A savvy mum who flew to Brussels for nine hours to buy Belgian chocolate has revealed that it cost less than a trip to the seaside.
Heather Marsden spotted some budget Ryanair return flights for just £52.
The 39-year-old had planned on taking some time for herself by getting the train to Whitby, North Yorkshire, for the day.
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But, the mum-of-two says a round trip would have taken ten hours and the ticket would cost more than double the price of a flight to Brussels.
Heather boarded the 6.35am flight with an empty satchel that she planned on filling with Belgian chocolate.
“I looked at trains and a round trip to Whitby was £120 and around ten hours,” Heather, from Glossop, Derbyshire, told Luxury Travel Daily.
“I spotted the flights about a week before I went.
“I can’t get my head around how easy and relaxing it was.
“It’s hard to get my head around the fact that I didn’t spend any more money than if I stayed in the UK.
“I just took a satchel and filled it with chocolate for my friends, in-laws and kids.
“Apart from that, I just had some money.
“We have good chocolate in the UK, but Belgian chocolate is delicious.
“It’s different and it’s so tasty.
“When I told my friends and family I was going to Belgium, they all asked me to bring them some back.
“I brought back some sausage and cheeses that we served at a dinner party.
“It was fantastic and a really nice experience.”
The business owner was dropped off at the Manchester Airport by her husband Stephen, 36, and she caught a 55-minute bus into Brussels city centre.
She went to the Banksy museum, had some street food, shopped for cheese and meat, and tested the local beer before catching a flight back to the UK at 6.30pm.
Heather plans to return with her husband and two children after realising how relaxing the experience was.
She added: “I love everything about flying, trying different foods and experiencing new cultures.
“I’m a culture geek. It was a culture shock but in a nice way.
“I was in England in the morning, immersed in Belgian culture, and then back in England in the evening.
“It was so easy. I couldn’t believe how relaxed I felt.
“My son thought I was going on holiday without him and I said I was testing it to see if we could go as a family.
“Stephen said I looked like I’d been on an entire weekend away.”
She spent £29.16 (€35) on a bus to the city centre and £11.60 (€14) on a ticket to the museum.
Heather splashed out just £9.16 (€11) on lunch and £12.50 (15) on chocolate.
In total, she spent £114.42.
BREAKDOWN:
Return flights – £52
Bus – £29.16
Museum – £11.60
Food – £9.16
Chocolate – £12.50
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