In an era of rising living costs, one inventive father has discovered that seeking winter sun can be cheaper than a day out in the capital. Aleksander Sikora, a 41-year-old retail employee trainer from Farnham in Surrey, turned his daughter's shopping request into an international adventure that cost less than £100 per person.
The shopping challenge that sparked an adventure
When Aleksander's 19-year-old daughter Wiktoria mentioned she wanted to go shopping in London, the budget-savvy dad saw an opportunity. "My daughter said she wanted to go shopping - I said 'give me a day and let me check something on the internet'," Aleksander recalled. His online search revealed an unexpected solution: return flights to Lanzarote for just £60.
After presenting his daughter with the unconventional alternative of shopping in Lanzarote's markets rather than London's high streets, Wiktoria responded with an enthusiastic "why not?" The pair booked their EasyJet tickets just three days before their November 11 adventure.
A day of sun, shopping and savings
Their extreme day trip began with a 7am flight from Gatwick after paying £15 for parking and £10 in petrol for the drive from Surrey. Upon arrival at Lanzarote Airport, they caught a £1.20 bus directly to Puerto Del Carmen, where their six-hour Spanish holiday began.
While Wiktoria explored local fashion shops and markets in search of knock-off designer handbags, Aleksander enjoyed some well-deserved relaxation time. "While she went off shopping, I listened to music and flew my drone on the beach - I enjoyed some peace and quiet time in the sun," he said.
The thrifty traveller packed light, bringing only a small bag containing essentials: a towel, phone, passport, powerbank, empty water bottle, headphones and his drone. He spent four hours soaking up vitamin D on the beach, capturing aerial photos of the coastline with his drone.
Budget-friendly fueling and final costs
To keep expenses minimal, Aleksander purchased a £10 Chicken Chow Mein from a Chinese takeaway which he said provided enough energy for the entire day. He stuck to drinking water rather than expensive beverages, emphasising that "it was on a budget, I'm not talking champagne and all-inclusive drinks."
Their total expenditure broke down as follows:
- Return flights: £60
- Petrol to Gatwick: £10
- Airport parking: £15
- Bus transport: £3
- Chinese food: £10
- Souvenir magnet: £1
Total cost: £99
After six hours of Spanish sunshine and shopping, the father-daughter duo caught their return flight, landing back in the UK around 10:30pm. Despite feeling tired, both declared the day a resounding success.
The new era of extreme day tripping
Aleksander firmly believes that a day of shopping in London would have cost more than their international excursion. His innovative approach to budget travel demonstrates that with careful planning, winter sun escapes needn't break the bank.
"In the present time, a lot is going on, the price of everything is increasing and everyone has work pressure," Aleksander reflected. "Sometimes you just need a few minutes to yourself, however you get it."
The experience proved so enjoyable that Wiktoria is now keen to try another extreme day trip in the future, proving that sometimes thinking outside the box - or in this case, outside the country - can yield unexpectedly affordable adventures.
