A woman spent £9k on 12 holidays in 12 months – and says everyone should take time off once a month to have a break from work.<br /><br />Mel Anyamene, 24, has always loved travelling and made a New Year’s resolution in to visit a new country every month in 2023.<br /><br />After finishing an undergraduate and masters degree in engineering and landing a job in November 2022, Mel wanted to make sure she took a good break each month - vowing to go on holiday 12 times in one year.<br /><br />Mel booked her first trip in January to Malaga, Spain, and has since been to Dubai, Lisbon, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, Miami in the US, Nigeria, St. Lucia, Grenada and Cyprus.<br /><br />Mel has jetted away with friends and family – and spent £8,300 so far on the holidays - and says she was able to afford them as she lives rent-free with her parents.<br /><br />She has a trip to Milan, Italy, planned in November and another to Lagos, Nigeria, in December - to complete her year of holidays.<br /><br />Mel, a consulting analyst, from Croydon, London, said: “I made a New Year’s resolution to travel to 12 countries in 12 months in 2023.<br /><br />“I wanted to explore more.<br /><br />“I’ve been continually in education for a very long time and since I had just started my grad job - I thought it would be the perfect way to spent my money.<br /><br />“The money will come back – experiences won’t.<br /><br />“I’m supposed to be enjoying myself.<br /><br />“Everyone should be taking time off at least once a month.<br /><br />“Take time off for yourself.”<br /><br />Mel went away with her family every year growing up and got a buzz for travelling.<br /><br /> She said: “From a young age my parents took me to different places.<br /><br />“We used to go to a new place and never went to the same place twice.”<br /><br />Mel decided to take on the challenge in November 2022 and booked a trip to Malaga, Spain, in January and her mum, Ifesi, paid for a holiday in Dubai in February 2023.<br /><br />She used a British Airways Amex card to rack up points to get cheaper flights for her future destinations, and was able to afford the travel as she lives with her parents rent-free.<br /><br />Mel loves travelling in “affordable luxury” and spent £360 on a bohemian luxury hotel - La Zambra, Malaga, and a return flight.<br /><br />She said: “I’m more of a hotel person.”<br /><br />In March, Mel went to Lisbon for a weekend solo trip for £35 return flights and enjoyed a cooking class.<br /><br />She was offered a sponsored trip to Romania and was able to go for free and hopped over to Dubrovnik, Croatia, and Montenegro in April.<br /><br />Mel said: “Croatia was absolutely amazing.<br /><br />“I always did a boat trip everywhere I could.”<br /><br />Mel loves visiting interactive museums on her trips and made the most of her 30 days of annual leave – which run from September to August – and bank holidays by going away over the weekends.<br /><br />She jetted off to Miami in June before heading to see family in Nigeria in August – cashing in her British Airways points to bag a return flight for just £100.<br /><br />She said: “I used a British Airways Amex card and started racking up points.<br /><br />“Then I could pay with points.”<br /><br />In September, Mel crossed off a further two countries – St Lucia and Grenada – on a family holiday.<br /><br />She said: “St Lucia is a beautiful place. It’s so colourful and so vibrant.”<br /><br />Mel visited Cyrus in October and has a trip to Milan, Italy, and Nigeria planned for the final months of the year.<br /><br />She said: “It’s full on. I’m used to jam packed days. I’m used to being on the go.”<br /><br />Mel estimates she will have spent £9,000 in total on her 12 trips this year – but says you could travel for cheaper than she has.<br /><br />In total she has visited 33 countries over the years and already has some trips planned for next year – to Greece, Norway and Thailand.<br /><br />But she isn’t taking up the challenge to go on quite as many holidays in 2024.<br /><br />She said: “My parents say I need to relax.<br /><br />“I’m lucky I don’t have to pay rent.<br /><br />“Travelling is an education.<br /><br />“I’m thankful I have done it.”<br /><br />Mel’s travels –<br />January – Malaga - £360 on package flights and hotel, £300 spending<br />February – Dubai - £700 on package flights and hotel, £600 spending<br />March – Lisbon - £35 flight, £190 hotel, £200 spending<br />April – Romania – sponsored trip.<br />April – Dubrovnik, Croatia and Montenegro - £325 flight and hotel package, spending £300<br />June – Miami - £950 flights and hotel package, spending £1,000<br />August – Lagos, Nigeria, £100 flights, stayed with family, £150 spending<br />September – St Lucia and Grenada, £2,100 flights and hotel, no spending<br />October – Pharos, Cyprus, £35 flights, £180 hotel, spending £250<br />November – Milan, Italy, £35 flights, £130 hotel<br />December – Nigeria, £400 flights
