Wibu to quit my job and go travelling?

[FedupofbeingtoldIcantusemyname]

I'm having a bit of a wobble.

Ex and I broke up very recently but are still living together for practical reasons.

I am heartbroken and sick of being sad. I've always wanted to travel and I have a few grand in savings sitting in the bank. I want to just quit my job and take off on the first flight out to backpack around Europe or something. I am a (mature) student with no dependent DC's or anything and my job is a part time minimum wage job.

My worry is, what do I do when/if I get back? If I spend all my savings travelling I'll have no money to move out when I get back. Plus then I'll have to get another job and finding another job that is a) compatible with my uni hours and b) not a seasonal job (as most jobs in this area are) will be very difficult.

Should I be sensible and use some of my savings to move out, while keeping my current job?

Or WIBU to just fuck it all, quit my job, leave and travel with my money?

Woops! EG's work, I meant!

Life is too short. You will get another job when you return. Do you have family you could stay with when you get back until you got yourself back on your feet financially?

I used to worry a lot about money and financial security and now I feel happiness is more important it's not about what you have in the bank.

Go travelling who knows what the future will bring.

That sounds like good advice innocent

I'm going to be going to (amongst others) Lauterbrunnen and Lucerne in Switzerland, and Innsbruck in Austria, those are probably the places I know the least about but they look stunningly beautiful and I want to try and do as much nature based stuff as possible (hiking, swimming, etc). Everywhere else in Italy etc, I think I have a good idea of what I'll be doing there. The cinque terre looks good, I'm going to try and go there too.

I've thought I might have to leave Croatia till another time as I don't think I'll have the money to actually do anything nice there and do all the other stuff I want to. What I don't want is to go to all these amazing places but then not have any money to do anything fun there, it won't be much good if I can only afford a bed for the night and bread and water

I've already started making lists of the places I might stay in each country including addresses and phone numbers, so if I find myself stuck and not speaking the language I can show it to people when asking directions! I'm also doing a bit of language research so I know the basics - it seems to be mostly German and Italian I'll need, with a little bit of Czech.

I've actually just downloaded EG's book, it'll have to read it now!

I've done a lot of solo travelling. It's fine. I've been to China on my own, to Morocco and down to Mali. Morocco was a bit miserable (you get pestered by men) but across Europe I've always been fine. Prague, Budapest etc are BEAUTIFUL.

One thing my DH and I did last year which was good and which you might consider was we hired a local guide in Athens. We had only a day there between flights, and we 'hired' a local history student for a few hours. She was delightful, gave us a walking tour of the city, showed us the bits of it she loved, and we saw some wonderful things and avoided all the tourist crap. She got us to the station on time to get back to the airport and we didn't have to worry about getting lost. It was via a website called Dopios, where people like students or photographers offer these tours. If you're going somewhere you think might be hard to be on your own perhaps you could make an arrangement to have your own guide for a few hours? She cost us about 20 euros, great pocket money for her and lovely day for us. You might find a lot of similar things on the internet. Also, could you consider staying with locals via sites like Airbnb rather than just staying in hotels? Couchsurfing also does meetups, I think, where you can go and meet fellow travellers at a pub or park and perhaps find others in your position to do day trips with if you're craving company.

You'll have a wonderful time, and you'll be so proud of yourself.

If you can I would definately recommend

oberammergau

I think 2016 will be a passion play year and it's an incredible place to visit and see the history

rothenburg ob der tauber isn't far away and also worth a stop as are the other 2 walked towns near by.

In Italy if you can don't miss Florence it is incredible. Along side all the history and amazing sights, you will find incredible little bars and shops there's an amazing little ice cream parlour that is open on Sundays and has over 365 types of icecream.

If your into history Pompeii is fancinating but don't miss the less well know Herculaneum in Naples.

For scenery you won't be disappointed in the amalfi coast.

I am going to stop by Florence, and I'm going to do day trips to Naples, Pompeii and Capri too hopefully :)

Work the summer, save everything, go traveling in September....make sure you go as life is too short. Once you make plans you are feeling better. Also a good chance if you come back next year they may take you back in the busy season!

