I developed a love of travel at an early age. It started with a March break trip to Disney World when I was four. The excitement of flying on a plane for the first time, the joy of meeting Mickey and Minnie, and the lovely feeling of the hot Florida sun had me hooked!
Between family vacations and trips on my own as a young adult, I was fortunate enough to leave the country about once every two years. However, I still had an unfulfilled desire to actually live somewhere new and truly connect to the people and place.
When I turned 23 I started to feel the ‘real world’ closing in. I had about a year and a half of school left and, as soon as I graduated, I would have to do an internship and try to maximize those connections to secure myself a job. Full-time positions in the television industry are hard to come by and taking time away was not an option. So the four month summer vacation between the first and second year of my Radio and Television Arts program would be my last chance to take the leap and live and work overseas.
I’m not usually the spontaneous type. I’m a planner. I’m also really shy and the idea of going to a place where I wouldn’t know anyone terrified me. However, my love of travel triumphed over my anxiety and I was determined to experience life in a foreign country before settling down with a full-time job.
A friend of mine mentioned she was able to obtain a youth visa that would allow her to work in the United Kingdom for two years. She had her sights set on working in Scotland and that sounded good to me!
Within a few short weeks, I had gone through the visa process, booked a flight to Glasgow and prepared to spend the summer in Scotland. It wasn’t until the day before I left that I secured a job as a bartender at a pub.
My new job was at a hotel/restaurant/pub/marina/holiday home park located at the north end of Loch Lomond, about an hour and a half drive from Glasgow. The great thing about it was it included room and board, so I shared a caravan with a lovely local girl who cleaned rooms at the hotel and ate the delicious food prepared by the chefs.
It was my first time bar tending, but I caught on quickly, having already worked in a number of customer service roles. I loved the weekends, when all the locals would come to stay in their holiday home and the pub was lively and full.
My new co-workers were so welcoming and enjoyed teaching me about Scottish life. From new foods and music, to history and ghost stories, to linguistic differences, I learned so much during my time on Loch Lomond.
I went to Scotland on a working holiday visa – one that allows you to work for any employer, work in more than one location, and to apply without a pre-arranged contract of employment. In order to obtain a working holiday visa you may be required to provide a valid passport, a birth certificate, proof of medical insurance for the duration of your stay, a medical exam, proof of funds (depending on the country you may have to have a certain amount in the bank, others just require you to have a return flight booked), a criminal record check or police certificate.
There are also fees associated with applying for the visa. For example, there is a $150 charge to obtain a working holiday visa for Ireland, plus a return fee of $15 for registered post or $60 for a courier service.
As Canadians, we are fortunate that there are so few restrictions on our travel. If you’re between 18 and 35 and would like to live and work abroad click HERE for information on how you can make that happen. If you’re not a Canadian but are interested in coming here to work click HERE.
If you’re between the ages of 18 and 35 and thinking of planning a trip abroad, consider travelling with Contiki.
Contiki has different tours for all types of travellers. On their site, they highlight their eight ways to travel. So whether you want to camp, or stay in a hotel, see as many countries as possible, or focus on just one, there is a trip for you.
I went on my first Contiki bus tour when I was 30 years old.
My Contiki crew posing for a group photo in Florence.
There were a few reasons why I chose Contiki – the first, and most important, was the price. Contiki has trips at various price points, with length of tour and type of accommodation determining the cost.
I didn’t have a lot of cash, so I elected to do a tour where you stayed in cabins on campgrounds, which was a little more cost effective than the tours that stayed at hotels.
For the most part, I shared my accommodations with three other same gender travellers. If you’re travelling as a couple, or prefer your own room, you can pay a little extra for private accommodations.
The Contiki cabin I stayed in while in Rome.
On my tour, before each stop they would send a sign-up sheet around the bus and we would choose who we were going to share a room with. We stayed in trailers, cabins and even a French chateau!
Contiki’s Chateau de Cruix, in the Beaujolais wine region of France
I also liked that I knew going into it how much my trip would cost – transportation, accommodation and most of the meals were included in the price. So the only thing I had to worry about paying for while on the road was souvenirs or extras I chose to do.
Tour guide Dom sharing his knowledge of Barcelona.
The second reason why I chose Contiki was that I liked the idea of having a tour guide. I had backpacked around the U.K. by myself and discovered (after a few scary moments) that travelling alone was not for me. It made me feel comforted to know that the guide was experienced and knowledgeable about the area.
