Extreme Day Trips (EDTs) – Not for the Faint Hearted (But Perfect with a Touch of Luxury!)
- Nothing Ventured
- Aug 27
- 6 min read
Updated: Sep 1
Extreme Day Trips (or EDTs, if you want to sound like an insider) are one of the hottest travel trends right now. At first glance, they sound exhausting, hopping on a plane at silly o’clock, squeezing a whole adventure into one day, and flying home again that night. But in reality? They’re a brilliant way to scratch the travel itch, experience something new, and do it all without eating into much of your annual leave.
For me, the lure wasn’t just the travel thrill, it was the spa. A whole day of pampering in Milan for less than a three-hour package at Whittlebury Hall? Yes, please. Add my partner-in-crime, Mr Lee (not in the travel industry, just along for the ride!) and we were set.
As you read through, you’ll see I’ve noted prices, showing what we spent per person based on two people splitting costs throughout the day.
Booking the Adventure ✈️
When a friend came back glowing from her Milan EDT, I was sold. With limited time off, I couldn’t hunt for the cheapest deals, but I found a good balance:
Flights: £78.48pp return (Ryanair, Stansted → Milan Bergamo)
Seats: £23.25pp return – front row for a quick getaway (worth it for the spa minutes saved!)
Schedule: Outbound 06:35, touchdown 09:30. Return 20:05. Nearly 12 hours of Italian indulgence.
Most seasoned EDTers take the free “random seat” gamble at check-in, but I wasn’t about to fight my way off the plane. If you want to save pennies, Skyscanner + flexibility = your best friend.
Tip: Milan has several airports; Malpensa is slightly closer if you’re heading to QC Terme Milano instead.
The Logistics 🚗
We live two hours from Stansted, so it was a 2am start – blissfully empty M25 for the first time ever! Stansted at 4:30am was surprisingly busy, though we glided through security in about 30 minutes.
Parking choices:
Short Stay (right outside): £33.50pp/day
Long Stay (15-min shuttle): ~£4.08pp/day ✅ Winner
It would have been a winner if Mr Lee had booked in advance while he was looking it all up. Lesson learned: book airport parking online! Turning up on the day cost us £67. Silver lining? Walking distance to the terminal – we were back at the car in 20 minutes after landing (including that mile long walk through passport control- the no bags thing is a bonus).
This was Mr Lee’s first “doosie” of the day… watch this space.
Pre-Flight Fiascos 🥐🩳
Food: EDT pros pack a sandwich. Us? At 1:30am, the thought of buttering bread was a no. WHSmith granola pots, snacks, and water cost £14pp. Top tip: don’t do what we did.
Shopping: Doosie Number 2 – Mr Lee forgot his swim shorts. Stansted shopping to the rescue at £40. Not to miss out on the chance to shop, I forgot my deodorant and came away £11.50 lighter.
Arrival in Milan 🍝
With limited time, we skipped public transport and went straight for a car. Doosie Number 3 – had Mr Lee booked ahead, we’d have had an €8/day deal. Instead, the last automatic at Europcar cost €184 (deposit included). Still cheaper than a taxi but pricier than the €12.20 shuttle + metro combo most EDTers swear by.
Transport options:
Taxi: €90–€120 (£77.57–£103.43) each way (better if 4 sharing)
Bus + Metro: €12.20 (£10.52) one way (Orio Shuttle → Centrale → Porta Romana)
Car Hire: €42.00 (£36.20) round trip (split makes it cheaper per person)
Spa Parking: €7.85 (£6.77 total, £3.39 each)
Destination: QC Terme Milano 💦
Finally… the magic.
QC Terme Milano is unlike any spa I’ve visited. Full-day entry (£60.77pp) included:
✨ Indoor & outdoor thermal pools
✨ Cinema pool with rain shower (more “torture by waterfall” than relaxing, I couldn't see a thing! 😂)
✨ Sauna inside an old tram carriage 🚋
✨ Underground labyrinths of pools, saunas, relaxation and steam rooms
✨ Complimentary robes, towels, flip-flops & toiletries
Outdoor pools in 30° sunshine were heaven, hydro-massage jets everywhere (pro tip: activate with your wristband, not buttons, took us an hour 😂). Gelato opens at 3:30pm, free for all!
