“Extreme day trippers” on the rise

[Bald Rick]

The eclipse? Same issue, low in the sky before sunset. Day trip? Yes, although I believe there are long passport queues on return meaning you have to be at the airport very early before the flight...means less of the day spent on the beach or whatever!

2325 ex Palma to Luton. Plenty of time, especially with no hold bags.

 

[185143]

None whatsoever, it's just that going abroad for so many of us Brits are special moments in our lives that need planning by many like a military operation. Dutch, Belgian, Germans etc etc cross international borders just for a night out with no questions asked and no passports required.

Exactly this. I met a couple of guys on the Budapest-Stuttgart sleeper last month going to a gig and a night out in Vienna like it was the most routine thing in the world! Which I suppose it probably is. But the British mind could never fully comprehend that. I was on an ICE out of Amsterdam yesterday. It rolled in and we got on. Simple as that. Last time I left Amsterdam was back to the UK and it took well over an hour to clear passport control...

Funnily enough on the same Budapest-Stuttgart train I got woken up by the Poleizei demanding IDs at 4AM. I've also been woken by Swedish customs wanting documents too at a similar hour. Then again, both are better than the blatant racism I witnessed from the Danish police. Had my passport in my hand standing by the doors. Weren't interested. Nor were they interested in anyone's passports who was white European. Not a good look!

 

[AdamWW]

Exactly this. I met a couple of guys on the Budapest-Stuttgart sleeper last month going to a gig and a night out in Vienna like it was the most routine thing in the world! Which I suppose it probably is. But the British mind could never fully comprehend that. I was on an ICE out of Amsterdam yesterday. It rolled in and we got on. Simple as that. Last time I left Amsterdam was back to the UK and it took well over an hour to clear passport control...

Speak for yourself!

My "British mind" can certainly comprehend the fact that for countries in continental Europe international travel can be somewhat more straightforward than for those of us surrounded by sea and with border formalities to deal with.

 

[Tetchytyke]

I'd extreme day-trip for that (would UK/Valencia day ret be extreme??) but the eclipse is early evening (around 8.30pm local time) so a hotel would be necessary.

You'd be able to get back on the same day, some of the flights back to the UK from Ibiza and Mallorca are well after midnight.

I'd hate to go to Ibiza for the day though. I'd want to go and get fleeced in Ushuaia afterwards.

 

[Howardh]

According to AI you'd have to (link should be to the full thread):

Google Search

The simple reason being that London Manchester is around 1/5th the distance of Ibiza Manchester (210 miles vs 1,015 miles).

That's based on the fight being full and the per person emissions being 98g/kg.

I therefore asked if it were to use the most effective aircraft (such is said was 58g per kg) it got a bit more of a viable option:

I asked about congestion, as clearly that's a possible factor, using a car which does 20mpg and it said:


I did ask for congestion at 30mph first but that was over 12 hours, so felt that was a bit ridiculous so didn't feel that was likely, so adjusted the mpg downwards.

As such (and given I don't know what vehicle you drive) it's possible, although for most people it's unlikely.

Fascinating, I think that's answered my question!

2325 ex Palma to Luton. Plenty of time, especially with no hold bags.

No offence, but I don't want to end my day trip at Luton! But fantastic for those living around Luton/Standsted/Gatwick and as they are nearer Ibiza - shorter flying time too. If I lived near gatwick, day trips abroad would be a regular thing - at least pre-EES

You'd be able to get back on the same day, some of the flights back to the UK from Ibiza and Mallorca are well after midnight.

I'd hate to go to Ibiza for the day though. I'd want to go and get fleeced in Ushuaia afterwards.

Ushuaia - no thanks!! Just a bottle of red as the sun sets @ la Savina looking over the lagoon will do for me - although to be pedantic that involves a ferry ride too so a day trip there is even more difficult (especially if sunset is 9.30pm local time in high summer)!

I suppose if you do the clubs, fly out late afternoon, club overnight and get the plane back home in the morning would classify as an extreme day out. Football fans do the same for Euro matches?

 

[Butts]

Did a day trip form Edinburgh to Jersey via Heathrow the other week.

That's 4 planes,4 lounges time to nip into St Helier and duty free cigarettes to boot.