The third reason was that there were so much that I wanted to see in Europe. I knew I would cover way more ground with Contiki than I ever could on my own. I chose a three-week tour that stopped in four countries – France, Spain, Italy and Monaco. It was a great way to experience the highlights of each one and allowed me to determine which spots were my favourites. I now know I want to return to Paris and Italy for a more in-depth visit.
On the tour with me was my friend from college, an English tour guide, a Hungarian bus driver and about 50 other travellers, hailing from Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the Philippines.
Whenever we set off to explore in small groups, we always gave the map to David from South Africa! He seemed to always be able to get us where we wanted to go.
The age range varied, but I’d say the average age of my fellow travellers was 25. We had three 18 year olds, but most others were in their mid-20s and then a few were 30 and over like myself.
I think the fact that I travelled at the beginning of May helped raise the median age, as all the kids who may be looking to do a high school graduation trip to Europe were not done school yet.
My tour guide, Dom, was absolutely amazing. He was so kind and had so many interesting stories to share. We told him many times that when he got tired of the road he would make a great history teacher!
The Dynamic Duo -bus driver Johnny and tour guide Dom.
As we drove from location to location on the bus, Dom would fill us in on local culture and customs. I felt like I learned so much on the trip – my three weeks of travelling Europe were worth more than a year in university!
The great thing about the tour was the flexibility to do as much or as little with the group as we wanted. I loved being with my tour mates and when we did split up into smaller groups it was so nice that there was always someone who was interested in doing the same thing as I was.
Visiting the Vatican with some of my Aussie and Canadian tour mates.
My favourite part of my trip was getting to know the people on my tour. You’d be surprised how close you can get to someone when you are with them 24/7 for three weeks. We shared rooms, stories from home, and adventures. I still keep in contact with a few of my tour mates and even got the chance to visit with some of them when I went to Australia three years later for another Contiki tour.
The Aussie contingent!
If you don’t have a travelling companion and aren’t keen on hitting the road alone, Contiki is a great option. Almost half of my group was there on their own, and everyone – from the couples, to groups, to solo travellers – found it quick and easy it to make friends.
For those of you who may be concerned that Contiki is just one big booze-fest, here are my thoughts. Whenever you get a group of 18 to 35-year-olds together there is bound to be some drinking and the odd hookup. On my European tour there was quite a bit of drinking, but there was no pressure to partake. I’m not big on alcohol, but that didn’t stop me from socializing with others who were. My experience was that those who wanted to be a little on the wild side could do so and those who prefer a more dialed back experience could do so as well. With 50 people on tour, there is bound to be someone who is like-minded for you to hang out with.
If you decide a Contiki tour is for you, here are some of my tips to help you make the most of your experience.
1. Bring a neck pillow (a set of ear plugs and an eye mask wouldn’t hurt either).
There is so much to see and do that sleep is not a priority. However, there are some long days on the bus, which is the perfect opportunity to catch up on some much needed rest. A neck pillow and other aids will help you achieve a more comfortable sleep. They can also come in handy if your roommates are going to bed and getting up at different times from you, or even if they are just not super respectful of your need to sleep.
2. Bring your own medicine.
Everyone on my tour got a cold, except for the driver and tour guide – they must have super immune systems! I recommend you bring your own cold pills, just in case. I ended up spending a morning wondering around an Italian pharmacy trying to figure out what medicine to get, since the pharmacist did not speak English and I don’t speak Italian! Same goes if you are prone to allergies or headaches, just come prepared.
3. It’s not uncommon to partake in a few adult beverages while on tour. Do NOT do this the night before a bus day.
Trust me on this one. Being hung over and spending 12 hours on a bus is not fun. If you do find yourself regretting that last shot and wind up having to make use of the bathroom on board, you will not win friends. The bus is a confined space and no one wants to hear or smell your bad decisions – schedule your nights of debauchery for non-travel days.
4. Be open to new people and new experiences.
I truly believe this kind of trip can be life-changing if you let it. Discovering different cultures and encountering different kinds of people – ones you may never interact with in your day-to-day life – can be inspiring and educational. Not only can you learn a lot about the world, you can learn a lot about yourself.
5. Have fun!
Let the small stuff go and focus on the experience. You’re only young once and you’re lucky to be able to take this kind of adventure.
*Please note that no compensation was received for this post.
The Gleeful Globetrotter 