I flew to Albania for a 13-hour trip
WE all like to travel cheap – but two mums have managed to visit Albania in a day, and it cost them less than heading to the theatre.
Stacey Baugh, 34, and Claire Dukes, 41, headed off to Tirana in Albania, securing return flights with Ryanair for £70.08 each.
Having left their home in Chesterfield at 1am, the pair caught a 5:55am flight from Stansted and landed in Tirana at 9:50am.
After arriving, the pair managed to go on a private tour for £60 each, which explored Lake Bovilla, Gamti mountain, Mount Dajti and an evening city tour.
Stacey said: “It’s an amazing drive – the lake is a gorgeous teal colour.
“You drive most of the way and then hike the rest of the way.”
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They even managed to squeeze in a zip line over the mountains for €30 (£26.41) each.
Stacey said: “It was short but breath-taking – soaring over the mountains as the sun set was the perfect finale to the day time part of our trip.”
They then had meatballs, trileçe – a milk cake, Caesar salad and casserole at the top of Mount Dajti for less than €40 (£35.21).
In total, the mums said that the trip cost them around £200 each – which is less than a theatre trip to London.
The duo landed back in the UK at 1am feeling that the trip was great value for money.
Stacey, a secondary school teacher, said: “I get a return train for work to Leeds and it costs £103.
“If you go to the theatre in London it would cost £70 in petrol, parking and travel and the theatre ticket would cost £60 to £70.
“When you compare the price – I had 28 hours out of my home and went up three mountains.
“The value of what you’re getting is amazing.”
The two mums regularly go on day trips so their parenting isn’t interrupted and it all started when they found a Facebook page for extreme day trips.
Stacey said: “Since becoming parents we have had to shift the way we travel so we’re not away from the kids for long.”
The mums have been to multiple destinations, such as Sweden and Ireland.
Stacey said: “We try and go just to new places.”
The mums already have three trips booked for 2026, including Copenhagen in January, Poland in February and Luxemburg in March.
Stacey said: “You give up so much for your kids.
“I needed to do something for me again.
“It is a long day but you still deserve to do what it is that makes you happy.
“It’s a lot less daunting when it is one day.”
For more extreme day trips – one man has been on 30 extreme day trips to Europe – and here is his favourite.
Plus, TUI launches ‘extreme day trips’ to Lapland from 11 UK airports – including first-time regional base.