We flew to Rome & it cost LESS than dinner out in the UK, we saw the Trevi Fountain & Colosseum then went to our own bed
Layla Coward jetted off to the Italian capital with her boyfriend Alex Sterling for a midweek date, and it cost them just £120.
4
4
4
The pair, from Bromley in South East London, flew out from London Gatwick and they were able to pack in a full day of sightseeing.
The pair saw the iconic Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon and had time for a tour of the Colosseum – before flying home that same evening.
The trip, along with souvenirs to bring back home, cost them just £120
'We couldn't believe how much we squeezed in – it felt like we were there for days, not hours,' Layla, 18, told Luxury Travel Daily.
'We were constantly on the move, but everything was so beautiful that we didn't even feel tired until we were back on the plane.
'It honestly felt like a dream – walking around Rome with the sun shining, eating snacks and taking it all in.'
The couple have been together almost a year and were surprised with the romantic day trip by Alex's parents as a birthday present.
Layla says the day started early with a 5 a.m. wake-up call before boarding their 9 a.m. flight to Rome. Once they landed, the duo took the Leonardo da Vinci Express into the city and walked to the Trevi Fountain.
They then headed on to the Pantheon and Colosseum where Alex's parents had also pre-booked them tickets.
Layla said: 'I knew the Trevi Fountain would be big, but seeing it in person was something else.
4
The pretty Italian city break with retro car tours and rooftop bars - and you can fly there in British Airway's brand new plane
'We didn't plan every stop, we just went with the flow and ended up finding loads of incredible places – it all worked out perfectly.'
With return flights costing around £50 each, plus snacks, train fares and a spontaneous €50 Uber when their return train was cancelled, the whole trip came in at roughly £75 per person.
Layla says it was incredible value – especially compared to a typical UK date day.
The 18-year-old said: 'We'd easily spend £60 just on dinner, and if we did a proper day out with activities and a meal, it could cost around £200 – which is why we don't do it often.
Everything you need to know about visiting Italy
Brits must have at least three months left on their passport from the day they plan to leave the country.
Tourists do not need a visa if visiting for up to 90 days in 180 days.
Make sure your passport is stamped on entry and exit.
Travellers may be asked to show hotel booking confirmations and that they have enough money for their stay at the border.
Holidaymakers may also need to show proof of insurance.
Italy is one hour ahead of the UK.
The country uses the euro with around €10 working out to £8.55.
Flights to Italy from the UK take between 2 hours and 30 minutes to 3 hours depending on the destination.
'Even concerts can be more – I've paid over £150 for just one ticket before. This was definitely the best value-for-money thing we've ever done.'
After catching their 9:35pm flight home and a delay at Gatwick, the couple finally made it back through the door at 2am.
It's not Layla's first experience with an extreme day trip either. Just a few weeks ago, she flew to Milan with her mum to celebrate the end of exams.
That time, it was all about shopping, but next time she plans to keep her budget low – capping future one-day adventures at £50.
Layla said: 'If you're smart about it, it doesn't have to cost a fortune – you just need comfy shoes and a bit of energy.
'I'd definitely do it again, but maybe when it's a bit cooler – Rome in July was like walking around in an oven.
