A mother-of-five regularly leaves her children behind to embark on extreme day trips abroad with her partner, saying these 'date days' have helped her rediscover herself. Oliviyah Stevens, 36, from Walthamstow, felt depressed as her maternity leave ended and craved personal time.
Finding Escape in Budget Travel
Oliviyah, a teacher, stumbled upon extreme day trips and took her first solo journey to Alicante in November 2025. She also travels with her partner Kyle, 37, every few months for a 'date day'. She claims flying to Mallorca costs the same as an evening meal in London.
"It's amazing. With this, you're actually having to go out and leave your house. The price of flying to Mallorca is the same as an evening meal," she said. "I find it really liberating and I feel like I've got myself back. As a mum, you can forget that a bit."
Family Adventures and Solo Trips
Oliviyah has five children: Sahara, 14, Imani, 10, Bear, 9, from a previous relationship, and Kenyah, 2, and Kaius, 1, with Kyle. She also takes the whole family on holidays to destinations like Italy, Morocco, and Bucharest. Altogether, she has explored 20 countries, recently securing a return flight to Pescara, Italy, for just £30.
Her first extreme day trip with Kyle and their two youngest was to Bergamo, Italy, for a theme park visit. "It was a lot cheaper than going to Chessington," she noted.
Rediscovering Herself
Oliviyah described her solo trip to Alicante as "well-needed downtime" where she read a book, visited the beach, and shopped. She uses Sky Scanner to find cheap flights and books spontaneously. In April 2026, she and Kyle flew to Mallorca for her birthday, with flights costing £62 each, while the children stayed with her mother.
"I think it's important as new parents to take that time for yourself. We've found time to come about for us. It's important for us to have that date day every so often," she said.
Oliviyah shares her travel tips online, inspiring other women. "Some people are afraid to travel alone. I was so desperate for alone time I took the time I could. Those breaks allowed me to reflect, set goals, and find myself," she added.
