Okay, let’s address the elephant in the room: Italy is not cheap. But you can fly to northern Italy for surprisingly little. Bergamo, Venice (the main airport, not the islands), and Bologna often have return flights for £50-£80. The trick is to skip the tourist traps; buy a sandwich from a local deli instead of a restaurant and you’ll still eat like a king for under €10.
Sure, an espresso in Milan will cost you €3, but in a backstreet in Bergamo it’s €1.20. It’s about knowing where to go. You can have a proper Italian weekend without selling a kidney—just avoid the gondola ride. (Seriously, it’s €80 for a boat trip. Take a vaporetto for €7, you’ll get the same view and feel smug about it.)
Fly high on a budget, all the way to New York - Voice of London
The Netherlands? Surprisingly Cheap Flights, Expensive Beer
Amsterdam is famously pricey for accommodation, but flights to Eindhoven or Rotterdam can be absolute bargains—often £30-£60 return. The trick is to stay in a hostel or an Airbnb outside the city centre. You’ll pay a fraction of the price and still have easy train access to the canals.
Just be prepared: a beer in Amsterdam will cost you £7, but the journey there is cheaper than a train to Manchester. It’s a trade-off. You get the culture and the bikes, but your bar tab will mock you.
