Some can be pretty obvious, but there are also those gems that not many people think or know about and are just waiting for you to discover. The likes of Spain and France can offer busy, vibrant locations, but others such as Corsica and the Greek Islands can allow for a slightly more laid back approach to holidaying. Just remember to look for great currency exchange rates when you buy currency, as it will make the trip much more enjoyable knowing that you’ve got the best rates of foreign exchange.

On the Island of Crete, Greece by Wolfgang Staudt

Spain

Mainland Spain is possibly the most popular tourist destination in Europe and the main reason is very likely because the country offers so much versatility in terms what you can do as a family, a couple or as a group of friends.

Thanks to the country being so vast, there are numerous options of where to go, whether it be out in the countryside or a city break in Madrid or Barcelona and there’s always the endless amount of beach resorts. As if that wasn’t enough, Spain’s Balearic Islands consisting of Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza, as well as the Canary Islands, offer so much more and can offer great coastline environments, but that little bit quieter than the mainland.

The coast of Mallorca, Spain by Andrés Nieto Porras

The UK

Although it may not be known for its stunning summers, the UK still offers some superb locations to visit. The British Isles has a wonderful array of destinations on its coastlines that include Cornwall, Devon and North Yorkshire towns such as Whitby and Scarborough.

The Scilly Isles and the Isle of Wight also make a visit worthwhile, whilst the likes of Wales and Scotland can offer a completely different feel to mainland England. Other notable locations include the Lake District, The Cotswolds and Norfolk.

Scilly Isles, UK by Tom Corser www.tomcorser.com

Corsica

Some may think that it is impossible to both avoid mass tourism and have a wonderfully beautiful location to holiday in Europe, but the tranquil island of Corsica can offer just that.

All 600 square miles of the island are unspoilt and delightful to behold and doesn’t suffer from being overcrowded like other Mediterranean islands. As well as beautiful coastlines, Corsica is also adorned with massive mountain ranges that can often take your breath away, as well as numerous lush forests and glacial mountain lakes.

Beach in Corsica, France by Luciano

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Colosseum, Rome, Italy by admin

One of the reasons for this is the simple fact that lying on a sun-kissed beach, while a utopian experience for some, is seen as a rather boring activity for many. After an hour or two of topping up the tan, plenty of trippers start thinking about finding something to do to relieve the boredom, and that’s when problems can appear.

It’s perhaps fair to say that most seaside resorts, especially those in Southern Europe and North Africa, are a little off the beaten track. They may be home to a superb beach with row after row of sunbeds, and perhaps a collection of welcoming bars and restaurants, but they don’t have much else to keep the bored tourist interested.

Making the right choice

Most city break holidays offer a stunning collection of iconic landmarks, historic buildings and famous attractions, and most visitors find they run out of time before they get to see all the things they wanted to. Therefore, the major drawback about such trips is that they are often tiring and a little too hectic to be properly enjoyed.

To use an example, London attracts millions of tourists every year, and many of them manage to cram in visits to the Houses of Parliament, St Paul’s Cathedral, the London Eye and Westminster Abbey. However, they may miss out on seeing Tower Bridge, the Science Museum, Wembley Stadium and the famous art gallery the Tate Modern.

Those travellers who can afford to do so actually enjoy a summer holiday and a city break every year, but of course there are millions who are unable to do this. Therefore, in some households a decision has to be taken at the beginning of the year about whether to head to the sunny beaches or to a historic capital city.

For budget travellers it’s possible to seek out the bargains in order to stretch the holiday cash further. By looking for special deals on the worldwide web, a significant sum of money can be saved, and you never know it could lead to the ability to enjoy both types of vacation in the coming year.

David Showell lives in England and has visited several countries all over the world. He knows he only has to click here for the best car hire deals when on holiday.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by agaw.dilim

The key to planning cheap city breaks, is to first identify what the major costs may be. These are normally to be found in transport, accommodation, and activities. By choosing the most economical way to go about each of these things, weekend city breaks anywhere in Europe become more affordable.

Airline Fares: Landing on the cheapest options

Depending on the destination, the cost of flights can quite often be the most expensive part of a weekend city break in Europe. There are several ways that one can go about reducing the cost though, and all that is needed is a little time and effort. The well-known budget airlines such as Ryanair and Easyjet all have websites that can be browsed through, and from time to time, they also run worthwhile deals. Websites that compare the prices of different airlines can also be helpful in tracking down a cheap flight. Examples of such sites are skyscanner, Opodo, Expedia, Spa Travel, fare compare,etc.

