'I've visited 86 countries from my local airport - the cheapest flight was £3'

Meet the globe-trotting Brit determined to visit every single one of the 120 destinations served by his local airport. Neil Loft, 44, has already conquered 86 locations departing from Bristol Airport . A passionate traveller throughout his life, he launched his ambitious quest several years back. Neil, from Bristol, acknowledges his role as cabin crew certainly works in his favour. However, he still dedicates most of his spare time to travelling in pursuit of his objective - clocking up 21 destinations last year and even managing three in a single day this year. He visited Basel in Switzerland, St Louis in France, and Weil am Rhein in Germany all within 24 hours earlier in 2026. Neil said: "I am well on track to achieve (all 120 destinations). I have only got a handful more to do. "I have no commitments to hold me back, so I am just an intrepid traveller really. I have to literally go on my airline apps to remind myself where I am going some of the time. I just tend to see a deal and go book it. "I enjoy the variation of it, meeting different people, trying different cuisines, the cultures. We are so fortunate in the UK to have Europe on our doorstep." Neil reveals his passion for travel stretches back throughout his entire life, having left school at 16 to pursue a career as a travel agent for several years before transitioning to an overseas holiday representative role. He subsequently joined the cabin crew profession with more than a decade of flying under his belt, acquiring all the expertise necessary to accomplish his 120-destination challenge. One of the key skills he's mastered is uncovering bargain flights, with the majority of his travel costing less than a taxi fare to his town centre. He added, "I have always done something travel-based. All these skills that I have learned over the years have equipped me. "There are just so many places that you can do with the low-cost airlines that I can get a flight to Malaga probably cheaper than a taxi or an Uber into Bristol city centre. "With the booking side of things I know where to look to get the best flights and pair them up with the hotels and transfer. And being a holiday rep gave me the confidence to do it alone. "It has always been my life. In my home I have model planes. I also just bought a board with a tracker on it that tells you what aircrafts are flying over your house at any given time." He's already got seven more trips lined up for 2026, with ambitions to squeeze in even more. During one adventure, he visited Basel in Switzerland, St Louis in France, and Weil am Rhein in Germany all within 24 hours in March. Neil said: "I did three countries in one singular day. It was quite straightforward really. Without even realising I had crossed the bridge and walked into a new country. They don't promote it that you can do three in one for a short trip and I think it is a great selling point. "There are not a lot of places in the world where that would be accessible." On the second morning of his Basel break, Neil hopped on the tram to the French border, where he strolled over to St Louis for a coffee and a croque monsieur. He then made his way back to Basel before jumping on another tram across the border to Weil am Rhein in Germany, where he enjoyed a beer in a rooftop bar before returning to his Swiss accommodation. With travel passes handed out upon arrival in Basel, the entire three-country excursion set Neil back just £3, and he reckons others should absolutely give it a go. He added: "They were all different in their own respects. I liked Germany, it was a nice place on the river and quite vibrant. "It was shockingly easy. I took a bit of time in each to have a drink and a mooch about but you could have done all three countries in two or three hours if you wanted to. "People were amazed. Basel should be promoted more as a destination where you can access three countries in a short space of time."