The Surrey traveller jetting off around the world on 24hr trips that are cheaper than a day out in London

A Surrey man with a passion for travel visited five different countries in as many weekends, including flying to Switzerland to spend an hour up a mountain. Luke Simmonds, 35, caught the extreme day trip bug after the pandemic when he discovered a Facebook group dedicated to people sharing their experiences.

The IT consultant from Guildford has made numerous short trips over the past year including five weekend trips in September and October to Italy, Poland, Lithuania, Switzerland, and France. He is always on the lookout for the cheapest flights, sometimes spending as little as £8.99 on one-way tickets. He said: "It's certainly cheaper than a day out to London."

He added that it becomes addictive after a while and that you can pretty much go anywhere for a day and have enough to occupy yourself. "It's a really good way to sample places - if you like a place you can go back," he said.

READ MORE: Mum missed breast cancer treatment for 10 months because of lost email

READ MORE: Inside EastEnders star Shane Richie's quiet life in Surrey town where homes fetch £630k

During the pandemic, Luke volunteered with the ambulance service, an experience that changed his perspective on life. He said: "Not being able to travel made me want to more. I wanted to get out and see the world."

In the summer of 2023, Luke travelled to three European countries - Poland, Stockholm, and Copenhagen - in just one week. His love for day trips was further fuelled after joining a Facebook group of like-minded travellers.

Luke embarked on a series of budget day trips across Europe with his partner, Amy Hughes, 24, setting off with astonishingly low-cost return flights to Eindhoven in the Netherlands at just £30 per person. The adventure spree included quick jaunts to diverse locations such as Estonia, Monaco, Nice, Gdynia in Poland, Legoland Denmark, Nuremberg in Germany, Oslo in Norway, Churwalden in Switzerland, and Brussels.

He explained the financial strategy behind these excursions: "Hotels are expensive. If you can just pay for flights you save so much money."

In a whirlwind of travel, Luke found himself jetting off on six consecutive weekend day trips in September. One remarkable journey took him and his brother, Olly Simmonds, 38, to Kaunas, Lithuania for a mere 17 hours. They seized a deal with Wizz Air, taking off from Luton on a flight that cost only £12.99 and touched down at 00.55 am. Their itinerary was tightly packed, featuring visits to the war museum, Kaunas Castle, and a bit of leisurely exploration before flying back on flights costing £33.69 each.

The subsequent trip was to Grindelwald, Switzerland, alongside newfound companions from a Facebook group. Departing from Gatwick at 7am to Basel on a £38.99 flight, they ventured by bus, two trains, and a cable car, culminating in a brief yet breathtaking mountaintop experience.

Luke said: "We had an hour and a bit up the mountain. The views were stunning. Once you're up the mountain - how long do you really need?"

The group enjoyed a late lunch in the village before their return trains to Zürich airport and their evening flight home. Not one for resting, Luke's subsequent weekend saw him flying solo to Wrocław, Poland, indulging in travel without breaking the bank – his flights cost £42.17 and his entire spend for the trip amounted to £134.36. Reflecting on the spontaneous decision, he said: "I had a free weekend. I had a really nice time."

In October, adventure-seeker Luke went on an exhilarating journey to the French Alps with friends he met via a Facebook page. Taking an early flight at 8.10am to Geneva, they hired a rental car for a short drive over to Chamonix.

A ride on the cable car took them up to Aiguille Du Midi for a close encounter with Mont Blanc. Luke exclaimed: "It was enough time to see the mountain. The views from the top are breathtaking with loads of snow. It was a stunning sunny and crisp day with unlimited visibility. We had amazing views of Mont Blanc and the surrounding mountains. We all got altitude sickness."

His travel exploits continued when Luke jetted off to Pisa in Italy, the following weekend alongside Amy, managing all this for less than £90. Although a trip to Malaga was on the cards next, Luke ended up abandoning the trip when his plane struck a bird, necessitating an emergency landing. Nevertheless, the couple enjoyed their time seeing the sights and indulging in pizza and ice cream.

Luke, now a seasoned extreme day tripper, has already planned seven more excursions, including snagging £8.99 tickets to Agadir, Morocco.

Top tips for extreme day trips

Luke shares some tricks of the trade for those looking to emulate his travelling lifestyle, insisting it’s crucial not to fixate on one destination and to plan ahead for economical flights. He suggests watching out for airport sales and staying flexible about where and when you travel. Luke enthused: "There's so many places out there you can go to. It's a different way of travelling."

How much an extreme day trip can cost?

The cost breakdown for a trip to Kaunas, Lithuania included flights at £46.68, a hotel stay at £12.50, food and drink approximately €25 (£21.10), train to Luton Airport £9.19, National Express Coach back £15.50, funicular €1 (£0.84), taxi in Kaunas €12.50 (£10.55), Bolts €8.15 (3 journeys) (£6.88), museum entry €5 (£4.22), totalling £127.46.

For Grindelwald, Switzerland, the total cost was £279.12, including flight costs of £93.99, train fare of £46.73, cable car ride at £61, food and drink around £35, and UK travel costs approximating £42.40.

In Poland, the total expenditure was £134.36, with flights costing £42.17, National Express Coaches at £29.00, Bolts in Poland amounting to £26.52, food and drink priced at £27.50, and museum entry at £9.17.

A trip to Chamonix, France, would set you back by £165.68, with flight costs at £38.98, share of hire car approximately £38, cable car ride at €78.00 (£65.85), food and drink at €11 (£9.20), and UK train ticket at £13.65.

Lastly, a visit to Pisa, Italy, costs per person £87.43, including flights at £40.24, Rail Replacement Bus at £0.00, National Express Coach at £17.00, Pisa Mover at £10.90, and food and drink at £19.29.

Get more news from SurreyLive straight to your inbox for free here.