Budget day trips you can take abroad from East Midlands Airport

East Midlands Airport departure terminal
-Credit: (Image: Leicester Mercury / Chris Gordon)


Whilst we would all love to fly off to some tropical destination for a week - it is not always the easiest or cheapest option to book a full-on holiday. For a long time people have been making the most out of staycations or weekends away, but now more and more people seem to be going abroad just for the day.

At East Midlands Airport there are all sorts of places you can fly to for a budget trip, with the idea being that you book an early flight to your destination and then the latest flight back that now. The best way to do this is by looking at the cheapest and closest options, generally sticking to no more than two hours away as the longer you are at the airport or in the sky, the less time you have to make the most of your day.

This is a great option all year round for people who are on a budget but still want to travel, but with Christmas markets soon set to appear across Europe, this could be an amazing way to experience the festive period this year. Some of the places you could look at travelling to might include Berlin, Prague or Budapest, but it depends on when you want to go and the flight times available.

Dublin, Ireland is just an hour away and has plenty of tourist attractions in the city, such as the Kilmainham Gaol, Guinness Storehouse and Dublin Castle. For example, on October 15, you could catch the 06.55am flight with RyanAir and be in Dublin for 8am, then catch the 7.35pm flight back and be landing at EMA for 8.40pm for just £32.05.

Alternatively, a direct trip to Paris and back - leaving EMA at 10.55am and getting back just after 9pm - would set you back £224 on Thursday, September 26. Or on October 12, you could catch the 7.05am flight to Faro, Portugal, arrive for 10am and then catch the 9.20pm flight back to East Midlands for £125.57 with RyanAir. However, if you are only going somewhere for the day it is important to plan it in advance as it is worth checking opening times and booking tickets or reservations for anywhere you might want to visit to avoid wasting time or disappointment on the day.

Making a list of everything is also a great way to prioritise what you really want to see and do, and what would be nice if you had the time. There is a range of flight options and prices depending on when, where and who you fly with so be sure to plan in plenty of time to get the best deal.