Accommodation: Getting the best deals

After the flights, accommodation can be the next most expensive part when planning weekend city breaks in Europe. Fortunately, the internet can again be of assistance, and it is possible to both view and book hotels for a cheap city break in Paris online. Many hotels will offer some form of discount if staying more than two nights, and so the overall cost per person per night can be reduced.

Activities: Cheap and Cheerful things to do

The French capital has a wealth of things to see and do, and there are several ways to do this in the most economical way whilst not compromising on seeing the attractions themselves.

The first thing to do, is spend a little time in researching Paris, and visit those sites that are grouped together in order to avoid zig-zagging all over the city. Saving travel costs on taxis or other public transport goes a long way to make a cheap city break in Paris. Another idea is to pick the best day to see each attraction. Sundays in particular are a good time to see some places, as the Louvre is free one Sunday per month, and the Sunday organ recital at the Notre Dane Cathedral adds another dimension to the experience there. Paris also has many free museums, such as the Modern Art Museum, Fine Arts Museum and the Paris Fashion Museum. The Rodin Museum is also free on the first Sunday of every month.

Perhaps the most helpful piece of advice when planning cheap city breaks in Paris, or indeed any other city in Europe, is to be flexible. Whilst weekend city breaks might be the most desired choice, it is actually a lot less expensive to travel between Monday and Thursday than it is during the weekend. Early morning flights can also be cheaper than mid morning flights, and occasionally, leaving booking flights and hotels until the last minute can lead to price reductions.

Dave writes for Spa Travel an online travel agent dedicated to offering the cheapest Spa Breaks, flights, hotels and holiday packages for the UK outbound Traveller.

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I did my first marathon in October 2011, the Lochness Marathon in Scotland. It was a fantastic experience and a great personal achievement.

Amsterdam Marathon, Netherlands / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by DennisM2

The next marathon I am looking to do is the Amsterdam Marathon. I have chosen Amsterdam primarily because I assume it will one of the flattest routes and therefore quickest, but also because I have been to Amsterdam a couple of times, for business and a city break and really liked the city. Travelling abroad for such an event can be expensive anyway, so I am looking for a nice hotel in Amsterdam at a good price (much like everyone). There are some great Amsterdam hotels though and even quaint little B&Bs and there are some great cheap city break
packages I plan to make the most of.

The marathon starts and finishes at the Olympic Stadium where spectators have free access to.

The route takes you through Vondelpark, the largest public park in Amsterdam and sounds quite like Hyde Park in London in that there is a lot going on. There are ponds for kayaking, playing fields and generally nice picnic areas. This will be a great area for spectators as well to enjoy the day. The marathon goes out of town slightly along the Amstel River passing traditional windmills and large stately homes. The views are meant to be stunning from here as you are slightly higher up at this stage.

There is a marathon in almost every top European city so if you are a marathon addict you can combine a city break with a marathon! Here are just a few on the ‘must do’ list:

The Paris Marathon

The Paris marathon has been voted as one of the top marathons in the world. The marathon passes by the main tourist attractions: the Champs Elysees, River Seine, the Arc De Triumph and the Eiffel Tower. Like the Amsterdam marathon, the course is very flat and so a PB (personal best) is achievable, although there are a couple of tight corners and tunnels where there can be a bit
of a human traffic jam which may hold you up.

The Rome Marathon

Just wandering around Rome, you notice stunning architecture and significant pieces of history. So the marathon will be a whirlwind of fascinating buildings and landscapes. The marathon starts and finishes at the ancient Coliseum and takes in sites such as St Peter’s Square, Vatican City, Olympic Station, Trevi Fountain and much, much more. As you are running through ancient Rome, you will come across some rough terrain such as cobbled streets so do take care – this is more about the sites that the personal bests.

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One thing that makes Stockholm so unique is that the large city is actually comprised of 14 separate islands, connected by a network of bridges. There are currently 50 bridges keeping Stockholm’s different areas within easy reach of each other, and many of these are attractions in their own right.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Mispahn

Despite the fact it is made up of islands, Stockholm has an enviably good public transport network, comprising trains, buses and underground subway trains. You can buy day passes that allow you to get around using any combination of these, as with most major European cities.

The climate in Stockholm is surprisingly mild for a Scandinavian country, though you will find that if you visit in December the days are incredibly short, with only 6 hours of daylight on the shortest day. By contrast, there are 18 hours of daylight at the mid point of summer.

There are so many things to see and do in Stockholm’s many thriving districts that there is certainly something for every traveller. You can check out the historical sights in the old town, or shop and socialise in the trendy districts of Norrmalm and Ostermalm. The nightlife is great, but be aware that drinks are very expensive in Sweden.

Stockholm is a truly great European destination for a city break, and with plenty of transport links and hotels it is easy to find a well priced deal for a trip there.

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