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The Story in 100 Words
City breaks are the most popular form of holiday taken by British tourists. The most popular destinations are all within Europe with Venice topping the list. Continued uncertainty is driving up demand for domestic city breaks in cities such as London. City breaks have become increasingly popular because they are cheap, flexible, and offer the most “bang for the buck” when compared to more traditional holiday formats. They offer an unrivalled blend of history, culture, and experiences.
Those looking to take a city break for the first time need to pack light, make use of public transport to keep costs down, and keep a watchful eye on valuable possessions. Finally, it’s a good idea to check which travel vaccines you might need (importance of vaccines) as well as ensuring you have adequate travel insurance.
The Story in 500 Words
City breaks are officially our favourite type of holiday, it helps your work/life balance to take a break. They edged out beach breaks in 2018 and continue to grow in popularity, accounting for almost half of all holidays taken by British travellers last year. But if you’ve never tried a city break yourself, where are the best destinations to go, and what can you expect?
Top Destinations for a City Break
Britons enjoy city breaks in a variety of destinations; however, the most popular choices are all contained with the continent of Europe. The top 10 city break destinations are as follows:
1. Venice
2. Krakow
3. Berlin
4. Dublin
5. Amsterdam
6. Paris
7. Barcelona
8. London
9. Prague
10. Madrid
Interestingly, London makes the top 10 for British holidaymakers, despite being a domestic location. With the uncertainty surrounding Brexit and the economy as a whole, many price-conscious Brits have decided to take city breaks within the United Kingdom.
What Are the Driving Forces Behind the Increasing Popularity of City Breaks?
Increase in the number of flights to major European cities
The success of city breaks has been driven, in part, by the success of budget airlines, who offer cheap transportation to cities on the continent for a fraction of the price they did a decade or more ago. Return flights to popular European cities often come in at less than £50 return with operators such as Ryanair, EasyJet, and Jet2.
Urban accommodation has decreased in price
Further disruption to the travel industry has come in the form of apps such as Airbnb, which has slashed the price it costs to stay in urban accommodation. What’s more, there has been a growth in online travel brokers using their collective buying power to secure steep discounts on hotels in each significant European city.
City breaks offer unrivalled cultural and historical experiences
Cities have been the setting for almost every significant moment in history. From the French revolution in Paris to the knocking down of the Berlin wall, cities give tourists the chance to learn whilst soaking up the foreign culture. Furthermore, European cities have some incredible monuments. The Eiffel Tower, the Brandenburg Gate, the Charles Bridge, and the Houses of Parliament, are all situated in major European capitals.
Top Tips for Enjoying a City Break Holiday
Booking your trip
There are two predominant approaches to getting the most bang for your buck when it comes to booking your city break. Self-organising in advance, or waiting until the last minute with a tour operator. Both methods have their advantages. Families can make huge savings by committing to specific travel dates early, whereas students, retirees, and young professionals can reap the rewards of remaining flexible until the last second.
Once you have booked your holiday, what do you do next?
Packing for your city break
One of the key reasons behind the success of the city break is that holidaymakers can get away with packing light. City-hopping Brits can survive with just hand luggage, avoiding excess charges for bringing a chunky hold luggage bag. However, you’ll need to think about which toiletries you’re going to take with only 100ml per item available when taking them on the plane in hand luggage. It may be worth investing in a specialist travel toiletry/make-up kit so that you can use it for each short city break you take.
Protecting yourself while abroad
Every major city has its fair share of criminal activity, and many locals see tourists as easy targets for crimes such as pickpocketing, bag-snatching, and mugging. The city of Barcelona suffers from around 325 thefts per day alone, visitors to other European cities such as Rome, Prague, and Amsterdam report similar levels of theft. Thus, make sure to remain vigilant in busy public spaces, and invest in a secondary “fake” wallet to protect yourself against thefts.
Travel health and insurance
According to Post Office figures, 10 million British tourists go on holiday each year without proper travel insurance. Many British tourists wrongly rely on EHIC cards which only entitles holders to an elementary level of medical care. Similarly, many British travellers wrongly assume that they don’t need to have travel vaccines if they aren’t heading to far-flung destinations. Yet if we take the popular tourist destination of Prague as an example, visitors still need vaccinations against Polio, Diphtheria, and Tetanus before travelling. Keeping good health is always important whilst travelling.
