With the pound recovering from a three-year low against the euro last month, UK consumers are concerned about the fluctuating cost of travel to European hotspots.
Travelzoo has investigated which European city destinations are offering the best value to help UK travellers decide where to book now.
Louise Hodges, Travelzoo’s European head of Communications, said: “Autumn is always a popular time for city breaks – particularly in Europe – and we know that ongoing concerns about the value of the pound against the euro are making it harder for British consumers to find an affordable European short break this year. The good news is we are seeing some great deals in the market for major European cities such as Paris and Berlin – and we would also urge people to consider lesser-known cities such as Krakow, Porto and Gibraltar as they offer good value for money.”
Paris, France
With news that Paris has lost out on an estimated €750 million in lost revenue due to terror attacks, floods and strikes in France, it’s no great surprise that hotels in the capital have had to severely lower their prices. According to Francois Navarro, the head of the city’s tourism authority, 5-star hotels are offering reduced rates of up to 25%-40% cheaper than usual in a bid to encourage tourists to come back to the city.
Krakow, Poland
Not only is Krakow superb value for money – the Telegraph revealed it as the second best value city-break destination in Europe for 2016 – it’s a city that can also satisfy history and culture buffs. Whilst the majority of museums carry an entry charge, a few do have one day each week when admission is free; for example, the National Museum is free every Sunday and Kazimierz’s Old Synagogue and Schindler’s Factory are both free on Mondays, leaving you with extra cash to spend on your trip.
Berlin, Germany
Berlin is certainly booming at the moment. The city had over 30 million overnight stays in 2015, making it the third most popular city in Europe, behind London and Paris. However, Berlin is still surprisingly affordable, as it offers a great range of budget-friendly hotels and new hotels are opening up at a fast rate. Our deal experts have also found flights are 45% – 63% cheaper with Ryanair for this September compared to the same time last year, so now is a great time to book.
Porto, Portugal
With warm weather all year round, more port than you could ever drink in one visit and friendly locals, Portugal’s second-largest city is a great city break destination. It’s a cheaper alternative to Lisbon – especially with regards to food and drink, as beer often comes in at less than one euro and you can taste your way through a port tour for around £4. The best way to see the city is to walk, so you won’t have to spend on taxis or public transport once you’re in the centre, and you’re likely to discover more than you expected whilst exploring on foot.
Gibraltar
This British-ruled peninsula, located off the coast of mainland Spain, offers plenty of culture and you needn’t worry about any further fluctuations to the pound, as the local currency is the Gibraltar Pound. Our Deal Experts have found flights from the UK this September with Monarch are around 37% cheaper than in September, 2015. This destination continues to be affordable once you’re there, too. You can enjoy a beer for £3 and fill up on delicious pub grub for two for under £30.
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