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When a journey to Italy proved more affordable than a day out in London, one traveller didn't think twice.
As the UK's capital, it comes as little shock that London can prove notoriously costly for a day trip, particularly when factoring in meals, shopping and tourist attractions. So rather than splashing out on a day in the metropolis, Rhys Kelly secured a bargain flight to Milan.
The 18-year-old snapped up flights for a mere £20 and spent an exhilarating day discovering the stunning city of Milan. From visiting famous landmarks and enjoying a bicycle ride to sampling the regional cuisine, Rhys certainly maximised his 11 hours in the Italian destination before catching his return flight that very evening.
In total, the whirlwind excursion cost Rhys £115 - less expensive than what a day out in London would have set him back! "This is the day trip you don't want to miss out on," the Nottingham university student told creatorzine.com.
"If you're in uni, you can do this during the week – that's when it's going to be the cheapest because obviously you've got time to spare. And Milan is a very small city, so 24 hours is enough time."
"In one day, you can get everything done – pizza, pasta, ice cream, see the Duomo."
Abandoning the UK for a day excursion overseas, Rhys discovered affordable flights from London Heathrow to Milan through Skyscanner, setting off early in the morning and returning later that same evening. Upon arriving at Malpensa Airport, Rhys, joined by several friends, boarded a train into the city centre and rented e-bikes through Dott bikes for merely €5 (£4.32) to explore the attractions.
"The highlight of the trip was definitely cycling around on Dott bikes as we got to see the majority of the city all within a small frame of time," Rhys shared. "We had around 11 hours to explore as we had to travel back to the airport for our flight."
Throughout the day, Rhys and his pals viewed some of Milan's most renowned landmarks, including the spectacular Duomo Cathedral. And naturally, no journey to Italy is complete without pizza, which cost Rhys just €9 (£7.78), and was "probably the best valued thing there", he revealed.
They also found time to peruse the luxurious boutiques of Prada, Stüssy and Supreme in the fashion capital, before enjoying some Italian gelato prior to returning to the airport for their homeward flight. While his total omitted some of his shopping purchases, Rhys remained thoroughly satisfied with his expenditure, and reckons travellers could manage it for even less.
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