Experience a Unique Blend of Culture and History for a Great Price with a City Break
The city break has become the holiday of choice for millions of British travellers. With the ability to hop on a cheap last-minute flight to soak up the unique sights and sounds of a foreign city for a few days, city breaks have left beach breaks and package holidays behind. By following our top travel tips, you can maximise what you take from the experience whilst looking after both your travel health and your belongings. If you would like to make sure you are up to date with the correct travel vaccinations, head over to our easy-to-use online travel vaccine checker.
The Full Blog
City breaks are officially our favourite type of holiday. They edged out beach breaks in 2018 and continue to grow in popularity, accounting for almost half of all holidays taken by British travellers last year.1,2 It seems the chance to soak up the culture, cuisine, and atmosphere of a foreign city prove too tempting to turn down for the majority of British tourists.
But if you’ve never tried a city break yourself, where are the best destinations to go, and what can you expect?
Top Destinations for a City Break
Britons enjoy city breaks in a variety of destinations; however, the most popular choices are all contained with the continent of Europe. From the canal cities of Amsterdam and Venice to the fascinating history attached to Berlin and Krakow, each major European city has something unique to offer.
Recently released data from Google’s “Year in Search 2019” have revealed the most sought-after locations to spend a few days (or longer) on a city break. The top 10 city break destinations are as follows:
1. Venice
2. Krakow
3. Berlin
4. Dublin
5. Amsterdam
6. Paris
7. Barcelona
8. London
9. Prague
10. Madrid3
As you can see, half of the top 10 are taken up by European capital cities such as Paris and Madrid. The Italian “floating” city of Venice stills dominates as the most popular destination, with holidaymakers longing to experience a gondola ride underneath the Bridge of Sighs or a stroll around the Doge’s Palace.
Next comes Krakow, known for its excellent-value prices, lively nightlife, unspoilt architecture, and the UNESCO-designated Wieliczka salt mines (which include an underground cathedral). The top three is rounded off by Berlin, a city full of eclectic culture and fascinating historical monuments that signify its often turbulent existence.
Interestingly, London makes the top 10 for British holidaymakers, despite being a domestic location. With the uncertainty surrounding Brexit and the economy as a whole, many price-conscious Brits have decided to take city breaks within the United Kingdom, with cities such as Bristol, Dundee and Liverpool increasingly attracting domestic tourists.4
What Are the Driving Forces Behind the Increasing Popularity of City Breaks?
Now that we’ve revealed where Britons spend their city breaks, it’s useful to understand why this type of holiday has risen from relative obscurity into the most popular holiday type today. Of course, one of the major drivers has been the cost.
Increase in the number of flights to major European cities
Research undertaken by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that Britons are going on holiday more than ever before, but they’re much shorter than they used to be. As a nation, we’ve done away with two-week and even three-week summer beach holidays abroad in favour of more regular trips to city destinations.5
This, in part, has been driven by the success of budget airlines, who offer cheap transportation to cities on the continent for a fraction of the price they did a decade or more ago. Return flights to popular European cities often come in at less than £50 return with operators such as Ryanair, EasyJet, and Jet2.
Urban accommodation has decreased in price
Further disruption to the travel industry has come in the form of apps such as Airbnb, which has slashed the price it costs to stay in urban accommodation. Previously prohibitively expensive cities have been opened up to a much broader range of the socio-economic spectrum.
What’s more, there has been a growth in online travel brokers using their collective buying power to secure steep discounts on flights and hotels to each significant European city. For instance, one of the UK’s leading city break providers Lastminute.com regularly offer two nights in Prague, with four-star hotel accommodation and return flights included for less the £150 per person. This type of value has proven hard for British travellers to say no to.
City breaks are usually shorter and more flexible
Almost all UK workers are restricted to a certain amount of annual leave they can take each year. Part of the reason city breaks have become so popular is that they work perfectly as a “long weekend”. City breaks rarely last longer than four or five nights, which means an employee can enjoy a refreshing holiday while only sacrificing one or two of their allotted holiday days. What’s more, holidaymakers can often get away with just travelling with hand luggage.
