So, you want to go on a short escape, and you’ve decided that a city break in Europe would be perfect. You really need this holiday, and you want to make it perfect, but you don’t know how to get started? Time to take a look at these planning tips to ensure getaway perfection…
Choose a city
First of all, you’re going to want to choose a city. This can actually be the toughest part because there are so many beautiful, historic cities to choose from. However, this quiz might help you to narrow it down. If not, think about what you like most – cities, restaurants, art galleries, architecture – and do a quick search to find the places that match up.
Nail down your budget
Working out how much money you have is another good way of narrowing down your choices. Places like Switzerland are much more expensive than the likes of Prague, for example, so by knowing how much things like museum entry and food cost, you can work on finding a location that meets your needs and fits your pocket.
Finding a flight
Next step is booking your flight. I would suggest that you use Skyscanner for this because it will show you every available route to your destination and help you to find the absolute best deal there is.
Many cities have more than one airport, so when you’re booking flights, you should be careful to choose the one that is most accessible and closest to your hotel.
Book parking
If you have to travel to the airport, it makes sense to book your parking in advance because you can quite often get a discount by doing so. It also means, providing you choose a reputable company, that you won’t have to worry about finding somewhere to park or paying over the odds for the privilege.
Finding the perfect place to stay
No break in the city or otherwise is perfect without the right accommodation. Your accommodation should be a home away from home with all of the comforts you enjoy. So, think do you want to be in the middle of it all with city life buzzing around you and everything from clubs to museums at your feet or do you want to be on the outskirts where you can retreat and get a little peace after exploring the city? Once you know that, get on booking.com or TripAdvisor and start checking out reviews and looking at photos. Although it isn’t foolproof, you should get a good idea if the accommodation is a good fit for you.
If you’re looking for a more authentic experience, you may even consider booking through Airbnb so that you can stay with a local family or have use of a local home at your disposal.
Research attractions
Finally, you should take the time to research popular local attractions in your city of choice. You should do this not only so you can work out what you want to do, but also to find discounts on entry and so that you can draw up an itinerary that makes sense and saves on shoe leather. Doing both those things will allow you to pack more into your break on your budget with however much time you have.
Plan your break, and it will be the best you’ve ever had.
