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Original poster

Please advice me on this travel idea I have

113 replies

Hhhhdss · 30/04/2025 13:48

Is it stupid for me to want to travel to a location on holiday for a bit. And then to work from the office there for a bit to try and experience life there?

Like I want do a long trip to a place and work half weeks.

We have offices across Europe and I have this (probably stupid idea) of interrailing across the different cities. And half working in the office there and half exploring the city.

Contract wise and stuff it's perfectly fine for me to do this. My manager is perfectly happy.

OP posts:
dogcatkitten · 30/04/2025 13:50

Well if you want to and you can why not.

loropianalover · 30/04/2025 13:51

Why would that be stupid?

Decapitatedsausage · 30/04/2025 14:03

It sounds like a brilliant plan, not stupid at all!

PeatandDieselfan · 30/04/2025 14:04

It's a great idea. Lots of people work like this these days. Just make sure that you have a fast enough internet connection when you book your accommodation, if you need to make calls, have meetings etc.

MrsCravensworth · 30/04/2025 14:06

What are you waiting for? Sounds amazing, I’d do it in a heartbeat.

MrsFezziwig · 30/04/2025 14:06

Why would you not? You would need a fair bit of money though, for train travel and accommodation. What is your current accommodation set up?

notimagain · 30/04/2025 14:23

@Hhhhdss

We have offices across Europe and I have this (probably stupid idea) of interrailing across the different cities. And half working in the office there and half exploring the city.

Are you a EU passport holder/have the right to work in Europe?

Marmaladelade · 30/04/2025 14:24

You have to check with work you are insured

go for it!

Original poster
Hhhhdss · 30/04/2025 14:47

I'm fortunate that I still live with family and only get charged a token board.

My employer has offices in lovely European cities

OP posts:
helpfulperson · 30/04/2025 14:56

I think it sounds a fab idea if your employer is on board which it sounds like they are. Because you will be working in their offices that takes away problems like wifi and safe storage of your laptop so you can reduce costs by hostelling or a company with many european offices may have cheap negotiated hotel prices for staff.

Unbeleevable · 30/04/2025 15:08

It is not impossible! A three month pass could be fun.

How easy would it be to arrange office access/hot desking at the destinations you wanted to visit? Culturally would that be uncomfortable or an odd thing to do (especially with language barriers - would you be sitting amongst local staff staring at you wondering who the heck you are?)

I’m guessing you’d need to carry your laptop with you so you’d need a safe at your hotel/accom to store it on your vacation days.

Think about laundry too - how would you manage?

Do you have enough vacation days?

PrettyPuss · 30/04/2025 15:10

Go for it!

Original poster
Hhhhdss · 30/04/2025 15:13

Unbeleevable · 30/04/2025 15:08

It is not impossible! A three month pass could be fun.

How easy would it be to arrange office access/hot desking at the destinations you wanted to visit? Culturally would that be uncomfortable or an odd thing to do (especially with language barriers - would you be sitting amongst local staff staring at you wondering who the heck you are?)

I’m guessing you’d need to carry your laptop with you so you’d need a safe at your hotel/accom to store it on your vacation days.

Think about laundry too - how would you manage?

Do you have enough vacation days?

I have enough holidays. Even I didn't. I'd happily just work from those offices and explore the cities after work or at the weekend

As for office access. I am unsure. But I know that it's easy for me to go to the other UK offices, all I need to do is to tell the HR staff at the office. So it should be fine

OP posts:
tartyflette · 30/04/2025 15:13

Sounds great.
Will you have to contact managers in each European office before you arrive to make sure there will be space for you to work in?
Anyway, echoing everyone else, it's a great idea and just go for it!

tartyflette · 30/04/2025 15:14

Hhhhdss · 30/04/2025 15:13

I have enough holidays. Even I didn't. I'd happily just work from those offices and explore the cities after work or at the weekend

As for office access. I am unsure. But I know that it's easy for me to go to the other UK offices, all I need to do is to tell the HR staff at the office. So it should be fine

Show quote history

Sorry, just saw your update after I posted.

StJamesInfirmary · 30/04/2025 15:15

Only thing I can imagine might be an issue is your right to work on those other countries. Might be tax implications but if you company can figure that out it sounds great!

notimagain · 30/04/2025 15:29

I don't want to rain on anyone's parade but if the OP only holds a UK passport there could be a massive problem with this idea, which is that they may not have the right to work in Europe..the right to that went post Brexit transition....that's why I asked the passport question upthread.

The company having offices in Paris, Berlin or any lovely city in Europe is almost irrelevant.. There are some allowances for really short term visits for e.g. contract discussions, business meetings or trade fares but for much more than that a Brit needs a working Visa and I think that's done country by country.

If the OP is a Brit it might be worth them reading up.on the matter in places such as the UK.gov website.

Original poster
Hhhhdss · 30/04/2025 15:54

I am a Brit with a UK passport. I hadn't thought about the right to work stuff at all.

Damn it

OP posts:
notimagain · 30/04/2025 16:06

Yep sorry, it can be a PITA and is one reason why there is talk of uk/eu trying to negotiate a working visa scheme for 18-30 year olds..

For info/as an example below there is a link to UK gov advice for travel to France for work.

Not sure if you can find a category in there that would work to your advantage..there are similar pages for most other countries.

www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-to-france-for-work

Original poster
Hhhhdss · 30/04/2025 16:43

We'll I'm definitely going to make a serious attempt at this at least.

OP posts:
Crunchkatsu · 30/04/2025 16:44

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Crunchkatsu · 30/04/2025 16:52

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notatinydancer · 30/04/2025 18:16

Unbeleevable · 30/04/2025 15:08

It is not impossible! A three month pass could be fun.

How easy would it be to arrange office access/hot desking at the destinations you wanted to visit? Culturally would that be uncomfortable or an odd thing to do (especially with language barriers - would you be sitting amongst local staff staring at you wondering who the heck you are?)

I’m guessing you’d need to carry your laptop with you so you’d need a safe at your hotel/accom to store it on your vacation days.

Think about laundry too - how would you manage?

Do you have enough vacation days?

Laundrettes

Original poster
Hhhhdss · 30/04/2025 18:35

The reason I was asking here was whether it was sensible to do the half work in the city's office, half holiday instead of just taking the whole time off

OP posts:
Fuckfacetime · 30/04/2025 18:39

This sounds great pre brexit - but now there is a fair amount of arse ache associated. BUT it can all probably be sorted. Contact the local offices and see what they say.

I Don’t think it will be as easy as you think; but I think it is possible you just have to keep going. Don’t be put off at the first the hurdle