To go abroad for one day?

[Teacherbee85]

I'm reading about people who do 'extreme day trips' from the UK to abroad.

I've been looking into it and I've found flights that go to various European cities - leaving first thing in the morning and coming back late at night.

I'm so tempted to say fuck it and just book a solo trip.

Any thoughts?

Thanks for the encouragement everyone, I think I'm gonna go for it 😀

Thinking either Amsterdam, Ibiza or Barcelona .

My mum did this when I was a baby. Her air hostess friends took her on the 6 am flight to Ibiza for free, back at 10pm after a day at the beach. Brilliant late birthday treat. And I had a great day with my grandparents.

Me and DH did it. Went to Marbella for one day/night for a birthday party. It was EPIC. But holy hell the travel home the next day was like the descent into hades 🤣🤣🤣

That flight will still be flying whether it's full or nor, so no point wasting all that fuel, might as well do it!

This ☝️

Eurostar to Paris, Lille or Brussels would be easily doable in a day and more environmentally friendly.

Personally I wouldn't want to do a day trip though. I'd want to stay at least one night so I could see the city at night and wake up in the morning and enjoy a nice fresh pastry.

This is such a silly argument. No, the flight wouldn't be flying if there was no demand, i.e. if people didn't do stupid shit like go abroad for a day.

Not it's not, flights are scheduled and will still fly.

2 examples below so, these flights still fly!

And quite frankly, whilst every househild in the USA has a tumble drier, ill not worry so much about the 2 flights i take a year!

https://eu.usatoday.com/story/travel/2023/06/29/phil-stringer-lone-passenger-tiktok/70364221007/#:~:text=Flight%20delays%20are%20usually%20the,hours%20due%20to%20severe%20weather.

www.independent.co.uk/travel/jet2-flight-glasgow-crete-plane-herself-karon-grieve-cabin-crew-glasgow-a8017461.html

It wouldn’t be if people cut down their air travel. I did it when I was young without knowing the environmental impact but I wouldn’t do it now.

@Teacherbee85 are you close enough to London to do Eurostar to Amsterdam or Paris? That’s another option (I’ve done it to Paris and back in a day)

Have done it once and said never again. You’re so tired from having to get such an early flight that the day is exhausting and miserable. Book a night or two away OP - it is worth it to actually be able to enjoy yourself + properly explore your surroundings!

Why though?

I did Manchester to Rome for one day once. 7 am flight. Went into the Vatican, wandered round the Christmas market, lunch in a lovely restaurant then coach trip round the city. Back to Manchester by 11 pm. It was great.

Surely most households in the UK have a tumble dryer too though? I couldn’t live without mine

I don't have one. Two small children and no outside space and we manage just fine without.

Air travel is never going to end, these flights will still be going ahead if the OP decides to go or not.

Amsterdam is good for this as easy to right into the middle of the City from the airport by Train. It would be a good start to try it as the flight is so short. Dublin/Belfast both good too.

We got an overnight ferry from Hull to rotterdam, connecting bus to Amsterdam and back, over night ferry back, with a cabin for about £60 each (this was a few years ago), we had the best time

Quite possibly these days!

Let's not forget air conditioning too!

Check the airport transfer times. I seem to remember Barcelona being a bit of a trek via bus and tube.

I wouldn't. The only airports offering the cheap flights are 2 to 3 hours away from me. Then there's another 2 hours at least of airport faff. Then there's two more hours or so in the air. Up to an hour getting through immigration at your destination country then the transfer to your chosen location. A few hours there then the whole thing in reverse. And that's without factoring in delays. The whole thing makes me exhausted to think about it. You can get an air B&B for £50 so I'd not consider less than an overnight stop.

I'm in Scotland!

We once did a coach trip from Leicester to Bruges in the 90's. Left at 3am, had a good day in Bruges and got back about 11pm I think.

I mean, I have been to Frankfurt and Paris on same day turnaround for work multiple times, doing a fun trip is no different. Just bear in mind that a lot of the day will end up being on transportation, waiting around, dumb immigration lines etc. so I wouldn’t particularly want to do it unless for a specific event / exhibition etc.

How is anything going to change with this mindset? People need to start thinking about their impact on the environment. Think of future generations if you don’t care about yourself, what you will be leaving them with. It doesn’t bear thinking about.