A couple jetted off to Italy to enjoy pizza and cocktails for a day – with the whole trip costing less than a standard train ride in the UK.
Ashley Bennett, 33, had planned to travel from Manchester to London with her partner, Andrew Woods, 24.
But when the couple discovered the staggering cost, they started looking for alternatives.
READ MORE: ‘We paid £400 to take our teenage son to the Olympics for a day trip – it was worth every penny’
The mum-of-two found train tickets would have cost over £300 for both of them – compared to £120 for a flight to Pisa.
Ashley flew to Pisa with EasyJet and returned with Ryanair.
Ditching Britain for sunny Italy, the couple spent 12 hours eating pizza, drinking Aperol Spritz and sightseeing in the popular Tuscan city.
The entire experience cost them just £190 in total.
“I don’t have much time or the money to go on holiday but I really wanted to go away and see the sights,” Ashley told Luxury Travel Daily.
“We looked at trains to London and they were about £300, so I had a look at flights.
“We only booked the week before, it was very spontaneous!
“Andrew and I embraced our impulsivity.
“It was amazing.
“I had a packed itinerary and we had time to do everything we wanted.
“We went to the Leaning Tower, the Square of Miracles, the cathedral, the ancient wall, an ancient cemetery and we went shopping.
“We had to have Aperol Spritz, because we were in Italy, as well as had tapas for lunch.
“The food is cheaper over there and it’s so good.
“You go to an Italian restaurant in the UK and it’s so much money.”
The children’s support worker flew from Manchester Airport at 6am and left Pisa at 7pm.
The pair were in bed for 10pm, ready for work the next day.
Ashley said: “I just had my handbag with my passport and my Kindle for the flight.
“I live a 20-minute train ride from the airport and that cost about £3.90.
“The train from Pisa airport to the centre was just over £5.”
The couple are now planning a day trip to Copenhagen, Denmark, in October – after nabbing flights for £49 each with EasyJet.
Ashley added: “Trains are so much money.
“You can experience a new culture for less.
“People acted like we were crazy when we said we were off to Pisa for the day but I don’t have time for longer holidays.
“It’s an education. It’s so worth it.”
