A group of friends from the Midlands jetted off to Spain for a whirlwind day trip - and it cost less than a luxury UK spa day.
Becky Smith, 38, joined friends Nicole, 40, Steph, 39, Kate, 40, Jem and Faith, both 40, for a 13-hour trip to Palma. They flew out on the earliest flight and returned the same night, squeezing in sightseeing, tapas, cocktails and even a birthday celebration for Nicole by the marina. Despite packing in a full holiday experience, the total cost per person came in at roughly £150 to £160 each.
Becky, from Leicester, said: "We love any excuse for a girls' trip. I'm always looking for ways to make trips more flexible and accessible and an extreme day trip felt like the perfect mix of adventure and convenience."
"We chose Palma because it offers such a great variety in a short space of time with beautiful beaches, historic sights, a vibrant marina, and amazing food. We're all big fans of tapas and sangria, so it ticked every box."
"When we were comparing it to things like spa days in the UK with food included, the cost was actually very similar. The difference is you're getting a completely different experience, a new country, culture, and climate, which makes it feel even more worthwhile."
The friends travelled on April 19, catching a 6am flight from East Midlands Airport and landing in Palma by 9:35am. They returned to the airport at 11pm, arriving home in the early hours. Jet2 Flights cost around £60 to £65 return per person, while airport transfers in the UK added another £16 each after the group split a £96 return taxi.
Once in Mallorca, the group made the most of their limited time. They took taxis to and from the airport at about £11 per person. They spent the day exploring a castle, having drinks by the seafront, enjoying tapas, beers, ice cream, paella and cocktails. Altogether, they spent around £60 each on food and drink.
Becky said: "We had a mix of tapas, paella, plus drinks throughout the day, including sangria, wine and beers. We also stopped for ice cream and a few casual drinks along the way. We definitely treated it as a celebration, so spent more than you would need to on a tighter budget."
Despite only being in Spain for a matter of hours, Becky said the trip felt surprisingly relaxed. Travel business owner Becky, who shares her budget travel tips on her social media @travel_by_becky, added: "The day didn't feel rushed at all. We managed to see some key sights, enjoy great food and drinks, and still have time to relax and take everything in. We all had the best time."
"It was the perfect girls' trip, especially as it required very little time away from home and minimal childcare, which made it much easier for everyone to commit. It was honestly one of the best days I've had in a long time. It was such an incredible experience."
"We met so many people throughout the day who couldn't believe we were only there for a few hours. It really shows how easy and accessible travel can be with a bit of planning. I share a lot of these kinds of trips and ideas on my pages because I love showing people that travel doesn't have to be complicated or expensive; it can fit around real life."
"We definitely spent more than necessary because we made a full day of it with lots of food and drinks, but an extreme day trip can absolutely be done for much less. I'd 100 per cent do it again. It's proof you don't need a week off or a big budget to have an amazing travel experience."
