29 and have never been abroad

Kitkat151 · 26/02/2022 12:34

Are you on benefits? Or do you work?

Bigfishlittlepuddle · 26/02/2022 12:34

Not by a long shot has everyone been abroad.

MrsSkylerWhite · 26/02/2022 12:36

Pure guess but I would imagine more of the population haven’t, than have?

LubaLuca · 26/02/2022 12:36

It's unusual, but you're definitely not the only one.

Do you fancy seeing other parts of the world? Travel is well worth saving up for in my opinion.

gunnersgold · 26/02/2022 12:38

It's not that unusual , I have friends who have never flown! No big deal .

FredaFox · 26/02/2022 12:38

Do you want to go abroad if you could afford it?
I think I'd find it more odd if you had no desire to go abroad. You can't help your circumstances

Original poster

SouthMan28 · 26/02/2022 12:38

@Kitkat151

Are you on benefits? Or do you work?

I work full time, but only just above minimum wage!

OP posts:

ParisNext · 26/02/2022 12:39

Do you want to go? It’s actually cheaper to get a Ryan air flight often than any form of U.K. transport and hostels and Airbnb etc has made most European capitals cheaper than weekend in the U.K. I flew from U.K. to Barcelona return with Ryan air for a ridiculous 4.99 each way, my coffee before the flight cost more. When you were little and your parents were young, going abroad was a much more expensive option but not now. Now it’s a mindset so you have to decide for yourself.

bigyellowTpot · 26/02/2022 12:43

I know quite a few people that are older than you that have never been abroad they are also from poorer backgrounds. I myself was 26 the first time I could afford to pay for myself to go abroad to New York City a place I'd always wanted to go. I've only been abroad a couple of times since but haven't been now for almost 15 years. my children have never been abroad. There are lots of people that have never been abroad.

Lockheart · 26/02/2022 12:43

It's unusual in this country, not globally, but you don't have to go abroad to have a good life, despite what so many on MN seem to believe.

My neighbour is in his 90s and has never even seen the sea. He's got his farm and he's very happy. He could well afford to go abroad, he just doesn't want to.

Original poster

SouthMan28 · 26/02/2022 12:43

@FredaFox

Do you want to go abroad if you could afford it? I think I'd find it more odd if you had no desire to go abroad. You can't help your circumstances

Yes, I do want to go abroad. But I'm going to be nervous as I've never been on a plane and also I only know basic French language other than English. I also wouldn't know how to spend my money wisely out there because you only get pounds in the UK!

I feel like my parents should of taken me when I was younger! And therefore I wouldn't have to worry about going abroad!

OP posts:

FrenchyQ · 26/02/2022 12:45

Not totally unusual...I was 38 the first (and only) time I went abroad.

Original poster

SouthMan28 · 26/02/2022 12:48

@ParisNext

Do you want to go? It’s actually cheaper to get a Ryan air flight often than any form of U.K. transport and hostels and Airbnb etc has made most European capitals cheaper than weekend in the U.K. I flew from U.K. to Barcelona return with Ryan air for a ridiculous 4.99 each way, my coffee before the flight cost more. When you were little and your parents were young, going abroad was a much more expensive option but not now. Now it’s a mindset so you have to decide for yourself.

Yes I would love to go.

OP posts:

Lasagnaface · 26/02/2022 12:49

Can we help you plan a trip?

WigglesWaggles · 26/02/2022 12:51

Same! Well almost. 29 next month and never been abroad

gunnersgold · 26/02/2022 12:55

Your parents couldn't afford it though so it's not like they did it on purpose . You don't need to worry about talking a different language . Everyone speaks English and money is easy , just keep a calculator on you ( phone) and the exchange rate handy .

ImInStealthMode · 26/02/2022 12:56

It's highly unusual where I live now, but it's an extremely mixed community, lots of people from all over the world come here to work in hospitality, farming or finance, so of course they've all travelled even if only to get here in the first place.

Back in my hometown (North England, working class) I imagine it's much more common not to have.

There's no need to be worried OP, if you're staying in European typical holiday destinations almost everyone will speak English if you're in need, although it's nice to learn a few pleasantries in the language of the country you're visiting.

A little tip for currency; work out an easy to remember conversion and write it in your phone or something. When I went to Costa Rica I found it easier to remember that (for example) 10,000 of the local currency was about £12, rather than remembering what £1 equated to and always multiplying up in my head.

If you have any questions (no matter how silly you think they are) pop on the holidays board and ask. Lots of well travelled people there who are happy to share their knowledge and experiences.

newbiename · 26/02/2022 12:57

It's not your parent's fault if they couldn't afford it.
I wouldn't worry about the language barrier too much, most popular holiday places the locals speak English
Although you could learn a few phrases quite easily.
Easy to book cheap flights / hotel or a package.

Ted27 · 26/02/2022 12:58

I don’t think its fair to blame your parents- you said they couldn’t afford it.
My parents never took me abroad, my first trip overseas was a coach trip to Germany when I was 25,
You don’t have to fly to go abroad, there are ferries and trains.
Basic French is better than many people, including me!
If you want to go abroad then save, it might take a couple of years, look for deals, offers. Make it a goal.
Despite the impression that mn may give, many people don’t go abroad every year or at all, let alone have multiple city breaks and annual beach holidays and ski trips.
Even before Covid I never went abroad every year, I had to save. I’m not planning anything till next year.

And its ok to be nervous about doing new things, once you do them you’ll be fine. You just have to take the plunge

Where would you like to go?

pawpaws2022 · 26/02/2022 12:59

I'm 38 and have been once! I haven't had a holiday even in the U.K. since about 2007

PriamFarrl · 26/02/2022 13:05

I never went on family holidays with my parents but I went abroad with school and then in my own at 16/17.

It’s not as difficult as you might think. It might be a plan to go on a package with someone like Tui who will sort everything out for you. Then you don’t need to worry about getting to the hotel from the airport etc. Also if you go to a popular destination then everyone will speak English. My last holiday was in Dubrovnik. I learned hello, thank you, please etc but everyone spoke English to me straight away. I was talking to the waitress in the hotel and she said that they all learn English there because you need it to get any kind of job.

Original poster

SouthMan28 · 26/02/2022 13:10

@Lasagnaface

Can we help you plan a trip?

Yes please, it would help.

OP posts:

KPB45 · 26/02/2022 13:20

@SouthMan28

Do any of you think this is strange? Everyone around me has been abroad and growing up my parents couldn't afford it and so I can't either!

Has anyone else never been abroad?

@SouthMan28 I’m not sure what you mean by my parents couldn't afford it and so I can't either! 🤔 surely your parents finances when you were a child don’t really dictate your finances now as an adult? 🤔

I got a passport and went abroad for the first time at 24 once I could afford to save and do so myself. My parents couldn’t afford holidays when I was younger so I’ve never even been on a UK break with them.

deadlanguage · 26/02/2022 13:23

I think it’s unusual nowadays with budget airlines, Airbnb etc making it cheap but I did recently countersign a first passport for a friend who is 25 so you are by no means alone. Although it’s nice to learn a bit of the language before you go, if you go to a tourist destination everyone will speak English.

VanCleefArpels · 26/02/2022 13:29

You could start small/cheap eg a package weekend by coach to Paris, a cheap flight and a basic hotel in Dublin or Amsterdam. If you just do a couple of days to start with to familiarise yourself with going through passport control / the airport etc then that will give you confidence to do longer trips later