Mums bag £17 return flights from Manchester for cheap mini break in south of France

A group of mums have shared how they managed to take a cheap mini break in the south of France – bagging return flights for just £17.

The pals travelled from Manchester to Marseille for a three-day trip, soaking up some sunshine and taking in the sights before returning back to work for at the end of the week.

Anne-Marie Moss, 45, set off for the trip on Sunday, May 14, with her friends – Jill, 50, Elisabeth, 50, and old school friend Rachel, 45. They spent £97 each for their hotel for two nights, £20 for parking and used £108 spending money for all the activities and food.

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The mates had three full days in the French city before arriving back in Manchester on Wednesday, May 17, at midnight – getting back in time for work and school runs the next day.

For Anne-Marie, who works as a receptionist at a mental health hospital, this is her ninth cheap getaway in two years – and the friends are already planning to return.

Anne-Marie, from Accrington, Lancashire, said the pals went on a cruise visiting the Calanques on the Marseille coastline, ate at a “fantastic” circus-themed restaurant, did an open deck bus tour and a Segway tour of the city. They also visited Notre Dame and the cathedral.

Anne-Marie said: “We loved the boat trip visiting the Calanques National Park, the waters were crystal clear. The Segway tour was the funniest and most enjoyable part, neither me or Jill had ever been on a Segway and decided to do a three-hour tour around Marseille.

“We got to visit a lot of the beautiful sites, riding around the ports and it was such a laugh. We had a couple of scary moments as the pathways got quite narrow and steep, but we absolutely loved it. Rachel and Elisabeth went on a three-hour bike ride around the coast and covered 18 miles and they both really enjoyed that.”

After missing out on a kayaking trip that was cancelled because of stormy seas the pals are already looking to go back. Anne-Marie said: “We want to try and get back in June and do the kayaking trip we missed this time and also the sunset cruise as both of these trips were cancelled due to the rough sea.”

Anne-Marie has been snapping up cheap flights for quick getaways since December 2021 – after taking a trip with her daughter, Trinity, 20, and her friends to Kraków, Poland for just £16. Since then, the mum has visited Poland six times – always securing a cheap return flight – as well short breaks in Romania and Palma, Spain.

Anne-Marie has been expanding her travel group as she goes – with more of her mum and school friends joining in. She said: “I originally went away with Rachel, an old school friend, last year and since then our ‘holiday group’ has expanded with others wanting to join us on our trips.

As long as you’re nice and up for an adventure come along. “You’ve got to be up for things. We don’t relax by the pool,” she said.

The cost of the trip:

Flights – £17 return each

Hotel – £97 each for two nights

Airport parking – £20 each

Spending money – £108 each

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