03-08-2025
Struggling single mum surviving on just £125 a MONTH fights tears at £250-a-night hotel on Rich Holiday, Poor Holiday
A STRUGGLING single mother who lives on just £125 a month after bills are paid, found herself fighting back tears on tonight's episode of Rich Holiday, Poor Holiday.
Kelly, a cash-strapped mum-of-one and her bestie Lewie, took part in the Channel 5 experiment and found themselves in Northern Italy, with go-getting grandmas Jackie and Martine, both former pro dancers.
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While 29-year-old happy-go-lucky Lewie lives at home with his mum and dad, works shifts for a budget airline and also flips burgers at his dad's truck-stop cafe, his best pal Kelly, 34, is employed by a transport company.
Opening up about her hardships as a single mother to an eight-year-old, Kelly, who is from Portsmouth, explained: 'I work as hard as I can.
'Sometimes I'll even work a night shift, just because the night shifts are a bit more money.'
But despite putting in the graft, every month after bills and food, Kelly is left with just £125 - so it's no surprise that luxury all-inclusive holidays are out of the question.
The brunette confirmed: 'There's so much you want to buy but you can't, so I don't spend on things that aren't necessarily needed.'
Kelly and Lewie, who met through friends 11 years ago and have been inseparable ever since, typically go for cheap-as-chips holidays to caravan sites.
And to keep costs down, it's self-catering or budget fast food.
The mother explained: 'We love Benidorm, or we'll do a nice little caravan break.
'We don't go out to eat that much, if we do we get a sharing platter and it works out cheaper.'
But in tonight's episode, the pair were whisked off to live the high life at a majestic castle with Jackie and Martine, both of whom have travelled to the world's most exclusive destinations.
I'm a mum-of-5 on £1.5K Universal Credit per month - people think I'm popping kids out to get 'lots of money' but I still have to use food banks - its embarrassing
'We're taking part in this to see how the other half live,' Kelly shared.
Unlike Kelly and Lewie, not only are Jackie and Martine used to splashing the cash on fancy food and high adrenaline activities, but Jackie once spent a night in a £12,000-a-night hotel in Sweden.
Once they arrived at the Veneto region of Northern Italy, the four best pals stayed in a former castle, the grand Hotel CastelBrando - a lavish hotel fit for a king, nestled in the Prosecco hills.
The money you spend on certain things here is a three/four day holiday for us
Kelly
And it didn't take long before it all appeared very overwhelming for Kelly, as moments after entertaining the £250 a night suite, she admitted: 'It's just something else…quite emotional, there might be some tears shed.'
Clearly blown away by the jaw-dropping room, she gasped: 'I don't think I have any words.'
Moments later, Martine observed: 'I could see a bit of a tear in Kelly's eye, it's overwhelming for her to see such splender.'
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And it wasn't just a posh hotel Kelly and Lewie were treated to - on the once-in-a-lifetime trip they also got a tour of Venice, with a £250 gondola ride and time at the spa, to which Kelly said: 'It's a lot different to arcades.'
The shock continued for bargain hunters Kelly and Lewie, who were gobsmacked by the 'disgusting' prices, with £13.80 soft drinks and £430 glasses of Dom Perignon.
Why caravan holidays are so underrated
CARAVAN park holidays are a British staple.
And with the cost of living crisis wreaking havoc on Britain's purses, more of us are turning to them for an affordable break.
Josie O'Brien, Senior Digital Writer on Fabulous, weighs in on why she thinks caravan holidays are seriously underrated...
WHEN I was a child, my mum used to collect the £9.50 holiday vouchers in The Sun.
She'd use them to book a couple of nights away at a caravan park during the school holidays.
As an adult, I fully appreciate the convenience of a humble caravan holiday.
No faffing about with passports, no luggage limits and no bog-standard hotel breakfast of stale toast and grey eggs.
I still love caravan holidays as an adult.
In a world of doing everything for the 'gram, a caravan park brings you back to basics.
There's no obligation to get dressed up, no stress to fit a million picturesque excursions in one week and I don't find myself flustered in tourist hot spots like abroad.
I love going to coastal caravan parks and strolling along the beach parade.
My highlight is always fresh mussels, ice-creams and classic pubs to grab an afternoon tipple in.
And then, of course, there's the cost.
Staying in a caravan is definitely way cheaper than my international trips.
With no expensive hotel bills and the ability to cook my own meals, I'm spending hundreds less than I would abroad.
I've had some of my best and most relaxing holidays in caravans. Maybe I'll buy my own one day.
To this, Kelly claimed: 'The money you spend on certain things here is a three/four day holiday for us.'
After dining at a £70-per-head restaurant, Kelly and Lewie were told that their holiday had a total cost of £8,118.
To this, the single mother said: 'I'll be honest, it's not what I would expect for the money that's been spent.'
I work as hard as I can. Sometimes I'll even work a night shift, just because the night shifts are a bit more money
Kelly
Whilst Lewie chimed in: 'That's five months worth of wages for me for this summer. An obscene amount for a holiday.
'Astonishing. We would rather stick to our budget holidays. Luxury isn't for me.'
Despite her shock at the cost, Kelly beamed: 'It turned out to be an amazing week with beautiful places, beautiful people, friends who are friends for life now.
'That just shows you don't need to have money to have fun.'
