“Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost”
-J.R.R. Tolkien
There are quite a few things I’ve always wanted to do. Things that I wouldn’t be alright leaving this earth having not accomplished. One of the things I constantly find myself coming back to most frequently, is spending a significant amount of time abroad. (by significant I mean more than just a week trip here or there)
It’s something I need to do, and something I think I need to do alone. While it’s always fun to travel in groups, I feel as if exploring this world solo would be such an incredible and empowering experience. I keep coming back to this dream and yet it’s one I haven’t actively pursued. I’m only getting older.. Which isn’t to say that I can’t take a time out from ‘real life’ as I get older, but I’m in a situation where if I budget well, I can make this happen.. and I’m also in a job where with advanced notice I can leave for a few months and still have a job when I get back. If I didn’t do this within the next couple of years, I’d be an idiot… SO
I’ve decided to put a goal out there. It’s going to be hard to pinch my pennies so I can save up for this to actually happen, but I feel like putting it out there on my blog will help keep me accountable so that I can make this happen.
During the Summer of 2014 I will be spending 3+ months in Europe. I have been putting together numbers and ideas and have come up with a tentative plan. Planning my destinations and months of travel ahead of time will help give me a better idea what kind of bank I’ll be needing in order to make this happen.
Doing my research! 
My tentative plan looks a little something like this so far:
The earlier in the season I leave the better chances I’ll have of finding a better ‘deal’ on flights from the USA to Europe. Summer is clearly a big vacation season… I also figure it makes the most sense to go from north to south… As much as possible. Flying into Ireland is noted to be a lot cheaper than the UK. Makes sense. Ireland is on the itinerary for month one as it is, so it would work out well if that’s the case! 
I do know this. There are several places/things that are on my must see/do list, but I also want to embrace the adventure. If I’m on the train from X city to Y city and I find a beautiful little gem along the way… How can you not stop to smell the roses? This will be a once in a lifetime journey.
If I had all the time and money in the world, I would visit every country I could.. But, since that is never the case I’ve had to narrow down where I will be going on this trip. After much consideration I’ve decided on:
Ireland, The United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Greece. Hopefully Turkey since you can hop on a ferry from the Greek Islands.
I’m really excited and also nervous for this entire thing. It’s going to be the most incredible journey of my life, but it’s also going to be interesting traveling alone for 3-4 months. I’m aware there will be days that are hard and lonely… But it’s all a part of the adventure! As John Steinbeck said, ‘Travel is like marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to thing you control it’
Heck, hopefully I’ll even run some races! Oooou. Half-marathon scouting time.
“Wandering re-establishes the original harmony which once existed between man and the universe”
Anatole France
Do you follow and travel blogs?? I would love to read some more!
Have you ever traveled abroad? Do you have any ‘traveling on a shoe-string’ tips?
Omg this is a dream of mine as well! I think you’re so right about doing it on you’re own, too…best way to really see a place and grow…I love that you have an idea of where you want to go but are leaving yourself open to the unexpected…absolutely awesome
I can’t wait to see how this goes!!
I love love love to travel:) I’m lucky in that I get to do a lot of it. I rarely am at my house for more than 6 weeks at a time before I head somewhere- even for a weekend. One travel tip- ALWAYS ALWAYS check for bed bugs! In the course of a week in europe I saw 5 hotels with bed bugs. Luckily I checked every night so I never slept with them. THey’re nasty.
if you plan to be outside a lot – you may want to give consideration to what the weather will be like in places you plan to go. We have had to change our itinerary on trips once we put this in the mix. Also, August is a month where Europeans are vacationing so take heed to the implications of that. ENJOY!
SO excited for you!! I loved Ireland … particularly Killarney and west Ireland. The Guinness Factory is fun and so is the Waterford factory. The best part though is the local Irish pubs
If you can hop a train up to Edinburgh Scotland while you’re in the UK DO IT. It was my favorite of all Great Britain.
This sounds like an amazing plan! Make sure you visit Camden market in London – it’s my favourite place to be in the capital
Oh, and Brighton’s pretty cool too 
Or, if you fancied some company then I’m always looking for an excuse to visit either of these places (I live only about an hour away from each)…. 
wheeee! so exciting! can’t wait to watch you plan this trip!
I love this goal and as my official mini me, you must go. I did the same thing when I was your age and it was the greatest experience of my life. I still am passionate about travel. This will age me a bit, but when I was in the middle of Turkey all alone, I would play the song by Cat Stevens “Father and Son” obviously I’m not a son, but the lyrics kept me moving forward when I would get lonely. I am so excited for you and this experience will change your life in the best possible way. If there is anything I can do to help you achieve your goal, I want to do it, let’s think of how I can help?? xo
This is an awesome and life changing goal! So yes, DO IT!
sounds so awesome, you must race! Can’t wait to hear more.
No way! My husband and I are planning a European Backpacking trip in summer 2014 too! (we even have a fundraising thermometer poster on our wall that we fill in every time we save some money) It’d be fun to meet up and run a race together if we can swing it! Keep us updated!
I haven’t travelled a lot lately, but I have been to London twice, Ireland once and my husbands family lives in Greece still, let me know if you want help on the Greek front
Good for you! Years ago I made a goal to take at least one International trip a year. Biggest tip: get out of the big cities and stay at B&Bs! Italy was my favorite.
No budgeting tips unfortuantely but I feel your heart and would love to be doing this! I don’t read travel blogs mostly because it’s kind of depressing to me sometimes knowing I can’t go the places they are! However, I look forward to reading about YOUR adventures, since I’ve been a big fan of your blog for awhil now
–Ericka @ The Sweet Life (sweetlifeericka.com)
Hey! Great post and great plan
! I’m a planner by nature and love traveling. I just posted something on my blog about traveling Europe on a student budget, maybe it gives you some help! yourfutureyourworld.wordpress.com
Great plan! I would love to go somewhere and travel by myself. I love traveling, but haven’t done a lot for a while now. If you’ll make plans to come to Hamburg (Germany), I always love to show people around (in case I still live here in 2014
)!
Pingback: Best Three Dream Vacation Destinations | best 3 of everything