Social media has ultimately transformed the way people find and share their adventures. Avoiding the burnout of long-haul travel, these rapid 24-hour visits have revolutionised the traditional notion of a bucket list. Now coined the “burst list” by some, travel is seemingly all about collecting intense, memorable experiences that fit real life. It’s not about where you go, but how alive you feel doing it.
The biggest advantage of these day trips sees the removal of the main cost of traveling abroad. Short haul flights are relatively cheap and with no overnight accommodation needed, it seems like the only way to go if you're wanting a quick get-away. In theory, traveling in such a way also guarantees hundreds of destinations can be seen each year!
However, no trend is without its drawbacks. Extreme day trips have generated extreme criticism for their environmental impact. As stated by the BBC, "Flying is responsible for 2.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions and 8% of UK emissions." This ultimately contributes to global warming.
...the reality of getting there and back, with all the fretting in between, is less than ideal.
In addition, such day trips require incredibly meticulous time management - especially if you have to travel for several hours to reach a major airport or the Eurostar. Personally, it really does sound exhausting.
It may be spontaneous and romantic to book a day trip to Paris, but the reality of getting there and back, with all the fretting in between, is less than ideal. Without prior planning and research you could be wandering around for ages, practically lost, wasting time and losing the will to live.
Extreme day trips offer a taster of beautiful places and cultures, which is far better than not seeing them at all. But, it seems a stressful way to travel. I fear I'd just spend the whole day worrying about getting back to the airport on time.