Have you heard about ‘Extreme Day Trips’?
It’s where you book a very early departure flight and a very late flight home and see a destination in one day. You could fly to Paris at 7am, have a full day in the city and fly home at 9pm and be tucked up in your own bed by midnight.
Now I know what you’re thinking. That sounds like madness, why would you bother?
I initially thought the same, but then I soon realised that Extreme Day Trips (or EDTs) are brilliant.
From the Extreme Day Trips I’ve experienced so far I’ve genuinely felt like I’ve had a mini holiday, whether that’s relaxing on a beach or exploring a new city.
Of course, I’d usually like to go away for longer.
In an ideal world, we’d have countless free weekends and endless pots of money to take 4-5 night city breaks across Europe. But this isn’t an ideal world and that’s just not the way it goes! Yes, it would be nice to have more time but if we keep waiting for ‘more time’ we’ll be waiting forever. Isn’t it better to experience a little bit of a city rather than never experience that city at all?
How often do we say, ‘I’d love to go there but I don’t have the time or money’?
Something I’ve realised as I’ve got older is that you’ll never have enough time or enough money. Well, maybe you will one day but there’s a high chance you’ll be too old to appreciate it in the way you could now.
I know it’s often better ‘value’ to visit a place for a couple of nights but you’ll still spend considerably more money. Not to mention the fact that trying to find three days where you can get away isn’t always that easy.
Another thing I’m finding with Extreme Day Trips is that you can actually see as much in one day as you’d normally see in a weekend.
There’s a different mentality with EDTs because you can keep going, keep walking, keep sightseeing and keep trying new food, even when you’re low on energy, because you know you’ll be going home and sleeping in your own bed that night! Where you’d normally feel tired and want to go back to your hotel, something inside you keeps you going!
Today I’m going to answer all of your Extreme Day Trip questions and share some top tips to get your first EDT planned and booked…
What is an extreme day trip?
An Extreme day Trip is where you travel somewhere far away for just one day. You usually fly and it involves an early flight out and then a late flight home.
What are the benefits of extreme day trips?
- A quick and exciting escape
- Minimal/no time off work
- If you do it during the weekend you still have one day off to relax
- It’s cheaper than a weekend break because you don’t have to pay for accommodation
- It’s fun to do solo
- Great to conquer nerves around solo travel or flying
- Genuinely does feel like a holiday
- A fun way to unique experiences without long-term commitments.
How do I plan an extreme day trip?
- Start with a specific date – this helps you narrow things down and makes it much easier
- Then go onto Skyscanner and search for flights to ‘Everywhere’ on your chosen date from you nearest airport
- Scan through your options to see which flights have an early departure and a late return
- You’ll probably only have 1-2 options by this point
- Once you’ve chosen your destination, do a quick search to check you can quickly and easily get from the airport to the centre and there’s enough to see and do to keep you busy all day.
- Then get those flights booked!
- I then like to look for places to eat and things to see and do
- Plot everything you want to do into a Google Map
What destinations are suitable for extreme day trips from the UK?
Dublin, Belfast and Cork are brilliant destinations for your first Extreme Day Trip. The flight is short, they’re usually cheap, most airports have regular flights and there’s no time difference.
Other popular destinations include Alicante (especially for winter sun), Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Oslo, Geneva and Reykjavik.
How can I find affordable flights for an extreme day trip?
Book your flights between 5-10 weeks in advance and stick to budget airlines like Ryanair, easyJet and WizzAir.
The secret really is to just keep looking on Skyscanner and searching for different dates to see what comes up.
What should I pack for an extreme day trip?
The nice thing about EDTs is that you don’t need to take too much with you. Just whatever you’d take for a normal day out really.
- Passport
- Credit/debit card
- A portable charger
- Snacks
- Water bottle
- Weather-appropriate accessories such as an umbrella, hat and gloves or sunhat and sunglasses.
How do I manage fatigue during an extreme day trip?
This is a real biggy because if you’re getting up really early for a 6am flight, you could be ready for bed by midday!
Here’s how I do it.
- I try to go to bed early and get up early for a few days before my EDT so I’m in the routine of going to sleep early.
- The day before I aim to be asleep (or at least in bed!) by 9pm.
- I drink a full litre of water before I even board my flight so I know I’m hydrated for the morning – I fill up my water bottle before I leave and aim to finish it by the time I get through security.
- No caffeine before the flight because you want to nap on the plane.
- Healthy, nutritious food all morning (anything goes later in the day!)
- Stay calm and don’t let the adrenaline levels get too high.
- Have everything meticulously planned to avoid stress – or be happy just wandering and relaxing.
- Prioritize rest before the trip, stay hydrated, and consider short naps during transit to maintain energy levels.
- Stay fit and healthy in everyday life. There are so many reasons I prioritise my health but one of them really is so I can comfortably walk 20,000 steps during an EDT and be fine with that! I walk 5km a day with my dog and I wear a weighted vest for our walks so any walks without a vest feel easy! I also do HIIT workouts on my Peloton and do strength training, yoga and Pilates.
Are extreme day trips suitable for families with children?
Lots of people do it but, honestly, I wouldn’t.
I have 3 children (ages 5, 8 and 10) and I know they’d all find it difficult and tiring. The queues, the hanging around, the waiting…they’d be bored and very tired.
I’d be more tempted to do it with a baby or a toddler in a pushchair so at least they can nap.
What are the environmental impacts of extreme day trips?
Frequent short-haul flights contribute to carbon emissions. Extreme Day Trips do encourage people to fly more frequently so there are undoubtedly environmental impacts we have to consider.
How do I handle unexpected delays or cancellations?
