I have a Nikon D5000 with 18-55 and 55-200.and i need your

I'm planning a trip to another country and i'm planning to take lots of pictures. I have a nikon d5000 and 2 lenses that came with it 18-55 and 55-200, honestly i'm sick of using them (probably because i don't know how to use them properly) What's a good lens for general use? Ill be taking alot of pictures of beaches, streets, building, and crowds of people in city. My budget is 100-300 bucks… 400 is pushing it. I was going to buy a 100 dollar lens (50mm 1.8) but appearently it doesn't AF with my camera. I'm no where close to a pro photography, not even amateur so any lessons of lenses are welcome. I bought these e-bay lenses for like 50 bucks hoping to satisfy my urge take wide lens pictures… But not very satisfying.http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300491177395&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT#ht_8200wt_1135

i've been flickring though some pages and this dude has some cool pics using tamron 10-24
and also i've been looking at some 35mm adn 50mm 1.4 but i don't like the fact that it stays at 50mm its kinda too close

Unless you can sell your 18-55mm and 55-200mm lenses and put that money along with your $400 budget towards the Nikon AF-S 18-200mm lens then you may as well resign yourself to using two lenses and changing them when conditions dictate. The Nikon AF-S 18-200 is about $850.00 but will give you the convenience of having only one lens and not having to change lenses.

While its true you can't make images like those of the Tamron 10-24mm you can still make some excellent wide-angle pictures with the 18mm end of your 18-55mm or 18-200mm lens.

So my advice is to sell the lenses you have and invest in the 18-200mm zoom.

I think at this point, neither your budget or skill calls for an additional lens. $400 would easily get you a beginner's photography book or a class of some sort.

If I had to buy something under $400, I would probably get a AFS 35mm f/1.8G

To get acquainted with lenses, see this.

The 50mm f/1.8 or f/1.4 is good because it allows you to take in relatively lower lighted settings. If you find it too close, just step back. If you find it too far, step closer.