The Reddit user said they and a friend had spent around two years planning a 100-day trip around Europe and Canada, and were due to leave later this month – only for their friend to drop out at the last minute
The holiday ahs been planned for two years (stock image)(Image: Getty Images)
There’s a lot to think about when planning a holiday, from ensuring your passport isn’t expired, to making sure everything you need is packed. So when a key element falls through at the last minute it can throw a real spanner in the works.
One Reddit user revealed they and a friend, both aged 18, had spent “about two years” planning a 100-day trip around Europe and Canada. But, with just a few weeks to go until they were due to set off, their friend suddenly told them they didn’t want to go.
“The entire time [the friend] has been very enthusiastic to travel, having no problems paying for flights, train pass, world cup tickets, etc,” they said. “I have been doing the vast majority of the planning and research, but I figured since I have some experience travelling before with parents, and he has no experience, I guess it makes sense for me to make sure we don’t forget about anything.
“We are both pretty tight with the money, but since I booked the hotels with free cancellation a while ago we are very close to having enough. But less then two weeks away he suddenly doesn’t want to come anymore because he feels it would be better for his future to not spend the money he has now on the trip, fears about being stuck overseas from World War Three suddenly happening, and feeling three months is too long to be away from his girlfriend, who he got with less than a year ago.
“Since it was a trip I’ve been saving up for the past three years and was/am very excited for, I’m finding it very hard not to completely cut him off, but since the first flight is on the 25th it would cost more for me to go alone than even me paying for the both of us, which I can’t afford.
“So, how on Earth do I convince him to still come, as I need him to come and can’t go solo, and would be devastated if I end up not being able to go.”
In response to a comment they outlined the plan for the holiday, which involved travelling from Australia to Istanbul and then Bucharest, before a two-month rail trip through Europe, culminating in Dublin. They then planned to travel to Barcelona, Lisbon, Montreal, and through Canada, before flying back from Vancouver.
Everyone on Reddit said the same thing. “Go alone,” one wrote. “You will never regret it.”
Another said: “That little bit of money he thinks he’s saving will come and go a million times over his life. Some people aren’t cut out for travel, I’d say regardless what happens with him, you go.” Replying to this, someone else said: “Problem is I think that you pay way more for single than for double. If you’re already on a tight budget that’s not possible I think.”
Another user outlined their own similar experience. “I had something like this happen to me when I was 20,” they said. “I just went anyways. For three months, on a shoestring budget that would be absurd today. Next to marrying my wife and having our kids, it was the absolute best experience of my life.
“Find a way to get out of those bookings – even if you have to get the money from your friend – and find cheap alternatives to the hotels you paid for. Even if it means changing your destinations a bit to cheaper ones now that it is closer to being ‘last minute’.
“The one thing I have learned over 25 years of on and off travel: You will never regret spending the money because you can ALWAYS earn it back. But you will ABSOLUTELY regret not going because you will NEVER get the time back.”
And a different user wrote: “Dude, he gave you a tremendous gift. Don’t be all-in on other people who are not all-in too.
“Go. Do hostels. Do whatever it is that you want. Your friend will regret this forever.”
