As we all know, the city break increased in popularity over the past few years. Once upon a time, vacationers only turned to beach breaks but now, the tide is changing.
One of the great things about these breaks is that you are not restricted by the weather. In other words, you can venture away in either July or December, and the experience will be just as charming.
At the same time, while it is entirely possible and done all the time, there are a few more considerations in colder periods. Today’s post is all about addressing these considerations, and preparing you for your winter city break properly.
Domestic travel is considerably slower
It doesn’t matter if you are traveling to hotel in Basingstoke or Lisbon, travel during these winter months will be much slower.
Well, if we turn to our Lisbon example, the temperatures won’t be as low and you probably won’t have snow to contend with. For most countries in Europe, the roads start to slow down though, with drivers being more cautious and accidents being more common unfortunately.
As such, be sure to plan ahead. You will need to budget for more time on the road, both at home and traveling to the airport, and once you land.
wear what you can
If you travel by plane, we all know the score when it comes to luggage. The limitations only go one way and in the winter months, where you will naturally wear more clothes, this means you have to pack more.
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Also, due to cabin baggage restrictions and extortionate fees around checked bags, your options are limited. You will be tight for space so when you board the plane, try to layer and wear as many clothes as possible. You may have to shell out later on the flight, but you’ll save money in the short term.
Plan to eat out more
It is a biological fact, when it is cold your body burns more calories. The result? You need to eat more.
This is something that will naturally affect your city break plans. While we won’t generalize, these breaks often involve a lot of walking. As such, you will need to include more pitstops along your way, in an effort to get stronger. This not only means that you will need to plan your itinerary around this, but it also means that your budget may be a little higher so that you can afford this additional food.
Plan your attractions wisely
Finally, while city breaks are entirely possible during the winter months, there may be some attractions that are not open during this time.
Some close their doors during the colder months, particularly around Christmas, so it’s worth considering this as you plan your itinerary. It won’t be a deal-breaker by any stretch of the imagination, but you may need to tweak your plans a bit.