Nine ways to save money on a city break
I love to start a new year by dreaming of all the new travel I might plan – but when my bank account isn’t always as healthy as I’d like, those plans need a helping hand, so I’ve been thinking of the best ways to save money on a city break before I set off on my own city travels.
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Because even if you’re planning a break in an expensive city like my home of London, or thinking ahead to a break in a European and US capitals, there are plenty of ways to budget and save money on a short break.
So here are my nine top tips on how to get a budget city break, from travel hacks for saving before I go and keeping costs down while I’m there.
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1. Find the freebies
I love taking a tour to get my bearings in a new city, whether it’s boat, bus, bike or by foot – but that needn’t cost a fortune.
More and more cities have free walking tours where the only cost is a tip for the guide, or check out the International Greeter network where locals show you their city while you only need cover expenses like public transport and meals.
But that’s not the only way to see a city for free – you can find a string of free things to do in London with kids, for example, from the museums to outdoor attractions, and if you’re planning to visit Reichstag in Berlin, that’s won’t cost a penny either, you just need to register in advance.
2. Maximise your spending
You can’t stop spending entirely, so make it work for you. Obviously I’m not recommending racking up credit card debt just to get the rewards, but if it’s something you’d buy anyway, why not get a little bonus…
Join a rewards club and you can often earn points on both your travels and everyday purchases at stores like Boots and M&S, to then spend on more travel (as well as shows, drinks, kids activities and more).
When I buy online, I also try to use a cashback site (like Top Cashback or Quidco) so everyday costs give me a little bonus – nothing like knowing that unavoidable purchases could get me vouchers for a restaurant or a nice cash sum to splurge while I’m away.
There are also specific rewards credit cards too – some can earn you airmiles to get cheaper flights and upgrades, others will give you cashback or other bonuses.
For more ideas on budgeting, check out this holiday money calculator
3. Find the lowest flight prices
If you know where you want to go and when, set up a flight price tracker – Skyscanner will monitor changes and email you, so if the cost drops you can pounce, while Kayak has a flight price forecast tool to recommend the best time to buy.
A flight comparison website is always a great starting point too – unsurprisingly. It’s often worth checking out if you can save by mixing and matching different carriers or booking on less popular days, as well as comparing different airlines, which can all make a big difference.
If possible, do all your research in an incognito browser though, to avoid any risk of tracked searches bumping the cost up.
Alternatively, let someone else do all the hard work for you – sign up to Jack’s Flight Club and you get regular emails with all the best flight deals.
If you’ve got your heart set on a particular trip, it won’t always work, but you do find some amazing low rates that could be the difference between going and leaving it on the bucket list.
4. Stay central
It seems contrary – picking the central places to stay usually means paying more, whereas accommodation further out of the city will cost less.
But if you’re ready to walk, you can often save on public transport and it’s ideal with younger kids, as it’s easier to dash back if you get an overtired mini traveller. Apartments in central locations can often be less than hotels as well.
5. Research city passes
City passes, which you’ll find for more European capitals as well as some cities in the USA can save a fortune – or be a huge waste of money. Before you go, work out what you’re realistically going to do and the cost versus the price of the pass.
If you’re first activating a one-day version at 5pm, make sure it’s going to run for 24h rather than just the day of activation too!
And stay realistic. It might be a bargain if you cram five activities into a day, but if that involves frantic journeys across the city, and having 30 minutes glancing into an attraction, you’d be better paying full price and enjoying yourself.
Check out my reviews of the I Amsterdam card, Helsinki Card, Copenhagen Card, Porto Card and Paris Pass
6. Reduce the roaming
One big bonus of cities is you’ll find free WiFi dotted all over the place, to cut down on any extra charges if you’re using your phone on the go.
As you’re likely to want data while you explore as well, keep an eye on your phone company’s options. Until the end of 2020, EU rules meant anyone travelling from the UK wouldn’t get hit by extortionate roaming charges.
UK phone companies are no longer subject to those rules, so there’s nothing to stop different companies charging different amounts depending where you’re travelling to.
7. Book in advance
Prebooking has become more and more common these days, especially if numbers are limited, but even if not, you can often get a discount on admission if you book your tickets in advance.
Even better, there are other benefits like jumping the queue. Plus there’s the bonus that you’ll be nicely organised when you arrive.
If you’re reluctant to commit to plans too far ahead, many attractions on sites like Get Your Guide let you cancel up to 24 hours beforehand, as well as having other discounts and deals on tickets and tours.
8. Timing is everything
A lot of museums have reduced admission times on certain days, particularly late afternoon or evening, which is ideal if you know you’ll only want an hour or two anyway.
Quite a few have certain days which are entirely free, although you can usually expect bigger crowds as well.
