Extreme day trips are growing in popularity in the UK, with travellers taking advantage of short flight times and cheap air fares to a variety of European cities. It’s easy to see the appeal; spend a day exploring a new city, avoid expensive accommodation costs and be back in time for bed! When you compare some flight prices with those of UK train returns, it can be a bit of a no-brainer!
Being short on time means travellers want to move around freely, packing lightly to make the most of every hour. A ‘hands-free’ city experience helps remove barriers for travellers, while giving them the chance to explore a range of spaces, including retail and urban spaces.
Learn more about how extreme day trips are driving the demand for hands-free city experiences, and what this means for city-based retailers and service providers.
What are extreme day trips?
Extreme day trips aren’t about skydiving or bungee jumping from a tall building (although they could be!). Instead, they’re about travelling to a destination and returning home the same day, usually without an overnight stay. These generally work by setting off for an early morning departure and a late return, giving visitors a full day in a city. These types of trips used to be a niche form of travel, but they are becoming more appealing due to the availability of low-cost flights and the desire for more time-efficient ways of exploring new places.
This trend reflects people’s growing preferences for experiences, which is understandable given the increasing cost of living and rising prices across most products and services. Instead of saving up for longer breaks, people are opting for shorter, more frequent trips that can fit around busy schedules while keeping costs down. These trips are generally well-organised, with travellers wanting to make the most of the time they have in the city.
What do travellers need for a successful extreme day trip?
A successful extreme day trip relies on careful planning to get it right. Travellers need things to be smooth, flexible and stress-free from the beginning to the end of their journey. Unlike longer stays, there isn’t any wiggle room for delays or inconvenience, and efficient city services can help make these trips more enjoyable and memorable.
Some of the things travellers need to ensure extreme day-trip success include:
Easy and reliable transport
Transport is an essential component of extreme day trips, but it’s also the area posing the biggest risk to the day. Connections need to be smooth, so signage should be clear, and connections should be efficient. A walkable city layout enables travelers to explore the destination on foot, making it easier to maximise their visit.
The ability to move freely
Carrying bags and other items can be limiting – people are much freer without baggage. Being able to use luggage storage in Oslo and other big cities makes it easier for travellers to enjoy exploring, moving between retail, dining and leisure spaces. These can be surprisingly hard to come by, so adding storage services within your business could be a fantastic way to bring in customers, while also making their travel experience more enjoyable.
Time-saving services
Time is everything for extreme day-trippers. Useful services such as contactless payments and mobile ticketing provide a lot of flexibility and convenience, while limiting the things visitors need to carry around with them. With a passport and a phone, a day trip to an overseas city becomes completely possible.
Taster experiences
An extreme day-trip offers a flavour of a city. Enough to see some of the main sights, but not as much as you might see during an extended stay. Having taster experiences can be hugely appealing to tourists short on time. A growing demand for pop-up experiences shows that there is something in having a little taster, especially if there isn’t time to enjoy the full thing. From restaurants to tourist attractions, there are different ways to make this work and still offer a memorable experience to customers.
Why hands-free services benefit locals too
While hands-free services are particularly beneficial for extreme day trippers, they alsobenefit locals. Commuters, shoppers and event-goers can benefit from faster services such as transport and payments, making things run more smoothly. Many of the developments already discussed, such as contactless payments and mobile ticketing, help locals access services more easily, and ensure cities become better suited to modern lifestyles.
Anticipating the needs of future travellers
With extreme day trips becoming more well-known and popular, traveller expectations are likely to increase. Speed and convenience will always be essential, but visitors are likely to expect services to be more intuitive, making navigation easier than ever. Businesses must anticipate these needs, taking the time to understand different needs and finding appropriate solutions. This isn’t just to appease the extreme day-trip crowd, it’s about introducing initiatives that help save time, energy and even money for both travellers and locals alike.
What this means for city-based businesses
Extreme day trips are changing the way that consumers interact with the places they visit. People are choosing to experience cities in shorter, more intentional bursts, often influenced by travel TikTok to help plan a productive day in a new location. It’s important for city-based businesses to understand some of the ways that travel is changing, and adapt services accordingly. As travel habits continue to evolve, companies that are agile and flexible can help maintain a competitive edge in a fierce tourism market.
While extreme day trips are a relatively new travel trend, they are reflective of a broader shift in how people interact with cities, and a changing approach to travel. Travellers want to make the most of their time, and using hands-free and efficient services can help meet that need. For retailers and service providers, it’s important to consider how travellers may use and interact with spaces, and find ways of supporting their journey. Consider flexibility, convenience and accessibility, as businesses that offer hands-free and traveller-friendly services could find themselves maintaining a competitive edge within this growing and exciting market.
