Frustrated by the high expenses and time commitment of traditional vacations, Natalie, a 41-year-old digital platform manager from Leeds, discovered a more affordable and flexible way to travel.
In just five months, she has visited nine countries for a total of £800, significantly enhancing her quality of life.
“I loved the idea of experiencing a location in a day for relatively little money,” Natalie shared with What’s The Jam. “I search for the cheapest flights to places I want to visit and take advantage of my flexible schedule to find the best deals.
READ MORE: Flight attendant shares five tips on how she deals with busy airports – from packing right to delayed flights
Midweek flights are often the cheapest, although I’m working on fitting future trips into weekends to make the most of my limited annual leave.”
Natalie, who previously traveled abroad up to three times a year, often journeys with her boyfriend, her sons, or to meet friends, and sometimes ventures out solo.
According to LNER, a standard return train ticket from Leeds to Newton Abbot costs £390.60, but Natalie’s trips abroad cost no more than £150 per person, except for one trip.
“Each trip usually lasts one or two days to keep costs down,” she explained. “Visiting multiple countries in one trip is more cost-effective than separate visits. Travel has improved my quality of life immensely; it’s good for the mind and body.
I get so much joy from planning and exploring new places, and it helps with the backache I get from my desk job. I’ve also gained confidence traveling alone or with new people, opening up many possibilities.”
Natalie’s favorite trips so far include Prague and Alicante. She’s planning future trips to Belfast, Romania, Monaco, Brussels, and Milan, with day trips to Lake Como, Verona, and Bergamo, all for under £500.
She shares her adventures on Instagram (@travelmorewithnat), hoping to inspire others to travel affordably. “I’ve been fortunate that most trips have gone smoothly, thanks to thorough planning and research.
The main risk is a delayed or canceled outbound flight, but it’s a risk worth taking. If you want to start, plan your day, know how to get from the airport to the city, and pre-book activities.
Once you do it once, you’ll feel more confident and eager to travel again.”
Natalie points out that a day out in London can cost more than her trips abroad, with peak train tickets alone costing £250+. “I’d love to visit places like Devon and Cornwall, but the travel time and high accommodation costs, especially with uncertain weather, make it less appealing. It’s cheaper and faster to go abroad with a better chance of sunshine.
I save on costs by bringing my own food and cutting down on non-essential spending when I’m not traveling. I’d rather spend money on new experiences and seeing new countries.”
COST BREAKDOWN:
- Geneva & Montreux: £115 (including parking, flights, train travel, food, and drink)
- Alicante: £72 (including parking, flights, bus travel, food, drink, and sightseeing)
- Copenhagen & Malmo: £150 (including parking, flights, train travel, food, drink, and sightseeing)
- Tirana & Struga: £103 (including flights, hotel, bus, food, and drink)
- Prague: £110 (including parking, flights, sightseeing, food, and drink)
- Dubrovnik & Mostar: £250 (including parking, flights, hotel, sightseeing, food, and drink)
TOTAL: £800