If you’re visiting London, there are plenty of attractions which won’t cost a penny – check out my pick of the best free things to do in London with kids or buy the ebook version here…
9. Hit the sales
Sales are not just for Christmas: keep an eye out for flash sales and sign up to email newsletters for hotels, airlines and companies you often use to get special discounts, codes and advance notice of when tickets go on sale.
It’s even better if you’ve got a definite plan in mind and can make a note of the standard cost to compare the sale price. It also makes it less likely you’ll accidentally buy the travel equivalent of an orange mohair cropped top.
PIN FOR LATER: 9 WAYS TO SAVE MONEY ON A CITY BREAK
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Great tips here on how to save money and budget properly for a city break, thanks so much for sharing. We’re actually looking to book a mini break for my 30th next year so i’ll be sure to keep all of this in mind! xx
Thanks! Great timing – hope you find somewhere perfect for your birthday.
Great tips I always research before I travel to try and get the best deals. I like the idea of staying central to reduce travel.
Thanks Ana – I’ve definitely found cheaper accommodation further out, but when you factor in time and travelling costs, it doesn’t always work out.
Great tips we are planning on going away next year not sure where yet but these tips will come in handy.
Thanks! There’s something lovely about having a clean slate to start planning trips I think.
I love walking so next time I’m on a break I’ll have to kee an eye out for a walking tour. I also use Quidco to get extra pennies x
They’re definitely one of my favourite ways to get my bearings at the start of a trip.
I love the idea of a Global Greeter network – might even sign up myself!
It’s such a fab idea – we should be so lucky to have you guiding us!
Ive started to use Quidco all the time and am a tad obsessed with it, ive got some fab bargain x
It’s great isn’t it – love the feeling I’m getting paid to do something I’d be doing anyway…
fantastic tips for saving money on a city break… im always on the look out on how to save a few pennies x
Thanks Jolene – always good to find a bargain, isn’t it!
Great tips! I had no idea about gblobal greeter network, I’ll certainly be checking that out next time we go away! Also, I walk everywhere and I enjoy walking so that’s quite a big saver 🙂 I’ve not used Quidco but I’ll be doing that too! Thanks for sharing 🙂 xx
Thanks! The Global greeters are great – in my experience at least, and they keep adding more cities. And walking around cities is always one of the best ways to experience them, as long as your feet can put up with it.
I do like to research before we go anywhere and I do like using cutback sites too. ITs amazing how much you can save
Isn’t it – suddenly all adds up
I love these tips and i think they are a good way of remembering how to save money. We are huge Quidco fans. The only thing I would add is to check money saving sites like groupon and places like Dubai is to look to invest in things like The Entertainer.
Thanks! Money savings sites can be great too – I’ve found some good deals on Living Social particularly. And that’s a great tip for anyone going to Dubai.
Some really useful money-saving tips here. I sometimes find it’s worthing getting a travel card to get around a city using the public transport – can be a really good saver if you’re not staying centrally. City passes are good too but, as you say, you’ll need to do the math before you go ahead.
Thanks – that’s a very good point, especially if you don’t need a whole city pass but are going to be exploring a lot.
I love details! And you have done a fabulous job, showing us the details in how we spend and how we could actually save money..Thanks for sharing.
Thanks!
Great advice Cathy! I’m only just realising the advantages of a City card. Great if you plan on doing lots of sight seeing. #citytripping
Thanks! They can be so useful – it makes me feel much better if we only have half an hour to whizz around a museum too (which is often my daughter’s tolerance limit)
Those are some great tips! We’ve even started looking for coupons for places online and printing them out. Ya it might save a euro, but it helps! #CityTripping
Thanks – good plan. Even a few euros with a few coupons equals a free drink, right?
Love the point about which days to visit – things like free Musems in Paris a real score #citytripping
Thanks – yes Paris is particularly good for that.
I always use Top Cashback or Quidco if I can (saved over a thousand pounds with Quidco alone). City passes can be an excellent way if saving money if you are doing a lot of sightseeing. #citytripping
Wow, that’s incredible – I have a Quidco extension on my browser so it always tells me if I’m on a site where I can get the cashback, and that’s so helpful.
City passes are FANTASTIC! They really do encourage you to explore the city more and great when you are central. My biggest tip would be to prioritise a few things that you absolutely want to do and budget for those, then be prepared to let the other things slide as you explore, wander, find free local things. Often the most fun is in the unexpected moments, especially with kids.
That’s a really good idea – and definitely, there’s nothing worse than a trip where you’re dashing from place to place with no time to stop and enjoy it (especially with kids). I remember overhearing a couple in Venice who seemed to be making a plan to visit every church there on this incredibly arduous schedule, with no time for wandering, sitting in cafes with prosecco/gelato and gazing at canals.
