European day trips

[overthinkersanonnymus]

Does anyone do these on a regular basis, or at all in the past?

I haven't been abroad in forever and would like to build my self back up (anxiety disorder related) to travelling. I love the idea of just popping to Barcelona for a couple hours on the beach, a lovely meal, then back home to my own bed. Or a spa day in France eg.

Any tips or suggestions are very welcome.

Seems to be a new trend, but the environmental impact is horrific.

I often think about this but then I wonder if it's worth the hassle for literally one day - by the time you've got to the airport, spent 2.5 hours there, potentially held up, then out the other side it's several hours before you've even got there!! Maybe an overnight stay makes more sense, despite paying for the hotel room?
But if it's a day trip you're after, I'd say Paris or Amsterdam as they're the shortest flights and neither have a long trip from airport into the city (though CDG is massive and can take a while to get through!) Barcelona is an easy trip on the metro into the city, as is Milan or Geneva and they're all short and cheap flights. You don't want anywhere where it takes 2 hours on the other side!
I regularly look at easyJet for this as I live near luton but for my reasons above I have never done it - I'd love to know if people have!

I get that, But those planes are going there anyway, no matter whether I'm on it or not.

I'm hoping to have some life experiences before I croak!

I've done Poland, Copenhagen and Latvia in a day

Poland was only £13 Return

1 hr drive to airport + get there at least 1.5 hours before flight + 2 hour flight + 30 mins to disembark plane and get through passport + 30 mins to get into centre of city = 5.5 hours ONE WAY. Not worth it for me.

I just went to Iceland for 3 nights, which was in effect 2.25 days. It was an Iceland Air package deal and it was absolutely fantastic. Highly recommended. I know it's not exactly what you're asking but it's not long.

I can't imagine all the travel, connections, potential for delays etc..being very good for an anxiety disorder.

I have to put myself in situations that allows me to practice techniques.

I've been at this for 20 years!

@Forgottenmyphone that's what I've generally always thought - and I think your assessment of 30 mins to get out of the airport and another 30 into the city is quite optimistic! All the little bits of waiting around add up (like getting the airport bus from the carpark etc - if you just miss one it can be a 15 min wait til the next, and so on)
I think one night stopover works much better and less stressful!

Exhausting and terrible for the planet, no thank you.

There is a Facebook group called extreme day trips, they head out all over the place just for a day.

Why? Just why @ItTook9Years ?
Anonymous trolling.

Contribute in a positive manner or just keep scrolling to another site.

OP try Eurostar they do offers for £35

I went to the Spanish GP from Dublin as a day trip, years ago. Got home in time to see the highlights on TV!

How is that trolling? I feel the same. Just because someone doesn't agree with it, you think they're trolling ?!

It's a thing - as PP said Extreme Day Trip have their own forums. Join a Facebook group.

Not a chance my anxiety would cope with all that travel in a day

Can I just say that those whose anxiety wouldn't allow them to do this, I totally get it.

But I've been agoraphobic for over 20 years and the fact that I can even consider doing this is massive for me and my family, who have all been restricted by my disorder.

I had a breakdown at 19 and was in hospital many times in my 20s due to psychosis.

Your anxiety is no better or worse than mine. I want to live a normal life and have to take small steps to be able to do what everyone else does. Which is have a weeks holiday once a year.

Find your closest airport and see where they fly and when. I lived 20 min from airport so wasn't hassle. I am frequent-ish flyer so know the drill and flying just with handbag is a bliss. I could clear small airport in VERY short time like that, no 2.5 hours needed.

I will do that. Thank you for the tip!

I did jersey in a day which was fantastic. Look up extreme day trips on fb for ideas.

It's definitely possible. As pps have already observed, there's a Facebook page set up specifically for this subject. I happened to read an entry from someone who visited Dublin. I only mention this because I know Dublin well. They packed in a huge amount in one day - what your average tourist would take two or three days to fit in. I'm not saying it was faked or anything. But if you also factor in early morning/late evening flights plus travel time to and from the airport, I reckon you'd need a few days to recover. Or maybe that's just my age .

I've done
Milan
Malaga
Dublin
Belfast
Budapest
Amsterdam

Not for a day, but 1-2 nights. If you can fly first thing day 1, and back evening day 2. You need 2 nights to really relax and not rush though ie Fri am out, Sunday pm back

It's not a sun holiday but you could look at the Isle of man, Belfast. Cork or Dublin as a starter as no passport control. I've been to these places a few times for work for the day but not leisure travel.

Alicante is a popular EDT destination but I've queued for an hour to get through immigration for Spain and Germany so not what you want on a day trip. I think Palma Mallorca is a common one too.