Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Am I being unreasonable to think extreme day trips are excessive?

164 replies

SonnyHoney · 12/07/2026 21:20

For instance, London Luton to Venice.
How can anyone enjoy leaving their house at 2 a.m. to fly out ridiculously early, spend a few hours somewhere walking around exhausted, and then fly back the same day?
It feels like people are just trying to collect places these days, rather than visiting somewhere because it's somewhere they've aways wanted to go.

OP posts:
LeaKwD · 12/07/2026 22:58

RandomUsernameHere · 12/07/2026 22:50

Maybe not everyone can afford a hotel.
It’s also no worse for the environment than flying somewhere, staying for a week, then flying back.

It's actually better. Because no hotel stays emissions.

RandomUsernameHere · 12/07/2026 22:50

Maybe not everyone can afford a hotel.
It’s also no worse for the environment than flying somewhere, staying for a week, then flying back.

Sundriessundries · 12/07/2026 22:50

It’s the recommended time to allow (I'm sure you know this.)

Cooshawn · 12/07/2026 22:48

Sundriessundries · 12/07/2026 22:47

The travel element feels long to me. Travel to airport, 2 hrs at airport, 2hrs (ish) flight, 1 hour+ time difference, transfer to city…. X2!

2hrs at the airport? For what??

LeaKwD · 12/07/2026 22:47

Carbon emissions wise it's the same as doing a holiday normally. Actually it's less because no hotel stays.

Sundriessundries · 12/07/2026 22:47

The travel element feels long to me. Travel to airport, 2 hrs at airport, 2hrs (ish) flight, 1 hour+ time difference, transfer to city…. X2!

LejlaKapovic · 12/07/2026 22:46

SonnyHoney · 12/07/2026 21:20

For instance, London Luton to Venice.
How can anyone enjoy leaving their house at 2 a.m. to fly out ridiculously early, spend a few hours somewhere walking around exhausted, and then fly back the same day?
It feels like people are just trying to collect places these days, rather than visiting somewhere because it's somewhere they've aways wanted to go.

I don't live in the UK and often take a 2 hours flight to London early in the morning and leave back home on the last flight in the evening. It's not bad if you plan your day.

lulubalu · 12/07/2026 22:46

Well they're obviously not everyone's cup of tea, but no one is forcing YOU to leave the house at 2am and do one, or are they?

You could say "How can anyone enjoy <.........>" (fill in the blank) about absolutely anything, we don't all like the same things, so what 💁

autumn1610 · 12/07/2026 22:45

When I’ve seen them before I think well what about environment etc. but in reality a person getting a quick flight to another European city isn’t actually going to make any difference that flight is still going weather your on it or not. If you were flying private then yes 100% as it wouldn’t be going if you were on it or not.

if I lived close to an airport I could see the appeal. But I’m too far to make it worth it with faffing with parking etc I’d be there longer as having to mess around with that

Cooshawn · 12/07/2026 22:43

Why do you always have to have wanted to go somewhere to be justified in going?

If you're close to an airport it probably isn't much more faff than getting a train to another city. I fly a fair bit for meetings and always prefer to fly out and return same day. It really is very easy.

LeaKwD · 12/07/2026 22:40

Why do you care? If someone enjoys the trip I'm happy for them.

PancakeCloud · 12/07/2026 22:38

I’ve never heard of anyone doing this. Are people you know doing it or is it just a social media thing?

indigorising · 12/07/2026 22:36

Why not more protest about impact on climate and environment ?

ZanyPoet · 12/07/2026 22:32

if it's a couple of hours travel, it's not that outrageous.

that's the time many people spend commuting on a normal day!

Not much difference in time to take a 2 hours flight to Europe or a 2 hour -ish train to London for the day

I am not "exhausted" because I only slept a couple of hours the night before? I can imagine snoozing in the plane, coffee on arrival and good to go. It's not that tiring. I wouldn't do it every day for a month, but a short night? non issue

Pinkflamingo10 · 12/07/2026 22:30

I agree OP it sounds absolutely grim

Bjorkdidit · 12/07/2026 22:29

Onlyoneshot · 12/07/2026 22:11

Why not? Have you noticed the climate literally at all?

