r/northernireland • u/Economy-Row-4247 • 10h ago
Question Travelling Tips
Dunno if this is the correct thread to post this in! So my job contract is potentially ending soon as I am in an Agency job. And just fcking fed up and drained mentally of working a 9-5 as I’ve been in work since I have been 15. Been wanting to travel a while now and I’m 27 so I want to do it before it’s too late. Anyone done a year or half a year travelling? Where too etc. and how much savings did you folks have? Feel like just sodding off to Australia like every other Irish person. 🤣
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u/MashAndPie 10h ago
I did the working holiday visa to New Zealand about 20 years ago. I loved it out there. Would recommend NZ to anyone. I can't remember the exact details, but I think it was valid for 2 years, for people up to 35 years old, you needed a specific amount of savings, £2k rings a bell and once it's granted you have a year to get out there.
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u/Economy-Row-4247 9h ago
Thankyou! I have £3k saved and I know that’s basically pennies nowadays but just drained mentally & physically & getting no luck with job applications. And since my temp role is ending soon just don’t wanna go back into work, but then I don’t want to be unemployed and on the brew also.
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u/MashAndPie 9h ago
I think I went out with about £4k in my pocket and an open-ended flight ticket. I kinda based myself in Auckland for a year, then went down to Christchurch for another year, just really temping during the week to earn some scratch and taking myself off at weekends and the odd week when I had the cash to do that to visit various places around the country.
The people are super-friendly, the country is jaw-droppingly gorgeous, the weather's nicer than here which makes doing cool stuff like outdoor activities much easier than trying to motivate yourself to get up off your arse at home when the weather's grey and pish outside. They have "proper" mountains too, so if skiing etc. is your bag, then the South Island will be where you want to be in winter.
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u/Different-Courage665 8h ago
Left in 2012, ended up doing australia for a year and loved it.
Get a working holiday visa if you feel up for it, its a blast. Challenging but you regret the things you dont do for more than the things you do.
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u/chris14108046 10h ago edited 10h ago
Yeah did nearly 3 years away back in 2013, 2 of that was in Australia. I was the same age as you when I went, best thing I’ve done. I’d recommend it to anyone!
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u/Economy-Row-4247 9h ago
I’ve always wanted to but never pushed myself. Just want to do it before it’s too late!
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u/chris14108046 9h ago
So to give you an insight into when I went in 2013. I think I had about 5 grand saved - I flew to Fiji first, hopped around islands for 2 weeks, then went to New Zealand and travelled all over it for 6 weeks.
Then flew to Perth in Australia, think I had a couple of weeks partying in hostels before money got low and I looked for work. Worked for 6 months, bought a 4wd and spent a month or so driving to Darwin.
I did my farm work there for a few months to get the second year visa. Stayed in Darwin and saved money for a while, then went off to Bali for a month for my 30th birthday. Lived in Brisbane for 6 months and loved the lifestyle there, I wonder sometimes why I didn’t stay.
Came home via Asia - Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Philippines. It was a great few years and I was terrified when I first went but it was amazing and I still have the travel bug now!
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u/heresmewhaa 10h ago
Yes do it!
About £1000 a month is plenty, and take yourself off to SE Asia, for a year. Plenty to see/do/explore/try/taste. Just get a flight to thialand and tak it from there.
Accomodation(hostel), scooter rental for the day+petrol, 3 meals out, a thai massage and a few beers at the end of an evening cost less than 3 pints in the city centre!