If you’re interested in travelling to Europe, then a working holiday in the UK is a great option. Not only can you spend time exploring England, Wales, Scotland, and northern Ireland, but you can also make some extra money at the same time.

How would you like to spend the weekend scaling the fortress walls of the Edinburgh Castle in Scotland? Or perhaps you’d rather use your free time to explore the archaeological mystery that is Stonehenge? maybe you’d simply prefer to relax with a cup of tea and crumpets in the lobby of a posh hotel in London?

On the working holiday UK visa, you can do it all.

Plus, if you’re living and working in the UK, nearby countries such as France, Spain and Portugal are just a quick ride away. With a Tier 5 Visa, working and travelling around the UK is simple. 

This guide will show you the ins and outs of the working holiday program in the UK. You’ll be on your way to a new adventure in no time!

Table of Contents
What is a working holiday in the UK?
Who is Eligible For a working holiday in the UK?
How To get a working holiday In The UK
How To start working in The UK
What type of work Can You Do On a working holiday in the UK?
Where To find working holiday Jobs
Are There disadvantages to the working holiday Program in the UK?
What To expect From The working holiday Program in The UK
Final Thoughts
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What is a working holiday in the UK?

The United Kingdom’s working holiday program is known as the Tier 5 youth Mobility scheme (YMS). It allows young travellers to come to the UK and experience a vibrant new culture while also working to fund their travels.

When you research different visa programs, you might notice that there are several types of Tier 5 visas. but if you’re a young person interested in travelling and working within the UK, it’s the Tier 5 youth Mobility scheme that you want to apply for.

Visas are granted for 24 months from the date of entry and allow holders to study, work, and travel within England, Wales, Scotland, and northern Ireland.

There are many cities and countries to choose from within the UK. and although most people are immediately drawn to London, there are plenty of other exciting locations outside the city. That’s the best thing about a working holiday visa; you can choose to settle down in one place or explore all four countries.

☞ See Also: how To get A working holiday Visa in new Zealand

Who is Eligible For a working holiday in the UK?

To participate in the youth Mobility Scheme, you need to be a citizen from a country with a bilateral working holiday agreement with the UK. There are currently only eight countries participating in the agreement, including Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Monaco, new Zealand, and Taiwan.

However, you can also apply for the visa if you are a British national from another country besides the UK. This includes citizens from Gibraltar, Turks and Caicos Islands, Bermuda, and several other territories.

Besides your nationality, there are several other requirements you must meet:

Be age 18-30 (must apply for the visa before you turn 31)

Have no dependents (or anyone under 18 who you are financially responsible for)

Have a minimum of £1890 in savings

Not currently living in the UK

If you are deemed eligible for the Tier 5 YMS visa, then you’re just a few steps away from applying for this fantastic adventure.

How To get a working holiday In The UK

While the Tier 5 YMS application process is straightforward, several extra steps are important to note. since you can apply for the Tier 5 visa up to six months before you travel, you’ll have plenty of time to get your application documents in order.

Fill out your Application

The online application is relatively simple and should take around 30 minutes to complete. before you start filling out the form, make sure you have the following documents and information at hand:

Current passport

Previous passports (for a history of your past travel)

Birth dates and birth location of your parents

Intended address in the UK

Bank statement with £1890 balance and the application date as the closing date

On the online application form, you will also need to enter your proposed start and end date. As a reminder, the date you want to enter the country needs to be within six months of your application date.

You will also need to pay the visa fee of £244 at this time.

Remember, filling out the online application is just the beginning of the process. You still need to complete the following steps before you actually obtain the visa.

Pay the immigration Healthcare Surcharge

Depending on your nationality, the online application tool may require that you pay an immigration Healthcare Surcharge (IHS). This is so you can take advantage of the UK’s national health services (NHS) once you arrive.

The IHS cost is £300 per year. If you plan to stay in the UK for the entire duration of your tier 5 visa (2 years), you will be required to pay £600. You can pay this fee using any major credit card when filling out your online application.

Once you pay the fee, you will receive an IHS reference number. just remember to print it out, write it down in permanent ink, or save it on your computer! You’ll need this number throughout the visa application process.

Get Biometrics Taken

As part of the application process, you’ll need to submit your biometrics to obtain a Biometrics residence permit (BRP) once you arrive in the UK. This means you’ll need to visit a biometric centre in your home country to take your photograph, fingerprint scans, and collect your signature.

Once the online application has been submitted, you will receive details on where to get your biometrics taken. When you arrive for your appointment at the biometrics centre, bring the following documents with you:

Printed and signed Tier 5 MYS application

Appointment booking confirmation letter

Passport

IHS reference Number

Make sure to arrive 15 minutes before your appointment. once you’re called, the entire meeting should take between 30-45 minutes.

☞ See Also: how To obtain a working holiday Visa in Canada – The ultimate Guide

Collect Your Visa

At the biometric centre, the agent will collect your biometrics, documents, and passport to send them to the visa processing centre.

The average visa processing time is between two and six weeks. However, wait times can be longer during the busy season and in non-commonwealth countries. You’ll receive an email once they receive your documents and when they approve your visa. Likewise, you will also receive a rejection email if you do not meet the necessary criteria.

Once your visa has been approved, it will be printed in your passport. You can return to the biometric centre to collect your passport, or you have the option for it to be mailed to your home address (for an extra fee).

Congratulations! After your passport is returned, you’ll have the Tier 5 YMS visa allowing you to travel abroad to the UK. now you can book your flights, look for housing, and search for a new job.

How To start working in The UK

Although you’re on your way to starting a new journey in the UK, there are still a few steps you need to take once you arrive. This ensures that your transition to a new country, and possibly a new job, is as seamless as possible.

Collect your Biometrics residence Permit

Once you touch down in the UK, you have exactly ten days to collect your Biometrics residence permit (BRP) from the post Office. Don’t skip this step, as you’ll be fined £1,000 if you fail to collect your BRP!

This card will show your details, biometric information, and immigration status. think of the BRP as your residence permit and official form of identification for your stay in the UK.

