A mum-of-three ventures around Europe never spending more than one day at a destination or more than £150 being there — including a £100 trip to Alicante for a day of eating
A mum-of-three hops across Europe in her free time, recently enjoyting a day trip to Alicante for a day of eating and drinking sangria in the sun.
For most parents, a day out might mean visiting the local park, a shopping trip, or a family-friendly outing to the zoo. But for one adventurous mum, a day trip means something entirely different. Instead, she packs her passport, heads to the airport – and she never pays more than £50 for a return flight.
Amy Harris, from Colchester in Essex, is a fearless explorer who has turned her passion for travel into an adrenaline-fueled pursuit of adventure – all within the span of a day.
READ MORE: Doubt over US holidays for Brits as Trump introduces ‘enhanced vetting’
The 40-year-old is a devoted mum to three energetic young girls — Thea, seven, and twins Brontë and Neve, both three. With the demands of motherhood keeping her on her toes, she longed for something more as she felt she lacked a personal purpose outside of motherhood.
“Exhausting! Their social lives are better than mine,” she joked. With no family nearby to provide childcare and the rising costs making a return to work less practical, Amy began searching for an outlet beyond the daily routines of parenting.
That’s when she stumbled upon a Facebook group dedicated to Extreme Day Tripping (EDT) — a fast-growing movement where thrill-seekers embark on whirlwind journeys to new countries, squeezing in as much adventure as possible before returning home the same night.
Amy’s first foray into EDT was a trip to Bucharest, Romania, where she experienced a luxurious spa unlike anything she had encountered in the UK. “My friend took me for my 40th, and it was amazing — so different from a UK spa. Romania is wonderful and incredibly affordable when it comes to food and drink,” she said.
That initial taste of adventure lit a fire in her, and before she knew it, she was hooked. “It really is addictive. Once you realise how easy it is to travel this way, you just want to keep going,” she added.
Unlike traditional travel, EDT is all about precision and planning. Flights, transport, and activities must be meticulously timed to maximise the short but intense experience. Amy primarily books through apps like Skyscanner and Trip.com, using budget airlines and travel hacks to keep costs as low as possible. While most of her trips are true single-day excursions, sometimes an overnight stay is necessary due to flight schedules.
“The key is flexibility and speed. You have to be prepared to book a last-minute deal and not be fussy about flight times or airports. I always have a list of potential destinations ready, and when the right deal pops up, I grab it!”
In just five months, Amy has completed six international day trips, covering approximately 9,050 miles and spending around £700 in total – with no plans to slow down. Her recent trips include Bucharest for £150, Dublin for £140, Copenhagen for £110, Rome for £100 and Alicante for £100.
With at least five more trips booked for the year, including Sarajevo, Milan, and Baden-Baden, Amy has no intention of stopping. “I will do this until I run out of places to go! It’s amazing fun and surprisingly budget-friendly,” she shared.
Amy carefully budgets for food and drinks, setting aside around £30 per day, opting to bring snacks and eat at affordable eateries. She notes that bigger cities like Dublin can be costly, with prices comparable to London. To save on transport, she opts to walk whenever possible, but time constraints sometimes make taxis, Uber, or Bolt if necessary. She budgets £20 – £30 for transport when needed, though she primarily relies on trains and buses to keep costs down
From her adventures, Amy has found that beach destinations tend to be cheaper, as there are fewer paid activities, whereas city trips can be more expensive due to attractions like museums and cable cars. For example, on her upcoming trip to Albania, she’s booked a private tour guide for £50 per person, which includes everything for a hassle-free experience.
Amy explained: “It’s a great way to see the world, visit places that would be harder with three small children, and take a break from everyday responsibilities. Plus, I’m incredibly lucky to have an amazing husband who supports my crazy obsession and takes time off work so I can go!
“Every trip has its own magic. Alicante was pure relaxation and value, just eating tapas and sitting on the beach, we basically popped there for lunch! Rome was an intense sightseeing mission, but so worth it. Bucharest was breathtaking with its thermal baths. There’s something special about every place you go. I had never left the UK until I was 21, when I got on a plane to Australia by myself. So now, I feel like I have so much making up to do!”
While Amy relishes her solo adventures, she also hopes to instill a love of travel in her daughters. “I want them to know they’re incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to hop on a plane and see the world. We live in a place where, within a few hours, you can experience completely different cultures. I want them to appreciate that and know that the world is vast – you can never see enough of it,” she commented.
“I’d love to take my husband when the girls are older! We rarely have any quality time together so this will be on the cards. He’s super well-traveled, though, so I think he’d prefer somewhere unique. Extreme Day Tripping is the perfect way to satisfy my wanderlust while being back home in time to tuck my kids into bed. I wouldn’t have it any other way!”