Other highlights: Himalayan salt rooms, imagination waterbeds, rain walkways alternating hot/cold with coloured lights. UK spas? Nothing compares.
Hidden bonus? A meal included in your entry ticket. The staff kindly adjusted our 5:30pm slot to 4:30pm so we could make our flight… but we’d already showered and dressed, and apparently, you have to dine in robes. No time to get undressed again- cue a café dash!
Tip: If you need to change a dinner reservation, ask for a slot 2 hours before leaving to allow time to dress and make your flight.
Additional cost: Lunch at café near spa: £6.88pp
Duty Free & Final Bites 🍫✈️
No EDT is complete without airport extras:
BonBon V&R perfume: £44.64
Maltesers: £7.07
In-flight Coke Zero + coffee: £6.68
Robbery? Absolutely. But memories worth every penny.
💳 Cost Breakdown (per person)
Item | What We Spent | Pro EDTer | Tips to Save |
Flights | £78.48 | £20–£40 | Search Skyscanner for best deals |
Seats | £23.25 | £0 | Wing it! |
Airport Parking | £33.50 | £4.08 | Book in advance or use public transport |
Breakfast | £14.00 | £0 | Pack it |
Transport to Spa | £36.20 | £21.04 | Plan connections carefully |
Spa Parking | £3.39 | £0 | Take bus/shuttle |
QC Terme Milano | £60.77 | £60.77 | Can adjust time spent to save |
Lunch/Dinner | £6.88 | £0 | Pack snacks or café |
Additional Food/Drinks | £6.88 | £0 | Bring your own water/snacks |
Total | £263.35 | £105.89–£125.89 | Better planning = huge savings |
This doesn't even include our Airport Duty Free purchases! 🙈
With sharper planning (cheap parking, €8/day car hire, packed sandwiches), a Pro EDTer could do this for less than half the cost! Mr Lee and I, however, like a few comforts, so we did it our way yesterday. Admittedly, we could have saved a fair bit of money and time had Doosies 1–4 not occurred (4 is coming!), and if we’d known you had to be robed for dinner 😁. But honestly? We wouldn’t have changed a thing. We had an amazing experience and loved nearly every moment.
The Return 🛫
Left spa: 5:00pm
Airport: 6:20pm
Flight: 20:05 → 21:10 Stansted
Home: 1:00am (Doosie Number 4 – a detour via Lewisham!)
Final Thoughts 📝
The spa was magnificent , honestly one of the best I’ve ever experienced. Would I go back? In a heartbeat. Mr Lee still thinks an overnight stay makes more sense (he’s missing the “day-trip” bit 😂), but I’m eyeing a return girls’ trip – at a fraction of the cost.
Are EDTs for everyone? Probably not. But if you’re up for a long day, a bit of chaos, and maximum reward for minimal leave, they’re absolutely worth it.
Pros & Cons of an EDT
Pros ✅
Less traffic on the road to the airport – early mornings/late nights are blissfully empty!
No baggage checks or waiting at the turnstiles in baggage claim – travel light and fast.
Quick in-and-out airport experience.
Thrill of squeezing a full city or experience into one long, exciting day.
Opportunity to indulge in luxury (spa, dining, excursions) without taking extra leave.
Cons ❌
A lot of time can still be spent at the airport – security queues, walking long distances, and finding your gate.
Tight schedule leaves little room for spontaneity – everything has to run on time if you've planned something specific.
Early start and late return makes it a very long day – not ideal if you prefer a relaxed pace.
Unexpected costs can creep in if you forget items or need last-minute purchases (like Mr Lee’s swim shorts!).
Something to consider: Fast track is recommended if you want to avoid long waits.
Bottom Line: EDTs are perfect for thrill-seekers, spa lovers, and adventure enthusiasts who don’t mind a long day for maximum reward. If comfort, rest, or a relaxed travel pace is your priority, a traditional overnight trip may be more your style.
For Mr Lee and I- Our next adventure is booked: Lapland for Christmas Eve 🎅✨. Totally worth it- Watch this space!
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