Open a bank Account

To get paid by your employer, you’ll need to open a bank account in the UK. Each bank offers different benefits and plans for foreign nationals, so you should do some research to see which bank is the best fit.

Some popular banking choices include Nationwide, royal bank of Scotland, Lloyds, Barclays, the Co-Operative Bank, and Santander.

Apply for an NI number

Since you’re responsible for paying UK taxes, you will need to apply for a NI number. With this number, you’ll be registered for the UK’s social security system. You can start working temporarily without the NI number, but your employer will eventually require it after a few weeks.

Obtaining your NI number requires you to call the national insurance number application line:

Telephone: 0345 600 0643
Monday to Friday, from 8 am to 6 pm

The service representative will collect your passport and work permit information. Within a few days, you’ll receive the application packet in the mail. All you have to do is fill out the forms, send them back to the NI centre in the pre-addressed envelope, and receive your NI number a few days later.

Register with the national health Service

During the application process, you paid an immigration Healthcare Surcharge that lets you take advantage of the national health service in the UK. Although you received an IHS number, you still need to register with the NHS itself.

First, you need to locate the nearest general practitioner (GP) in your city. As a resident, you can only be seen by a GP that services the postal code of your home address. For example, you can’t register or visit a GP in Manchester if you’ve claimed residency in London.

Bring your passport and NI number to the GP’s office. After filling out a few forms, the office will set you up as a new patient and provide you with an NHS card. The card may take a few days or weeks to arrive in the mail, but once you have an NHS number, you can start using the UK’s healthcare services.

☞ See Also: How To get working holiday Visas worldwide – The complete Guide

What type of work Can You Do On a working holiday in the UK?

The Tier 5 YMS is an open visa, which means you can work in almost every line of work. You aren’t limited to part-time, temporary, or traditional backpacker-type jobs. The only restriction is that you cannot work as a sports coach, doctor, or dentist.

However, there are a few jobs that are common for young, working holiday visa holders.

Hospitality

The hospitality industry has one of the highest demands for employment in the UK. Whether it’s at a small bed and breakfast in the Welsh countryside or a glitzy 5-star resort in London, there are plenty of opportunities for working holiday participants.

If you’re good with people, you can take a customer-focused position such as front-desk clerk, concierge, or hotel event planning. If you prefer to work behind the scenes, you can still work in a hotel as a line cook, housekeeper, or maintenance worker.

Service Industry

With millions of restaurants, cafes, and bars in the UK, it’s easy to see why there are many job opportunities in the service industry. and with flexible hours and work schedules, a service job is the ultimate position for your working holiday.

Working as a bartender or waiter is an ideal entry-level position that can be found in all cities, villages, and towns in the UK. If you have more experience, there are often open jobs working as a chef or bartender.

If the food industry is not your thing, consider working in retail. depending on your age, the minimum wage in the UK is between £6.15 – £8.21, which can give you a good chunk of change for travelling.

Office Jobs

Just because you’re on a working holiday doesn’t mean you have to take up temporary work! With the Tier 5 visa, you can work for a variety of businesses, including financial firms, software companies, or consulting groups. Of course, you’ll need the right qualifications and experience first.

Since most companies are in the market for long-term employees, having the two-year Tier 5 visa is appealing. It’s much easier to land an office job in the UK compared to other countries that offer shorter working holiday programs.

☞ See Also: Workaway Program – An Insider’s guide To free accommodation Worldwide

Where To find working holiday Jobs

There are many ways to find a working holiday job in the UK. While the line of work will depend on which city or region you choose to live in, there are a few places where you can start looking for work immediately.

Online job Sites

One of the easiest ways to search for working holiday jobs is on the internet. There are several large aggregate sites like Reed.co.uk, Glassdoor.co.uk, and Indeed.co.uk with thousands of positions listed every day.

On these sites, you can sort by job type, length of employment, and salary. This is a great feature for working holiday participants since they can filter by temporary, part-time, or seasonal jobs. looking at online job sites is a great first step to figuring out what ty

Updated: 3/25/21 | March 25th, 2021

London.

It’s one of the most expensive destinations in the world.

How do you check out London on a budget?

I pertained to the city on a 10-day trip for a travel conference and I thought it was the best place to test out my travel hacking theories to see if you could check out London the cheap. few people No make plans to travel to London thinking they are going to be able to check out cheap.

But what if you could?

After all, there are few impossible budget travel destinations the world.

A city as big and diverse as London need to have plenty of ways to lower your costs?

If you can hack London and check out on a budget, you can travel hack anywhere.

So, without additionally ado, here’s how my experiment went!

Table of Contents

How Did I Do London on a Budget?

How much Did I spend in London?

How I saved on My flight to London

How I saved on My accommodation in London

How I saved money checking out Attractions in London

How I saved money on Food in London

How I saved money on transportation in London

How much would This trip frequently Cost?

 

How I saved on My flight to London

I used my American Airlines frequent flier miles to pay for my flight. A round-trip ticket from Boston to London cost me 60,000 miles, plus a service charge of $165.10 in taxes and fees.

The miles I used were “anytime miles,” but American Airlines also uses “OffPeak Miles” (off-season really), and you can actually fly to London for as little as 40,000 miles round-trip.

How do I get so lots of miles?
I’m a frequent flier, so I can generate a lot of miles per year. I usually fly about 40,000–50,000 miles per year, which, compared to a lot of travel writers, is pretty low. but I’ve written extensively on how to get miles for free. I sign up for bonus offer credit scores cards, sign up for deals, use preferred merchants, and sign up for every contest that gives extra miles. All told, I’ve accumulated over 400,000 frequent flier miles with American Airlines alone through these methods.

While I’ve written lots of blog articles on how to get complimentary miles, here’s a quick summary of the best methods:

Sign up for a branded airline credit scores card: Whether you love Delta or fly United and the star Alliance, all us carriers have a branded travel credit scores card that gives you 40,000–50,000 points when you sign up and make one purchase. That’s a complimentary economy ticket ideal there. The quickest and best way to get a lot of complimentary miles is to get one of these travel credit scores cards.

