Most of us don’t get the chance to go on holiday as much as we’d like. City breaks are a great way of squeezing more trips into a busy schedule. In just a few days, you can explore somewhere new. But it can go by in the blink of an eye. To make the most of city breaks, wherever you choose to go, we’ve got six top tips – with a focus on saving your time, effort and money. Check them out:
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1. Download some useful apps
Your smartphone is one of your greatest travel tools. With in-built capabilities, not only is it your torch, camera, guidebook, map and connection with friends, you can download additional apps to assist you further. The following are amongst those recommended by travel experts:
- XE currency app. Avoid paying hefty exchange rates by accessing live exchange rates, viewing historical charts, and having an app that’ll calculate prices for you.
- Citymapper. Getting around somewhere new can be stressful, so let Citymapper do the hard work for you. It will get you from A to B, with real-time updates on public transport and traffic.
- Google Translate. If your local language skills are a bit rusty, there’s no need to worry with Google Translate. It’ll translate 52 languages for you without any internet connection and can translate text in images (30 languages) instantly by just pointing your camera.
2. Book ahead
If you’re only in a city for a short time, you don’t have the flexibility of different dates and times. If there’s an attraction you really want to see, or a restaurant you’re bursting to try, make sure you book it beforehand – especially if it’s popular. The last thing you want is to arrive and miss out on something you’ve been wanting to do for ages. Most places accept online bookings nowadays, so you’ll be kicking yourself if you forget.
3. Save money by haggling
Did you know 55% of travellers prefer to haggle on holidays? It’s a great way to save yourself a bit of money. Next time you’re going on a city break, brush up on your negotiating skills and try it out for yourself. If you’re new to haggling, check out these top tips to get started.
Vendors tend to hike their prices up when they see a tourist heading their way. Don’t make it easy for them and, in turn, save yourself some cash. You can always put it towards your next city break.
4. Travel off season
If you’re looking to save money, consider travelling to cities off season. Key locations tend to be popular during certain times of the year – but that doesn’t mean they’re unappealing the rest of the time.
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5. Find free attractions
Throughout the world’s best cities, there are free activities – you’ve just got to know where, and when, to look. Then you can keep entertained without having to spend any money. To get you started, here are some great suggestions including free cycling in Copenhagen, visiting the Louvre on the first Sunday of the month, or listening to music in St. Mark’s Square in Venice.
6. Walk places
Last but not least, we suggest using your feet and getting lost at least once. Getting lost is one of the best ways you can explore and discover new places. It’s likely you’ll stumble across a hidden gem you just wouldn’t have found any other way.
Do you go on many city breaks? Share your travel tips and suggestions with us.
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