Since city breaks are often brief, they can be booked at much shorter notice. Many Brits enjoy city breaks over bank holiday weekends and secure significant discounts by waiting until the last minute to book their trip. Flexibility is another reason these types of holidays are popular with young professionals, although families can equally enjoy a holiday of this nature.
City breaks offer unrivalled cultural and historical experiences
City breaks offer the perfect escape for those looking for more than just a touch of sunshine. Cities have been the setting for almost every significant moment in history. From the French revolution in Paris to the knocking down of the Berlin wall, cities give tourists the chance to learn whilst soaking up the foreign culture.
Many of the world’s most significant museums and galleries are also contained within city walls. Who doesn’t want to experience the majesty of the Louvre, or admire the sculptures of the Vatican museums? Furthermore, European cities in particular have some incredible monuments. The Eiffel Tower, the colosseum of Rome, the Brandenburg Gate, the Charles Bridge, and the Houses of Parliament, are all situated in major European capitals. For tourists interested in history and culture, there’s no other type of holiday that fits the bill better.
So if you consider yourself sold on the idea of taking a city break, how can you make sure you make the most of your experience?
Top Tips for Enjoying a City Break Holiday
Since city breaks rarely last longer than a week, it’s a good idea to get organised before you depart so that you can take as much from the experience as possible. Here are some helpful tips to make sure that you get the most out of your city break.
Booking your trip
There are two predominant approaches to getting the most bang for your buck when it comes to booking your city break. The first of which is to self-organise the entire trip well in advance. Savvy travellers can make huge savings by taking advantage of cheap flight deals and securing accommodation through apps such as Airbnb or HomeAway months in advance of the anticipated departure date.
However, many others opt to find deals on city breaks by waiting until the very last minute to book with travel companies. By holding out, travellers can often secure four or five-star hotels as well as return flights for a fraction of their usual price by taking advantage of a travel operator’s need to sell excess capacity.
Both methods have their advantages. Families can make huge savings by committing to specific travel dates early, whereas students, retirees, and young professionals can reap the rewards of remaining flexible until the last second.
Packing for your city break
One of the key reasons behind the success of the city break is that holidaymakers can get away with packing light. By staying for less than a week, city-hopping Brits can survive with just hand luggage, avoiding excess charges for bringing a chunky hold luggage bag.
Of course, you should pack according to the anticipated weather conditions of your location. In winter, you should wear your chunky clothes to travel in to avoid taking up valuable space. You’ll also need to think about which toiletries you’re going to take as you only have 100ml per item when taking them on the plane in hand luggage. It may be worth investing in a specialist travel toiletry/make-up kit so that you can use it for each short city break you take; replenishing items as and when you need to.
Getting around in a foreign city
The beauty of going on holiday in cities over beach resorts or countryside locations is that a wealth of transport links serves them. Airports are more often than not linked to the bus, underground, or train networks, making your journey to your accommodation hassle-free. Yet another reason to pack light, so that you don’t have to fork out large sums for airport taxis to transport you and your suitcases.
Once in situ, it’s wise to use those same public transport links to navigate your way around, particularly if you want to save your money to spend on experiences and excursions. For sights that require a taxi, use a reputable firm that comes recommended by your hotel, accommodation hosts, or by online verifiable online reviewers. Agree on a price before departure and haggle if necessary — research whether local taxi drivers expect tips or not, as this practise differs from country to country.
Planning and booking excursions
When it comes to sightseeing in your new surroundings, it pays to have done some research beforehand. Travellers often share hints and tips on websites such as TripAdvisor on how to secure good deals on authentic tickets to each of the famous tourist landmarks in your chosen city. In many cases, you can save yourself money by booking tickets online in advance.
Avoid buying so-called “tickets” for individuals roaming the streets in close vicinity to the major sights. In rare cases these sellers will provide you with genuine tickets; however, in substantially more instances the items given to you in exchange for your money aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on. If you’re staying in a hotel, the concierge will be able to help you with any excursions you’re planning, although tickets booked through your hotel may cost more.
