Stephanie and her sister Sam flew out at 6am and returned at midnightTravel
Jam Press and Sophie Buchan Money and Lifestyle Writer
12:44, 04 May 2025
Steph (R) and Sam in Nice(Image: Jam Press/@readystephtravel)
A travel agent has revealed her top tips for jetting off to not one, but two, European destinations in a single day without breaking the bank. Steph Gibbs, along with her sister Sam, 34, managed to pull off an incredible trip to Nice and Monaco, all while keeping costs below £100.
During their whirlwind tour, the sisters soaked up beach views, indulged in pizza and crêpes, and even had time to check out iconic spots like the Monte Carlo Casino. Steph, 29, who has the inside track on snagging the best travel deals thanks to her profession, is now spilling the beans on how to score a budget-friendly adventure.
“My older sister and I were looking to plan a day out together, as we hadn’t spent much quality time with each other,” Steph shared with Luxury Travel Daily.
The pair enjoyed beach views, pizza, crêpes and took in must-see sights like the Monte Carlo Casino(Image: Jam Press/@readystephtravel)
“Because of childcare commitments, an overnight trip wasn’t an option for her so we thought, why not try a one-day trip abroad! I’m fortunate that a friend of mine works for easyJet, so I can often access discounted fares through her.
“That said, I’ve also booked day trips just by browsing Skyscanner – flights are typically priced between £30–£60, but securing a good deal usually requires being very flexible with dates.
“For this trip, Nice came up as one of the most affordable options. We discovered that some people had managed to visit both Nice and Monaco in a single day, taking a short train ride between the two – so we decided to give it a go.
“Tuesdays and Wednesdays tend to be the most affordable [to book on Skyscanner] based on the trips I’ve taken and booked.”
Steph shared the costs on TikTok, revealing that their flights to Nice were a mere £39 return. Upon landing, the sisters hopped on a tram to the town centre for just £1.30, followed by a quick breakfast for £7.
They then enjoyed a free stroll along the beach and a hike to the top of Castle Hill before tucking into pizza and chips for lunch at £15 each. Next, they took a train to Monaco for a bargain £8 return and visited the renowned casino, which is free to enter.
The day was rounded off with a mocktail at the Café de Paris for £15, before heading back to Nice to savour a crêpe on the beach for £4. Stephanie had prepared a rough itinerary before the trip but bought the bus and train tickets on the day.
“We made sure to stay hydrated and keep fuelled with plenty of food throughout the day, which really helped”(Image: Jam Press/@readystephtravel)
However, she warned that anyone else considering such an extreme day trip needs to be ready to be flexible with timings – and sleep patterns. A recent report by Archers revealed that 85% of Brits would consider taking an extreme one-day holiday – predicting it to be the top travel trend of 2025.
She confessed: “I was up around 2am for our 6am flight, and didn’t get back home until around midnight so it was definitely a long day! There were moments, like during the train ride to Monaco, when the tiredness started to catch up with me, but the excitement of the trip kept our energy levels high.
“We made sure to stay hydrated and keep fuelled with plenty of food throughout the day, which really helped. I even made it into the office for my 9am shift the next morning!”.
Stephanie also jetted off to Alicante with a mate, keeping the entire trip under £100 – flights, transport and grub included. She suggests anyone else hunting for a budget-friendly break should always have Skyscanner at their fingertips.
The travel guru stated: “Be ready for a long day and a bit of tiredness but also an adventure. I also recommend doing some light planning in advance: research a few key sights and map out a logical route so you can make the most of your time.
“Booking restaurant reservations ahead of time so it helps you stick to your budget and saves you from wasting time wandering around looking for a place to eat.”