European day trip to a romantic city costs the same as ‘date night’, says expert

Imagine swapping a typical date night at your local bowling alley for an exhilarating day trip to Italy, all for a similar cost.

Many Brits have dreamt about exploring Venice, taking a gondola ride, indulging in authentic pizza, and sipping Aperol Spritzes on a balcony.

Now, thanks to Cheap Flights Club, known for sharing incredible last-minute deals on TikTok, this fantasy can become a reality without breaking the bank. The travel expert claimed it’s “better than going to Nando’s” and that flights are just as affordable.

He suggested: “Cancel your next date night and literally go for a day out in Venice instead.”

Despite some scepticism, he insisted he was “being serious” and outlined how it could be done.

“December the 7th you can fly out from London, Manchester, there are tonnes of different airports that do these same day flights […] you fly out at 6.20am, you get in nice and early – it is early, but it is worth it – you get into Venice at 9am, so you’ve got the entire day in Venice,” he explained.

With the return flight not until 10pm, there’s plenty of time to enjoy the city at a leisurely pace, and you “get back at quarter past 11, probably in bed by midnight-ish after the best day out of your whole life,” reports the Mirror.

To further convince people, he proposed that instead of “going to Nando’s”, they could visit “probably the most beautiful place in the whole of Europe”.

The Travel Folk have been effusive about Venice’s charm, declaring its “incredible architecture, romantic canals, and unique travel experiences” as unparalleled. Known for its absence of roads, Venetian life thrives on canals and footpaths for navigation.

The travel expert also noted: “So you spend £20-£31 on return flights, get a cute little boat ride while you’re there that’ll cost you about £20, and then if you’re looking for something else to do that’s completely free, Venice does have some of the most beautiful Christmas markets in the whole of Europe, completely free to walk around.”

He capped his recommendation with an estimated total expense of roughly £70, proclaiming: “Seventy pounds each that you would normally spend on a date night, but instead, you’ve had the best day of your entire life sailing around Venice, and just living your best life.”

However, some followers highlighted potential issues, with one pointing out: “All fun and games until you get delayed.”

Price discrepancies were also mentioned, especially on the topic of gondola rides. A commenter indicated: “Love Venice – Gondola hire is about 80-100 euros, ideally make sure it’s a dry day, weekdays are best and the best spots can get very crowded during weekends.”

An additional voice added: “Just took my dad [and] it was just not worth it. So much hassle. You’re not counting from landing then a taxi then through airport etc. it’s a b***ache for a day.”

Enthusiasm for the upcoming trip was palpable across social media, as scores of individuals tagged friends and pitched plans.

One travel lover declared: “Let’s do this”, while another one voiced intentions to celebrate her birthday.