If you can find somewhere affordable, do stay on Capri. The island is fabulous and day trippers don't really get the best of it. If you like islands and would like a few days relaxing, there are other cheaper islands between Rome and Naples and off the coast of Tuscany which are less well-known (Procida, Ponza etc). Everywhere in Italy is fine for travelling alone and people are really welcoming (especially in the south and Sicily).
I hope you're enjoying the planning and things are seeming a bit brighter.

Just out of curiosity, has anyone any experience of couchsurfing? The app/website/community that is. Thinking of using it for some of the more expensive parts of the trip, can't seem to get a hostel in or near the Alps for less than 35 Euros which seems a bit steep for a dorm bed!

I'm actually reading Eat, pray, love now to get some inspiration

I'm only on the 'pray' section - I liked the first bit but all the talk about praying and God is boring me a bit :/

We were Couchsurfing hosts for several years, and had many lovely visitors via the site. I also stayed with Couchsurfing hosts three times, each time in New York City.

However, we were part of it before Air BNB existed, and I do wonder if some of the better Couchsurfing folks might have defected, because of the chance to make a few $$ hosting.

Hostels you are more likely to meet fellow travellers, Airbnb if you pick carefully with reviews you can really embrace the culture, a mix of both may be good.

Lol do it why you still can who knows what may happen with brexit

I will be staying in hostels for the majority of the trip it's only the super expensive places I really can't afford the prices of the hostels in I'm thinking of couchsurfing- I like the idea of meeting and hanging out some locals too, especially as I won't know the areas!

I know a few people who have both hosted couch surfers and couch surfed, and you couldn't hope for better people to spend your time with. Worth doing I would say.

I've never used couch surfing but a friend hosts and uses it quite a lot. I've only ever heard great stories from her about it.

Have fun!

Well that's really encouraging, thank you (smile)

I've only recently heard about if and was a bit apprehensive about it but I think I will give it a go!

Oh dear ....go to Europe because you won't be able to after we leave The EC? Too funny ....... People travelled on holiday for many years before Britain joined the EC ....surely no one is silly enough to genuinely believe such nonsense ?

Also consider working a semester of study abroad into your degree, if you can. It's the best of both worlds in a lot of ways.

Ive done Couchsurfing! Stayed with a lovely woman in Krakow, a nice guy in Berlin and when I was in India I met a guy who spent a day showing me round his city. They tend to be v friendly outgoing types who love meeting new pp. The guy I stayed with in Berlin had done it in Canada, parts of Africa and even Iran!

Just do your research and read pp's reviews so you get a sense of whether you'd get on with them.

I went to India on my own a few years ago after I got made redundant. I was so scared getting on the plane but I had an amazing time!

Hope you have a brilliant trip! 😀

Trafalgargal: I don't think anyone's saying OP can't go to the EU (not EC incidentally), but that it might be more complicated in the future (potential visas, lack of reciprocal health care agreements... etc). I don't think it's 'nonsense' at all to suggest it might get harder to travel freely in the future.

OP, I think you're doing an amazing thing. I sometimes think what if I get run over by a bus tomorrow, what do I want to have done with my life? I don't have much practical advice apart from learn a bit of the lingo, but some of the other advice has been good. I've been to a lot of places over the years and I'm envious you have the freedom to do this! Try not to focus on what was and think about all the new encounters you'll have. It'll be amazing!

Aussie that's a great idea but not possible with my degree unfortunately.

It did occur to me that the uk leaving the eu might make it more difficult in the future but I didn't really think about it too much to be honest!

I am scared about travelling alone. My sort of life philosophy has always been that the best and most beautiful things in the world are even better if that experience is shared with another person. But maybe I'm wrong about that! Either way I can't let fear hold me back, the only way I'll find out is by going

I admire you OP.

Thank you :)

I don't feel like I'm very worthy of admiration though!

If you're going to Innsbruck and also want to embrace nature, hop on a train and spend a day or two at the Achensee! It's beautiful, and easy to navigate. At that time of year, the Gaisalm will still be open - it's an alpine inn that can only be reached by boat or on foot! I've been many times - several alone - and it's one of the most calming places I've ever spent time in.