I ditched my waitress job to move to a paradise European island – rent is £250 & a cold beer only £2
SI YA! I ditched my waitress job to move to a paradise European island – rent is £250 & a cold beer only £2
A WOMAN has revealed why she ditched the UK to live her dream life on an idyllic island without worrying about bills or rent – but is now forced to make her tea in a saucepan.
Olivia Mamode grew up in London but after finishing her studies, started growing sick of the cold British climate, and rising housing and living costs.
13
Olivia Mamode ditched the UK to live her dream life in Menorca
13
Olivia, from London, grew sick of the rising housing and living costs
13
The Brit, 24, quit her job as a waitress in the capital to jet off to the dreamy island with just a suitcase
13
Olivia reveals her quality of life has improved since moving to Spain
Fed up with not being able to enjoy her money, the 24-year-old, who worked as a waitress, gave up her old life and jetted off to Menorca with nothing but a suitcase and a dream to become an English teacher.
Since moving, she says her quality of life has improved substantially.
'After a long visa process, I headed to Spain with about 25kg of personal belongings packed into a suitcase and hand luggage,' she told Luxury Travel Daily.
'I had no clear idea or plans about where I would be living but [figured I would] wing it when I got there.
'It felt extremely liberating to pack up and start a new chapter in a new, foreign place.
'At times, the moving process has been overwhelming – the Spanish bureaucracy is definitely not for the weak.
'But it has always felt worth it, since my lifestyle here is incomparable to anything I have experienced in the UK.'
After hopping around a few hostels, Olivia soon found a flat with a Spanish woman.
Her current rent is just over £255pcm – compared to her previous £1,000pcm room in London.
Olivia, who is fluent in Spanish, has also joined a teaching programme to help locals learn English.
I ditched my waitress job in London and moved to paradise island where rent is £200 and dates with men involve beach
She said: 'I feel absolutely settled and comfortable in Spain, it feels like home.
'Once I got into the swing of things and got accustomed to the process of 'building my life' here, everything started to fall into place.
'I don't feel like I'm breaking the bank anymore if I go out for a breakfast or drinks, since a beer here is usually less than €3 (£2.55) and a coffee is around €1.50 (£1.28).
Low cost
'On top of that, I have very few other expenses since public transportation is free for residents in Menorca and I get everywhere either by foot or by bus.
'Also, my hobbies are very low cost, usually free in fact – like hiking and exploring beaches.
'I find that having fun here is usually inexpensive.
'I wake up every morning excited to get out of bed and take advantage of the day.
'I think that sums up how I feel about my life here.'
13
Olivia says: 'I don't feel like I'm breaking the bank anymore if I go out'
13
Her rent is just over £255pcm, a far cry from her £1,000pcm room in London
13
Olivia loves hiking on the island
13
She has however had to make some adjustments, such as making her daily cuppa in the microwave or in a saucepan
While most of her experiences so far have been positive, the young woman has been forced to make some adjustments – such as to her daily cuppa.
She said: 'I now make my tea in the microwave or in a saucepan!
'None of the apartments I have seen or lived in come with a kettle here.
'[Also], despite them [men] being known as 'princesos' [princesses] I have met a lot of lovely men here who I have loved spending time with.
'However unfortunately since my future plans are not clear, I have always been hesitant to commit seriously to another person.
'I love dating here, because the dates usually involve the beach, chill drinks, or a hike, all of which I am a big fan of.
I find that having fun here is usually inexpensive
Olivia Mamode
'Something spontaneous happens almost every weekend.
'The most unique one [experience] would probably be meeting a Portuguese Naval squadron who had been patrolling the Mediterranean for a few months by submarine.
'He offered me a guided tour of the sub the next day.
'We then had a great night partying together!'
For now, Olivia is living life in the moment and is happy in Menorca, but there is no telling what the future holds.
She said: 'I was drawn to the islands because of their stunning natural beauty and, of course, the proximity to so many beaches.
'Living here has given me an insight into the standard of living that I would like to uphold, and changed my outlook on the way life can be lived.'
