The Commuter Who Chose Prague Over the Office
While most commuters face another dreary journey to work, Luke Simmonds from Guildford, Surrey, decided to swap his daily grind for a day exploring Prague's historic streets. The 36-year-old IT consultant flew to the Czech capital on October 11th and discovered his continental adventure cost barely more than his regular commute to the office.
How £18 Flights Made European Travel Affordable
Luke's remarkable day trip began with an early morning Wizz Air flight from Luton at 6am, touching down in Prague by 8.45am. The secret to his budget travel? Booking flights eleven months in advance at just £8.99 each way. He explored with seven fellow travel enthusiasts he met through Facebook, keeping costs minimal by focusing on free activities.
"We didn't really have a set plan apart from visiting Prague Castle," Luke explained. "We bought some local food, walked down to Charles Bridge, and explored the old town square. By avoiding paid activities and just sightseeing, we kept costs incredibly low."
Breaking Down the Costs: Prague vs Daily Commute
The total cost of Luke's Prague adventure came to £52.65, only £7.65 more than his typical £45 commute to work. His detailed breakdown shows how strategic planning makes such trips possible:
National Express coach: £10.62
Flights: £17.98
Local transport in Prague: £7
Food and drink: £10.67
Souvenirs: £6.38
Luke noted that Prague represents his most affordable day trip to date among the 30 extreme day trips he's completed since starting his unusual hobby in 2023.
The Growing Trend of Extreme Day Tripping
Luke's Prague excursion wasn't his only recent adventure. Just the weekend before, he visited Vilnius, Lithuania, on £38.47 return tickets. He explored Gediminas Castle free of charge and sampled traditional potato pancakes and cherry beer, though his return flight faced significant delays due to balloons entering airspace from Belarus.
His strategy involves booking flights at least three months in advance and being flexible with airports. "Three months ahead tends to be the sweet spot for trips," Luke revealed. "By being flexible with airports, it opens up more destinations and way more options. The price is the driver rather than where you want to go."
Luke believes this approach to travel demonstrates what's possible for UK residents looking to explore Europe without breaking the bank. "A day out in London would have cost more," he observed. "It just shows what's possible having a look and a mooch about a foreign capital in a day."
