City Break

WEEKEND plans in the UK can easily burn through a hundred quid these days – so why not spend that exact same cash on a European getaway instead?

Travel companies Wowcher and Loveholidays offer city breaks that bundle your return flights and hotel stays together, all for £99 or less.

Whether you want to sip world-class beers in hidden cellar bars, or soak up the sunshine by a gorgeous Italian lake, here are five city breaks you can snap up now starting at £79pp.

Lake Como – £79

Rub shoulders with celebs at Italy‘s most glamorous lake without paying Hollywood prices.

Here you can cruise across sparkling waters, ride the funicular railway for panoramic mountain views, and tuck into delicious risottos at a waterfront trattoria.

Spend your days in Lake Como exploring historic cobblestone towns and lush botanical gardens right on the water’s edge.

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This Wowcher deal includes a stay at the traditional B&B Hotel Como, which recently won a TripAdvisor Traveller’s Choice award.

Wowcher offer a two night break to Lake Como with return flights from London Gatwick, London Stansted, Manchester, Bristol or Edinburgh, from £79pp.

Krakow – £89

Lose yourself in the cobblestone charm of Poland‘s cultural capital, where fairytale spires tower over Europe’s largest medieval market square.

Feast on traditional dumplings by day before wandering the glowing historic streets and exploring underground cellar bars by night.

From the trendy cafes of the old Jewish Quarter to the grand castle overlooking the winding river, Krakow packs masses of history into every corner.

This bargain Wowcher deal bundles in your return flights and a stay at the charming Hotel Yarden by Artery Hotels, right in the heart of the city.

Wowcher offer a two night break to Krakow with return flights from Newcastle, Edinburgh, London Bristol or Manchester from £95pp.

Barcelona – £99

Spend a whirlwind weekend in Barcelona to try tasty tapas, visit golden beaches, and tick off a visit to the jaw-dropping Sagrada Familia.

Wander the winding alleys of the Gothic Quarter before dipping into buzzing bars along La Rambla.

When the sun goes down, head to the hidden neighbourhood plazas like Plaça del Pi to drink cold beer under the palms.

This brilliant Wowcher deal bundles your return flights with a stay at the modern, four-star Eurostars Executive hotel.

Wowcher offer a two night break to Barcelona with return flights from Edinburgh, London Birmingham or Manchester for £99pp.

Prague – £99

Escape to Prague on a fairytale break where the streets are filled with soaring stone spires and historic castles.

Here, winding cobblestone streets hide traditional taverns and cellar bars pouring world-class lager.

Vibrant market stalls fill the sprawling Wenceslas Square, while the famous Astronomical Clock draws lively crowds to the historic Old Town.

This Loveholidays getaway pairs your return flights with an easy stay at the automated, digital-entry Royal Court Legerova apartments.

Loveholidays offer a two night break to Prague with return flights from London Luton for £99.

Venice – £99

Tick off a trip to romantic Venice with this cheap Loveholidays city break deal.

You can hop onto a public water bus for a few euros and cruise down bustling waterways, passing striped-shirt gondoliers along the way.

Stop off at a traditional neighborhood tavern to wash down bite-sized cicchetti snacks with a glass of bright orange Aperol spritz.

Loveholidays is offering flights plus a stay at the traditional Venetian hotel Agli Artisti, situated steps from the Grand Canal.

Loveholidays offer a two night break to Venice in November with return flights from London Luton for £99.

*Prices correct at the time of publication.

WATCHING the morning sun sparkle on an immaculate padel court as the first players warm up, I can’t help but admire their dedication.

I, however, have a different priority in mind and a few minutes later I’m settled at a shaded table on a flower-filled terrace, enjoying breakfast of omelette, mini tortillas and crushed tomatoes on crusty bread.

Fellow guests in their pristine tennis whites head towards yet more courts as the Andalusian sun rises into a clear blue sky.

Perhaps later. For me, the comfy Balinese beds beside the terrace pool are calling.

And that’s the joy of the Higueron Hotel Malaga Curio Collection by Hilton on Spain’s Costa del Sol.

There are sporting and spa facilities that would put a posh country club to shame — and all sorts of indulgent ways to do very little but soak up all that sunshine.

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Don’t let the name fool you though.

While it has Malaga in the title, the hotel actually sits in the hills directly above the bustling, British beach favourites of Benalmadena and Fuengirola.

Malaga city itself — with its Picasso Museum and buzzing tapas bars — is an easy 30-minute drive away.