This is the biggest downside to Extreme Day Trips – if your flight is delayed by 3… 4…maybe 5 hours…. At what point is it not worth taking the trip?
Something that makes it even harder is that you’re often not given a specific delay time. You might be told your flight is delayed but you don’t know how long for.
This happened to me recently with an Extreme Day Trip to Amsterdam. Our flight was delayed for 4 hours but the airline couldn’t tell us if we really would take off at the rescheduled time.
We decided to cut our losses and didn’t take the trip.
In hindsight, I wouldn’t have booked things like tours, activities and tickets in advance because I ended up losing even more money.
So my tips would be:
- Don’t pay too much for flights
- Don’t pre-book activities (if you can avoid it)
- Keep an eye on the weather incase weather related delays might be likely
- Make sure you’ve got a good book or phone/tablet full of entertainment
- Pre-decide with your travel companions how long you’d wait if there was a delay
Can I earn frequent flyer miles on extreme day trips?
Yes, if you’re signed up to an airline loyalty program you can collect miles even on short trips. However, many people taking EDT’s will fly with budget airlines such as Ryanair, Wizzair or easyJet who don’t offer loyalty programs.
What are some unique extreme day trip experiences?
Iceland – A great one I’ve done was to fly to Iceland for a dip in the Blue Lagoon or the Sky Lagoon! Other unique things you can do in Iceland with one day would be to go glacier hiking or drive around the Golden Circle.
Paris – Spend the morning exploring iconic landmarks, then head to a nearby drop zone for tandem skydiving over the French countryside. Cap it off with a quick bite at a Parisian café before flying home.
Agadir – Catch an early flight, hit the beaches of Taghazout for world-class surfing, enjoy Moroccan tea and tagine, and return home the same night.
Switzerland – Fly to Geneva or Zürich, take a train to Interlaken, and spend the day whitewater rafting on the Lütschine River or paragliding over the stunning alpine scenery. Fly back in the evening.
Egypt – Take a direct flight to Sharm El Sheikh, join a half-day scuba diving excursion to explore coral reefs and marine life in the Red Sea, and enjoy lunch with a view of the water before flying back.
Prague – Fly to Prague, enjoy a quick city tour, and then bungee jump from the famous Zvíkov Bridge or even try the adrenaline-pumping pendulum swing. Grab some goulash before heading home.
Morocco – Fly to Marrakech, take a 4×4 into the nearby Agafay Desert, and spend the afternoon sandboarding or camel riding before catching an evening flight back.
Tenerife – Fly in early and take the cable car halfway up Mount Teide, then hike the remaining trail to Spain’s highest peak. Enjoy panoramic views of the islands before heading back down.
Finland – Fly to Helsinki or Lapland, join a thrilling dog sledding tour in the snow-covered wilderness, grab a sauna session, and return to the airport for an evening flight.
Croatia – Fly to Dubrovnik. Paddle around Dubrovnik’s city walls in a sea kayak, stop at secluded beaches, and enjoy cliff jumping into crystal-clear waters. Squeeze in a quick city walk before flying back.
Norway – Fly to Bergen, take a fjord cruise, and zipline across a scenic fjord for an adrenaline-filled view. Finish with fresh Norwegian seafood before returning home.
How do I maximize my time during an extreme day trip?
There are two types of Extreme Day Trippers.
- Those who wander off the plane and make their way to the beach or the bars and restaurants and they’re there to relax, soak up the sun, chill and stroll around.
- The people who want to see and do as much as possible! These people need to customise their Google Maps.
If you fall into the second group then you need to plan a detailed itinerary focusing on key attractions and find out how to best use public transport or taxis/Uber to get around. Plot everywhere you’d like to see into Google Maps so you can see where all the attractions are in relation to each other. Roughly work out the best order to see everything and use Google Maps to see how you’ll get from one to the other.
Are there travel agencies that specialise in extreme day trips?
Not that I know of. I think it would be quite risky for them because if there’s a delay on the flight then the whole trip can be ruined.
What are the cost considerations for extreme day trips?
These are the following costs with EDTs:
- Getting to the airport/airport parking
- Travel insurance
- Flights
- Local transportation
- Meals
- Drinks
- Activity fees
I save money by parking at a nearby hotel rather than using official airport parking.
How do I ensure safety during an extreme day trip?
If you’re taking a solo extreme day trip then make sure someone you trust knows exactly where you are.
If you can, avoid constantly following a map on your phone. You’ll draw attention to yourself and make it obvious you don’t know where you’re going. I like to remember the next two direction on my map and then I’ll discreetly take my phone out and try to remember the next 2-3 directions. Alternatively, if you’ve got a smartwatch you can display the map on your watch which is a bit more discreet.
You should always listen to your gut, avoid quiet areas after dark, never allow yourself to be alone in a dark area and take a taxi if you feel unsafe.
Can I do an extreme day trip without flying?
Yes, it doesn’t have to be all about flying. You can take trains and ferries too. An extreme day trip is whatever you make of it.
A popular way to do an EDT is to take the Eurostar from London. From my experience it’s a little more expensive than flying but it’s a great option.
How do I find others interested in extreme day trips?
I’ve found Facebook to be the best place. Extreme Day Trips – Manchester Airport is a brilliant group!
What legal documents are required for extreme day trips?
If you’re travelling abroad you’ll need your passport and if you plan to hire a car you’ll need your driving licence.
How do I handle currency exchange for a short trip?
It’s very unlikely you’ll need cash anywhere these days. I never travel with cash.
Use a credit or debit card that won’t charge you for international transactions. I use Monzo. It’s quick and easy to sign up to Monzo and the app is great for keeping track of your spending. If you use this Monzo sign up link you’ll get £5 when you make your first purchase.