Day-Tripping: What It’s Like to Fly to New Orleans for the Day & My Essential Packing List

In my last post, I shared my itinerary for a day trip to New Orleans, and since then I’ve received SO many questions about what it’s like to fly somewhere and back in one day.

Even though summer and its opportunities for extended vacations are approaching, so are the peak rates that many hotels and tours charge during the warmer months – which means now seems like a great opportunity to consider short jaunts to save on lodging costs. And what better way to save on lodging than by not needing it in the first place?

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In today’s post, I’m sharing what it’s really like to fly to a destination and back in one day and what I packed and wore for our day trip (spoiler alert: it’s not much more than I carry with me on a normal day!). Grab a cup of coffee or tea, a notepad, and your calendar – let’s get you ready for a day away!

WHAT IT’S LIKE TO FLY SOMEWHERE FOR A DAY

Before we get into the experience of flying for the day, I should note that our trip was purely touristic and without a specific purpose; if you're considering flying somewhere for the day for business or family reasons, not all of these may apply.

I’ll start by saying that Google Flights is an excellent tool for searching for a one-day flight. If you have a date in mind, enter your origin(s) and leave the destination box blank. After the initial search is completed, adjust the filters for price and time of day. Be sure to pay attention to the total price for all guests on your booking; sometimes we accidentally search for one guest rather than two, and only one seat is available at that lowest price – this can completely alter the price per person for multiple guests.

Everyone’s budget is different, but for me, there would have to be very special circumstances for me to consider booking a one-day round-trip flight for more than $75 (our round-trip flights for this trip were $60 each).

I also can’t recommend having a recovery day after your trip enough. If you’re a typical Monday-Friday worker, take advantage of those Saturday flight deals when you can, and save Sunday for resting up. If your “weekend days” fall during the week, lucky you! Tuesday and Wednesday deals tend to be the most prevalent.

In addition to price, you’ll want to consider the timing of the flights (you can also filter times in Google Flights if that’s the search tool you’re using). To get the most out of your day away, you’ll want to land before 9 a.m. and leave after 6 p.m., but the wider the window the better!

Another crucial factor is travel time. I would not recommend a flight longer than two hours for a one-day trip. Don’t forget to calculate your travel time to and from the airport, and consider ease of parking and airport access.

Don’t be snooty when choosing a flight for just one day. Don’t discount the budget carrier, as the Spirits, Ryanairs, and Frontiers of the world are likely going to net you the lowest fares. An hour or two in a non-reclining seat likely won’t kill you, and the satisfaction of not paying the carrier for bags, snacks, seat assignments, or any other fees above the base fare will be sure to keep a smile on your face for the duration of your flight.

Do a little bit of research on your destination before completing checkout; are there any special events or holidays disrupting the city’s normal schedule? Can you get around without a car?

I can’t stress this enough: it’s probably not worth flying somewhere for the day if you can’t get around without renting a vehicle. The time you spend at the rental counter and later searching for parking spots is valuable. Time really is money when you’re traveling somewhere for the day. Make sure your city – and yes, this really should be a city trip – has great public transit or reasonable access to rideshare services.

Once booked, the hard part is over. On a longer trip, it’s usually the other way around, but less time at a destination takes some of the pressure off of planning. Why? Limited available time means the things that are most important to you are instantly clear. Sure, there will be some things you’d love to do if you had more time (I always wish I had more meals available in the day!), but decision fatigue is one thing you won’t have to reckon with on a day trip.

Keep a map handy as you’re planning (despite its clunkiness I like to use Google’s My Maps for plotting points; edit: I now prefer Wanderlog) as you’ll not want to stray too far away once you’ve landed. And if you’re traveling with someone else, bear in mind that you’ll likely have to compromise on some things (before you leave, be sure to answer these questions together!).

