in the academic life for at least a few years? To get a job, it would be better to just go and get an MBA, MD, or JD.

My feeling is that he would be better off taking last minute trips as needed. Hence my recommendation to invest in a webcam. I actually think that it might be a good thing for him to have a romantic interest far away --- more time to concentrate on his research and less time spent in courting her.