A 34-year-old therapist from London has revealed how she swapped a typical day out in the UK capital for a trip abroad, claiming it cost less than a standard day including Nando's and the cinema.
Natasha Amadi's Luxembourg Adventure
Natasha Amadi flew to Luxembourg and back in the same day for just £128.71 per person, covering flights, food, parking and attractions. She squeezed the trip into just 10 hours, taking an early morning flight and returning home the same night.
She argues that a typical day out in London can easily exceed that amount, with food, travel and activities quickly adding up. 'I am from London so that can easily be spent in an afternoon on a meal and travel,' she said. According to Google, a decent London day out with food, attractions and travel can set you back on average £165–£220.
Itinerary and Highlights
Her flight departed at 8.15am on Thursday, 26 March, and she returned on a 10pm flight. Once in Luxembourg City, Natasha packed in a full day of food and sightseeing. She ate lunch at Lloyd's Coffee Eatery before stopping for dessert at Cinnamood. She explored Ville Haute and wandered through the picturesque area of Grund, which she described as 'something out of a fairy tale'.
She also ventured through the Casemates du Bock caves and took in views using the Ascenseur Panoramique du Pfaffenthal. She visited museums and galleries, as well as Notre Dame Cathedral and the Grand Ducal Palace, where she watched the changing of the guards.
The highlight of the trip was the country's free transport system. 'The highlight was the free travel across the whole country, you can go anywhere and not have to worry about the cost,' she said. Despite the tight schedule, the trip was smooth throughout. 'No stress – flight was on time. Travel was free, everything is accessible fairly easily. The only stress was deciding which places to eat as there are so many options,' she added.
Cost Comparison with London
She described the experience as both tiring and rewarding. 'Exhausted but exhilarating,' she said. Natasha compared the cost to a typical day off in London, where expenses can quickly spiral. A usual day could include £30 for brunch or a food market, £26 for dinner at Nando's and £10 for dessert. Travel across the city would cost around £15, while activities such as Bubble Planet (£22), a cinema ticket at Everyman (£20) or games at Fairgame (£25) would push the total even higher. Altogether, this comes to roughly £140–£147 for a day in London – without leaving the country.
Natasha is already planning her next trip. 'Next time I will go further afield and visit Vianden and ride the chair lift up to the castle,' she said.