Meanwhile, the superyachts, designer boutiques and champagne-fuelled glamour of Marbella and Puerto Banus sit 30 minutes in the other direction.

Snag yourself a cheap hire car from the airport and the whole coast is your oyster.

But the joy of this hotel is just how much there is to keep you busy without ever leaving the grounds.

The extensive sporting facilities include not just the ten padel and tennis courts, but beach volleyball sand courts and three for basketball as well as indoor and outdoor pools and a huge air-conditioned gym.

The spa is just as comprehensive, with a hydro circuit in its heated pool with pressure jets, massage beds, Jacuzzi and waterfalls.

There’s also a sauna, steam rooms and dedicated rooms for treatments.

Luckily for me, the hotel had plenty to keep non-sporty guests busy.

As well as the main pools and terraces — including a stunning adult-only rooftop infinity pool — there’s also a private beach club on the coast.

A free hotel shuttle whisks you down the hill to yet more comfy lounging spots, a pool and two superb restaurants.

And what could be more indulgent on a sunshine break than food created by a Michelin-starred chef?

There are seven a-la-carte restaurants in the hotel and the beach club, three of which have menus designed by award-winning chef Diego Gallegos.

While the Michelin-starred Sollo has tasting menus at £150pp, you can still enjoy the chef’s creations at funky fusion restaurant Arara.

Its £51 tasting menu features Brazilian, Peruvian and Andalusian flavours with a South East Asian twist, with eight courses designed to be shared by diners.

For daytime indulgences, catch more chef- inspired dishes at the beach club, including clams cooked in sherry with flying fish roe and delicious prawns in a spicy pil pil sauce.

Rooms in the main resort are ultra-modern — opt for a deluxe for stunning views of the resort and Mediterranean beyond.

And if you’ve really got cash to splash, the exclusive Leiro Suites are another level.

There’s more space, Scandi designs and funky balcony furniture.

But you’ll also get the choice of breakfast at the rooftop Infinity restaurant and access to the Balinese beds there and at the Beach Club.

Also included is spa access, free guided sports activity, early check-in and late check-out and parking, as well as priority ­reservations.

The hotel offers the best of the Costa Del Sol and a host of sporting options to keep you fit and healthy.

For me though, those Balinese beds at the Infinity Rooftop are the reason

I’ll definitely be returning for the stunning views — and the most chilled of snoozes.

“TIKTOK made me do it”, I say to my friend, as I send her a snap of my coffee  made by a robot.

If there was ever a city that embraces technology to celebrate the ridiculous, it’s Tokyo. And ­coffee is just the beginning.

Last time I went to Japan’s capital, around 10 years ago, it was an expensive trip. Back then, the Yen (the country’s currency) was strong against the British pound and everything was twice the price.

This time around, with rates dropping over the years, one of the world’s coolest cities is surprisingly affordable again.

And I was buzzing to begin exploring on a budget.

Starting strong, I’d checked into trendy Yotel, a slick and modern hotel that embodies Japan’s futuristic vibe.

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With 23 properties around the world, the brand is known for its prime locations, without the steep price tag.

The Tokyo one has room rates from £118 per night and is just steps away from one of the city’s coolest areas, the Ginza district.

The well-heeled neighbourhood is packed with stylish restaurants and bars, high-end shopping and elegant department stores.

Shopping is a major activity in Tokyo, with the flagship Uniqlo store just a few minutes from Yotel. This is the biggest Uniqlo in the world, its 12 floors packed with cool clothes and knitwear at a fraction of the UK price.

Then there is possibly the most famous shopping district in Tokyo, Harajuku. This is the place for eccentric outfits, outrageous headwear and funky souvenirs.

There are also cool vintage stores nestled between the tourist tat, but I was more concerned with all the ridiculous things to eat and drink along here.

A toasted sandwich with rainbow cheese, followed by a giant multicoloured candyfloss and a coffee at Café Reissue that had a foamy top in the shape of Hello Kitty.

This is where you will also find the Shibuya crossing, the busiest pedestrian crossing in the world, where crowds get ready to race across when the traffic stops.

With 3,000 people crossing every two minutes, this interchange has become a tourist attraction in itself, as you run for your life and dodge people making TikTok videos, taking selfies and proposing.

For dinner, we bunked down at Kushiyaki Bistro Fukumimi Ginza, an underground izakaya.

The antidote to Tokyo’s tech-savvy tourist trails, this traditional tavern serves meat skewers and Japanese picky bits, with lots of lively banter.

