How old is too old to travel?

LegacyUser

Hi all, this is a very minor problem compared to a lot of what gets posted here, but I'd really like some input on it!

I'm 26 and I graduated from college four years ago. Since graduating, I've had two permanent jobs (left one due to a takeover) and I've been unemployed twice, once for nine months, and once for three. I temped for a bit between jobs and then found my current job, which is permanent, badly paid and generally alright I live in rented accomodation which takes a huge chunk out of my salary, and I can't save because I have a small credit card debt that I'm slowly working on paying off. I've been in the current job over a year.

And I really really want to travel! But I'm scared that I'm too old. With my finances the way they are, I'll be at least 27 by the time I can consider going somewhere, probably older. Is that too old? The kind of travelling I want to do is living and working somewhere for short periods (0-6 months), or touring countries - y'know, the expensive kinds of travel *sigh*

So is 27-28 too late to start thinking about going travelling? I don't have much of a career to speak of (nothing that couldn't be picked up after a return, God willing there will actually be a job market in Ireland again by then!) and I'm in no hurry to own a house as I don't think I want a family (and if I do, I want one tiny and late in life!).

Has anyone here managed to travel later in their twenties? How did you find it? Do you wish you'd done it younger? Should I max out the remainder of the credit card and run like mad?

How Strange

IMO you're never too old to travel.

I've seen people in their 80's travelling, staying in hostels etc and I have the utmost admiration for their sense of adventure.

Why not take a month and head off somewhere by yourself and see how you like it? That way you can see if it suits you before making the big leap and giving everything up here.

mdebets

While you are never to old to travel, there is an agelimit of 30 or 35 for most ot the working holiday visas.
So 27 should leave you plenty of time.

LegacyUser

How Strange wrote: »

IMO you're never too old to travel.

I've seen people in their 80's travelling, staying in hostels etc and I have the utmost admiration for their sense of adventure.

Why not take a month and head off somewhere by yourself and see how you like it? That way you can see if it suits you before making the big leap and giving everything up here.

OP here, and it's nice to think I might have 60 years of travel ahead of me

I'd love to take a month and try it but as I said above I won't have the cash for at least a year if not more. Plus to take a month off I'd have to quit my job (I don't get enough annual leave to take that much time as have to save days for Christmas etc) so I would effectively be giving up everything here anyway. If my circumstances change I'll consider that, I'm mostly just worried I've already left it too late.

PirateShampoo

My nan recently went traveling at the age of 75, it was something she always wanted to do.

S23

Yeah I'd just concur with the rest that you are never too old. The only thing you have to work out or weigh up is your financial situation. If you can get that in order then I'd say you are the perfect age to go travelling and take in what the world has to offer.

Best of luck with it

cafecolour

I'm 34, traveled recently, and about to head off again come June.

I wouldn't "max out the remainder of the credit card and run like mad" though. Keep with the job to pay down debt and then save some (perhaps look at cheaper accommodation). And start your research - not just where you want to go, but cheaper ways of travel, work you can do while abroad (investigate getting an english teach cert for instance), etc.

Ickle Magoo

My parents are in their 60's and just back from walking the Milford Track in New Zealand and are currently planning a tour around Peru...you are never too old to travel!

As tempting as it is to max the plastic and head for the sun, if you head off now you will just have a heap of debt when you get back and you will be stressing about money and jobs while travelling. Why not pay off the credit card, get saving and have a round the world trip of a life-time with no worries to come back to?

youcrazyjesus!

Jesus H Christ. You're 26, go when you're 27. It's fine. There will be tonnes of people you're age or older you'll meet when you go travelling.