A savvy mum has shared her secret to jetting away on micro-holidays as she jets off on 48-hour adventures by bagging flights for as little as £16 – making it back in time for her nightshifts.
Anne-Marie Moss, 45, has taken a total of eight short trips over the last two years travelling all across Europe for an impressive budget.
The mum-of-three got the bug to travel after finding a cheap steal to take her daughter, Trinity, 20, and her friends, Imogen, 24 and Tianna, 23 to Kraków, Poland, for the Christmas markets in December 2022 on £16 return flights reports the Manchester Evening News.
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After realising how easy it was to find quick getaways at bargain prices she set off a month later back to Kraków – this time reuniting with an old school friend of 30 years, Rachel, 44.
Since she’s travelled back to the same city taking new friends along the way – getting stuck in with activities such as kayaking, quad biking and cycling around the national park.
Anne-Marie recently spent 48-hours in Palma, Spain, having foot massages and watching a boat race in March 2023 - which cost £110 each - and already has her next trip planned for May.
The mum makes sure to rigorously plan the jam-packed holidays – and always ensures she is back in time for her night shift as a receptionist at a mental health hospital.
Anne-Marie said: “I’m often hopping off the flight and heading straight to my shift. I sleep on the plane home.
“It started off when I found £16 return flights to go to Kraków, Poland. I fell in love with it. After we came back home, I wanted to travel again.
"We just came back from 24 hour in Palma, Spain. It was about £110 each in total. It’s cheaper than going round Manchester.”
Anne-Marie fell in love with short holidays after taking her daughter, Trinity, and her friends to Kraków, Poland in December 2021 – visiting the Christmas markets, Auschwitz and the salt mines.
She said: “We got an apartment for £100 for two nights and it was right in the city centre. The snow was picturesque.”
Desperate to go back, Anne-Marie invited her pal, Rachel, along with her in March 2022 after seeing a Facebook post about her wanting to travel. She said: “I hadn’t seen her in 30 years but I said, ‘shall we go for it?’ It was last minute, and we got £35 return flight.”
The pair went to the Tantra Mountains, Poland, and visited the thermal spa. They loved it so much they returned less than a month later and went kayaking, quad biking and cycling – packed all into 48 hours and spending just £120.
Anne-Marie has been three times since – taking school mum, Jill, 50, and her family in May and June 2022 and her twin sister, Donna, 45, and their daughters, Trinity, and Jasmine, 21, in December last year.
She said: “Jill couldn’t come the first time we had planned to as her passport had expired. So, I still took her family. I booked a surprise visit in June so she could go. We belly laughed the whole time.”
Anne-Marie also spent two nights in Bucharest, Romania, in February 2023 with Jill, and Elisabeth, 50. She said: “We went to the castles and thermae spa. It was fabulous. It cost us £116 each in total.”
The shift worker just got back from 24 hours Palma, Spain, last month after jetting off with Jill and her work pal – Heather, 40. Anne-Marie said: “It was about £110 each with flights and taxis. I’ve made new friendship groups along the way.”
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Anne-Marie already has her next trips planned - with Jill, Elisabeth and Rachel - to escape to Marseille, France, for 48 hours in May. They have planned to kayak around the coast and take a cruise – spending £29 each on return flights.
The mum usually takes her trips mid-week and books the first flight possible and the latest one back to make sure they make the most of the time they have. She said: “I work shift work, so I usually go mid-week. I try and get an early flight out and then try and get the last flight home. We just have backpacks.”
Anne-Marie is always happy for more women to join in on their travels. She said: “As long as you're nice and up for an adventure come along. You’ve got to be up for things. We don’t relax by the pool.”
Anne-Marie’s 48-hour escapes
- December 2021 – Kraków - £16 flights each, £100 accommodation - £25 each
- March 2022 – Kraków – £35 flights, £50 accommodation
- April 2022 – Kraków and Tantra Mountains – £35 flights, £90 hotel, £120 on activities
- May 2022 - Tantra Mountains for three days - £120 each
- June 2022 – Kraków and Tantra Mountains – £22 flights, £120 each on activities
- Dec - Tantra Mountains – £35 flights, Accommodation - £100
- Feb 2023 – Bucharest, Romania – £116
- March – Palma - £110
Total - £994
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