No passport required!!

 

[styles]

I keep getting these groups promoted to me on Facebook (which I rarely use except a couple of local community things are only really shared on Facebook unfortunately).

I can see the attraction. I've even looked at some of the proposals and thought actually my dog would be fine at home on her own for that amount of time.

But my environmental conscience doesn't really agree with it.

That said, if I were going to save £hundreds in cigs and booze tax, maybe it's worthwhile.

 

[zwk500]

But the British mind could never fully comprehend that. I was on an ICE out of Amsterdam yesterday. It rolled in and we got on. Simple as that.

It's a bit novel for some but it's perfectly easy to get used to if you spend any time out there. Especially if you live near a border. Whereas some Belgian police who did a random ID spot check on me at Maastricht station once were surprised to hear I was travelling to London!
I lived in Maastricht for a while, I would regularly go for hikes or bike rides from my door into Belgium and back or get the Bus to Germany (Aachen) in addition to using the trains from Brussels via Liege to get to/from London.

 

[RT4038]

or chutney from South Africa

Surely you fly over for the day and buy it in Pick'n'Pay, for your good lady? (because I don't think all the varieties are routinely imported?)

 

[scottishtrains]

Doing a daytrip ABZ to LGW on Saturday - with an 8am arrival and a 8pm departure (roughly) and only £80 return is fantastic value. Day trips are brilliant for those who might not have as much money to spend but still want to explore

 

[styles]

I wouldn't say £80 for a day trip is particularly "fantastic value". I can get an all inclusive 3 day trip for £270. I guess people's milages vary!

 

[scottishtrains]

I wouldn't say £80 for a day trip is particularly "fantastic value". I can get an all inclusive 3 day trip for £270. I guess people's milages vary!

Flights from ABZ tend to be quite expensive, and compared to BA's £140+ at the time I wouldn't say its too bad.

 

[styles]

Flights from ABZ tend to be quite expensive, and compared to BA's £140+ at the time I wouldn't say its too bad.

Ok? But it's still not an affordable day trip for most people. For the same price they could have unlimited food and drink in a sunny destination. People aren't day tripping to Aberdeen and anybody who thinks that's a common thing needs to give their head a wobble.

 

[dastocks]

About 50 years ago my school used to arrange day trips to Venice from Gatwick. I went on one of them. These were my first commercial air flights, operated by Dan Air on a BAC 1-11. I was seated in a rear-facing exit row seat on at least one of the flights.

 

[route101]

Ireland is one place I have day tripped. I don't mind coming back late if I' am off work the next day.

Hotel prices in Ireland are usually high.

Ideally I would stay the night if going away.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

EasyJet I assume?

Doing a daytrip ABZ to LGW on Saturday - with an 8am arrival and a 8pm departure (roughly) and only £80 return is fantastic value. Day trips are brilliant for those who might not have as much money to spend but still want to explore

 

[scottishtrains]

EasyJet I assume?

Yeah

 

[mmh]

I wouldn't say £80 for a day trip is particularly "fantastic value". I can get an all inclusive 3 day trip for £270. I guess people's milages vary!

It costs £50 for a day trip by train from where I am in North Wales to Manchester, and many people do it. £80 from the north of Scotland to London is a complete bargain in comparison.

 

[FinsburyPark]

It costs £50 for a day trip by train from where I am in North Wales to Manchester, and many people do it. £80 from the north of Scotland to London is a complete bargain in comparison.

Depending on when you book and how generous the airline algorithms are you can get cheaper.

Best I got was Gatwick - Dublin £4 return on Ryanair back when they did 1p to £15 promo fares. Yes it meant travelling to Dublin in January which even with a thick coat can be a bit of an ordeal weather wise. For that price, why not.

Got Stansted - Luxembourg for £40 and Gatwick to Malaga for £54 so there are deals out there to be had.

 

[King Lazy]

About 50 years ago my school used to arrange day trips to Venice from Gatwick. I went on one of them. These were my first commercial air flights, operated by Dan Air on a BAC 1-11. I was seated in a rear-facing exit row seat on at least one of the flights.

About 10-15 y was ago my Dad told me of a couple he knew. They did a day trip to Venice from South Cumbria.

IIRC, they got up c1am and drove to Edinburgh for an early flight. Flew to Venice, had a few hours look round and flew back getting back home within 24hrs. I always found it a quite impressive story.

 

[The exile]

Whereas some Belgian police who did a random ID spot check on me at Maastricht station once were surprised to hear I was travelling to London!

I wonder how it compared to the the reactions of a French check to this driver of a German registered (empty) van, wielding a UK passport but answering their questions in their own language. A few double takes that day!

 

[dastocks]

About 10-15 y was ago my Dad told me of a couple he knew. They did a day trip to Venice from South Cumbria.

IIRC, they got up c1am and drove to Edinburgh for an early flight. Flew to Venice, had a few hours look round and flew back getting back home within 24hrs. I always found it a quite impressive story.

In our case the school was about 10 miles from LGW. Parents dropped their kids at LGW around 7am. We probably got to Venice late morning, had a few hours to see the sights, arriving back at LGW to be picked up around 10pm.

I've also been to Paris and back in a day (on Eurostar) for long lunches to celebrate significant birthdays etc.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Belfast in a day ( with loads of time to spare) is very easy. I know because I did it about 10 weeks ago.

 

[185143]

Belfast in a day ( with loads of time to spare) is very easy. I know because I did it about 10 weeks ago.

I did Belfast a couple of years back, booked in a Black Friday sale. 06:30 from Manchester and about 20:45 back from Belfast. Great day out. Paid £12ish on Ryanair heading out and £3.90 on EasyJet heading home.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I did Belfast a couple of years back, booked in a Black Friday sale. 06:30 from Manchester and about 20:45 back from Belfast. Great day out. Paid £12ish on Ryanair heading out and £3.90 on EasyJet heading home.

I did not get as good as that but did fly from Manchester.

 

[1D54]

Belfast in a day ( with loads of time to spare) is very easy. I know because I did it about 10 weeks ago.

Done Dublin twice for day trips from East Mids. Always fancied Belfast ( am going in November but for a weekend) but City airport has so few return flights in the evening anywhere and International would eat into so much of the day.

 

[route101]

Did a day trip form Edinburgh to Jersey via Heathrow the other week.

That's 4 planes,4 lounges time to nip into St Helier and duty free cigarettes to boot.

No passport required!!

Did you get stopped by customs at Jersey Airport? I got stopped and questioned.

 

[185143]

Did you get stopped by customs at Jersey Airport? I got stopped and questioned.

I've had everything from "Bonjour, Merci beaucoup" at Paris Orly, to "what's the purpose of your trip, where are you going and can I see your ticket home?" At Hoek Van Holland, and Polish immigration wanting to see my hotel booking for that night at Katowice.

Varies wildly, seemingly completely random. Which is exactly how it should be. Even returning home I've had a wave through after a quick flash of the passport, and also a full conversation with passport officers about where I've been, how much booze I'm bringing home, and on one occasion, "Hiya mate I'm sure I've seen you before!"

 

[styles]

It costs £50 for a day trip by train from where I am in North Wales to Manchester, and many people do it. £80 from the north of Scotland to London is a complete bargain in comparison.

Yeah, trains are unfortunately pricey quite often. But I think when the man on the Clapham Omnibus talks about "extreme day trippers", if they're actually aware of it, they would consider all modes of transport. Flights are the norm for this in the extreme day trippers community, because you can get way further on a plane from the UK for the same price of a train ticket.

I agree that £80 from the north of Scotland to London is good value. But I also think it pales in comparison to a £16.99 flight to Austria. It's also not as good value as £249 for flights, food, unlimited drinks, and 7 nights accommodation in Tunisia A return train journey to London is, on that primitive basis anyway, £160 in trains alone. By the time even one night in a hotel has been paid for, it's become more expensive than a week long all-inclusive trip to Africa.

A £50 trip from north Wales to Manchester is a day trip, sure, but is it an extreme day trip? I think probably not really.

 

[scottishtrains]

I agree that £80 from the north of Scotland to London is good value.

Apologies, looking back out of curiousity it was actually £65, adding seats made it 80.