Watch out for special promotions: I sign up for all airline mailing lists. I always enjoy out for special two-for-one mile deals. Or when they have special card uses to earn extra miles. American Airlines just gave me 1,000 miles for enjoying a demo on their new shopping toolbar. I once got 5,000 miles for joining Netflix. typically you get miles for filling out surveys too or even by tweeting the brands! utilizing promotions over the course of a few months can yield big results.

Sign up for a non-airline credit scores card: Sign up for a non-airline credit scores card like a Starwood American express card, and you can get 75,000 sign-up points. Afterward, you can transfer your sign-up bonus offer points to the airline you use and redeem them for flights.

 

How much Did I spend in London?

During my 10 days in London, I spent 481.21 GBP or $710 USD. That works out to be roughly $70 USD per day. and that’s not just my day-to-day expenses. That includes EVERYTHING:my flight to London, my hotel, transportation, food, drinking, and attractions.

Think about that for a second.

I had a 10-day holiday in London for $700 USD that included airfare. When was the last time you went to Europe for that little money? When was the last time any big international trip cost that kind of money?
 

How Did I Do London on a Budget?

Before I describe how I did it, I want to take a second to describe some of the ground policies I laid out for myself. I didn’t want to backpack London. My goal was to show the budget travelers of the world — the two-week holiday-makers — that you can do London on the low-cost without being a backpacker. That saving money isn’t all dorm rooms, Couchsurfing, and eating pasta.

So, checking out London as a budget traveler, I made three rules:

1. I wouldn’t stay in hostels. I wanted to stay in great accommodation to verify that even a hotel stay can be cheap.

2. I had to eat a few great meals. When you go on holiday, you want to eat great food, so I agreed that I would have at least two really great meals in London.

3. I couldn’t say “no” because it was expensive. lots of backpackers skip sightseeing because of the cost, but I wanted to do all the normal sightseeing activities regular tourists do. You don’t go on a short holiday to not sightsee right?

With these ground policies in place, I set off to check out London asa budget traveler:
 

How I saved on My accommodation in London

I had hoped that by the time I went to London, my Marriott points would credit scores to my account. Marriott is using a new card with Chase that got me 70,000 points plus one complimentary stay for signing up and after the first use. I jumped on this deal, but the points took too long to place into my account. (On the plus side, I now have 70,000 points and a complimentary night at a Marriott for future use.)

Since my points didn’t get credited in time, I used a lot more American Airlines miles for this. I used 68,000 points plus $25 USD for five nights of accommodation in a four-star hotel. I stayed in a hotel near Hyde Park, a very well-to-do neighborhood in London.

Now, while you can use airline miles for holidays and hotels, you never get as good of a deal when you use them for flights. five nights using hotel points would have cost me just 50,000 points. The point here, though, is that by signing up for a branded hotel card, you can use those points to get complimentary hotel stays for your next vacation. Or you can use the bonuses from an airline. Either way, getting complimentary hotel rooms isn’t that hard.

For the other four nights, I was London, I used Airbnb. While I usually like hostels, I wanted some peace and quiet as well as a kitchen while in London. The room cost 150 GBP ($238 USD) for four nights.
 

How I saved money checking out Attractions in London

London is terrific for sightseeing because so much is complimentary here. It makes sightseeing on a budget really easy. the best museums — the British Library, British Museum, national Gallery, natural history Museum, and museum of London (just to name a few) — are all free. Hyde Park? Free. Kensington Gardens? Free. It’s easy to fill a few days with sightseeing in London without ever spending a penny.

But sadly, not everything is free. For attractions that weren’t free, I used the London Pass. This vacationer card cost me 54 GBP ($86 USD) for two days of sightseeing. It covers over 32 destinations and uses complimentary public transportation. You can get a pass for up to six days (87 GBP). There are hundreds upon hundreds of dollars in savings with this pass. However, I didn’t have much time nor the desire to see all 32 spots. I was able to see:

Westminster Abbey

Tower of London

St. Paul’s Cathedral

Ben Franklin House

Britain at war Museum

Shakespeare’s globe Museum

London Tombs

Without this pass, the same attractions would have cost me 104.55 GBP. I saved 50% by using the London Pass, and I didn’t even use it for everything it offers. This is why in so lots of of my articles about various cities, I anxiety getting a city pass if you plan to do a lot of museums and tours. You can save a lot of money by doing so. It’s one of the best budget travel ideas out there and is all too typically overlooked.

Note: as of 2021, the London Pass is 100 GBP ($140 USD) for the two-day pass. Still a bargain if you plan to see a lot!
 

How I saved money on Food in London

I didn’t want to be the normal backpacker and eat kebabs and pasta for every meal. but at the same time, I know locals don’t eat out 100% of the time, either, and a terrific way to save money is to cook, which is part of the reason I got a place with a kitchen for my last four nights. I wanted to mix eating out with cooking a few meals.

During my 10 days in London, I spent 103.80 GBP ($165 USD) on food, which broke down the following ways:

I spent 9.11 GBP on groceries, including bread, sandwich meat, vegetables, and pasta. This was enough for three dinners and three lunches. (Seriously.)

I spent 2.20 GBP on water bottles, which I refilled over the course of my trip.

My hotels and serviced apartment or condo supplied breakfast, though I did go out for McDonald’s one morning. (I just love those hash browns.)

The rest was spent on dining out.

I got pizza one day, went out for good Thai food for one dinner, had terrific Indian one night, ate normal fish and chips the next, had a few Starbucks green teas, and ate tons of kebabs. They’re anywhere in London. According to my friends, you’re a true Londoner if you’re dining on kebabs, especially if it’s after a night out.

As I said, I didn’t want to skimp on meals. I ate how and when I wanted to. I did look for deals, though, as any good budget traveler knows that good food doesn’t have to be expensive. In London, I found the best way to eat out on a budget was to look for lunch specials. a lot of restaurants I came across had lunch specials, and lots of pizza places used a “buy one, get one free” deal on takeaway.

Another terrific way to save money is to get the taste Card. This diner’s club card uses 50% discounts on thousands of restaurants as well as two-for-one specials. It can really pay off, especially on those great meals you’ll want to have. You can only live on fish and chips for so long.
 

