’I went on a day trip to Prague - it was cheaper than going to London'

A man jetted off to Prague for a 15-hour day trip after snapping up £36 return flights, claiming it cost the same as a theatre outing in London. Robbie Watson, 31, decided on a spontaneous jaunt to the Czech capital after hunting down bargain flights and sunny destinations.

He scored his £36 return tickets with Wizz Air from Luton, touching down in Prague around 8.30am. Robbie spent his morning exploring the city on a self-guided walking tour before joining a communism and nuclear bunker tour.

Lunch was served by a toy train at a quirky railway restaurant before he headed back to the airport. Landing back in the UK just shy of midnight, Robbie dubbed the adventure a "no brainer".

The chartered construction manager from Luton explained: "Paying less meant I had to get an earlier flight but I could make the most of my day. When you can spend the same amount as you would in London to head to a new European city instead to do something out of the ordinary, it is a no brainer."

Robbie has been a travel enthusiast for the past nine years, clocking up over 30 day trips. In June 2024, he decided to escape the dreary British summer for a sunnier destination abroad. He chose Prague after spotting cheap flights and a promising weather forecast. After arriving in the city centre around 9am on June 8, 2024, Robbie spent the day sightseeing.

He said: "My favourite part of the trip was just wondering and having no set agenda." Robbie forked out £7.20 to explore the old town hall and soak up the cityscape from its viewing platform, declaring: "This was 100 per cent worth it for these panoramic views over the rooftops."

He then spent a couple of hours on a communism and nuclear bunker tour, setting him back £25. Robbie enthused: "It was something out of the ordinary and exciting and different." A late lunch in a quirky restaurant serving food on trains cost him £23.

At 7pm, he headed back to the airport for his return flight, which was delayed by an hour. He finally touched down in Luton just before midnight.

The entire day's adventure came to £95.50, a sum Robbie equates to a day trip to London for lunch and theatre. He explained: "When I've spent a Saturday in London would be as followed: Train ticket: £20, parking at station, £5 Theatre ticket: £50, lunch: £20."

Robbie is now eyeing up a day trip to Switzerland with a group from a Facebook community dedicated to extreme day trips. He said: "For people with less confidence travelling , it is really great because you can see what other people are doing. My favourite part of the trip was just wondering and having no set agenda."

Here's a breakdown of Robbie's Prague day trip costs:

• Return flights - £36
• Day ticket for transport - £4.30
• Old town hall - £7.20
• Nuclear bunker tour - £25
• Late lunch - £23
• Total cost - £95.50

And here are Robbie's tips for bagging best value day trips:

• For budget-friendly fares, book directly with low-cost airlines.
• Opt to travel during off-peak periods like January, March, May, September and November.
• Take advantage of free walking tours.
• Immerse yourself in the local culture by eating like a local.

You can follow Robbie's adventures on Instagram @robbiewatson.

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