When I began blindfolding my boyfriend, I realized things might be getting out of hand in my bid to win him over to cheap travel. My partner James has become a complete holiday snob, loving luxury and premium experiences. I wanted to show him you can have a genuinely brilliant trip on a budget.
He thought a £100 per person, one-night stay in a city he couldn't pronounce, on a Ryanair flight was a terrible idea. Not his idea of quality holidaying. But I led him, eyes covered, down a street in the Polish city of Łódź (pronounced 'Woodge'), building suspense.
The sticking point for James had always been accommodation. In his mind, a £100 all-in holiday meant a hostel. I'd failed several times to make him stay in one. So I whipped off the blindfold, revealing PURO Łódź Centrum – a sleek, modern four-star hotel. His jaw dropped before we even checked in.
This was my fourth time attempting the challenge, where everything from flights to food must come in under £100 per person. I'd succeeded in Tirana, Copenhagen, and Bucharest, but this was my first time with someone else, and I had something to prove. In 2026, it's getting harder with rising fuel costs and ticket prices. But using Skyscanner, I searched 'Everywhere' from London and found return flights to Łódź for £34, booking immediately.
I had £66 left for everything else. We kept costs down by sticking to small underseat bags, no seat selection, and packing snacks from home. James and I sat 16 rows apart, but for the price, I wasn't complaining. Low-cost airlines are only cheap if you don't add anything on, but despite rising costs, I still think they're incredible value.
After landing, we took the bus into the city for £1.13. As we approached the centre, we passed industrial warehouses, art nouveau villas, and eclectic townhouses – a patchwork of architecture. I understood why Łódź is called 'The Manchester of Poland'. Starting along Piotrkowska Street, we had lunch at Bar Mleczny Łodziak, a traditional milk bar, sharing chicken noodle soup and dumplings for £3.03 each.
Then we checked in. Not only had I booked a room for £27 each, but we were upgraded for free. Our room overlooked a grand palace housing the city's museum, with complimentary sparkling water, juices, and macarons. There was also a sauna, lounge area, and unlimited coffee machine.
The afternoon was spent exploring for free. We followed a street art trail using a free app, wandered through the Rose Passage (an alley covered in mirror fragments), and explored Manufaktura, a huge shopping complex in a former industrial space. By dinner, we were starving. Timing was everything – Łódź has many happy hours and set menus. Arriving at a restaurant just before 6pm, we got a main, soft drink, and huge tiramisu for £7.46 each.
Later, we headed to OFF Piotrkowska, a trendy area with bars and restaurants. Cocktails were out of budget, but a glass of fizz for £3.84 felt like a win. Back at the hotel, we enjoyed free hot chocolate. The next morning, we used the free sauna, feeling luxurious. For breakfast, we found a bakery called Maka, where I bought a salted caramel banana bun for £2.12 – enormous and beautifully made, easily worth double in London.
We took a tram for 89p to Hopa Lupa, Europe's largest indoor amusement park. James was sceptical, but for £12.91 each, we got two hours in the trampoline park with obstacle courses, foam pits, and climbing walls. We laughed like kids, though nothing humbles you in your thirties like attempting to run that long. James admitted he loved every second. We squeezed in one final meal – sharing a pepperoni pizza and a pint of beer for £6.54 each – before heading to the airport.
Our final spend came to £99.99 per person. I've travelled this way for years, focusing on overall value – hotel, food, activities – rather than just the cheapest flight, which is even more important with rising prices. Some of my best trips have been to places I knew little about beforehand, and Łódź is firmly on that list. As for James, I think I've fully won him over – which might be my biggest budget travel success story yet. The next challenge will be convincing him to stay in a hostel – but we might need a bigger blindfold for that.
Cost Breakdown
Day 1
- Return flight from London Stansted to Łódź – £34
- Bus to city centre – £1.13
- Lunch at Bar Mleczny Łodziak – £3.03
- Hotel PURO Łódź Centrum – £27 each
- Street Art Tour (Street Art Cities App) – Free
- Rose Passage and Manufaktura – Free
- Dinner: Set menu at Przyjemność – Tiramisu&Vino – £7.46
- Alcohol: Spółdzielnia – glass of fizzante – £3.84
- Hot chocolate at hotel – Free
Day 2
- Coffee at hotel – Free
- Sauna at hotel – Free
- Brunch at Maka – caramel and banana bun – £2.12
- Tram to Hopa Lupa – £0.89
- Hopa Lupa 2-hour entry + locker hire – £12.91
- Late Lunch at Pizza Truck Garage – half pepperoni pizza and pint of beer – £6.48
- Bus to airport – £1.13
This article was first published on April 12. Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailing Ross.Mccafferty@metro.co.uk. Share your views in the comments below.