How I saved money on transportation in London

My London Pass covered public transportation for the two days it was valid. and considering that cabs in London are notoriously expensive even by London standards, I refrained from taking them.

For transportation to Heathrow airport, I took the Heathrow express to get into the city (18.50 GBP) and the London Underground to get out (5 GBP). around the city, I loaded my oyster card (metro card) for unrestricted use within Zones 1–3 for seven days at a cost of 32.20 GBP.

How much would This trip frequently Cost?

Had I fallen into the trap that a lot of people do of booking a “normal vacation,” this London trip would have cost me three times as much.

A return flight to London from Boston ideal now is currently running around $500 USD.

Currently, the average price of a decently-rated three-star hotel in central London is around $120 USD per night. For my nine-night trip, that adds up to around $1,080 USD.

Had I refrained from cooking, I probably would have added about another $150 USD on dining out, knowing my eating habits.

If you add that up and add a little for transportation around the city, I would have spent nearly $1,800 USD on this trip.

By traveling hacking and spending wisely, I spent 10 days in London for less than half of that, saving myself over $1,000 USD!

Think about that.

I checked out London on a budget for 60% off the cost of a normal vacation, and I didn’t skimp on anything.

I just traveled smart, used reward systems, and employed everyday frugality to my advantage. I stayed in great places, dined out well, and saw all the attractions I wanted. I didn’t sacrifice comfort.

Cheap travel doesn’t indicate bad travel.

I wanted to take a holiday to London that my parents or pals — people who wouldn’t be caught dead sleeping in 15-bed dorms to save money — could take. I wanted to travel cheaply without sacrificing comfort.

And I did just that.

***
Travel doesn’t have to be expensive. By investing just a little extra time into planning my trip, I was able to have a terrific trip for around the cost of the going rate for a flight to London.

You don’t need to spend thousands traveling. A holiday doesn’t need to cost an arm and a leg, and the next time you’re inclined to think so, just remember that yes, it is possible to travel cheap, and any individual can do it.

Want to learn how I travel the world for Free?
Stop paying full price! download our complimentary guide to travel hacking and learn:

How To pick a credit scores Card

How To earn Miles for complimentary Flights & Hotels

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Book Your trip to London: Logistical ideas and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a low-cost flight to London by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines. start with Momondo.

Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the best inventory. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the least expensive rates for guesthouses and budget hotels. some of my favorite places to stay in London are:

St. Christopher’s Inn

Clink78

Astor Hyde Park Hostel

For a lot more suggested places to stay, check out this longer list of hostels. and if you’re wondering what part of town to stay in, here’s my neighborhood breakdown of London!

Don’t forget travel Insurance
Travel insurance will secure you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. I never ever go on a trip without it. I’ve been using world Nomads for ten years. You must too.

Need Some Gear?
Check out our resource page for the best companies to use!

Want a Guide?
London has some really interesting tours. My favorite company is Take Walks. They have expert guides and can get you behind the scenes at the city’s best attractions. They’re my go-to walking excursion company!

If you want a bike tour, use Fat Tire Tours. They have the best and a lot of cost effective bike excursions in the city.

Want a lot more travel information on London?
Be sure to check out our robust London destination guide on London for even a lot more planning tips!

From obscurity to ubiquity, finger limes and their powerful citrus flavour are in so numerous of the things we eat and drink now. but what are they, where do they come from, and what’s the story with finger lime gin?

High on a plateau of the blue Mountains a couple of hours west of Sydney Australia, Lee Etherington—farmer by trade, creator by purpose and distiller by accident—stares out over his unusual crop.

From the rows of stumpy shrub-like trees dangle dark fruit that look a bit like fingers. closer up, their bumpy green and deep dark red peel much more resembles the skin of a lime.

Indeed, these are finger limes—one of six citrus fruits native to Australia—and one that has become extremely popular in recent years.

Lee reaches into the branches and plucks a finger lime, which in truth looks much more like a bloated chilli or an okra than a finger, and snaps it open and squeezes gently.

Inside is not what you’d expect.

Neither seeds nor juice—nor bones for that matter—lurk within. and rather than the segments you expect in citrus fruit; finger lime flesh is packaged in tiny balls like salmon roe.

In fact, the fruit is typically referred to as finger lime ‘caviar’. These bright green and red beads are bursting with tart, tasty citrus juice. and they’re a revelation.

Finger limes, hibiscus and Lee Etherington

Lee’s first success was actually with hibiscus flowers. He developed the technique for putting the flowers into jars and preserving them in bright red syrup. We used his hibiscus flowers in our cocktail book when we first started Mr & Mrs romance so numerous years ago.

Lee even broke into the states with this product and now sells his creations in over 50 countries around the world.

But with finger limes, Lee chose he wanted to craft a gin that made the most of this unusual caviar-shaped fruit. other distilleries have finger lime caviar in their bottles, but because the fruit is heavier than the spirit, the beads just work out at the bottom of the bottle.

After ten years—yes, ten years—of R&D, Lee has come up with a technique using a protein from a lotus that creates a kind of web inside the gin. It’s flavourless, colourless, odourless and is completely natural, but it holds up the little balls of finger lime, appearing to suspend them throughout the liquid.

It implies you can really see the finger lime caviar perfectly, but it also implies every pour guarantees some finger lime pieces—not just whoever gets to the end of the bottle.

What’s more, Lee chose the gin needed something extra—another flavour profile. So he soaks the finger lime caviar in a completely separate gin for the fruit to absorb those flavours before they go into the bottle. Effectively, you’re getting two gins in one.

And because Lee doesn’t like to stop for very long, he’s produced another fingerlime gin using the deep red finger limes too.

The problem with finger limes

It would be good news to learn that farming finger limes was an easy occupation, wouldn’t it.

Sadly, that’s not the case.

As Lee discusses as we walk round the orchard, the trees are covered in long, sharp thorns, which makes hand-picking unpleasant. but because the fruit is quite delicate, device harvesting isn’t an option.

