My son is about to take his 40th flight – we are extreme day trippers

Riley, a six-year-old from near Glasgow, is set to embark on his 40th flight this weekend, heading to Norway. This achievement is remarkable, considering his young age. Rhona Paton, his mother, has embraced a lifestyle where she and her son frequently cross borders for short stays.

Rhona and Riley are part of a rising group of travelers who prioritize quick international excursions. While she admits she has “lost count” of the exact number of trips, they’ve visited destinations like France, Italy, Switzerland, and Latvia. For Rhona, the focus is on creating memorable moments rather than accumulating material items.

“We loved going to the theme park in Denmark, but we equally loved sampling all the food in Italy,” she said. “A particular memory for me is watching Riley dance around a Christmas tree at a market in Latvia. You feel like you’ve had a holiday, packed lots in – without the price tag.”

Rhona insists that cost isn’t the sole driver for their adventures, though it remains a significant consideration. A recent trip to a Copenhagen theme park, for instance, was cheaper than a similar experience in the UK. She also shares tips for budget-friendly travel, such as securing return flights to Belfast for just £45 and managing a £80 budget for a European trip.

With three trips already completed in 2026, Rhona and Riley aim to maintain this pace throughout the year, planning one journey per month. The pair’s approach includes a general rule: never spending more than £100 on flights. One standout trip involved visiting three countries—France, Italy, and Monaco—in a single day, despite requiring an overnight stay for logistics, the total cost stayed under £110.

Building a Community for Day Trippers

Rhona is expanding a network of like-minded travelers from Scotland, particularly targeting European destinations. Last year, she launched a social media group focused on sharing strategies for extreme day trips. The group has since grown to over 30,000 members, offering support for solo adventurers who need assistance.

Environmental concerns have emerged as a challenge for this trend. Aviation contributes 2.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions and 8% of UK emissions, adding to climate change. Rhona recognizes this impact but offsets it through choices like a pescetarian diet and green energy tariffs.

Popularizing Short-Term Travel

According to Kayak, nearly 66% of UK travelers plan to take multiple shorter trips in 2026. This reflects a growing interest in same-day return flights, with searches from Edinburgh and Glasgow showing year-on-year increases of +16% and +15%, respectively.