A mother from East London has revealed how a spontaneous day trip to Italy for authentic pizza cost her less than a typical outing in the capital.
The spur-of-the-moment Italian adventure
Claire de Stefano, 53, from Romford, decided on a whim to visit Bergamo, Italy, with her friend Donna Duncombe, 50, on 14 November. The pair, known for previous quick getaways like a single night in Ibiza, managed the entire excursion for under £40 each. Their Ryanair flights from Stansted Airport cost just £30 return, departing at 8.25am and returning at 10.30pm the same evening.
Claire, who works as a church safeguarding officer, highlighted the value. "For some people, £30 is a trip into London," she said. "It probably wouldn't even get me to somewhere like Birmingham by train. For that, you get to go to different countries and experience their cultures."
Exploring Bergamo on a budget
Upon arrival, the friends explored the city near Milan, taking in the festive atmosphere as Christmas lights were being put up. They rode a funicular up to the historic old town, visited the beautiful cathedral, and found a recommended local restaurant for lunch.
Their culinary centrepiece was an authentic Italian pizza. "Lunch was about £10 for the most amazing pizza we'd ever had," Claire recalled. Beyond that, they only spent money on snacks, making their total expenditure remarkably low.
A series of whirlwind European escapes
This wasn't Claire's only micro-adventure. She has made a habit of affordable day trips across Europe:
- Luxembourg City: For her birthday on 22 November, Claire and her lorry driver husband, Scott, 54, flew return for £40. They explored historic caves, used the free public transport, and visited Christmas markets, spending around £50 in total.
- Gothenburg, Sweden: On 15 December, Claire took a solo trip with a £30 return ticket. She visited the cathedral, wandered the Haga district, and bought a Christmas jumper, spending about £60 overall.
For all these journeys, Claire travels exceptionally light, carrying only a small handbag with essentials like her passport, phone, charger, and a selfie stick.
The secret to affordable spontaneous travel
Claire's strategy involves searching for reasonably priced flights to destinations with good transport links from the airport. Her future plans include potential day trips to Pisa and Disneyland Paris, and a return to Ibiza.
Her story demonstrates that with a sense of adventure and savvy planning, experiencing a different European culture can be more affordable than a day out in London, challenging conventional perceptions of travel costs.