We’re here at Lee’s farm with the outstanding Nip of courage crew!

Finger lime skin is full of bitter oils that, if mixed with the fruit, ruins the flavour. The oils are also very sticky and don’t come off your skin easily either.

What’s more, finger limes—especially the red ones—like to ripen all at once. Lee paints the picture of everyone dashing into the orchard in an effort to pick as numerous ripe fruit as they can, all on the same day. After that, the fruit is typically past it.

And just to add an extra layer of difficulty, each finger lime is also full of tiny seeds, which need to be removed before they can be processed.

But the deadly icing on this particular cake is the land here is a preferred spot for one of the world’s many harmful spiders.

The highly venomous and aggressive Sydney funnel-web spider, which has a bite so powerful it can easily pierce your thumbnail with its fangs, likes to live in burrows in soft soil.

And there are telltale holes literally all over on the orchard floor.

But when you take that first sip of the most outstanding gin and tonic you’ve ever had, bubbling with little spheres of finger lime and bursting with that effervescent lime flavour, you realise all the research and hard work, all the thorny pain and risk of death has been worth it.

You can pick up your bottle of Wild Hibiscus Co Finger Lime Gin here.

You ought to also check out our full review of this gin here on our regular column with hero to Australian craft spirits Nip of Courage.

only 3 days up until Christmas? What? It can’t be! There’s no method that this year is practically over…where did the 12 months go? Was it not just yesterday that we were cleansing our bodies as well as minds at an Ashram in India? Weren’t we just celebrating Christmas with chai tea as well as Domino’s Pizza in Jaipur? Oh no, wait, that was a whole year ago. I assumption time truly does fly when you’re having fun!

Sitting right here in our Chinese house as the new Year approaches, I felt it required to show on a few of our fondest memories from 2012.

When we believe of the past year, it’s kind of a blur. 2011 runs into 2012 as well as we fail to remember where we were as well as when. We discover ourselves often taking a look at each other in really hopes that the other will have some answers! It’s time to get our thoughts (and dates) in order. Here’s a roundup of our legendary year.

2012 started off perfectly. We were in Rishikesh, India at an Ashram doing yoga as well as meditation. We did a countdown to the new Year while sitting by the holy Ganges River meditating as well as believing about what we would like to see occur in our lives for the next 12 months. It was certainly the most tame new Year’s Eve event we’ve ever had! however one we’ll never forget.

Aarti ceremony on the banks of the Ganges River. Rishikesh, India.Taking part in the Aarti Ceremony. Rishikesh, India.The lovely Ganges River. Rishikesh, India.
Before we understood it, our 5 weeks in India had come to an end as well as we flew to Yangon, Myanmar on January 22, 2012. choosing whether or not to travel to Myanmar because of the political issues was something we contemplated for rather a while. After doing some research study as well as realizing that numerous of the sanctions had been lifted against Myanmar as well as that things were heading in a positive direction for the people, we booked our flight to Yangon…and didn’t regret one minute of it. Boating with stilted villages, seeing age-old fishing techniques, sipping red wine at one of the few wineries in SE Asia, mentor English in a rural village as well as cycling with ancient ruins are just a few of our  memories from this amazing country.

Us with the village youngsters we taught English to. Naloy Village, Myanmar.

We delighted in 3 weeks in Myanmar before heading east to the neighbouring country of Thailand.  This may not be one particular memory, however the 1 marvelous month spent on spectacular Koh Phangan Island is a time in our lives that we will cherish. Explore, relax, swim, eat as well as repeat. Ah, the great life!

Enjoying a day in the sun on Leela Beach, Koh Phangan, Thailand.
After hanging out for a month, we figured it was time to relocation on to the next tropical paradise. We boarded a airplane on March 15, 2012 as well as shown up in Manila. withstanding 2.5 weeks of torrential downpours in the Philippines wasn’t precisely what we had in mind when we booked our flight to this archipelago. However, when the skies cleared, we delighted in 3 weeks of pure blue sky as well as sunshine. We’ll never fail to remember being dropped off at a pristine, secluded island for 30 hours. camping on the beach under the stars, building a bonfire as well as enjoying the sunset. It was a ideal excursion!

Not a poor island to spend a night on, hey? Deserted beach near El Nido, Philippines.
On April 23rd, after practically 6 weeks of travel with the Philippines, we were on one more flight. We were headed to the contemporary city of Hong Kong, a location that we always hear about; whether it’s in movies, books or from other people. We had somehow never been right here as well as when we flew over the city as well as saw all of the lights from the plane, we understood it was going to be a excellent visit! The hustle as well as bustle of the contemporary metropolis mixed with the ancient monasteries as well as temples is something you have to see to believe.

The largest seated bronze Buddha in the world. Lantau Island, Hong Kong.The busy city of Hong Kong.
We traveled to China by train from Hong Kong on April 29th. We delighted in our 3 weeks spent in what would ended up being our new home. The highlight has to be marvelling at The excellent wall Of China. It was best then as well as there that we realized just exactly how out of shape we had ended up being in such a short period of time! The hike as much as the wall was certainly exhausting however absolutely worth it.

We made it! On the excellent wall Of China.

We spent a few much more days in Hong Kong before boarding a airplane on may 23, 2012. We took a time-out from travel as well as were on our method back to Canada to see with (and be spoiled by) our good friends as well as families. There’s just something about going house that makes a weary traveller feel rested as well as prepared for the next adventure!

Nick golfing back house in lovely British Columbia, Canada.

After a rejuvenating month in Canada, we were boarding yet one more airplane to Hong Kong…and then onto China. The 2nd half of 2012 for us has been spent (mostly) in one spot…which is something we’re not rather utilized to! We’ve been living as well as working in Yangzhou, China as well as aside from some side trips to Hong Kong, Shanghai as well as Suzhou, we’ve been staying put. mentor English to trainees aged 3-13, improving our website, making regional friends, hanging out with the expat community, discovering to speak Chinese as well as checking out our new house has all been quite surreal. We like our students, our way of life as well as our new endeavours right here in China!

Moving in to our new house in Yangzhou, China.