'We've made memories that'll last forever – and all in a single day. It was our first time abroad together and honestly the best date we've ever had.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
23 minutes ago
- The Sun
Fuming airplane passenger reveals the ‘selfish' flying trend she had to put up with as traveller ‘sits in her lap'
A WOMAN has been left furious after an airplane passenger reclined her seat. Simone, from the UK, took to social media to share her experience and it caused controversy online. 2 2 The young woman seemed to be making her way back from a holiday when the event took place. She filmed part of the altercation which took place on the flight. In the clip, she was sat down with her table having some of the in-flight meals and a drink. But she claims she was rudely interrupted by the passenger in front who decided to recline their chair. Simone told the other flyer: "This is an airplane. Please let me know where you recline on the airplane." "What part of this seat can you recline on?" she asked again. Like with most economy tickets, there was little leg room for anyone and Simone was not happy with the woman reclining into her already cramped space. In the comments, Simone claimed the passenger was also 'pushing hard and further into my leg.' "She basically wants to sit in my lap," she captioned the post. The video posted to her TikTok account @ msimonexo went viral with over 285k views and 4,900 likes. The deeply selfish holiday trend sweeping Europe's beaches this summer – and it's WORSE than sunbed hogging Plenty of people were quick to weigh in on the situation. Many branded the reclining passenger as 'selfish' while others said Simone should upgrade her ticket if she wants extra space. One person wrote: "I thought everyone knows that you shouldn't recline when people have their trays down." "Buy extra legroom next time," penned a third. Plane etiquette IF you're planning on going away any time soon, you'll need to pay attention to the following unwritten plane etiquette rules... RECLINING SEAT: Podcast host and etiquette expert Nick Leighton explained that you shouldn't recline your seat if the passenger behind you is working on their laptop. He said: "Nobody likes their laptop snapped in half." Before you recline your seat, it's best to check to see what the passenger behind you is doing. If they are on a laptop, ask before you move your seat back. FEET: A flight attendant told The Sun: "Your boarding card tells you a number and a letter, this will be the reserved seat that you have paid for. "Your feet, which are attached to your body, should do their best to reside within this space and stay far away from anyone else. "If you do insist on stretching out, please make sure your feet are covered up." CHAT: TV travel expert Samantha Brown explained that conversations from strangers aren't welcome, suggesting that others shouldn't expect a chat. She added: "I'm not a talker. Plane time is me time." Meanwhile a fourth said: "Anyone that reclines is selfish."
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Readers reply: when did people start going on holiday?
When did people start going on holiday? Valentina Otero, Mexico City Send new questions to nq@ Only a privileged few could afford to go on holiday in pre-industrial times (and before the advent of the railways). The earliest known holiday postcard, however, dates back to Roman times. The text, in full, reads: 'Gallia est omnis divisa in partes tres. Utinam hic esses.' EddieChorepost People certainly went on holiday during the Roman empire – actually travelling, not just nipping off to your villa on the coast for the summer, as many rich people did – because we've found the souvenirs. There are at least two 'A present from Hadrian's Wall' cups, decorated with names of major forts. SpoilheapSurfer Well, the first to have a holiday was God – according to Genesis, that is. (Not sure which album, though.) If organised holidays are meant, for 'hoi polloi', not the grand tour aristos, then Thomas Cook arranged everything on 5 July 1841 for a group of temperance campaigners to travel the vast distance between Leicester and Loughborough to attend a rally. Apparently, refreshments were included: cakes, but no ale. For cakes and ale, it was necessary to wait until Cook had changed his mind and started taking the great unwashed to Spain; things really started to take off in the 1960s. bricklayersoption The grand tour of European sites, as enjoyed by men of the upper classes as part of the general education, was popular between the 17th and 19th centuries. And I suppose there were pilgrimages and trips to spas before that. nina1414 Pilgrimages were possibly the first holidays available to the middling classes. They were ostensibly journeys to venerate saints, but Chaucer gives a good idea of the jollity involved. Souvenir stamped metal badges have been found in the river in York, thrown into the water as an offering to Saint William. DoraMarr It started with holy days. But there is also the idea of mix and match, for example Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) in Mexico. This holiday, celebrated on 1-2 November, blends Aztec traditions of honouring ancestors with the Catholic All Souls' Day. andya2025 Wealthy Egyptians started the