As well as the great food, we made some new pals at the bar.

The language barrier didn’t seem to matter in the jovial atmosphere.

After a taste of authentic Japanese dining, I wanted to experience the country’s unique culture and try some traditional pastimes.

First stop was a Tea Ceremony at Maikura (£43, mai-ko.com).

Once we’d been decked out in colourful kimonos, we all sat on the floor to enjoy matcha with a special blessing.

Then it was straight on to Ginzabashi to make and carve our own chopsticks at an independently owned cafe (£18, ginzabashi.com).

By this point, we had worked up quite the appetite, so we tried our hand at sushi making at the famous Tsukiji Fish Market.

Covered in rice and with a not-so-artistic display of Nigiri and Maki in front of me, I can confirm it is not as easy as it looks.

But, our patient sushi master was on hand to help us out and the end result was a lot more impressive than I was expecting.

The experience is £52 per person, but the price includes a tour of the market and you get to eat all the sushi you roll and some extras too (japanwondertravel.com).

Simply wandering around the city itself is enough to keep you busy. Street art, historic buildings, quirky characters and buzzing neighbourhoods are all part of Tokyo’s appeal.

That’s how I found myself at the hole-in-the-wall coffee shop in Harajuku being served by a bear.

The name Anakuma Café means “bear in a hole” in Japanese, and this tiny booth is exactly that.

I order my flat white on a tablet and it’s served through a hole in the wall by a comedy furry hand.

By the time I stopped laughing and taking pictures, my coffee had gone cold, but it was all about the experience. Which is as cheap as chopsticks.

IF you’re looking for five-star stays on the cheap, check out Zaragoza in northeastern Spain.

The city has rooms in luxury hotels for as little as £79 per night for two people, as well as a thriving tapas scene – and it’s going to be very hot next week.

The Hotel Price Index from Hotels.com found that Zaragoza is the cheapest destination for five-star hotels in the whole of Europe.

The report revealed that you can stay in luxe rooms for an average price of £120 – but Sun Travel has found five-star stays for under £80 per night.

The first is Reina Petronila which is a short walk to the city centre and plenty to do at the hotel itself.

It has a long indoor pool, spa with a sauna, gym, bar and on-site restaurant.

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In the morning there’s a buffet breakfast which one guest described it as the “best part” of their stay.

Rooms range from single to Junior Studio Suite which sleeps up to two but has a self-contained dining and kitchenette.

Visitors have described it as “beautiful” another called it “value for money“.

You can book a one-night stay in the Reina Petronila from £79 per night (or £39.50pppn).

Hotel Palafox is another five-star hotel found in the Old Town, it’s very near the train station too so it’s in a prime location for visitors.

On-site there’s an Aragonia restaurant which serves up local dishes as well as a sauna, gym and pretty terrace.

The gem of the hotel is the seasonal outside pool surrounded by sun umbrellas and parasols.

Rooms range from singles to grand suites and start from £81 per night (or £40.50pppn).

After a restful night, there’s plenty to do in Zaragoza which sits on the banks of the Ebro River.

And if you fancy a visit soon, the city is set to reach highs of 37C next week.

For tapas, head to El Tubo which has maze-like and narrow streets filled with restaurants.

The small dishes are generally served from 1-4pm and 8pm-midnight.

Some tapas specialities here include Ternasco de Aragón (lamb), migas (fried breadcrumbs), and borraja which is local wild greens.

It’s also a prime bar-hopping spot during the evenings.

If anyone is heading there as a family, there’s lots to keep children entertained like the aquarium and the Emoz origami museum is filled with tiny paper treasures.

The city has some impressive buildings, some of which are Basilica de Nuestra Senora del Pilar and Palacio de la Aljaferia.

Further afield, visitors can take a day trip to the Monasterio de Piedra which is a national park that has lots of pretty waterfalls.

Brits can fly directly from London Stansted to Zaragoza from £18 with Ryanair in June.

Here are the cheapest five-star stays abroad…

These are the destinations where you’ll find the cheapest five-star hotels from Hotels.com…

1. Nha Trang, Vietnam (£70)
2. Zaragoza, Spain (£120)
3. Wrocław, Poland (£120)
4. Tirana, Albania (£130)
5. Riga, Latvia (£130)
6. Zagreb, Croatia (£130)
7. Sofia, Bulgaria (£135)
8. Heraklion (Crete), Greece (£135)
9. Tallinn, Estonia (£140)
10. Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (£140)