Our new mode of transportation! Biking in Yangzhou, China.
So there you have it, 2012 in a nutshell. It has been a extremely legendary year as well as there’s still 8 days left, who understands what else might happen?! We’ve both grown, altered as well as experienced so much together in the past 12 months as well as we understand that 2013 certainly won’t autumn short. Here’s to a healthy, cheerful as well as prosperous new Year!

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Disclaimer:Goats On The road is an Amazon partner as well as likewise an affiliate for some other retailers. This implies we make commissions if you click links on our blog as well as purchase from those retailers.

Posted: 04/18/2011 | April 18th, 2011

I’ve believed about this publish for a long time now. In my head, I’ve written as well as rewritten it numerous times to discover the right words I’ve gone to publish it only to back out at the last minute. I’ve been hesitating, not since I didn’t understand what to state but, since deep down I understood I wasn’t prepared to state it.

But now, as I lastly type this publish in this form, I understand it’s time to hit publish.

In July, I’ll celebrate five years on the road. One fateful day in 2006, I hugged my parents goodbye as well as started on a journey that has taken me around the world two as well as a half times as well as enabled me to teach in two different countries, play poker professionally in Amsterdam, online in new York City, produce this fantastic site, as well as satisfy a few of the world’s most fantastic people.

But I have frequently wondered if a person can travel for as well long. Is there a time when being on the road becomes as well much of a great thing? My general response is that you can never get as well much travel in your life. This is particularly true if you’re with buddies or have somebody to share those special moments with. However, if you are traveling alone, then I believe the response is yes, at a specific point, as well much time on the road can take its toll.

Five years after I began, travel is still wonderful as well as amazing, however it isn’t the same. a few of the luster is gone. Yes, I satisfy fantastic people every day, however exactly how many times can you have the exact same “where are you from as well as what do you do” conversation with other travelers? exactly how many times can you reinvent the wheel? exactly how frequently can you begin from scratch? It’s one thing to be traveling with friends, a girlfriend, or a spouse, however it’s one more to be constantly surrounded by strangers daily of your life.

At some point, you long for a bit of consistency. somebody who gets you. somebody who understands your story a bit.

Solo travel is a wonderful thing, as well as I still firmly believe everybody should do it at least when in their life since it fosters fantastic personal growth. I’ve discovered so much about myself by traveling alone. however after so many years, it’s lastly used on me. I’ve reached the point where solo travel has ended up being a lonely existence that I am no longer fit for.

Last year, I composed about exactly how I had lost my sense of question for travel as well as I needed a break. Living in new York City last summertime provided me a much-needed break however it likewise made me recognize that I am missing out on a great deal when it comes to leading a settled lifestyle. I missed having a gym, a kitchen, regional watering holes, preferred restaurants, as well as a group of great buddies to spend time with. I missed the act of just living somewhere.

But whenever I believed about stopping, I started to believe about all the trips I might take as well as the road inevitably ended up calling me back.

However, when I was leaving central America, I realized that my days were numbered when at the end of the trip, I was excited — not to go someplace new however to go house to new York City. It’s a feeling I haven’t had in a long time, and, as I believed of a location as house for the very first time in many years, I realized my time had lastly come.

My one slogan in life is to online without any regrets, as well as in spite of the pull of a new life calling me, I understand I’ll always have regrets unless I do two last things: travel Southeast Asia one last time as well as do one last grand tour of Europe that lastly includes the Eastern Bloc. In my mind, these trips requirement to be done as a whole, not as little trips to this or that country.

So today I leave house for my final trip around the world that will take me to Europe, east Asia, as well as Southeast Asia before heading back sometime around March or April 2012. will I settle in new York then? I don’t know. Paris likewise seems nice. who can state what the future holds?

But I do understand today marks the beginning of the end. This will be my last long-lasting trip. When this is done, I’ll have been on the road for close to six years. That’s six years of constant movement. six years of fresh starts. I regret nothing, however I’m prepared to move on to something new. I’m prepared to ended up being semi-nomadic. I’m prepared to make a location home.

I don’t understand what next year holds however I do understand it now holds more possibility than the last few years ever did. One thing I envy about many space year travelers is that with a set “end date” to their trip, they have an enjoyment about them I’ve just recently lacked. They requirement to “get everything in” there before it’s as well late. Me? I do this every day. travel is my daily life. as well as just like my buddies in Boston who never walked the flexibility Trail, or my buddies in nyc who have never visited the Statue of Liberty, I’ve put things off since “I can always do it later.” Hence, I don’t pack my days with as much stuff as I utilized to. I’ve gotten a bit lazy.

But now there’s no genuine “later” for me.

This is it.

Now, I have a new sense of seriousness in my travels. It’s like I’m retaking my very first trip around again. since with the end in sight, I have to get everything in before it’s as well late. There’s no more time to waste, no days to spend behind the computer, no more “I’ll get back to it.” Nope, these nomadic methods are ending. travel will always be a part of my life, however life’s wishes modification as well as I must modification with it. It’s a take on new world around again.
 

How to travel the world on $50 a Day

My new York Times very popular paperback guide to world travel will teach you exactly how to master the art of travel to ensure that you’ll get off the beaten path, save money, as well as have a deeper travel experience. It’s your A to Z planning guide that the BBC called the “bible for budget plan travelers.”

Click right here to discover more as well as begin reading it today!

Book Your Trip: Logistical tips as well as Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a inexpensive flight by utilizing Skyscanner. It’s my preferred browse engine since it searches websites as well as airlines around the globe so you always understand no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, utilize Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses as well as hotels.

Don’t fail to remember travel Insurance
Travel insurance coverage will protect you against illness, injury, theft, as well as cancellations. It’s comprehensive security in situation anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to utilize it many times in the past. My preferred business that offer the very best service as well as value are:

SafetyWing (best for everyone)

Insure My trip (for those over 70)

Medjet (for extra evacuation coverage)

Ready to book Your Trip?
Check out my resource page for the very best business to utilize when you travel. I listing all the ones I utilize when I travel. They are the very best in class as well as you can’t go wrong utilizing them on your trip.

