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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask: if you had a four day weekend and a budget of about £600 for flights and accommodation, where would you travel in Europe?

134 replies

lookingdownoncrearion · 28/07/2026 16:34

In March. Had a half marathon booked but I’m never going to get to the required fitness level and the thought of it has me dreading running ever again. So I’m going to cancel and go away.

Any recommendations welcome!

OP posts:
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PistachioTiramisu · 29/07/2026 14:46

Vienna? A beautiful city and lots to see. Might even snow in March!

BlackRowan · 29/07/2026 14:45

barcelona is lovely in March and has great food scene. So does Madrid.
then there is always San Sebastián also I’d probably split it with Bilbao for museums:)

i used to adore Rome but it’s very crowded now - perhaps March will still be ok

BigMartin · 29/07/2026 14:43

I don’t know if it is cheap but Cadiz is lovely easily walkable city.

Original poster
lookingdownoncrearion · 29/07/2026 14:39

Melarus · 29/07/2026 14:33

this virtue signalling is insufferable

Thoughts and prayers for your suffering 🙏

This isn’t the thread for it.

OP posts:
Melarus · 29/07/2026 14:33

this virtue signalling is insufferable

Thoughts and prayers for your suffering 🙏

Ilisss · 29/07/2026 14:18

BlackRowan · 29/07/2026 14:17

this virtue signalling is insufferable.
Commercial aviation as a whole is about 3% of CO2 emissions

biggest contributors are electricity and heat generation (25-30)
agriculture and forestry (20-25)
And industry (20-25)

plant agriculture for human food is estimated at 4-8% of CO2 emissions so virtue signalling vegans probably should stop eating altogether (and using ANY electricity and any heating) before lecturing others

And the industry is making strides to decarbonise

BlackRowan · 29/07/2026 14:17

this virtue signalling is insufferable.
Commercial aviation as a whole is about 3% of CO2 emissions

biggest contributors are electricity and heat generation (25-30)
agriculture and forestry (20-25)
And industry (20-25)

plant agriculture for human food is estimated at 4-8% of CO2 emissions so virtue signalling vegans probably should stop eating altogether (and using ANY electricity and any heating) before lecturing others

estrogone · 29/07/2026 13:54

blueberry8 · 28/07/2026 16:47

Countries are literally on fire right now due to climate change. Maybe not fly abroad.

Give it a rest.

MagicThanks · 29/07/2026 13:53

I’d go to Barcelona or Lisbon

WheresMyHatGone · 29/07/2026 13:37

Lisbon and take the train to Sintra for the day. It is absolutely stunning. I was there in January and it was warm enough for jeans and t-shirt during the day.

Ilisss · 29/07/2026 13:36

lookingdownoncrearion · 29/07/2026 13:32

Good for them.

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I disagree..I'm on your side OP. Have a great holiday

Ilisss · 29/07/2026 13:34

Melarus · 29/07/2026 11:32

Yes, I am! If everyone thinks, "oh, no one else is reducing their flights, so I may as well not bother," then nothing will change. Now you know that I definitely am changing my plans.

I've told DP I no longer want to go to Japan, and he was on the same page. He's pretty freaked out by the fires too.

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Other people will just visit Japan then and you won't.

We've not been yet. But we'd love to go.

Original poster
lookingdownoncrearion · 29/07/2026 13:32

Ilisss · 29/07/2026 13:17

There are people who say you can fly to meet family but not for holiday

Good for them.

OP posts:
Cornishclio · 29/07/2026 13:24

Nowhere too expensive as £600 doesn’t go far these days. Maybe Spain or Portugal or Croatia.

SunshineOnARainyLeith · 29/07/2026 13:19

Riga in Latvia is beautiful and great for exploring. Very cheap once you are there, and we stayed in a wonderful flat for £350 for 5 days via Airbnb.

Ilisss · 29/07/2026 13:17

There are people who say you can fly to meet family but not for holiday

suburberphobe · 29/07/2026 13:15

@blueberry8

Some of us have family abroad so have to fly there.

I don't drive though so...

Ilisss · 29/07/2026 13:13

Flamingojune · 29/07/2026 12:52

So next to nothing means no-one bothers to makes any changes?

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Yup. The industry is decarbonising and becoming more energy efficient anyway.

Original poster
lookingdownoncrearion · 29/07/2026 13:03

Bjorkdidit · 29/07/2026 12:59

Easiest way would be to fly to Malaga and get the bus, it's less than 2 hours and definitely worth the trip. I've been a few times and not run out of things to see.

Porto (and Portugal in general) is quite low cost, so the OP would definitely be able to get a flight and nice hotel in budget.

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Porto has won, purely because it’s so cheap! A beautiful apartment overlooking the river for £300 for 3 nights!

OP posts:
Bjorkdidit · 29/07/2026 12:59

MayaPyjama · 29/07/2026 12:54

Athens, Porto or Granada are next on my list so one of those.

I think Granada might be too difficult to get to for just 4 days though.

Easiest way would be to fly to Malaga and get the bus, it's less than 2 hours and definitely worth the trip. I've been a few times and not run out of things to see.

Porto (and Portugal in general) is quite low cost, so the OP would definitely be able to get a flight and nice hotel in budget.

Bjorkdidit · 29/07/2026 12:56

Flamingojune · 29/07/2026 12:52

So next to nothing means no-one bothers to makes any changes?

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Of course it doesn't. But you don't change behaviours and destroy an entire industry and many people's livelihoods for an ineffectual change.

You look at what changes will have a meaningful impact. If there is something that has 10% contribution to climate change, reducing the emissions in that 'something' by just 2% will have twice the effect as removing flights from the UK altogether. So you'd do that first.

JoyousWriter · 29/07/2026 12:55

Narvik

Original poster
lookingdownoncrearion · 29/07/2026 12:55

Flamingojune · 29/07/2026 12:52

So next to nothing means no-one bothers to makes any changes?

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if I make a change it won’t make a difference. I refuse to deprive myself of a few trips a year because the ultra rich don’t want to change their lifestyles.

If you don’t like that then fine. But this isn’t the thread for you.

OP posts:
MayaPyjama · 29/07/2026 12:54

Athens, Porto or Granada are next on my list so one of those.

I think Granada might be too difficult to get to for just 4 days though.

Flamingojune · 29/07/2026 12:52

Ilisss · 29/07/2026 10:55

No need to be pedantic. It's next to nothing.

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So next to nothing means no-one bothers to makes any changes?

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