Two friends took a memorable day trip to France, flying from Birmingham to Beauvais and spending under £75 each for the entire outing.
Mel Evans and her colleague Joanne Howard seized the opportunity to book return flights for just £48. Boarding an 8.45am Ryanair flight, they arrived in Beauvais at 10.55am local time and then paid 85p each for a bus into the town centre.
From there, they had seven hours to explore before their return bus to the airport. Their plans included visiting the cathedral, wandering the charming streets and shops, browsing local markets, and enjoying lunch and a drink.
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Mel, who hails from Chesterfield, Derbyshire, described her fascination with the architecture, mentioning the cathedral, chateau, and historic homes. After arriving, they went straight to the market, which offered everything from fish and meat to clothing and accessories.
The pair then explored the cathedral and admired its astronomical clock. Nearby, Mel captured photographs on a picturesque street, and they also attended a craft fair where they picked up a few souvenirs for £5.
Their visit continued at the Oise museum, which resembles a château and is surrounded by beautiful grounds. Lunch was taken in the main square, and afterwards they enjoyed a £2.50 ice cream while exploring more old streets, including stops at shops and churches. Before leaving, they had coffee for £2.15 in the main square.
Their meals and drinks cost £38 in total. After a full day of sightseeing, they took the bus back to Beauvais Airport for their 10.50pm flight, arriving back in the UK by 11pm. Mel was home and in bed by 12.30am.
Mel and Joanne, who have been friends for 12 years, have undertaken four similar day trips before, visiting Milan, Bergamo, Alicante, and Oslo. Mel plans the trips meticulously while Joanne happily follows the itinerary.
They began their latest trip on September 19 by leaving their car at Birmingham International railway station, paying £9.50 for 24 hours of parking and using the free shuttle to departures. Their flight lasted about one hour and ten minutes.
Mel chose a burger for lunch and Joanne had an omelette, both enjoyed with two Coke Zeros. Without any delays or issues, they made the most of their visit before returning to Beauvais Airport.
The experience cost less than £75 per person. Mel reflected on the value of such trips, saying it feels rewarding to experience other countries in a single day without taking time off work.
They have more day trips planned throughout the year to France, Italy, and Spain. Mel mentioned that these journeys give them something to look forward to, and friends and family admire their ability to travel internationally for just a day.
She compares herself to a well-travelled television presenter for always being on the move. While day trips involve long hours, the pleasure of sitting in a foreign café or park makes it worthwhile.
Mel advises others to consider day trips, recommending flight search engines like Skyscanner to find deals. She notes that midweek flights tend to be cheaper than weekends and that booking around 12 weeks in advance yields the best prices.