Planning a holiday with guaranteed sunshine
Immersing yourself into a new cultural wonderland, tasting new flavours, and discovering new architectural gems, is always better when the sun is shining, right? But how often do you know what the weather is going to be like when you book your trip?
To help your holiday planning and make the most of your time away, our travel experts have created a new tool to take some of the pain out of planning your city break - with the weather forecast included.
Don't forget to compare travel insurance before you go to get the best deal for you
Our city break planning tool is designed to help you compare cities within your travel preferences, to discover where you will get the best weather when exploring the sights and sounds of a new city.
So simply select your travel dates, where you want to travel from, and how long you are willing to travel for, then let us do the data crunching! We’ll find your top options based on departure airport, flight costs, 8-day weather forecast, and we’ll even show you our best deals on local currency too.
Ready to be inspired? Try it out now.
Discover our expert city break planning tool
Tips for city break planning
Once you have used the city break planning tool and found your perfect break, the next step is to start putting together a holiday plan.
Work out your budget
First things first, identify your big budget experiences. There may be a particular attraction you just have to see, but how much does it cost? ?
You should also check the local currency, as once you have a handle on the conversions you can begin to weigh up and estimate the costs. Look at the menus for some of the local restaurants to gauge the average costs for a meal and factor this into your budget.
Spread the cost of your city break and compare 0% purchase credit cards to get the best deal for you
Look at things to do
In every city there will be a number of tourist attractions and must-see locations. Although these are great, you may also want to see more of what the locals get up to. There are a few great ways to discover local attractions when figuring out your holiday plan.
Google Maps
Google Maps has an explore feature in the bottom left corner of your map, which can give you a great insight into what is nearby. It will help you discover local things to do, along with reviews, travel and opening times.
Atlas Obscura
Atlas Obscura is a great website with a collection of unique and wonderful things to see and do. From areas with cultural quirks, to intriguing museums and unusual architecture.
Aside from selfies, Instagram offers a great way to find things to do in your desired location. Search your location, click places and browse the tags for anything that catches your eye.
Book your accommodation
Whether you are thinking of a rooftop Airbnb or a luxury hotel stay, the most important factor when booking accommodation has to be location. Be sure to do your transport link research as part of your holiday plan, or consider the walking distance to the central hub.
Another thing to consider when booking accommodation is the reviews. You should check not only the hosting organisation’s website, but also Tripadvisor to get a broad understanding of other guest’s stay.
Plan for the weather
The weather is always an important factor to check prior to travelling, as it will determine your activities and what you should pack.
A great tip when planning a trip in the city, is to remember that sometimes the central district can be quite hot due to the concentration of buildings. Consider this when packing, as you might find it feels a lot hotter than predicted.
Things to think about when planning a holiday
Passports
This might seem obvious but it's super important to check that your passport is in date and has at least six months left on it before travelling. Since Brexit, this is a standard requirement when travelling in the EU and extends to most other countries outside of the EU too.
Entry requirements
Depending on where you are travelling to, it is important to check if you need a visa to visit the country on holiday. This may need to be sorted out pre-departure so be sure to factor this into your holiday plan. You can check the requirements here.
Insurance
When planning a holiday one of the most important things to remember is insurance to ensure you are protected while you're away. You can compare travel insurance deals to find the best coverage for you, just be sure it covers the country you’re visiting and the activities you plan on doing while away. You may need special insurance if you are planning on doing anything on the adventurous side.
FAQ's
What is the cheapest day of the week to travel?
When holiday planning, you will find cheaper flights on off peak days like Tuesday or Wednesday, because those looking for a quick leisurely break tend to fly on or before the weekend.
How many days should you spend in a city?
This would mostly depend on what sort of break you want and the location of the city in question, is it a fast paced cosmopolitan hub or more relaxed slow living city?
Generally three nights is a great length of time for a city break, as it's just enough time to soak up the local atmosphere and see the sights. That's why city breaks are so popular over the weekend as a quick pit stop.
What is public transport like in cities?
Using public transport in cities can be a cost effective and convenient way to get around. Many countries will have integrated public transport systems which will allow you to get around safely. With that said, you should be cautious when travelling on local transport in another country and always choose the safest options. Safer Tourism has tips on how here.
Should you pay in local currency or sterling when abroad?
Where possible, you should try and pay in the local currency. When you pay in local currency, it’s likely to be lower, as Visa and Mastercard set the exchange rate.
Dynamic currency conversion (DCC) means the conversion rate will take place at point of sale if you pay in your home currency. The retailer can set the exchange rate to convert your total, and it’s possible that fees might be added on top.
Make sure you double check which currency you’re paying in before you finalise the transaction.
Planning a holiday?
One of life's greatest pleasures is exploring wonderful cities around the world. It's never too early to plan a city break; whether you're looking for guaranteed sun or breathtaking views, explore our guides below to help inspire your next holiday.
But where should you go to find the best value hotels, experience vibrant nightlife, enjoy delicious brunch or, just, well, get some sunshine for the least amount of cash? Here are a selection of guides from our travel hub to offer up some city break inspiration:
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About James Andrews
James has spent the past 15 years writing and editing personal finance news, specialising in consumer rights, pensions, insurance, property and investments - picking up a series of awards for his journalism along the way.