Saving some "bucks"...

Do you consider yourself as a low-cost tourist? Are you willing to travel as much as you can during the year, but your budget is too short for that? If you have answered “yes” to any of these questions, the following tips may useful for you:

• Use the internet to book your hotel. Websites such as booking.com or hostelworld.com can help you comparing rates and get the best offers.
• When booking the flight ticket, do it as far in advance as possible to obtain the best fares and packages.
•  Never exchange currency at the airport; if cash is needed purchase currency in advance or withdraw on ATMs. For that, find a bank which offers no-fee foreign currency exchange on debit and credit cards.
• Check the latest exchange rates before deciding on a holiday destination.
• Check reviews and tips of your fellow travellers on holiday forums and tourism websites.
• Look in the tourism information centre of your destination for coupons or discount offers for local restaurants and events.
•  Buy food at local supermarkets for a fast lunch meal, instead of eating out in restaurants.

Most visited European cities in 2010

1. London (UK)
2. Paris (FR)
3. Berlin (DE)
4. Rome (IT)
5. Madrid (ES)
6. Barcelona (ES)
7. Prague (CZ)
8. Vienna (AT)
9. Munich (DE)
10. Amsterdam (NL)

                                            Source: UNWTO

Short city-break tourism in style

Low cost carriers such as Ryanair, Easyjet (among others) have changed during the last few years the way European citizens do tourism. The cheap ticket fares these companies offer, together with the fact they connect hundred of travel destinations all over Europe, are making short city-break tourism very popular.

Instead of doing one big trip for the year, more people are resorting instead to taking shorter breaks more times during the year, perhaps for a long weekend for example. There are plenty of real advantages of doing this.

The low fares offered by most of the low-cost airlines enable travellers to take only one or two days holiday to enjoy a city break somewhere in Europe as well. Make it for a Bank Holiday and it is only needed to book one day off to enjoy time away in another country.

It's not hard to see why so many people love to travel in Europe for this reason. For starters there are plenty of different countries that are within easy reach today, for less than the price of a dinner at an expensive restaurant. How about a weekend in London for example, or maybe a visit to Porto? There are lots of cities, some of them famous and others perhaps not so famous, that would be ideal for a weekend escape. People have the opportunity to see other cultures and experience different ways of life. Germany is just as easy to reach as Italy or Portugal for instance, and you can enjoy a completely different experience in every single country and location you choose to visit.

Today, a break from work really isn't a luxury anymore. It is a much needed way of relaxing and making sure "city adventurers" are ready and refreshed for another week ahead.

Many people choose more and more to book European city breaks several times during the year. With so many places to choose from it can provide a nice way to break up the time before the next summer holiday and the stress of the day-to-day lifestyle.