I’m not going to lie to you. In order to take a two-night weekend break for less than £100pp, including flights and hotel, you are almost certainly going to have to go with Ryanair. Or possibly EasyJet. This means bun fights and grumpiness and the long shot of being left stranded and unloved on the wrong side of Europe. Also, you aren’t going to be flying out Friday, back Sunday. It’s much, much cheaper to go Saturday to Monday… so you’ll just have to bunk off work on Monday instead of Friday.

Which is no biggie.

While I’m at it, your hotel will not be five-star. It probably won’t even be three-star. In estate-agent parlance, it is likely to be well located but basic. Because the pound doesn’t go nearly as far on the Continent as it did a year ago.

But, and it’s a big, gyrating, sexy but, you are getting a fabulous long weekend in one of Europe’s great cities for just £100pp. Which is about one-eighth of a pensioner’s gas bill. The hotels might be basic but they’re great value and perfect as a two-night sleep-and-go base… and those Ryanair flights? No problem after a 7am Stansted bloody mary or two. No problem at all.

PRAGUE……………

BERGAMO…………

The cheapest flight:

The cheapest hotel: