How To Take An Extreme Day Trip By Plane

Last Updated on: 23rd February 2025, 11:31 am

Sometimes we like to take an extreme day trip from London. It is easy to do, even if it is a little tiring. We go to Skyscanner, type in flights to everywhere, and it brings up a list of the cheapest flights available for the day you chose. Then you build your extreme day trip from there. To save money, we often spend the night at the airport before an early flight. I don’t sleep of course (have you ever tried to sleep on an airport bench?) but Tilly gets a few hours in. So here are our top tips on a quick overnight trip to another country. This is an update of an old blog post, so the photos are of a very little Tilly!

How To Do An Extreme Day Trip

An extreme day trip is a trip where you fly out of a destination and visit a new destination for a day. Then you get a late plane home and can be back in bed by midnight. Firstly, you need to book the earliest flight possible. This is to maximise the time you have at the destination you have chosen.

Sometimes you cannot get a plane home until the early hours of the following morning. I feel this still counts as an extreme trip. It just involves booking a hotel at your destination.

When To Get To The Airport

You are going to get the last train to the airport if you are a none driver. Then just spend a few hours hanging out at the airport with other travellers doing an early flight. You hear travel stories from other travellers and the cafes stay open all night. Everyone sleeping on the airport floor or sitting and waiting for an early plane is in the same boat as you.

If you have a car, then it’s easier, you just get up early and drop the car off before going on the plane. Remember to leave at least 2 or 3 hours before your flight to get through security, and board the plane.

Before You Travel

Check your airline hand luggage policy before you travel because they change all the time and you may find you have to dump some of your stuff at the airport. All airlines are different and they are very strict!

Before you book a flight, always check you can actually get from the airport to the place that you want to go to. Can you imagine landing and not being able to get to your hotel and have to fork out for a cab. Also check out your destination before you go, the last thing you want to do is have to find things to do as soon as you get to your destination. You need to make the most of your few hours in the place you’re visiting. Know bus numbers and train stops for your extreme day out.

Download an app for the airline that you are travelling with. It will give you alerts for delays and it will have your boarding pass on there. For some airlines you can print boarding passes off. Lastly, make sure you passport has at least 3 months left on it, some countries require you to have 6 months left on it.

At The Airport

Take things to keep warm at the airport, Throw a blanket in your bag or make sure you have a big cardigan to wear that could double as a blanket. Tilly and I always layer up for a night at the airport especially if it’s winter – the airport can get cold.

Book a lounge. They might seem expensive but for the price of a lounge, you actually get food and drinks that would cost a lot more from an airport restaurant. Look on Groupon or Wowcher for special offers. I have a Revolut card where you get lounges for £20 a person.

How To Pack Savvy For Your Extreme Day Trip

Only travel with small hand luggage! Then you’re straight on and off the plane. No faffing about and no time wasting when you’re at your destination. Your time will be short so you don’t want to waste it in queues for luggage. Travel lightly, take a back pack and just pop in clean knickers and a clean t-shirt. Even if you are not going to be away overnight, you might want to change into something fresh after sleeping on an airport floor.

Make sure you have a portable phone charger. If you’re anything like me, you will want to use your phone all night even if it’s to pass the time, also put a European plug in your bag so you can charge your phone in a café, at the airport or on public transport at your destination.

Take snacks in your bag. They are good for snacking on at night if you get a bit hungry and you can buy stuff cheaper in the supermarket before you travel than at the airport. I paid £2.00 for a snickers last year at Gatwick! Food might be expensive where you are going too, and with snacks in your bag you can eat on the go.