Claire Howard, a 48-year-old teacher from Birmingham, England, recently took a day trip to Beauvais, France, finding the excursion to be more affordable than a day spent in the UK. Howard's journey, which included flights, a bus, sightseeing, and meals, cost around £70 (approximately $90 USD).
Howard booked her round-trip Ryanair flights for £27 through Skyscanner a month in advance. The flights departed Birmingham at approximately 7:30 a.m. and returned at 11 p.m., allowing for a full day in France. Upon arrival at Beauvais–Tillé Airport, she took a 15-minute bus ride to the city center for £1.80.
Her itinerary focused on exploring Beauvais itself, rather than traveling to more tourist-heavy destinations like Paris. The day began with a coffee and a pastry at the city's Saturday market, costing about £4. She later enjoyed live music in the town square before taking a £10 Uber to Plan d'Eau du Canada, a lakeside recreational area. Lunch consisted of a picnic purchased from a supermarket, including a baguette, cheese, and a small bottle of wine, for approximately £8. Both Beauvais Cathedral and the nearby Musée de l'Oise offered free admission.
The day concluded with a Pad Thai dinner at a local restaurant for around £10. Howard also purchased an £8 bracelet as a souvenir, bringing her total expenditure for the day to £70.
Howard stated that she often seeks out affordable day trips abroad, having previously visited cities such as Bergamo, Italy; Malaga, Spain; Valletta, Malta; Poznan, Poland; and Porto, Portugal. She mentioned that flight times can sometimes necessitate an overnight stay, but for this trip, the schedule allowed for a full day of activities and an evening meal before returning home. She highlighted that an overnight stay would add unnecessary accommodation costs.
She plans to continue these budget-friendly excursions, with upcoming trips to Poland and Berlin already booked for a combined cost of £70. Howard typically finds the best flight deals four to six weeks in advance, often utilizing her Tuesdays off from teaching to travel. She expressed that such trips offer a more adventurous and fulfilling experience compared to spending a day at home.