Extreme Day Trips rise in popularity but set Brits back £579 on average per trip

• Brits are willing to travel up to 3 hours for an extreme day trip, and spend 6 - 8 hours in their chosen country, on average
• The average holiday costs Brits £3,052. This means a single Extreme Day Trip can eat up nearly a fifth (19%) of a typical holiday budget - all for less than 24 hours of travel.
• Travel experts at Confused.com highlight why travel insurance is important for even less than 24 hours away

Becoming a more popular and time effective way of exploring the world, Extreme Day Trips come with extreme spending opportunities. That’s as Brits rack up an average spend of £579 per trip, according to new research from travel experts at Confused.com.

An Extreme Day Trip involves travelling to and from an abroad destination in one day. And this form of travel is becoming increasingly popular amongst Brits. That’s as 3 in 10 (30%) have already been on one, while a further 13% have been on multiple trips of this type.

By saving on accommodation costs as well as spending less time in a country, Extreme Day Trips are considered a cheaper alternative to exploring nearby cities.

However, when looking at its daily cost, Extreme Day Trips come at a price. And the expenses involved can quickly add up. Confused.com found the average spend of the following factors on an Extreme Day Trip:

With all of these factors combined, Brits can expect to spend an average of £642 on an Extreme Day Trip.

As of 2025, Brits average holiday spend per trip was £3,052¹. And with an Extreme Day Trip totalling £579, Brits are prepared to spend nearly a fifth (19%) of holiday funds on less than a full day away.

With short flights, frequent airline deals, and flexibility, Brits have the opportunity to travel somewhere for a day with ease. With France (45%), Spain (26%), and the Republic of Ireland (19%) topping the list for the most desirable destinations for a day, it’s now easier than ever to immerse in a new culture for less than 24 hours.

On average, Brits are willing to travel up to 3 hours for a day trip abroad. If opting for a 7am flight, Extreme Day Trippers could be in their chosen country by 10am ready to explore with the full day ahead. With Brits spending an average of 6 - 8 hours in their destination of choice, there’s plenty of opportunity to see what the city has to offer.

For some, the cost is a sacrifice they are willing to make. For nearly half (47%), the motivation behind Extreme Day Trips is to visit a nearby city without taking a full holiday. Places like France, The Republic of Ireland, and Amsterdam are under 90 minutes away from the UK, making these destinations even more appealing and accessible to visit.

Nearly 1 in 2 (45%) will take the opportunity to go on an Extreme Day Trip for a specific event. Since international concerts and sports matches are often cheaper abroad, it makes sense that people are willing to fly out just for the day to see them.

And for 3 in 10 (30%), an Extreme Day Trip is a chance to tick off a bucket list destination. Cities like Milan, Bruges, and Brussels offer enough culture and dining to enjoy a full experience without needing an overnight stay.

An Extreme Day Trip is the perfect opportunity to explore a new country in a short space of time. The most popular things to do for Brits on an Extreme Day Trip include sightseeing as much as possible (44%) and fitting in everything they can to maximise their quick trip away (41%). Doing so in less than a day is certainly a practical and timely way to take everything in.

Brits tend to travel with their partner (45%), friends (40%), or family (36%) for an Extreme Day Trip. And for nearly a third (32%), they opt for a solo trip to soak in the culture of a new place.

Despite being considered a ‘day trip’, more than 2 in 5 (43%) travellers who’ve been on an Extreme Day Trip have still faced the usual issues they might experience on a normal holiday.

1 in 6 (17%) experienced flight delays when travelling home, compared to an additional 14% whose outbound flight was delayed. With Brits averaging 6 - 8 hours away on an Extreme Day Trip, even a delay of a couple of hours can significantly eat into their trip.

But for over 1 in 10 (11%), their experience travelling home was disrupted with their inbound flight being cancelled altogether. Not only does this cause hassle for travellers, but defeats the purpose of the trip.

But no matter the duration of your trip, when travelling abroad, it’s always important to have the correct cover. That’s why over 6 in 10 (63%) of Brits take out travel insurance for an Extreme Day Trip. However, nearly a third (31%) admitted to not doing so.

An Extreme Day Trip may seem like a quick and easy break, but it could still cost a significant amount. And without insurance protection, holidaygoers could lose a lot of money.

Tom Vaughan, travel insurance expert at Confused.com comments,

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Notes to editors