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Despite visiting this city numerous times, I’ve never managed to navigate my way without getting lost – from confusing roads and tram lines to the maze-like train station

With the aid of my phone maps and clear road signs, you’d think I’d be able to comfortably navigate myself around a UK city that I’ve visited countless times. But no matter how many times I drive and walk around Birmingham, I always end up confused and lost, and my recent visit was no different.

As a convenient halfway point to meet my family or friends, and with its Utilita Arena for concerts, I’ve visited the UK’s second-largest city on a number of occasions. I’ve driven into it multiple times, but I’m always left permanently scarred. I mean, have you seen Spaghetti Junction?

I should note that I’m a competent driver and often travel long distances, but driving into Birmingham is no mean feat. I’ve found myself driving back on myself, taking the wrong turning, hitting a dead end, encountering unexpected roadworks, and constantly circling roundabouts – even with the help of Google Maps!

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The worst panic of all came when I was driving through the city a few years ago and found myself, alarmingly, driving down the same road as a tram line. My maps had led me in this direction, so I followed, yet the anxiety set in as I saw the tramlines, expecting the trolly-car to come hurtling up into me.

I continued to follow the road with nowhere else to turn, before I thankfully came back to a normal road. Little did I know that this could happen in some areas of Birmingham, as the West Midlands Metro shares some parts of the street with cars.

West Midlands Metro warns of the potential danger. “Please don’t obstruct the tramway – it sounds obvious, but remember we are on fixed rails and can’t get around you,” it pleads.

“Wherever possible, avoid driving directly on the tracks, particularly at speed, because they can become slippery, especially when wet. Please pay attention to highway regulations and remember that trams have different signalling systems to those of cars and other vehicles – even when we are using the same stretch of road.”

Those caught in restricted areas of tram roads could be fined. But it can be confusing for visitors. One resident shared on Facebook: “There are certain parts of the network where you can’t avoid sharing with the trams, Beeston/Chilwell springs to mind, but there are others.”

Another added: “Depends where in the city. There are places where you can drive in the tracks and places where you can’t, normally places where you can’t, you will get stuck.”

Personally, for me, it’s a route I won’t risk again.

Birmingham is sometimes known as the ‘workshop of the world’, thanks to its historical transformation from a medieval market town into a major ‘motor city’. The city prioritised cars as the future of transport, introducing inner ring roads, flyovers, and interchanges to welcome more people into the area and facilitate easier travel.

Yet for me, I vowed never to drive in the city again. And it’s not just me who has failed to navigate the impressive yet complicated roads of Birmingham, including its residents.

One person shared on Facebook: “A lot of drivers in Birmingham are confused by red lights, give way, traffic priority, roundabouts, timed bus lanes, and lane closures.”

Another shared: “I haven’t driven in Birmingham city centre for years now, it’s been confusing for a long time now not just recently.” A third also confessed: “I don’t ever drive in town. Either I would be heading to Scotland or a dead-end street due to getting lost because of the changes.”

From my driving experiences, it meant my recent trip to Birmingham was by train. I wrongly thought it would be the easier option. I boarded the overcrowded, stuffy but thankfully direct train to Birmingham on a Saturday morning, and was relieved to be dodging the traffic and avoid the fear of navigating the roads. But I still found myself lost.

Birmingham New Street Station is large, stretching out across 12 platforms, yet what confused me was the different zones. While they’re clearly labelled and colour-coded for the different platforms, I still found myself lost and confused with various directions and barriers to navigate. Plus, finding the exit was another ordeal for me.

Locating a toilet at the station was even more complicated. I followed the signs, but still had to go back through a barrier with my train ticket. And meeting people at the station is a challenge in itself, requiring me to go through yet another barrier to reach my family, who were in a completely different area.

I must have spent a good 20 minutes wandering around the station, trying to get my bearings and failing miserably. But to my defence, I’ve only boarded the train to Birmingham on a handful of occasions, and it sure beats the roads and extortionate car parking prices.

Only adding to the complications of visiting Birmingham is navigating the roads and paths on foot. In a bid to find my hotel, I turned to my trusty phone maps and followed the route, but I mistakenly risked a shortcut, only to find a boarded-up path and roadworks – Birmingham really doesn’t like shortcuts.

I also encountered a long-winded route to get to dinner that evening, and then on my way back to the station, I was taken through a pedestrian underpass under a roundabout, which was equally confusing. Perhaps my maps were just as confused as I, or maybe it was simply user error.

Whatever the reason, travelling around Birmingham has left me defeated. While it’s a fantastic city with brilliant transport links and a catalogue of restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, and a vibrant nightlife, I have to build up the momentum with every visit, bracing myself for getting lost in the well-connected yet confusing city.

Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

Writers from around the world have provided their top tips on how to get the most out of going to one of Disney’s many resorts, and how to save money along the way

A writer who has been on more than 50 Disney vacations has given their advice on what to do when visiting one of the parks. Kari Becker, a travel planner and freelance writer, has a vast amount of experience visiting various Disney locations.

After years of engaging in the experience of these places, Kari has discerned several major tips and tricks for getting the most out of the magical destination.

Her number one tip, she said, was to make sure to arrive as early as possible. This is due to the large crowds that continue to visit these parks.

She told Business Insider: “My No. 1 tip for visiting theme parks of any kind is to arrive early. You’ll get a huge jump on your day if you get to the parks as soon as they open, or just before.

“Crowd levels tend to be much lower at this time, meaning you can experience many attractions early in the day. By midday, the crowds usually significantly increase.”

As well as providing guidance on when to go, Kari also outlined some of the mistakes people usually make when either planning or physically going to one of Disney’s many parks.

These include cutting the trip too short, going during school holidays, as well as arriving too late, and over-planning.

On the latter, she explained: “Make a general outline of your daily agenda — with dining reservations and a list of must-do rides and attractions — but leave room for spontaneous fun.

“If you’re on too tight a schedule, you’ll miss all the good stuff, like unique character interactions.”

Kari isn’t the only writer to have provided some tips on how to experience Disneyland to the maximum with ReachPlc’s Portia Jones also providing some tips on how to do the visit yearly without spending a lot of money.

Her main tips were to skip the crowds, book tickets in advance, and, in the case of Disneyland Paris, take the train, plan as much as possible, consider a Disney meal plan, and bring your own food.

On the last matter, she told WalesOnline: “Disneyland Paris may be the happiest place on earth, but its food prices can bring you down to earth with a bump.

“Pack your snacks and bring a refillable water bottle to save money. You can bring food into the park, so load up on sandwiches, crisps, and fruit before you arrive.

“Plenty of water fountains are scattered around where you can refill your bottle, meaning you’ll avoid paying sky-high prices for drinks.”

I’VE been waiting ten years for this moment.

Ever since my first gondola ride — a short jaunt around The Venetian hotel in Las Vegas — I’ve wanted to experience the real thing, in Venice.

Now I am with a group of fellow journalists, so it’s not as romantic as it could be, but two Italians in stripy shirts and wide-brimmed hats are rowing me across the Floating City. Bucket list: tick.

Venice is a place you need to see at least once in your life.

From the breathtaking Piazza San Marco to the mesmerising mosaics of St Mark’s Basilica, astounding architecture of the Doge’s Palace and view from the 323ft high Campanile di San Marco bell tower, your phone’s battery will pay the price as you snap the spectacular sights.

From this Saturday to February 17 the historic Venice Carnival will burst on to the streets — this year’s theme is Olympus, The Origins Of The Game, in honour of the Winter Olympics being hosted in Milan and Cortina.

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Expect masks and dressing up everywhere as locals and visitors embrace the festival, plus parades, performances and themed shows.

Festival aside, winter and spring are brilliant times to explore the city without the crowds.

A tour of the bacari, or wine bars, is a great way to delve into the alleys between the canals and waterways. Over three hours we stop at four wine bars for cicchetti — Italian tapas — washed down with local wines or spritz cocktails.

The latter feature Aperol, Campari or, in Venetian style, Select — a spirit made using juniper berries.

A Bellini in Harry’s bar, though almost £20, is a must — this was Ernest Hemingway’s favourite bar, where the cocktail was invented.

Hawaiian rituals

Then a 25-minute water-taxi ride across the lagoon and a 20-minute cab journey take us to our 5H resort, Falkensteiner Hotel & Spa on the Lido di Jesolo — a purpose-built seaside resort on Italy’s Adriatic coast, with nine-mile sandy beach and vibrant promenade.

I’m staying in one of 50 huge suites, which have one, two and three-bedroom options, with separate bathrooms, living and kitchen areas, TVs and sea-view balconies.

The smell from the ground-floor restaurant is oh, so Italian — pizza, pasta and risotto. With buffet breakfasts and Michelin-starred dinners at the poolside restaurant, luckily I can run along the promenade to work it off.

Or there’s a gym at the hotel, and yoga and fitness classes. But I’m on holiday to relax, so it’s off to the Acqua Pura spa, which has a panoramic sauna with privacy glass, meaning I can take in the sea view.

An hour-long massage inspired by Hawaiian rituals, which starts with meditation, is, and I don’t say this lightly, the best I’ve ever had.

There is a babysitting service, plus a play room, kids’ pool area and playground on the beach.

Bicycles are available at the hotel, and cycle lanes throughout the town lead us to Europe’s longest shopping street, the Via Bafile — all eight miles of it.

This is a wonderfully relaxing beachside break in a traditional Italian town — as well as a bucket-list trip to the city of romance.

What’s not to love?