OP, YANBU, it's a hideous thing to do.

Show quote history

A few flights a year within Europe has so little impact on the climate it's not worth counting.

Save your outrage for people who travel long haul multiple times a year, drive gas guzzlers, overconsume or those who have children, especially more than 2, because their carbon footprint is way higher than mine.

LeaKwD · 12/07/2026 22:26

I want to go to Moscow

Original poster
SonnyHoney · 12/07/2026 22:25

Cherrysoup · 12/07/2026 21:27

I once took all of Year 7 to Calais for a day. We had an absolute blast, although I swear we could have taken them to a shipping container with the same effect. They enjoyed the journey, the chocolate factory (no longer in existence), the return journey, the Eurotunnel.

Can’t say I’d want a start at the crack of dawn journey anywhere, but I can’t do more than 2 days anywhere so maybe I’d love it. I’d love to do Vienna, for example, but only to stare at the Opera and go to one of the famous cafes and eat cake.

That sounds like good fun and Calais for a day trip is not far atall. I could be tempted by that especially with the promise of chocolate factory.

OP posts:
InQuiresandplaceswheretheysing · 12/07/2026 22:16

Cherrysoup · 12/07/2026 21:27

I once took all of Year 7 to Calais for a day. We had an absolute blast, although I swear we could have taken them to a shipping container with the same effect. They enjoyed the journey, the chocolate factory (no longer in existence), the return journey, the Eurotunnel.

Can’t say I’d want a start at the crack of dawn journey anywhere, but I can’t do more than 2 days anywhere so maybe I’d love it. I’d love to do Vienna, for example, but only to stare at the Opera and go to one of the famous cafes and eat cake.

We did that from
the East Midlands to Boulougne. In the ferry. I remember we had a blast, but actually all that expense when a few days would have been better.

MageKing · 12/07/2026 22:15

I did eurostar Paris for a day once. Was really fun. Knackering though. I couldnt do it often but I can see the appeal if you can cope.with the tiredness. I find air travel exhausting, even short journeys, but i can nonetheless see the appeal for a specific reason- a meal at a special restaurant or a particular activity/event.

Lucyccfc68 · 12/07/2026 22:14

There is nothing extreme about going to Spain, Venice or Paris on a day trip. It’s a few hours away on a flight.
Now if someone can come back and tell me they had been to Moscow or Chisinau on a day trip, I might be a tad more impressed.

Onlyoneshot · 12/07/2026 22:11

Bjorkdidit · 12/07/2026 21:37

I do extreme day trips. It's not about 'collecting' places, and I don't post about it on social media. It's an accessible way of seeing different places without having to get someone to feed the cats, and clean and tidy the house so they don't judge me. It's often cheaper than visiting other parts of the UK, and as well as visiting certain attractions, and using them as a recce for a proper holiday, I can do things you can't do in the UK such as swim in bathwater temperature sea.

It's never involved getting up at 2 am or being 'exhausted' as I'll sleep on the plane, or read my book if I don't fall asleep. I'm generally out 5 am to 10 pm so barely longer than a working day and a lot more fun. Arrive and get the bus/train from the airport to the centre, wander around, maybe get a map from the tourist info centre, have lunch, visit any planned attractions,snooze on the beach, sea swim, clean up, wander around some more, maybe have an ice cream or drink, back to the airport, look in duty free and fly back home.

If it's not something you're interested in, that's fine. But many people do enjoy doing them, so why not?

Edited

Why not? Have you noticed the climate literally at all?

OP, YANBU, it's a hideous thing to do.

OhBettyCalmDown · 12/07/2026 22:08

For some people it’s the only way they get to experience these places. I’ve never done one myself but I’ve spent far too long now both time and money poor so I can definitely see the appeal especially if there’s a chance you’d never get to see some of these things

Thebinisrightthere · 12/07/2026 22:07

It's not different to visiting a town for a day trip, just with a v early start. My friend did them a lot & would catch a couple of extra hour's sleep on the plane

LeaKwD · 12/07/2026 22:05

There's an American person know who day trips from NYC to all over the world. Tokyo London. If they enjoy it, it's up to them!