Are you a travel blogger, or believing about discovering exactly how to begin a travel blog? When we very first started our blog back in 2012, we had lots of concerns floating around in our heads. however at that time, there wasn’t truly an outlet or a location to ask blogging associated questions.

Maybe you’re wondering exactly how you can get a lot more web traffic to your website? Are you not sure about exactly how to work with brands to get complimentary travel? Do you concern exactly how blog writers are earning an income? perhaps you don’t comprehend SEO, or aren’t sure exactly how to select a travel blog name?

Whatever element of travel blogging you’re not sure of, we’d like to hear about it!

We’re always trying to enhance our blogging material on our web site as well as in buy to do so, we’d like to ask you ONE question. If you have 2 minutes to spare, might you please fill out this survey? It’s actually just one basic concern as well as it would truly assist us a great deal – as well as our readers, that’s you! ?

(Note: there’s a scroll bar on the survey)

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We have some interesting things organized in the extremely near future so make sure to stay tuned to our website! say thanks to you once again for taking the time to response this question. have a excellent day ?

Dariece & Nick

Disclaimer:Goats On The road is an Amazon partner as well as likewise an affiliate for some other retailers. This indicates we make commissions if you click links on our blog as well as purchase from those retailers.

Last Updated: 3/12/2022 | March 12th, 2022

Time. There just never seems to be enough of it. It always seems to move too fast (and, every year, it seems to just move faster).

Time is something people always tell me they don’t have enough of and is one of the main reasons why they don’t travel as much as they would like. (Money is also an issue, which I’ve talked about here.)

While there are more digital nomads and remote workers now that COVID has changed the concept of the office, not everyone is able to work remotely these days.

But, even if they don’t want to be nomadic, most people I know with office jobs (specifically Americans) want to travel more than they do. They just feel like they don’t have the time.

They are wrong.

Here’s why.

Let’s say you work 50 weeks a year and get two weeks of vacation. (Not American? then you probably get a lot more and that’s wonderful.) Counting your vacation time and every weekend brings the total number of days per year you can travel to 110 (104 weekend days plus the 10 days in your two-week vacation). That’s a lot of time to travel. throw in three-day weekends and holidays, and we can add even more days to our total. It may not be all continuous, but you can do a lot with that much time.

Let’s think about that for a second: 110+ days of free time per year. That’s close to four months of potential travel time per year! Four months! The world is your oyster with that much time.

When looking at it this way, our busy schedule becomes a lot more open. What are you doing with that time?

Everything is about priorities. Yes, there are certain obligations we have in our day-to-day lives that take up time but if you really want something, you find a way to make it happen. It’s like when I say I don’t have the time to go to the gym. I have plenty of time to go to the gym; I’m just spending that time elsewhere.

Because the gym just isn’t a priority for me (though it probably should be).

Moreover, most people associate “travel” with a long-term, big, expensive trip and thus discount all the short-term methods of travel. When people think “I want to travel” they envision a two-week vacation, a cruise, or some long, multi-month journey. It’s a big trip to a faraway land.

That’s not really their fault. It’s just how the travel industry tells us we need to travel because long and big trips mean people will spend more money. We internalize that concept and never consider other options.

And if you hear something enough, you believe it. I used to. It’s why Jessica is never going to Ireland and Bob will always be a hater.

However, if COVID has taught us anything it’s that there are tons of things to see and do close to home. even when you don’t have months to travel, as we’ve seen, you still have 110 days of potential travel per year. If you make it a priority, you can certainly travel more.

But what do you do? What kind of trips can you take on a smaller time scale that still have a big impact? here are some trip ideas to help you plan to travel when you have limited time:

1. Take a weekend getaway

Spend a weekend away somewhere. two days isn’t a lot of time, but it’s still enough to explore a city, town, or camp in a national park close to you. I used to spend a lot of time in new York City. From there, weekends away would include trips to Atlantic City, fire Island, the Hamptons, the Berkshires, Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington DC — and those are just the ones a few hours away!

Try to incorporate more weekend trips away. It can help break up your routine and keep your wanderlust in check until your next big trip. even a couple of days somewhere are better than no days anywhere!

2. Go somewhere close

Only have a week? Don’t travel halfway around the world, wasting tons of time getting to your destination. Go somewhere a short distance away.

Living in Miami and Fiji is too far? Head to central America!

In Sydney and Los Angeles is too far? Go halfway and stop in Hawaii, visit new Zealand, or pop over to a Pacific island nation!

In Europe? Well, 90% of the continent is a three-hour flight away so you’re set!

Stay close and you’ll need less time to do what you want. Additionally, the best flight deals you can find are often for destinations close to you. So be flexible.

Anywhere you haven’t been is a good place to visit.

And, when you travel, less is always more.

3. Be a local tourist

I don’t think people are tourists in their own city often enough. how often do you visit the museums, explore new areas in your town, or visit the major attractions of your city? I know new Yorkers who have never been to the Met, Bostonians who have never walked the freedom Trail, and Amsterdammers who have never wandered through the red-light district.

Take the weekend, move out of the house and into a cheap place to stay, and be a tourist. I love playing tourist in my own city because it helps youlearn and understand where you come from.

There’s so much around you that you probably don’t take advantage of when you’re busy leading your regular life that, when you stop and look for a second, you can find plenty of exciting activities to fill your time.

After all, travel is about seeing and learning about new things – and that can take place right in your own backyard!

Important: If you are going to do this, stay somewhere that’s not your house so it feels more like a vacation. Otherwise, it will be too tempting to wake up, run some errands, and then “run out of time.” For this to really work, you need to break your routine — and not staying in your house is important to do that.

4. Maximize your time

Don’t try to see everything under the sun. You’ll run around too much. I field a lot of emails from people who want to see half of Europe in two weeks or want to conquer all of South America in a month.

When you think that is how you have to travel and try to cram everything in, it’s easy to get burdened by your itinerary. You look at all those destinations, get overwhelmed, realize there is not enough time, give up, and hold off until you do “have” the time.

