Tina White, 49, has completed a challenge to visit 50 international cities before her 50th birthday in January next year, inspired by her late father. She has actually visited 57 cities, reaching the milestone in April 2026 through a series of extreme day trips that cost less than £120 each, with a total spend of around £7,000.
Day Trip Strategy
Tina, from Leeds, West Yorkshire, told Ceatorzine: "I love visiting the UK, but the cost of trains is higher than the cost of a flight, so why would you not go experience another country?" She works 40 hours over four days, leaving Mondays free, and often lets Skyscanner decide her destinations based on price. For day trips, she books airport parking and plans a rough itinerary.
She added: "I've been very lucky with flights; I have had a couple of short delays, less than an hour. I usually look to pay less than £60 for the flights for a day trip, and parking costs me £20 to £25 for the day." She brings a water bottle and snacks, uses public transport (usually under £10), and prefers snacking to sit-down meals to keep the whole day under £120.
Inspiration and New Goal
The challenge was sparked by the death of her father, Gerald White, who died aged 67 from motor neurone disease shortly after retiring. Tina said: "I lost my dad three years ago and decided I wasn't going to wait until retirement to enjoy my life." After completing a 10-hour trip to Cologne, Germany, she has set a new goal: to visit as many different countries as possible.
Tina has visited 25 countries and 57 cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Prague, Venice, Milan, Bergamo, Rome, Cork, Luxembourg, Bruges, Dinant and Zadar. Her 50th city was Lake Maggiore in Italy. She said: "I have found the confidence to do things on my own if there's no one to come with me. I think Dad would be happy that I was getting out and about and enjoying my life."