tradition of the Nile cruise maybe 3,000 years ago. Sailing the Nile to see the pharaohs' tombs, the temples and the natural wonders was a safe and comfortable way to travel. Throughout history, the wealthy and powerful have found novel ways to demonstrate that they don't need to work. Maybe some bronze age city chieftain decided to conspicuously do nothing for half a moon. PlaceboPidgeon I don't know if it counts, but hop-picking season in Kent was used as a working holiday for a lot of poor Londoners from about the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s. They even ran special trains. haveaperspective My parents moved to Bermondsey in the 1950s when they got married; they were amazed at the mass exodus of families at hop-picking time (they grew up in Devon and only moved due to the lack of well-paid work). Tables, chairs and mattresses were piled on to carts and lorries and taken down to the farms of Kent and East Sussex. Br1ckh1ll The Bank Holiday Act 1871, introduced by John Lubbock, was what introduced the idea of paid days off. It gave bank workers four paid days off and they were known as 'Saint Lubbock's Days'. Rail companies ran cheap day excursions to seaside towns – cheap enough for industrial workers to afford them without holiday pay. LittleBarnSwallow In Britain, the Holidays With Pay Act was passed in 1938, so that's a significant date; you could argue it sparked mass tourism. jno50
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Harry Styles soaks up the sights with stunning Belgian designer in Italy after THAT steamy snog with Ella Kenny at Glastonbury Festival
Harry Styles soaked up the sights in Italy with Belgian-Congolese designer Kim Mupangilai last week after that steamy snog with Ella Kenny at Glastonbury. The singer, 31, showed off his favourite spots in Vatican City and Rome to the New York-based designer, who has appeared on the cover of high-end interior mags. Harry was spotted wandering about St Peter's Basilica and through the back streets of Rome while carrying a bottle of wine with Kim. In pictures obtained by The Sun, the former One Direction star cut a smart figure layering a blue shirt over a white T-shirt and black heels. The Watermelon Sugar hitmaker kept low-key wearing a pair of sunglasses while Kim stunned in a trendy black dress and sandals. A source told the publication: 'Harry loves nothing more than showing people his favourite spots in Italy. 'He also loves art and Kim has been a great source of inspiration.' Kim, who grew up in Antwerp, Belgium, has shared pictures on her Instagram of The Loggia Of Cupid And Psyche — a mural depicting a love affair — at the Villa Farnesina in Rome. She also posted snaps of red peppers drying on a rooftop in Ravello on Italy's Amalfi Coast. Daily Mail have contacted Harry's representatives for comment. It comes as Harry is rumoured to have fallen in love with the small Italian village of Civita di Bagnoregio where he spent the pandemic learning Italian and sign language. During his final Love On Tour show in Reggio Emilia, Italy, in 2023, Harry thanked 120,000 fans in Italian. Speaking in their language, he said: 'The last two years of my life have been a wonderful gift and it is truly very special to end my tour here, in a country that has a special place in my heart.' It comes after Harry was spotted snogging a mystery woman at Glastonbury, who has since been named as Ella Kenny. The singer partied into the early hours with pals at Worthy Farm, where he was seen getting very close to the 28-year-old. Ella is a producer who has worked at a studio in London for around three years, producing 'crossplatform content' for businesses such as record companies and fashion brands. She has worked alongside Nia Archives, as well as produced music videos for artists such as Rachel Chinouriri, and Slow Thai, as well as Anne-Marie and Aitch's huge hit PSYCHO. Reportedly, the As It Was star was in the VIP section with a group of pals when Ella arrived and kissed him on the cheek multiple times, before he led her to the dance floor where they shared their very public smooch. Speaking about the kiss to The Sun, a source said: 'Harry and Ella had fun together at Glastonbury and shared a kiss on the dancefloor. 'They had a good time in the moment but it doesn't mean it will evolve into anything. They just got on and had a snog. 'But she seems like a normal, down-to-earth girl which is different from some of the big stars he's dated before.' A representative for Harry has been contacted by MailOnline for comment. Harry's last public snog was with supermodel Emily Ratajkowski when they were spotted snogging in Tokyo in 2023. The pair were seen dancing with each other in the Japanese capital as they stood alongside a silver people carrier while sheltering from the rain under an umbrella. They shared a number of kisses on the street outside, appearing not to care who saw them while in full view of onlookers. As well as Taylor and Emily, Harry has been previously linked with a string of A-list women, from Taylor Swift to models Kendall Jenner and Camille Rowe, and actress Olivia Wilde. Harry - who has an estimated net worth of $140million - has kept a low profile throughout 2025 as he enjoys time out of the spotlight since wrapping his Love On tour in 2023.
