If you fancy a little break away but your bank account isn’t exactly on-board - then why not take inspiration from this mum-of-three who takes herself on ‘48-hour adventures’ for as little as £16.
Anne-Marie Moss, 45, says she’s managed to go on eight short trips over the past two years and it’s set her back less than a grand - £994, to be exact. I need this woman to teach me her ways.
Anne-Marie, who lives in Accrington, Greater Manchester, got the travel bug after discovering £16 return flights to Kraków, Poland, for the Christmas markets in December 2022 - inviting along her daughter Trinity, 20, and her friends, Imogen, 24 and Tianna, 23.
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She has since returned to Kraków and visited the Tantra Mountains several times, bringing different friends with her, and has also been on cheap trips to Bucharest in Romania and Palma in Spain.
Anne-Marie ensures that her trips are action-packed - whether that’s going kayaking, quad biking and cycling in Kraków or indulging in a foot massage and trip out to watch a boat race in Palma.
The mum makes sure to rigorously plan the jam-packed holidays - and always ensures she is back in time for her night shift as a receptionist at a mental health hospital.
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Anne-Marie said: “I’m often hopping off the flight and heading straight to my shift. I sleep on the plane home.
“It started off when I found £16 return flights to go to Kraków, Poland. I fell in love with it. After we came back home, I wanted to travel again.
“We just came back from 24 hour in Palma, Spain. It was about £110 each in total.
“It’s cheaper than going round Manchester.”
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Anne-Marie already has her next trips planned - with pals Jill, Elisabeth and Rachel - to escape to Marseille, France, for 48 hours in May.
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They have planned to kayak around the coast and take a cruise - spending £29 each on return flights.
Anne-Marie says she usually takes her trips mid-week and books the first flight possible and the latest one back to make sure they make the most of the time they have.
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She said: “I work shift work, so I usually go mid-week.
“I try and get an early flight out and then try and get the last flight home."
And Anne-Marie said she’s always happy for new friends to join her on her jaunts - as long as they’re as active as she is.
“As long as you're nice and up for an adventure come along,” she said. “You’ve got to be up for things. We don’t relax by the pool.”
Claire Reid