Protecting yourself while abroad
Every major city has its fair share of criminal activity, and many locals see tourists as easy targets for crimes such as pickpocketing, bag-snatching, and mugging. The city of Barcelona suffers from around 325 thefts per day alone, visitors to other European cities such as Rome, Prague, and Amsterdam report similar levels of theft.6,7 Thus it pays to remain vigilant to avoid becoming part of the 11% of all British tourists that become a victim of crime abroad each year.8
Thieves operate close to popular tourist destinations, so this is where you should be on highest alert. Dress conservatively and avoid wearing any expensive jewellery. If someone approaches you in an overly friendly manner or tries to distract you ignore them and proceed to your destination. It’s also useful to carry a fake wallet/purse to give to thieves as appeasement, whilst ensuring your real valuables remain safe. If the worst happens, or you witness a serious crime unfolding, dialling 112 in every EU member state will connect you to the emergency services.
Travel health and insurance
According to Post Office figures, 10 million British tourists go on holiday each year without proper travel insurance.9 So when instances of crime occur, such as those described above, many UK travellers are left to foot the bill. But travel insurance covers much more than just thefts or delayed flights.
One of the biggest reasons to take out travel insurance is to protect yourself in case of severe illness or injury. Many British tourists wrongly rely on EHIC cards which only entitles holders to an elementary level of medical care. Travel insurance is essential to avoid the possibility of footing medical bills running into the tens of thousands of pounds.
Similarly, many British travellers wrongly assume that they don’t need to have travel vaccines if they aren’t heading to far-flung destinations. Yet if we take the popular tourist destination of Prague, visitors still need vaccinations against Polio, Diphtheria, and Tetanus before travelling. That’s without even mentioning optional jabs for protection against Rabies, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Tick-Borne Encephalitis which are dependent upon where you visit and the activities you do. Good health will ensure you make the most out of your break.
Experience a Unique Blend of Culture and History for a Great Price with a City Break
The city break has become the holiday of choice for millions of British travellers. With the ability to hop on a cheap last-minute flight to soak up the unique sights and sounds of a foreign city for a few days, city breaks have left beach breaks and package holidays behind. Whether you organise a little trip yourself, or you opt to go with a tour operator, city breaks offer plenty in a short space of time.
By following our top travel tips, you can maximise what you take from the experience whilst looking after both your travel health and your belongings. If you would like to make sure you are up to date with the correct travel vaccinations, head over to our easy-to-use online travel vaccine checker.
By using our exclusive tool, you will find out which jabs you need, when they need to be taken by, as well as the location of a nearby vaccination clinic. In just a few clicks, you can set up an appointment to have your travel vaccines taken care of. If you’re set to head for a city break beyond the continent of Europe, you may well need anti-malaria medication. We can help with this too and soon you can have the right anti-malaria medication delivered directly to your door.
As many of these travel vaccines need weeks within the body to become effective, make sure to check what travel vaccine you require before your trip to avoid putting yourself at risk!
We have some great survival tips for airports on your flight and more information about how to stay healthy on holiday.
References:
1. ABTA Holiday Habits Report 2018 – https://www.abta.com/sites/default/files/2018-10/Holiday%20Habits%20Report%202018%20011018.pdf
2. Statista – https://www.statista.com/statistics/480258/types-of-holidays-taken-in-the-uk/
3. Google Year in Search 2019 – https://trends.google.com/trends/yis/2019/GB/
4. Condé Nast Traveller – https://www.cntraveller.com/gallery/city-breaks-uk-2019
5. Office for National Statistics – https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/leisureandtourism/articles/holidaysinthe1990sandnow/2017-08-07
6. The Culture Trip – https://theculturetrip.com/europe/spain/articles/why-does-barcelona-have-so-many-pickpockets/
7. Escape Here – https://www.escapehere.com/inspiration/10-worst-cities-in-the-world-for-pickpocketing/
8. Sainsbury’s Travel Insurance via The Guardian – https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2010/oct/03/british-abroad-holidays-theft-robbery
9. Post Office – https://www.postoffice.co.uk/travel-insurance/travelling-without-insurance
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