On the day of your trip, set more than one alarm because if you miss your flight, you’re probably just staying home for the day. If you choose to bring a purse or backpack, try to skimp on those “just in case” items. Wherever you’re going they’re likely to have what you might need, if you end up needing it at all. The health of your back and shoulders is more important than lugging around something heavy that you won’t use.

I opted to leave my books and iPad at home for this flight (and even left my headphones behind!). It can certainly feel weird to go through airport security without all of my usual travel gear, but it’s a feeling I could get used to.

By avoiding renting a car, we were able to leave the airport immediately in a Lyft (gotta earn those Jetblue points!). Throughout the day we opted to travel on foot and by ridesharing app from neighborhood to neighborhood, exploring each area fully so we wouldn’t need to spend time doubling back later. On a longer trip, I’d be more likely to wait a few minutes to take a bus, but not on a day trip. Meals are another place we chose to save time, as opting for places that served good food fast.

The toughest part of a one-day trip came at the end: having to leave. Having TSA Precheck buys us a little time, but leaving so soon is still difficult. But we left New Orleans with a better understanding of the city and a good idea of what we’d want to do – and what we’d want to skip – on a return trip.

Would we do it again? Absolutely. In fact, we had such a great time, we’re doing it again. Next weekend we’re off to Lafayette, Louisiana, for the day. The ticket price? Less than $30 each.

WHAT I WORE AND PACKED FOR A TRIP TO NEW ORLEANS

What I Wore
| White Tee | Dual-Timezone Watch* | Light Denim | Bandana* | Sneakers* | Earrings* | Square Ring* | Light Jacket* | Sunglasses* |

What I Carried
| Sunscreen* | Digital Camera | Lip Balm | Packable Backpack* | Cardholder Wallet* | Quart Bag | Cell Phone with Case* | Eye Drops | Lipstick | Hand Sanitizer | Tote* | Power Bank (not pictured) |

I love the white-tee-and-jeans look, but often reach for a dark shirt when traveling to keep worries over stains at bay. I’m making the effort to challenge some of these notions of what makes good travel clothing by reaching for some of my more “precious” garments this season, instead of opting for the same old tee and jeans.

The verdict? My white tee survived the day just fine, even after all those crawfish. (My hair, however, did not survive the humidity; the curls I set at 3 a.m. before jumping in the car to drive to the airport did not hold up well. And I thought Florida was humid!).

Despite the heat and humidity during the day, the morning was quite cool and I would have been much more uncomfortable without a light jacket.

Looking for more packing list inspiration? Discover what's in my suitcase each season: Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter

As for what I brought with me, I stuck with the essentials. My tote* was a recent acquisition, and so far it has added value to my small collection of travel bags. It’s just the right size for a day trip, allowing me to hold everything I’ll need for the day without encouraging me to add in extra things. It even had enough space for me to hold this packable backpack* for potential souvenirs (or beignets) – which is already destined to become a travel staple.

Eye drops, lip balm, and hand sanitizer are all musts on a flight, and I carried them in a quart bag per TSA regulations. This sunscreen* was also a life-saver – and its stick shape means it doesn’t have to go in the baggie.

I left my iPad at home since I would only reach for it on the flight, and just used my cell phone (and tossed my mini power bank in my bag to keep it juiced). I suppose I could have brought headphones and downloaded a movie for the flight, but it was nice to just quietly chat with my partner during the flight without the interruption of technology.

*this item is no longer available from the retailer and I've linked a similar product

PACKING UP: MY FINAL THOUGHTS ON FLYING SOMEWHERE FOR THE DAY

Flying somewhere for the day is a bit risky (if flights get delayed or canceled, it can have pretty trip-altering consequences), but it also has the potential to create lasting memories. Frankly, if I hadn’t taken this chance, I don’t know when I would have another chance to visit New Orleans (and that’s saying something, because this was my first time!).

Besides, who’s going to turn down a story that starts with, “Remember that time we flew to New Orleans for the day…”?

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Have you ever flown anywhere for the day? What additional tips would you share? If not, would you ever consider going on a day trip that includes flights?

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