An alternative to actual acrylic is silk wraps. That's what I did for years, and they helped my own nails grow longer as they merely added strength and support to my natural nails (which are very thin and the nail beds are so flat that when my nails grow, they curl and ripple--and I can't even use the press-on kind, b/c they're too curved to attach to my nail beds *snort*). You could start the wraps now, and as your nails grow, go get a fill right before the trip. No matter what, have a blast, darlin! *hugs*