One thing that sometimes gets forgotten about when planning a holiday is how you are going to travel around your chosen city. In all the excitement of deciding what you are going to do, where you are going to eat and just how many major sights you can cram into your time away, it’s easy to overlook the logistics of how you are going to get from place to place. Plus, even when you do consider this, you soon start to realise that travel costs could quickly mount up over the course of your European city break. Don’t fret though, there are plenty of ways to save money and have happy travels.

Check All Airport Options

One part of going on holiday that can easily be neglected is how you are going to get from the airport to your hotel. Most international airports are situated outside the city centre and so you can be facing a journey of anything up to an hour before you can drop your bags off in your room.

In order to save money, don’t leave this decision until you arrive, as this could limit your options. A quick look online at the transfer options before you go could lead to you discovering a free airport bus or inexpensive local train that you could easily miss in the stress and weariness that we all feel at an airport.

Buy A City Card

City cards are offered in many destinations around Europe and are a great way to save money, especially if you plan to do a lot of sightseeing. For a small fee, the card will give you free or discounted access to some of the city’s museums, monuments and attractions and even money off in a variety of restaurants.

Plus, most city cards also provide healthy savings on public transport. For example, the Berlin Welcome Card includes free travel on any bus or train within the city’s system. So you can see how the money saved quickly adds up. At Fred. Holidays, we can even include a free Berlin Welcome Card in the cost of your trip to the German capital. When you call for your quote, speak to our team about adding it, or any other city card, to your booking.

Find A Hotel With Transport Extras

Sometimes the right hotel can be the key to saving money on travelling around your destination. This could simply mean choosing accommodation in the city centre so that you can walk to all of the main attractions, but if this isn’t possible there are other ways your choice of hotel can help you have more money in your pocket for exciting experiences.

You could search for a hotel that offers free airport pickup or one that includes free bike hire in the price of your room. Sometimes just staying the night entitles you to free public transport for the duration of your stay. This is the case in Swiss cities such as Basel, Geneva and Bern. When you arrive to check-in, you are given a mobility ticket completely free of charge.

Consider All Modes Of Transport

Buses and trains are usually the most obvious way of getting from A to B during a city break, but there are usually other options that could turn out to be cheaper. Cities such as Zurich and Vienna (for the first hour) offer free bicycle renting schemes, whilst countless others such as Berlin, Paris, Amsterdam and Copenhagen provide bikes for a fraction of the cost of a train journey.

Other more unique modes of transport to consider include cable cars in cities like Cologne, funiculars and even the charming Fähri boats that will take you across the Rhine in Basel. And don’t forget, the cheapest way to get around is always by the power of your own two feet.

Buy A Multi-Day Pass

If you are resigned to travelling everywhere via public transport, it’s worth looking into getting a multi-day pass for the duration of your stay. Most metro systems in Europe will offer passes for either one, three, five or seven days, allowing you to save money and time. Many of these will pay for themselves after a few trips on the metro, so it’s definitely worth considering if you know you are going to use the trains, trams and buses quite a lot.

All of these are great ways to save money navigating your chosen city, leaving you with more to spend on the things you want to see and do. If you are looking for a tailor-made package, we can offer a wide range of city breaks, beer festivals, Christmas markets and even Grand Prix trips that are bespoke to you. Call our specialists on 0800 988 3369 to start planning your holiday.