traveling alone down under need advice!!!

mezza81

hi guys i need advice on traveling in australia im 29 years old and been wanting to travel, live and work in Oz all through my twentys and now saved the money up to do so but i get negative feedback from close family members about it. Also i cant find a friend to come with me and everyone whos traveling down under seem to be a lot younger, will i meet people my own age!?!? im a trained carpenter and was hopeing to find work in this trade if i go but i get told theres not much work going like this and the cost of living is expensive, is there a recession going on!?!? i just no if i dont go now il requet it for the rest of my life. Meny thanks if you can give me advice Richard:)

rob w

I think if you want to do it, you definitely should. Youve saved up enough money, and it sounds like you've been thinking about doing it for a while. As regards travelling on your own, its the best way to go in my opinion. You will always be free to do your own thing, and will have a much easier time meeting people. Dont let any negative comments from people hold you back. Everyone tells me Im crazy when i travel alone, it can be really annoying!! I guarantee you anyone that thinks like that has either never travelled or else never travelled alone!!!

Ive not been to Australia yet, but you should have no problem meeting people your own age. Ive literally met people of all ages while travelling, and Im sure Oz will be no different! And as for work, i couldnt tell you, but im an electrician myself and from what Ive heard about friends that have headed over, there is plenty of work for tradespeople at the moment depending on where you go. Just do a bit of research before you leave!

(You should have a look at NZ too, Ive heard recently that theyre recruiting Irish Tradesmen to help with the rebuilding after the earthquakes)

Anyway, best of luck if you decide to go!!

Trishy_Baby

have you checked out global trade search? I heard about it on the radio yesterday..check out colm Hayes Facebook page for more info. Think the lady from the recruitment agency said there's a lot of work for trades like yours. Also think there's an info night in Dublin in the coming weeks. Might be helpful. Also about travelling on your own, go for it. Im 24 and am dying to go, no-one can afford to come with but i think I'm just going to do it. I know it's something I'll regret if i leave it. Also, having spoken to many people out there, your better off by yourself as you'll meet a lot more people. Best of Luck with it

mezza81

yea guys your comments il defo take into consideraton i think that i made my decsion to go a long time ago and im just anixious about leaveing on my own. Less thought and more action!!:D thanks guys

solovely

When you get out there, you'll realise that most people (with the exception of Irish people) tend to travel alone. We are unique in that we travel in packs. All of the other backpackers and workers you meet will most likely to there on their own, so you'll make friends no bother.

If I were you, I'd try move to an area where there's lots of aussies/ older people and away from the 23/24 backpacker scene, as a) yeah, you'll feel old and b) it'll be harder to make proper friends....for Sydney, that would mean steering away from Bondi Junction, Coogee, etc. I went out on my own at 27 and lived in the Inner West which had a great buzz to it and made friends with mostly English and Australian people (it'd be like living in D8 as opposed to Rathmines). I had relations and a few Irish friends to meet up with for matches, etc. but was great not to be dependent on that scene either as it moves so quickly (plus, you're half way around the world, you at least want to feel like you're in a foreign country).

I hear Perth is mad looking for tradespeople, so maybe try there first?

Enjoy, you won't regret it!!!

going2aus

im doing the same ,, leaving ireland in january if your there by then please post and let me know how you get on ,,, starting to get a bit anxious about the whole "travelling alone thing"

Gossipgal

Hey, I'm doing the same. I'm 25 and going at the start of September, have been wanting to move away for the past 2 years now but was really involved with work and wasn't sure if I would be doing the right thing to leave and job and go over on my own but I'm gonna give it a go and see what happens. Are you planning on travelling or going to try and settle there?

zodiak

just do it!!! I travelled by myself hit south east Asia, OZ, New Zealand alone and loved it. You dont get to have the same experiences and meet the same people when your with someone. The majority of people out there are by them selves so remember there are other people in the same boat. People approach you alot more because your alone but if your in a hostel situation you are never alone. Most Irish abroad dont go alone their always in 2's or 3's so people around here generally dont understand what it means to travel alone the experience of it. I have travelled a few times now and have just come back off a long trip and I wont travel with a group ever again.. Each time I have travelled I have never met somebody who hated being by themselves so go, have a great time and maybe randomly meet you over in oz in a few months

imme

Australia isn't impacted by the Global Recession in any way like Ireland, so it seems.
Some travellers I meet struggle for months to find a job, most don't.

Prices are high for some things, some food stuffs like dairy (yogurt milk), whereas meat seems more reasonably priced.

Clothes, not designer stuff, are reasonably priced.

Petrol is $1.40AUD per litre.

You'll meet people of all ages travelling here, but younger people outnumber the older ones. I think older people rent whereas younger people stay in hostels etc.

Transport costs in cities are reasonable, but outside of cities buses are crazy prices. Maybe look at gumtree.com.au if you're going somewhere people advertise for car sharers to share petrol costs.

Flights are an alternative to overland transport and can work out at a third of the price of buses.

zodiak

Yeh but flights often work out expensive and if u want to see the entire country have a look at a grey hound pass or oz experience buses.. they generally give you a year to travel up or down the east coast and hop on hop off at places you want to see and you can work for a bit then travel for a bit.. its an option

Pocahontas

do it!

follow your dream. i travelled all over oz by myself a couple of years ago and then asia and now planning to hit east africa for a while. it's the easiest place to travel solo and you will meet people of all ages. yes, some might be 10 years younger than you but you'll be surprised about how well you will get on with a like-minded traveller! i was 27 when i did it and hung out with 18/19 year olds for a while, great fun!

it's hard to take advice from people who are in a different place to you so even if your family are discouraging, follow your own heart and don't let others dictate how you're going to live your life! life is short remember