A woman has revealed how to score flights abroad for less than a fry-up.
Zohra used to fork out up to £500 per trip to get away from the hustle and bustle of London.
But, the 28-year-old, longed to explore the world and still be in her own bed by the end of the day, without paying a fortune.
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Now, instead of going for an expensive brunch again, she’s flown to Milan for less than the price of a fry-up – with Duck and Waffle’s English breakfast costing £18 – and her flights, £16.
“I’m lucky to live in London where flying to Milan is cheaper than getting the train to Manchester,” the marketing manager told Need To Know.
“I don’t think there’s anywhere in the UK from London that would [cost] the same [as my flights].
“And why not do a day trip abroad instead of a brunch in [the city] again?
“Day trips mean I can explore smaller cities, experience the culture, and be back home at the end of the night
“I normally take a day off work as midweek is the cheapest.
“But you just have to make the time for it and do the research.
“If travel is your passion like it is mine, then you can always find a way.”
Zohra visited Milan for £90.50 all in and has also visited Madrid for £152.60 overall (see cost breakdown).
She often goes with friends or her partner, and sometimes alone, spending up to 16 hours at each destination.
Her method of scoring the best deals, specifically flights, is using comparison websites online.
She said: [I use] Skyscanner and Google Flights, but I also tweak the days and timings to find the cheapest option.
“Book cheaper flights normally means they’re early in the morning and at an inconvenient airport, so those extra costs can come as a surprise sometimes.
“Pick smaller, walkable city breaks as the airport is normally close to the city centre and they’re easy to see in a day.
“Aim to fly out around six or seven in the morning and come back at either nine or ten in the evening to get the most time.”
While day trips aren’t for everyone, she encourages people to try it out at least once – especially as her quality of life has improved.
Zohra added: “Getting away from London for a bit and immersing myself in something different is very good for my mental health.
“I find travel really helps me unwind and forget about work and daily life.
“I loved Milan, as Italy has the perfect combination of architecture, ambience and food.
“It is truly La Dolce Vita.”
COST BREAKDOWN:
Milan:
Flights – £16
Return coach to Stansted – £24.50
Food, drink, etc – £50
TOTAL: £90.50
Madrid:
Flights – £88
Uber to the airport – £24
Tube back home – £5.60
Food, drink, etc – £35
TOTAL: £152.60
READ MORE: Top Low-Cost Travel Destination in Europe
