A short break can be the perfect way to escape the daily routine and recharge your batteries.
Whether you’re looking for a relaxing weekend getaway, an adventurous outdoor excursion, or a
cultural city escape, the key to planning a successful short break is preparation and
organization. Here are some tips for planning the perfect short break:
Choose a Cheap Place to Travel
It is cheap to take a flight to some vacation destinations. It is, however, expensive to stay in
these places. If you want to take a budget trip, do not choose these places.
The Post Office releases a city costs barometer every year. So, check the city costs barometer
before choosing a place to travel. The Post Office ranks the major cities from the cheapest to
the most expensive. And it posts the cost of everything, including the cost of food and transport.
Do not visit the tourist hotspots in the country. Why? The prices are inflated in most tourist
hotspots. Tourists pay more money in these locations.
Choose options, such as the German city of Passau, instead of the most popular Bavarian
cousin, Munich. If you want to travel to Tuscany, Italy, choose Barga instead of Florence. If you
want to visit Poland, choose Warsaw instead of Krakow. And if you want to visit France, choose
Avignon instead of Paris.
Be Flexible to Get Cheap Airfare
If you do not want to spend more money on your flight, you have to be flexible about when you
plan to take a short break. Therefore, you need to consider the flight times and the duration of
your vacation.
It is more expensive to fly on a Friday. It is, however, cheaper to fly on a Tuesday. If you are
flexible, you will save more money. It is also crucial to choose a quieter vacation destination.
It is easy to find the cheapest vacation destinations for specific dates. Use websites, such as
Skyscanner, to find the cheapest destinations. It is cheap to visit some European countries,
even during summer.
Use websites, such as Swoodoo, to find the cheapest flights. However, this is a German site.
So, you will need to use the translation function on your web browser to translate the website.
Use the website to get the days of the week when the flights are cheap.
It is cheaper to book an early morning flight or a late night flight than to book a flight at peak
times. If you are traveling early in the morning or late at night, you may have to take a taxi to
your hotel. This is because public transport rarely runs at that hour. It could, however, get
expensive to only use taxis.
The Duration of Your Vacation
It is cheaper to take shorter trips. Visit your favorite destination for two days. You do not have to
spend three to four days there. You will still enjoy the place without spending more money on
food and accommodation. You should go for shorter trips. You will even visit different places
more often.
Become More Versatile About How You Travel
It is cheap to take a flight to Europe. Do not just rely on airplanes. It is even better to look for
train deals. Train deals can offer the best value. A train ride also offers a fun-filled and unique
experience. If you are not in a rush to reach your vacation destination, you can travel by coach
to save even more money.
However, if you want to go to a rural area in the country, you can drive a car. However, you
need to consider the petrol and insurance costs. You do not want to spend more money on
petrol and insurance. In addition, you need to have important documents for driving in Europe.
Take Your Time to Prepare
Prices may go up as your travel date approaches. Once you choose a date for your short break,
you can now look for cheap flights and accommodation. You can only get the best prices a few
months in advance of your travel date.
It is possible to get last-minute deals. They can save you money on an expensive trip. However,
if you want to travel on a budget, then they cannot offer the best value.
Undersold flights can also save you money. You can book undersold flights at the last minute. It
is, however, very rare to find cheap last-minute flights. They are more suited for spontaneous
travel.
Use Search Engines Correctly
It is easy to search for flights online. However, websites can easily know what you are doing.
They can, therefore, increase the prices. Do not let your browser retain your search history. If
websites cannot see your search history, they cannot target you with higher prices.
If you use Google Chrome, you can use “incognito” to search for flights. If you use Internet
Explorer and Edge, you can use “InPrivate Browse”. And if you use Firefox or Safari, then you
can just open a “Private” browser window.
It is much cheaper to stay in a hostel or Airbnb than to stay in a hotel. Hostels and Airbnb are usually in great locations. In fact, some Airbnbs are part of someone’s residence. In some cases, it is more comfortable to stay in an Airbnb.
If you stay in a hostel, you can reduce your expenses. You can choose between private and
family rooms and shared dorm rooms. It is much cheaper to book these rooms than to book
hotel rooms.
Find the Best Accommodation for Your Vacation
You need to do your due diligence before booking accommodation. If you do not want to spend more money on transport, then choose accommodation near the attractions. You can just walk from the accommodation to nearby attractions. The Crowne Plaza Harrogate is a great base to explore this lovely city.
You can even stay in a cheaper area. You will still visit nice places. If you do not mind using
public transport, you can book accommodation in a cheaper area. It is cheap to use public
transport in most places.
