Cities make a great destination for a weekend break. A couple days is often all you need to see the sights – stay any longer than this and you can risk spending too much money or getting exhausted by the city buzz. The weekend tends to be the best time to visit a city as it’s when everything is happening – all the attractions will be open and there are often special events on, plus you don’t have to book time off if you work weekdays. That said, a weekend city break can go wrong if you don’t plan it properly. Below are just a few tips to make sure that your city weekend break is a success.
Don’t travel too far
Too much time spent traveling back and forth to your chosen city will result in less time to spend at your destination. If you’ve only got Friday evening to Sunday evening free, you don’t want to be getting on an 8 hour flight there and back. Look for cities within a 2 hour range – whether you’re driving, flying or taking a train – to help maximize time spent at your destination.
Book attractions in advance
Want to visit local museums or historical attractions? Or perhaps you want to watch a local show or take a local tour? You may not always be able to buy tickets for these attractions on the day. Buying tickets in advance can help secure entry/a seat so that you’re not left disappointed. Plan attractions a couple months in advance so that you can order tickets early.
Stay somewhere fairly central
Hotels on the outskirts of a city can be cheaper, but you can waste a lot of time each day getting to the attractions. A central hotel may cost more, but you’ll be spending less money on public transport and won’t have to leave your hotel as early each morning. For the best of both worlds, look for a hotel that’s not too far out but not too near to attractions.
Take advantage of public transport deals
While it can be fun to experience a New York or London cab, city taxis are often a rip-off and should be avoided for the most part. You’re better off taking public transport in a city. Look out for tourist deals on passes that can provide unlimited public transport usage for a couple days – a lot of cities have these passes, but they are not always well advertised. This could save you money getting around.
Research where to eat
Cities can have some great places to eat, but also some awful places. By researching some places to eat beforehand, you can check out reviews and recommendations. Booking popular restaurants in advance could also guarantee that you get a table, plus you can reduce time wandering around looking at menus (instead, spend your time comparing menus online before you go). Doing research beforehand can also help you to find cheap places to eat if you’re traveling on a shoestring budget.
Look up the weather forecast
A vacation can easily be spoiled if you don’t pack correctly for the weather. While the weather in some cities can be quite unpredictable, you can usually get a fairly accurate idea of what it will be like by checking the forecast online a couple days before you set off. This can help you to decide what kind of clothing to bring, and whether you need extras like sun lotion or an umbrella.
Don’t be burdened by your luggage
If you have to check out of your hotel early on a sunday morning but don’t have a flight until late that evening, you could find that you have to lug your suitcase around with you for the entire day. Some hotels will have a room in which you can keep your suitcase after checking out – allowing you to explore the city hands-free and collect your luggage later. However, these rooms may not always be secure. Fortunately, there are other solutions – many cities have luggage storage locations at train stations and airports that you can find and book online. These are a great alternative if your hotel doesn’t allow luggage storage after you check out.
Allow time to relax and wander
While you should plan an itinerary, you should avoid arranging too many activities per day. You don’t want to be rushing to get from one place to the next – being able to travel at a leisurely pace will give you the option to stop for a drink if you need it or explore an interesting shop along the way. Some of the best things that happen on a vacation are often the most spontaneous things. Allow some time to be spontaneous so that your city break doesn’t feel restrictive or stressful.
Consider booking a Monday/Friday off
An extended weekend break could give you more time to spend in a city. It could also allow you to look at cities further afield as you’ll be able to justify that extra hour on a plane or in the car, plus there could be other perks such as being able to access cheaper Thursday evening/Monday evening flights. If you work Monday to Friday, this does mean using up your vacation allowance. Make sure to book this time off in advance so that you’re guaranteed the day off.
Bring a portable chargerFrom using your GPS to get around to taking photos and videos, you’re likely to make heavy use of your smartphone while on a city break. Bringing a portable charger can help you to charge up your smartphone on the go so that you don’t run out of battery at a critical time. There are many different types of portable power banks that you can compare online – including power banks that can charge more than one device at once, and backpacks with in-built power banks. Make sure to charge up your power bank before you go – an uncharged portable charger won’t be very useful!