I get that you don’t have a lot of vacation and want to see a lot, but don’t! sticking to just one or two places suddenly opens up a lot of time and opportunity! You’ll never be able to see it all. even with my open schedule, I still can’t see everything I want. I stopped trying long ago. In travel, less is more. quality over quantity.

****
You may not have months to travel, but that doesn’t mean you can’t travel at all. There are a plethora of ways to get out and travel the world on a budget without having to be a nomad like me. telling yourself you don’t have time is just an excuse.

You do have the time and you can learn the skills to travel better. The problem is you probably aren’t thinking of how to spend that time beyond the typical “two-week vacation.”

So the next time you think “I don’t have the time,” think of all the places nearby you could explore. Yes, you’ll have errands to run and things that require your attention. but by using your time productively, prioritizing travel, and thinking outside the box, you’ll find you do have time to explore the world.

Travel is about exploration, and that exploration can happen anywhere for any length of time.
 

How to travel the world on $50 a Day

My new York Times best-selling paperback guide to world travel will teach you how to master the art of travel so that you’ll get off the beaten path, save money, and have a deeper travel experience. It’s your A to Z planning guide that the BBC called the “bible for budget travelers.”

Click here to learn more and start reading it today!

Book Your Trip: Logistical suggestions and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner. It’s my favorite search engine because it searches sites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the most affordable rates for guesthouses and hotels.

Don’t forget travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

SafetyWing (best for everyone)

Insure My trip (for those over 70)

Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)

Ready to book Your Trip?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.

London’s West end is typically referred to simply as “Theatreland”, and as the home to over 40 playhouses it’s easy to get an idea why. but more than just a reference to the sheer number of venues, the nickname is also a nod to the terrific tradition of stage acting that’s been practiced here for hundreds of years.

Many famous faces continue to be drawn to tread the boards, and at any given time you’ll find some of Hollywood’s biggest names performing in plays and musicals throughout the West End. catching a show is one of the most popular activities for visitors to do in England’s historic capital, but it can be an overwhelming experience trying to choose which one will be right for you. So to help with your decision, here’s a list of the top 9 shows in London.

The Lion King

Adapted from the Disney film of the same name, The Lion King is something of an institution in the West End. You can’t help but fall in love with Simba and his gang, who will have you feeling every emotion under the blazing African sun of this extraordinary tale’s setting.

The characters are brought to life through the ground breaking use of puppetry, and imaginative staging that turns the act into a riot of colour and fun. The story follows Simba as he is deceived by his own uncle who kills his father Mustafa and takes over the kingdom that should rightfully be his.

Simba is exiled into the wilderness where his exciting adventures change him from naïve cub into a wise young adult, before returning to defeat his uncle and take back his rightful place as king.

Running continuously since 1999, this award-winning, record-breaking musical is rightly one of the most popular shows ever produced. Prepare to be wowed by the dazzling costumes, creative storytelling and Elton John’s splendid original music. This emotional sing along is unquestionably the number one “must-see” show in the West End.

For budget-friendly tickets to the Lion King, check out From the box Office.

Les Miserables

Officially the West End’s longest running musical having been going for over 30 years, “Les Mis” as it’s affectionately known, is also one of the best-loved musical shows. The plot follows lead character Jean Valjean through a turbulent transformation from prisoner to businessman with many emotional ups and down along the way. This is an epic tale of mercy, love and redemption that may well have you shedding a tear or two.

The book of Mormon

From the minds of the guys who created South Park, The book of Mormon is perhaps not quite what you’d expect if you’re a fan of the show. It’s a fun, lighthearted look at the Mormon religion, and even though it lampoons some of their practices and beliefs, at no point is it dismissive or disrespectful. despite being a genuine comedy, the songs are good enough to stand alongside any West end musical.

Matilda the Musical

Based on the legendary English author Roald Dahl’s classic children’s book, Matilda has been one of the recent smash hits of the West End. The songs were co written by piano playing funny man Tim Minchin, lending the show an element of comedy, though the deep and serious themes present in the original book remain. The subjects of bullying, isolation and overcoming adversity make it an inspirational and uplifting watch.

Image by: From the box Office
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past twenty years, it’s impossible that you’ll have escaped Harry Potter’s all conquering rise from the page to the screen. the latest adventure takes place on the stage and sees Harry and the rest of the crew reunited as adults to once again battle the dark forces at play in the wizarding world. like most additions to the Harry Potter series, this play is truly magical and spellbinding.

Phantom of the Opera

Andrew Lloyd Webber is musical theatre royalty and Phantom of the Opera is perhaps his best-loved work, having been watched by a staggering 140 million West end visitors! So what’s behind its incredible pulling power? terrific music, stunning costumes, brilliant writing and consistently excellent casting means it never fails to impress audiences, even after thirty years.

Motown the Musical

If you’re a fan of soul music, then this will unquestionably be right up your alley. Charting the rise of Berry Gordy’s legendary Detroit based Motown record label, the show is a journey through the peerless collection of tunes by some of pop music’s greats. Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, and of course Michael Jackson are just some of the singers depicted, but the 50 classic songs that provide the backdrop to the Motownstory are unquestionably the stars.

Image by: From the box Office
Wicked

Set in the enchanting world of The Wizard of Oz, Wicked tells the story of how the green-skinned Elphaba went on to become The Wicked Witch of the West. It’s an inspired reimagining of the timeless tale we’re so familiar with, and sheds a completely different light on the central characters. Wicked is quickly becoming a modern West end classic.

 

Aladdin

Though it’s based on the 1992 Disney smash hit film, Aladdin on the West end stage conjures up an entirely unique charm. There have been new songs added, but the crowd pleasing sing along belters such as “A whole new World” and “Prince Ali” are still included. It’s a funny, fast paced and heartwarming interpretation where the over the top baddies steal the show.

Don’t miss out on enjoying a show while you’re visiting London, there’s definitely something here to suit all tastes and it’s a terrific evening out, even if going to the theatre isn’t your usual hobby. For more on travelling around England, check out our blogs here.

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Disclaimer:Goats On The road is an Amazon associate and also an affiliate for some other retailers. This means we earn commissions if you click links on our blog and purchase from those retailers.