How to plan a city break itinerary

The great thing about a cheap city break is that wherever you head for as a single traveller, couple, family or group, you can choose between making it an activity-packed break, or a relaxing few days in an overseas metropolis (doing, well, nothing much at all).

 

Some people like to jet off for a city break booked through directline-citybreaks, check into their accommodation, and then simply ‘play it by ear’, spending their days and evenings in a kind of random way, without referring to a city break ‘things to see and do’ list. Whichever approach you take, it pays to be organised before you set off. That makes having (and thoroughly planning) a city break itinerary essential.

 

Your city break itinerary should definitely include:

 

    • Contact details for the airline

    • Airline booking details

    • Map and directions to the (UK) airport

    • Flight departure and arrival times

    • Flight number

    • Hotel name and address

    • Car rental company contact info

    • Route from hotel to airport

    • Airport terminal maps

 

Getting hold of a few traveller reviews can also be a sensible idea. They can often include handy tips on cheap and convenient ways to get around once you arrive at your chosen short break destination.

 

With your core itinerary information in place, you can then sit down as a family and discuss other things, such as: which landmarks, attractions and sites you’d like to see on your family city break; which places of historical interest you’d like to visit (as well as modern places that reflect your chosen city’s current popular culture); what activities you’d like to try while you’re away (wine tasting in Barcelona? Diving in Marseille? A gondola trip in Venice?).

 

By discussing it all and making some decisions, you’ll have a better idea of what to take on your relaxing break: what clothes will you need? Which places of interest are closer to each other, and so could therefore be visited on the same afternoon?

 

By organising all this information in a clear way, and always having it at hand, you can relax and enjoy your city break all the more. You’ll fly out from the UK feeling confident that you’ve left no stone unturned in your planning, and that all you’ll have to do once you arrive at your chosen city break location is enjoy yourself, to the max.