An adventurous traveller has opened up about his incredible ‘extreme day trip’ to Venice, which came in at less than the cost of a one-way train fare to London.
Kevin Gill, a 43 year old from Runcorn, Cheshire, spent an awe-inspiring 18 hours marvelling at the sites of the stunning World UNESCO heritage city, all for the measly sum of just £71.
The thrifty Kevin set himself the limit of a £100 budget for a whirlwind visit to the enchanting city known for its intricate network of canals and waterways.
Scoring round-trip flights for a mere £44, adding a frugal £18 on bus transfers, indulging with £7.50 on classic Italian delights – pizza, gelato, and pasta, and crossing the iconic Grand Canal by gondolier taxi for only £1.70, Kevin’s savvy spending is exemplary.
Kevin, who works in the pharmaceuticals sector, expressed his passion for travel: “Extreme travelling has turned my ambition of seeing the world into a reality.”
Craving a getaway that wouldn’t break the bank or require him to use his precious holiday time, Kevin was intrigued when he learned about the concept of ‘Extreme Day Trips’ from his cousin.
The idea, founded upon the principles of completing the journey within 24 hours and not exceeding a £100 budget for all travel costs, piqued his interest.
Already an avid explorer since his twenties, Kevin jumped at the chance to test this novel approach to travel and booked his expedition to Venice, Italy for Wednesday, February 19th, ensuring he could clock back in for work the following day.
His inspiration stemming from online tales of cost-effective escapades he shared: “I felt inspired by reading all of these posts on the Facebook page of different people travelling to different places for so cheap just for the day.”
Before this, Kevin had never dreamed that such affordable globetrotting was feasible.
Departing from Manchester airport bright and early at 5:45 am, Kevin touched down in Venice by 9:30 am local time, kickstarting his Venetian adventure.
Kevin, a seasoned traveller, shared his delight about a recent trip to Venice, saying: “The weather was lovely, the sun was out, it was nice to escape the UK.”
He found the city less crowded than expected, noting, “It wasn’t busy like it had said online as I was able to walk around the narrow streets and visit the attractions without much hassle.”
During his brief stay, Kevin took in the splendour of iconic landmarks such as the Ponte di Rialto bridge, the Piazza San Marco, and Saint Mark’s Basilica.
Comparing the cost of international escapades to local outings, Kevin remarked: “A typical day trip to a shopping centre can be comparable in price.”
He elaborated on the expenses of a day out, including travel, shopping, dining, and entertainment, which can quickly add up. After enjoying Venice, he caught an early 5:45am flight back to Manchester, landing at 7:30am UK time, ready for work later that evening.
With over 12 European countries under his belt, along with ventures into America, Asia, including India, and North Africa, Kevin has fulfilled his dream of seeing the world. He reflected: “I no longer need to have to spend thousands to go on a week long holiday.
“It has returned me to days when 20 years ago travelling was cheap, accessible and affordable.”
For those intrigued by the idea of a 24-hour ‘extreme day trip’, Kevin advises to “properly research the area” to make the most of the whirlwind experience.
He advised: “Don’t do it on a whim, research the area properly, find out what you want to do as the last thing you want is to regret missing out on something.
“Make sure where you are going is safe, there is public transport as you don’t want to miss your flight home.”
