[clusterhacks]

Watch your local craigslist or facebook marketplace. With a little patience, you will probably find a good 8" or 10" dobsonian at a great price. I picked up a lovely 8" dob for less than $200. Most of the generic 8" F/6 dobsonians seem pretty decent.

Or check your local library. It may have a smaller Starblast table-top dobsonian you can check out - I did that when traveling once.

Whatever you do, do NOT buy a small cheap refractor on some flimsy mount. They are mostly awful.