6 Expert Tips for Planning a City Break
City breaks are really en vogue at the moment, and I can understand the appeal. Vacations used to be about jetting away to hotter climates for a week or two, soaking up some sun, swimming in the ocean, eating lots of seafood, and then going back to reality.
But over the last decade things seem to have changed, and many of us are taking to the city break much more than before. Many of us have been on city breaks before, and they offer something a little different. I like to mix up my travel experiences, and throw in some city streets alongside the sandy beaches! So, I’m going to give you 6 of my best expert tips to help you have the ultimate city break.
1. Choose the perfect city
This is the essence of a successful city break, but it’s so simple that people often overlook it. You need to choose the sort of city that is going to meet your interests. Don’t like ancient stuff? Best to avoid Rome! Love modernity? New York might be the best bet. I will always love London, a city I adore, and there are plenty of fun group activities you can try with friends. This is the sort of thing you need to think about when trying to choose the right city for your next trip.
2. You don’t need to break the bank
One of the biggest misconceptions many people have about city breaks is that they’re a more expensive way of travelling, but this is really not the case. There are plenty of things you can do that will allow you to enjoy a city break and stick within your budget. One of the things I would suggest would be a bit of research into the cost of the city, and then budgeting for a certain amount of money per day. I’d also suggest you do a free walking tour of the city, as these can usually be done free of charge. Planning your trip in advance is going to give you a lot more scope to do this on a budget.
3. Sort your travel out
Now, one of the big things I would suggest you do is get a travel card when you arrive in the city. Yes, some of us will choose a car rental, and that’s fine, too, if it’s more suitable for you. Don’t forget about actually getting to your city of choice, too! Around 25% of travellers admit to missing a flight, which is definitely something you want to avoid. The better prepared you are with the travelling aspect of your city break, the more you’ll be able to enjoy it.
4. Use apps to help you
Technology is such an amazing thing, am I right? And these days city breaks can be even more immersive and even more edifying though the use of smartphone apps. There are plenty of apps out there that will improve your city break experience, so don’t be afraid to try some of them out.
5. Consider your accommodation carefully
Okay, so now we get to the part where you can really mix things up. See, back in the day, travel accommodation was all about motels (local) and hotels (global). But things have changed and come a long way.Â
There are a lot of options now, and Airbnb is thought to be one of the best. This is where you rent someone’s home for the duration of your stay. It’s a cool way of experiencing the city from the POV of a local, as well as being able to enjoy more space for less cost.
6. Pack light and take a day bag!
I know we all hate packing, but it’s an unfortunate necessity. The best way of getting around this issue is to pack light for your city breaks. There are a lot of things you need to sort out when it comes to the packing, and I would recommend just focusing on carry on luggage. Take a day bag so you can carry stuff around with you when you are there — it makes the whole thing a lot simpler.
These are some really great tips if you want to make the most of a city break. After all, this isn’t like going to an all-inclusive resort in Barbados! You need to get out there, explore, and get a feel for the city.
I can promise that if you do this, you’ll have an incredibly rewarding experience. If you think
I’ve missed any sensational city break tips from my list, please drop me a line in the
comments!
As always, thank you for following my adventures!Â
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