Millionaire owner of Princess Diana’s favourite restaurant goes on camping staycation to Southend – while support worker who has never been abroad heads to Dubai in holiday swap

• The millionaire’s Southend getaway can be seen on Channel 5, Sunday, at 9pm 
• READ MORE: Millionaire businessman and his friend cheat with a night in a hotel after failing to start a fire

The millionaire owner of Princess Diana’s favourite restaurant ditched his usual £1,000-a-day holiday for a camping trip in Southend – but, on his last £10, blew £600 on a single night out. 

Marco Mellino, from Surrey, who owns Da Mario in South Kensington, was joined by his best friend Paul for a budget British getaway in an episode of Rich Holiday, Poor Holiday.

The restauranteur met his best friend ‘outside the headmaster’s office’ when he was six years old and the pair, both divorced bachelors and ‘playboys’, often go on  holiday together.

They swapped their usual luxury trip to head to Southend in Essex, where they visited as children, and stayed in a caravan – while a support worker who had never been abroad enjoyed a five-star resort in Dubai.

Instead of Michelin star restaurants and five-star service, Marco and Paul were forced to grapple with cleaning out their own toilet – and cooking on a camping stove.

Marco Mellino (right), from Surrey, who owns Da Mario in South Kensington, was joined by his best friend Paul (left) to ditch their usual exotic trip for a budget British getaway

Paul – who owns a high-end chauffeur service – has travelled to the likes of San Francisco, Miami and Capri, Italy, with his close friend Marco.

‘We went to Southend, Highgate, the Isle of Wight. It’ll be fun because it will be nostalgic,’ Marco said. ‘The stories I could tell you about Southend, I don’t want to repeat.   

‘I hope we don’t bump into anyone from back in the day’. 

‘My nightmare holiday is rain,’ Paul added. ‘As long as we’re somewhere warm it’ll be okay’.

On the other end of the spectrum, Cheryl and her son Harvey, 27,  from Southampton, usually go away within the UK – spending around £200 for fuel, food, accommodation and activities.

Harvey had never been abroad before he appeared on Rich Holiday, Poor Holiday, but after a friend died at a young age he made a plea to make more of his life.

Meanwhile, Cheryl, a support worker and her son Harvey, 27, from Southampton, usually go away within the UK – spending around £200 for fuel, food, accommodation and activities

At one point Paul and Marco attempted to stretch £20 for two-days’ worth of breakfasts and main meals on a shopping trip 

In a significant departure from the norm, the mother and son were sent to the five-star Anantara resort on the luxury Palm Jumeirah island in Dubai.

With more than 300 rooms, the couple had to be driven to their accommodation.

It was clear that both groups felt baffled by how the other half holidays.

At one point, Paul and Marco attempted to stretch £20 for two-days’ worth of breakfasts and main meals on a shopping trip – but thanks to an insistence on wine with every meal, blew around a third of their remaining budget.

In the Middle East, cooking enthusiast Harvey was baffled when he ended up spending a whopping £90 on spices at a market in Dubai.

‘I’ve never spent that much on food,’ he admitted. ‘Or even just one type of food before. So I’m going to make sure I use every single last drop of it!’

Meanwhile, Cheryl allowed herself to sink into a massage treatment at the hotel.  

Marco and Paul – who enjoyed a number of activities despite the rainy weather on their holiday – became sentimental as they reflected on their experience. 

‘Sometimes you make friends in places like Dubai and they’re not real friends,’ Marco explained, reminiscing on the people he met in Surrey. ‘These are real people and their friendship is definitely real.’

Marco and Paul – who enjoyed a number of activities despite the rainy weather on their holiday – also became sentimental as they reflected on their experience

To thank Cheryl and Harvey for their newfound experiences, Paul and Marco donated £600 to fund their next holiday

‘If you asked me whether I’d have a night in Dubai or have a night here, I’d have a night here now,’ Paul added. ‘This is priceless.’

With only £30 in the budget, the duo decided to have a day out in Southend, where they used to go as teenagers.

After a rainy day of adventuring, the pair braved the elements one last time for a night out – where they could spend only £10. 

Instead, they rake out 50 times their budget on a nostalgic evening of partying.  

‘Last night we blew it, because we decided that we’re here, we’re gonna have a night like we used to have, we’re gonna go to all the old haunts,’ Paul said. 

Meanwhile, Marco admitted he felt a ‘slight amount of guilt’.

‘I think last night… last night we spent about £600,’ he added. 

The episode saw Harvey and his mother splash out £9,300 on their exquisite getaway – whereas Paul and Marco’s trip was £592, around three times more than what the mother and son duo would have cashed out. 

To thank Cheryl and Harvey for their newfound experiences, Paul and Marco donated £600 to fund their next holiday.

Rich Holiday, Poor Holiday will be available on Channel 5 on Sunday, at 9pm. 

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