A British mother took her two daughters on a whirlwind 24-hour getaway to Austria, spending £750 but declaring it worth every penny to see them play in the snow without screens.
A Whirlwind Adventure for Snow
Georgina Banfield, known as Georgie, wanted to give her daughters Florence, 14, and Arabella, 12, a memorable trip after they confessed they had always dreamed of a proper snowball fight. Inspired by budget travel groups on Facebook, the 43-year-old secured cheap easyJet flights and organized a flying visit to Innsbruck.
Despite the short duration, the family packed in plenty of activities. They flew from Gatwick to Innsbruck early in the morning and returned the next day. Georgie said: "To do a 24-hour adventure challenge was the real treat. The whole trip was amazing – of course my girls managed to see snow finally."
Snowball Fights and Joyful Play
The weather provided a massive white-out, but the family didn't mind. "The girls had the best time jumping into the fresh powder and having snowball fights like they'd seen in movies. It was glorious!" Georgie said. She was especially pleased to see her daughters playing like children, laughing and squealing with joy, completely off their phones.
Georgie described her daughters as "absolutely stunned" by the experience, dashing about in the snow "like puppies bounding around." She added: "When your kids are 12 and 14 you assume they're not going to be that fussed. But their reactions were so wonderful and full of genuine joy."
Packed 24-Hour Itinerary
Aside from snow play, the trio enjoyed traditional Austrian cuisine, including stews, schnitzels, and hot chocolates. They rode funiculars and cable cars to explore Hungerburg, Seegrube, and Hafelekar, taking in breathtaking views of the Nordkette mountain range. Georgie said: "The travel up in the funicular and cable car were amazing – such beautiful views of the snow-covered trees and the rushing river below."
The family stayed overnight in a hotel costing £115, then crammed in more sightseeing the next morning, enjoying snowy streets, colorful buildings, and riverside views before flying home.
Quality Time Without Distractions
For Georgie, the most valuable aspect was quality time with her daughters without interruptions. "We don't get that much time together with busy work and school schedules, especially as I'm usually solo-parenting as a military wife," she said. "We didn't really use our phones except to check travel times. Instead we chatted and giggled and played."
The Cost and Value
The entire trip, including flights, accommodation, meals, and transport, came to £749.58. Georgie acknowledged that it might seem a lot at face value, but added: "I can't put a price on the adventure we had. I highly recommend it for the adventure, the memories, the challenge, and having something fun and unusual to talk about."
She hopes the trip has given her daughters a taste for adventure and inspires others to try similar budget-friendly, memory-making getaways.