13
The young woman also reveals she loves dating in Menorca
13
She says: 'The dates usually involve the beach, chill drinks, or a hike
13
Coffee on the island costs around €1.50 (£1.28)
13
She joined a teaching programme to help locals learn English
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wales Online
14 minutes ago
- Wales Online
Urgent warning for anyone going to Spain as there will be severe delays
Urgent warning for anyone going to Spain as there will be severe delays Disruption will hit those travelling to places including Barcelona, Malaga-Costa del Sol, Alicante, Palma de Mallorca and Tenerife Multiple airlines will be hit and you may not get compensation Passengers with easyJet, British Airways and Wizz Air are among those likely to be affected by a new wave of airport strikes hitting major Spanish holiday destinations starting this weekend and running for the followig two weekends. Those flying to Barcelona, Málaga-Costa del Sol, Alicante-Elche, Palma de Mallorca and Tenerife Sur could face disruption from industrial action called by the UGT union, representing ground handling staff employed by the Menzies group. The industrial action is not a continuous walkout but is targeted across the final three weekends of August 2025, scheduled to coincide with the peak summer travel season over the weekends of Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 August; Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 August, and Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 August. The industrial action is aimed at Menzies Aviation Ibérica, the company responsible for ground services for several international airlines across Spain. Other airlines which could be affected include Emirates, Norwegian and American Airlines. Passengers travelling with the affected airlines on the strike dates should be prepared for potential disruption. The walkouts target essential ground services, including passenger check-in, baggage handling, and aircraft assistance on the tarmac. Travellers may experience longer queues and extended waiting times for their luggage. Ivalyo Danailov, CEO of airline compensation specialists SkyRefund said: "Clearly, travellers booked on flights with easyJet, Emirates, British Airways, or the other impacted carriers should check their flight status directly with the airline before heading to the airport for the most up-to-date information. Article continues below "As the industrial action is by ground handling staff at Menzies Aviation Ibérica is a strike by by third-party ground handling staff it would generally be considered 'an extraordinary circumstance', meaning airlines may not be required to pay compensation for delays caused by such industrial action. "Nonetheless, passengers remain entitled to essential assistance, including meals, refreshments, communication, and accommodation if necessary during prolonged delays. We strongly advise all travellers to keep themselves informed about potential disruptions during these peak summer weekends."
Metro
44 minutes ago
- Metro
Venice locals furious as 'secret' €2 gondola hack goes viral
Locals in Venice aren't happy after influencers tipped tourists off about cheap gondola rides across the Grand Canal. Residents of the iconic Italian city are protesting the long queues that have been forming on Venice's main waterway for ferries known as traghetti , which cost 70 cents (60p) for locals and €2 (£1.75) for visitors. Considering a gondola ride will set you back up to €90 (£79) for 30 minutes, the ferries are being touted by influencers like YouTuber Giovanna Santoro as an easy way to get a selfie on the water, for a fraction of the cost. Described as 'one of Venice's great transport secrets', disgruntled locals – beleaguered by years of overtourism – say they're suffering now that the secret is out. It's not the first travel gem that's been exposed to the masses. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The Faroe Islands may be off the beaten track compared to other European destinations, but even this isolated archipelago is struggling to manage tourists. During her visit in June, residents on the uber-remote Fugloy island told Metro's Travel Editor Alice Murphy that visitors had been booking up the cheap, government-subsidised helicopter seats that locals rely on to get around. And the evidence is there on social media. Travel blogger Rowan Flora recently shared how she took a 12-minute helicopter ride from Klaksvik to Torshavn (the Faroese capital) for just £25. She said it was 'incredibly cheap' and 'a bargain' on her Call of the World blog. Since there are only 12 bookable seats on each leg, they go quickly, and trips to each port via air aren't offered daily. It's hardly news that Spaniards are unimpressed with tourists. From banning pub crawls to residents-only areas, several measures have been rolled out to combat the influx of visitors. But it doesn't stop there. Calo des Moro, a once lesser-known Mallorcan cove, has been swamped with tourists