Two friends who flew to Albania for a 13-hour round trip said their day out was ‘better value’ than going to the theatre in London.
Stacey Baugh, 34, and Claire Dukes, 41, have been jetting off on the ‘extreme day trips’ as a way to go abroad without impacting their parenting as mothers.
They settled on Tirana, Albania, for their holiday in October and were able to secure £70.08 Ryanair return flights.
Stacey and Claire left their home in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, at 1am to get their 5.55am flight from Stansted – landing in Tirana at 9.50am.
The friends spent £60 per person on a private tour for the day, taking them on a whistle-stop tour of Lake Bovilla, Gamti mountain, Mount Dajti and on an evening city tour.
Stacey and Claire did a zip line over the mountains for 30 euros and had a meal at the top of Mount Dajti for less than 40 euros.
They said the trip cost them £200 each, costing the same as a theatre trip to London.
They landed back in the UK at 1am – arriving back home at 5am – and say it was great value for money.
Stacey Baugh, 34, and Claire Dukes, 41, have been jetting off on the ‘extreme day trips’ as a way to go abroad without impacting their parenting as mothers
Stacey and Claire came across a Facebook page for ‘extreme day’ trips when they were looking for inspiration on quick getaways earlier this year
The friends spent £60 per person on a private tour for the day, taking them on a whistle-stop tour of Lake Bovilla, Gamti mountain, Mount Dajti and on an evening city tour
SCHEDULE FOR ‘EXTREME DAY TRIP’
1am – Left Chesterfield, Derbyshire
5.55am – Flight from Stansted
9.50am – Landed in Tirana, Albania
11.15am – Arrived at Gamti mountain and lake Bovilla
1pm – Finished hike
2.30pm – Mount Dajti cable car and lunch
5.50pm – Zip line
6.30pm – City tour
9pm – Back to the airport
11pm – Departed Tirana
1am – Landed in Stansted
Stacey said: ‘If you go to the theatre in London, it would cost £70 in petrol, parking and travel and the theatre ticket would cost £60 to £70.
‘When you compare the price, I had 28 hours out of my home and went up three mountains. The value of what you’re getting is amazing.’
Stacey and Claire came across a Facebook page for ‘extreme day’ trips when they were looking for inspiration on quick getaways earlier this year.
Stacey said: ‘Since becoming parents, we have had to shift the way we travel so we’re not away from the kids for long.’
The mum-of-two has been to Gotham, Sweden, in April, Dublin, Ireland, in June and Brussels in July – all for a day.
The friends landed in Albania at 9.50am and were picked up by their tour guide – organised by Rexhino Topalli – and headed to Lake Bovilla and Gamti mountain.
Stacey said: ‘It’s an amazing drive. The lake is a gorgeous teal colour.
‘You drive most of the way and then hike the rest of the way.’
The friends then went to a second mountain – Mount Dajti – spending 15 euros on a cable car up – before stopping for lunch at the restaurant.
They spent less than 40 euros on meatballs, trileçe (a milk cake), a Caesar salad and a casserole.
Stacey and Claire then spent 30 euros on a zipline across the mountains.
Stacey said: ‘It was short but breath-taking – soaring over the mountains as the sun set was the perfect finale to the daytime part of our trip.
Stacey and Claire did a zip line over the mountains for 30 euros and had a meal at the top of Mount Dajti for less than 40 euros
They spent less than 40 euros on meatballs, trileçe (a milk cake), a Caesar salad and a casserole
The friends already have three trips booked for the new year – Copenhagen in January, Poland in February and Luxembourg in March.
Stacey said: ‘For two years I couldn’t leave the kids – I don’t regret it.
‘You give up so much for your kids. I needed to do something for me again.
‘It is a long day but you still deserve to do what it is that makes you happy. It’s a lot less daunting when it is one day.’
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