I leave the kids with their dad and fly abroad for child-free day trips, it costs me less than a night out in the UK

The Sun

a day ago

HITTING her alarm at 3am Monica Stott gets herself ready before creeping out of the house and into her taxi at 3:30am.
She's got a long day ahead of her and the mum-of-three won't make it back before bedtime.
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But Monica isn't preparing for a busy day in the boardroom but rather an extreme day-trip that will see her enjoy a visit to another country for less than the cost of a family meal out.
Monica, from Wrexham, has been on whirlwind adventures to places like Reykjavik, Amsterdam and Alicante – and often pays under £100 for return flights.
The 37-year-old says started doing 'extreme day trips' after travelling to Dublin for work and discovering how easy it was to turn a quick meeting into a mini holiday.
Now she's turned her love of quick escapes into a mission to show others how affordable and doable spontaneous travel can be.
'It was like clocking off work and stepping straight into holiday mode,' the travel blogger says.
'One hour in the boardroom, then suddenly I'm wandering the streets of Dublin, pint in hand. It felt like a brilliant hack.'
Monica says that she has now roped her partner and friend into her overseas days out as it works out cheaper than a plan in the UK.
'Flying to Alicante with my partner and friends costs less than all of us getting the train into London,' she says.
'It's about £150 for our flights, but the train tickets alone add up to £150 each – and that's before we've even had a drink.
'Sometimes we think nothing beats a night out in London, but when you add up the train fares, meals, drinks and taxis, a day trip abroad suddenly looks like the smarter option.
'It's crazy, but for the cost of one night out in the capital, I can be sunning myself in Spain or wandering through a castle in Italy and still be home in time for bed.'
Since dipping her toes into the world of 'extreme day trips', Monica has packed sightseeing, local food and even castle visits into whirlwind getaways – all squeezed into a single day.
She usually jets off at the crack of dawn and is back home by bedtime, making the most of every hour abroad.
The mum typically flies from Manchester or Liverpool and snaps up bargain deals by booking well in advance.
Monica usually aims to spend under £100 on flights and books deals well in advance – jetting off to Dublin for just £35.
She plans her trips around when her three children are with their dad, and when her partner – who works four days on, four off – is available.
Monica said: 'My partner works shifts – four days on, four off – so if we plan something during his time off, it works really well.
'I also have three children. When they spend time with their dad, it's a nice opportunity for me to get away.
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'I can't be going away for a week at a time, but I can do child-free day trips.
'As a mum, it's so easy to lose your sense of identity. These little solo escapes remind me I'm still me – not just 'mum' 24/7.
'It's not about escaping my kids – it's about recharging so I can be a better parent when I get back.'
Despite the perks, Monica says travelling like this isn't for everyone – especially those who don't like early mornings.
However, the mum, who runs the travel blog The Travel Hack, insists it's manageable with a little bit of planning.
She said: 'I recommend these trips to others, but they're not for everyone. I know that being very tired, doing a lot, and waking up early can spoil the day for some people.
'I always try and get the earliest flight out. That usually means leaving the house at 3:30am, getting up at 3am.
'And when you're excited for a flight, you don't sleep well anyway.
Holiday packing tips
Jemma Solomon, aka The Label Lady has got 5 packing tips to help you get organised for your next holiday.
1. Write a list
Think about all the essentials you need to take with you; suncream, medicine, a few games for the kids, beach towels, and write everything in one list, which you can tick off as you add it to your suitcase.
Or for complete ease, try Google's AI app - Gemini - which will create a list for you and help you not over pack.
2. Involve your kids
Jemma said: 'My girls are getting older, they're 11 and nine, and they enjoy helping to pack. So I send them a list, and say 'this is what you need' and they follow the list.
'And then I give them a rucksack each - and say to them 'you can have whatever you want in there as long as it's not liquid', and they can take that on the plane. And that's their 'home away from home' items.'
3. Try a hack or two
She said: "I think they all work, but for different reasons - and you've just got to pick the right one for your trip.
"Rolling your clothes is really good to stop your clothes from getting creases. And if you're trying to get a lot of items into your case, it's a space saver.
'Packing cubes are great - for example, I'm going on holiday with my three kids and we're all using the same suitcase for our clothes.
"These handy compartments let you separate your clothes, toiletries and tech into designated cubes, maximising luggage space by keeping your items compressed and neatly stacked.
"I love taking them abroad with the family and it means my kids can easily take charge of their own items once we've arrived."
4. Decant beauty products
Do you really need to take full-size bottles of shampoo and conditioner with you? The beauty industry has evolved so much, you can now buy shampoo bars or sheets - which are much lighter and smaller.
Or, if you'll be popping to the shops when you're abroad, consider buying some items when you arrive.
5. Get organised before you come home
Jemma said: 'When you repack on holiday [before coming home], the trick is to separate clean from dirty clothes.
'Also pack it in some form of order - so lights, darks, colours for items that need washing, or if you wash your clothes by person in the household, piles for each person.
"Then you can put it straight into the washing machine. Do it straight away, don't leave it."
'It's worth noting that the next day, you're absolutely flat out. You have to schedule recovery time.'
Monica is careful about when she travels and tries to avoid peak tourist months.
Conscious of the environmental impact, she also makes an effort to be mindful about her flight usage.
She added: 'I think it's just important to be mindful. I take more flights than the average person because it's part of my job.
'I'm mindful of it, and I tend to go away more during times I don't want to be at home.
'For example, in the summer I live in Wales – I don't want to go anywhere else. I spend the whole summer at home in Wales.
'But to go to Alicante in March, when the sun is shining and it's raining in the UK – that makes sense to me.
'It's about picking and choosing. I'm not saying I go away every single month. Just because it's cheap doesn't mean you should.
'But travel doesn't have to be a luxury only for the rich. If you plan well, a quick day trip abroad can be an affordable treat anyone can enjoy.'
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