after influencers posted more than 1,300 TikToks of the location online. Once picturesque with white sand and crystal-clear water, now there are queues just to find a place to lay a towel, and litter is strewn everywhere. More than 300 locals hit the beach last June, unveiling a big banner that read 'let's occupy our beaches', in an attempt to deter holidaymakers. One local shouted at visitors to 'go, go, go' while others blocked the paths. Another glorious attraction said to be ruined by tourists is Rome's Trevi Fountain. While it's not a secret, it is consistently discussed as one of the major victims of overtourism. It's been a long time coming, too. Back in 2017, officials had to impose fines for bad behaviour at the iconic fountain, along with cracking down on those attempting to enter the water. One year later, an eight-person brawl broke out between visitors trying to take pictures. 'It's so overcrowded,' wrote one traveller on the r/Travel subreddit. 'Next time I'll just buy a postcard from three blocks away, since that's about as close as I got anyhow,' added another. As of last year, a 400-person limit has been imposed to prevent overcrowding at the site. London isn't immune to the pressures of tourism, and honestly, we're guilty of flocking to the next Instagrammable spot that pops up on our FYP – even if we've been in the city for a while. In November last year, Queen's Wood Cafe community cafe in Highgate, north London, fell victim to going viral. TikTokers declared it 'London's most magical cafe', claiming it's 'like stepping back in time'. However, the quiet spot is now very much on the radar, with locals complaining it's been 'ruined' and is no longer a hidden gem. There are now queues that snake back into the forest, a far cry from the empty autumn paradise the cafe once was. One TikToker wrote: 'Once a hidden gem, now just another Instagram-fuelled queue. The charming Highgate cafe is now just another social media hotspot – such a shame.' More Trending One user, lomakesmagic, wrote: 'Crying because this is down the street from me and was always dead. Please let north London have something.' 'I'm furious,' said another. 'This was my happy place, like my most sacred little corner of the earth for years.' A lesson to us all: it might be best to keep your travel hacks close to your chest. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: These London restaurants banned phones – and it had an unexpected upside MORE: I've been visiting Portugal's Algarve for years – try these tourist-dodging day trips MORE: Curry house that Peter Crouch threatened to name his child after closes down
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Exact date and time you should book this weekend for huge holiday savings
It's never too late to book that dream break and according to one travel expert there's a sweet spot this weekend where you can make huge savings - but you'll need to set your alarm With the August bank holiday weekend around the corner, families across the UK are still hoping to lock in a spontaneous getaway that won't blow the budget, especially to hot spots like Disneyland Paris and classic European escapes. Jet-setting Brits may be thinking it's too late in the season to book a last-minute getaway for next weekend's bank holiday, but that's not the case according to one expert who has a top tip for booking your dream break and saving the most money. Ticket experts at AttractionTickets ( have analysed pricing data and industry travel trends to reveal the exact date and time Brits should book their last-minute August bank holiday trips for the best possible price. Their findings show that the best date is this Sunday, 17 August but there's a slight catch - you'll need to prep on Saturday evening, get an early night and set your alarm. This is because 6am is the time slot on Sunday you should aim for if you'd like your dream getaway at impressive prices that won't blow your budget. According to Oliver Brendon, CEO of AttractionTickets, the trick to finding value this late is timing your purchase carefully. 'It's easy to assume the early bird always gets the deal. In reality, travel companies adjust fares repeatedly based on demand, and we see opportunities appear even in the final days before departure. There's still time to save on last-minute August bank holiday travel if you know when to book." He admits that his review of historic pricing alongside industry reports shows that Sundays regularly deliver the lowest average booking prices. "Airlines adjust seat availability and prices over the weekend, and travellers who book on a Sunday can often expect to pay significantly less than those booking on a Friday. "We also see a clear early-morning advantage. Around 6:00 a.m is when fresh fares frequently appear, before the day's search traffic ramps up." And there's one time that Oliver urges holidaymakers to avoid - deeming it the "most expensive time to book." "Avoid Fridays - this is when fares tend to spoke due to demand."