I have never looked into cashback websites, but they seem like a great idea, thank you! I usually save money taking a lot of time planning, like you suggest: I research free days for museums, passes, transport costs and factor all in to see how we can make a trip away more affordable. Often, short trips are more doable that people think, if you decide they are a priority.
Absolutely – I think if you’re buying something anyway, even a small amount for each purchase starts to add up. And definitely, if travel is top of the list (as it is for me), I’m happy to forgo a few other treats at home if I can get a flight away.
Great tips thanks for sharing #citytripping
My pleasure, hope they’re useful
great tips!:) #citytripping
Thanks!
Some great tips! We always use public transport and research as much as possible about cheapest options before we arrive. We recently went to Berlin and joined a free walking tour of the city which was fantastic. Any ways to spend less and travel more are always welcome!
Thanks – and absolutely, the further my money stretches, the more travel I get to do.
Top tips, especially researching whether or not the City passes will be worth it for you. There is often just a one day travel pass that is cheaper.
#citytripping
Thanks – and absolutely, I’ve had some great City pass deals and some realisations that I have to visit a LOT of things to make mine pay…
I tend to book in advance, especially when it comes to train and bus tickets around Europe, because it is usually cheaper that way. That’s a great tip about the city passes. I rarely get one because I generally tend to fit in only one museum per day and it is cheaper to simply go for an individual ticket.
Absolutely – sometimes the apparently great deal just isn’t worth it. Always good to book in advance if you can too.
I didn’t know SkyScanner would track prices and email you. Fantastic bit of extra knowledge. I, too, love a good AirBnB- partly on price, but also because they’re usually so homely in comparison with hotels.
#citytripping
That’s very true too – with kids, I find it’s often a nicer way to travel as well as saving a few pennies.
Great suggestions! I love the timing suggestions. This is especially true if you are an American with a Bank of America card since you can get into certain museums for free the first weekend of every month. (I always forget though.) And I find Airbnbs are especially useful if you are traveling with friends or family where you would need more than one room in a hotel. $150 for a two room aribnb or for one of two rooms at a hotel? I think the solution is obvious! 🙂
Now that’s useful to know – I wish my credit card did that! And I totally agree about AirBNB…
I’m a massive fan of Quidco – I’ve saved loads of money from it (and I’m a ‘careful’ Yorkshire woman so I know a lot about saving money!). If I’m going to a city by train I always check out the National Rail Days Out website too as they sometimes have lots of buy one get one free offers for attractions, which can save a fortune.
That’s a really good idea – I haven’t been travelling much by train recently but I must remember to do that.
Great tips! My husband was in law school for three years and I became a very frugal person during that time. Even though he’s graduated, I still know how to keep an eye out for sales, especially on travel. #citytripping
Thanks! I think you definitely get into travel habits – never bad to be saving money though, more travels to be had that way!
I love money saving tips, so its great to have these. My favorite is the credit card one – last year we managed to get free upgraded tickets to Spain thanks to points. Thank you for sharing. #citytripping
Thanks – that’s fantastic. I never seem to quite accumulate enough miles somehow, but finally have enough to start looking at a discount or upgrade with one airline.
Interesting tips! 🙂
Have a nice day 🙂
Umberta
Thanks!
Great post! I use Skyscanner too with the caveat that I always check the flights direct on the airline’s site too. We’ve sometimes picked up more favourite cancellation terms or luggage allowances by booking direct.
Thanks! And that’s a great point – always worth cross-checking direct, as you say you can sometimes find an extra bargain.
Great tips Cathy. I really new to check out the tours with locals. What a fab idea! #citytripping
I’ve done one or two and really loved them – such a different way to experience the city.
Great tips, we’re planning a trip to Tours this autumn, and Brussels later this year – I’ll be making use of these! #citytripping
Thanks – have fun and will look forward to reading.
Some really good tips here – Skyscanner is a must for finding cheap flights! #citytripping
Thanks! It’s definitely my go-to
Great tips, Cathy! I love Skyscanner, it’s a total game changer!!
Thanks! It is, isn’t it.
Great tips on budgeting and saving money whilst travelling, especially about staying central. It really does make sense, especially with young children. Polly #citytripping
Thanks – I think anything that takes the effort out is always a winner with kids!
Great tips! I don’t use skyscanner and really should. With two kids in two gone are the days of cheap breaks, we didn’t care where we stayed when it was just the two of us but now I’m a little more discerning! Lol. Also we are now having to travel in school holidays!! Thanks for hosting #citytripping xx
It’s a whole new more expensive world- as I’m discovering too! X