6 Tips to book cheap flights to Central and Eastern Europe’s best cities
Prague, Bucharest and Budapest are all cities you must see when you plan your Central and Eastern European trip. Whether this is visiting as individual city breaks or perhaps as a tour of this part of Europe. Eastern Europe has some fantastic hidden locations that are just as spectacular as some of the more popular Western European destinations. Here are some travel tips on where to go, when and how to get the best deals on flights.
6 Tips to book cheap flights to Central and Eastern Europe’s best cities
1. Shop around
To get a good flight deal you don’t want to book the first flight you come across. To get the best cheap flight you need to shop around. Comparison websites are great but you can also find an excellent price direct with the airline. Try both and you’ll find the best deal for you. Just remember to clear your cookies and search history before searching. Remember to take into consideration taxes and other fees such as baggage and seat booking. Look at all the options and pick the best price to suit you.
2. Think about alternative airports
If you have the time then why not consider other airports a little further away from your chosen destination, or from your home. Regional airports often house budget airlines and there are often great deals in exchange for a little more travelling when you arrive.
3. Be flexible with your dates
When searching for flights and accommodation don’t be too specific with your dates. For example, search the best flight deals for a whole month or at least a few days either side of your preferred days. You might save yourself a fortune flying on a Thursday instead of a Saturday. This means you can either stay longer or amend your holiday dates. Being flexible leaves you with more options to travel on the very cheapest dates available.
4. Consider connecting flights
If you are not so bothered about getting there quickly and want to save some money you should consider connecting flights rather than direct. This might sound strange if it isn’t long haul you are flying but an extra few hours can save you some cash.
5. Get email updates about flight deals
If you sign up to budget airlines newsletters then you may be able to grab yourself a last-minute bargain. Keeping up to date with sales and offers will enable you to be one of the first to take advantage of these great deals. They might not always suit but you might just get a flight at a steal of a price.
6. Think about booking a package
Sometimes it can be cheaper to book your flights and hotel at the same time through the same company. Certain providers will be able to give you a discounted rate if you book all in one go. Also, if you make flight and accommodation bookings with the same company within the same day, you get ATOL protection, too. That is an extra bonus when getting a holiday deal.
So, which Eastern European cities can you choose from?
Well there are plenty of places you might consider in Eastern Europe but here are three great examples of amazing cities you can get excellent flight deals to visit.
Prague
This medieval city has plenty to offer its guests, whatever you are into. The UNESCO-listed Old Town has a maze of cobbled streets and ancient architecture to explore. In the old town square find the famous astronomical clock and beautiful bell tower. Cross the statue lined Charles bridge to and visit Prague castle and the interesting St Vitus cathedral. Another excellent place to visit if you like culture and history is the Jewish museum and Jewish cemetery with its crooked gravestones and remembrance room.
But Prague is not all about history, many come to the city for the cheap booze and countless pubs. Food and drink in Prague tends to be quite hearty and you’ll always find plenty of great value stodgy meals to soak up the excellent beer. Pork knuckle with red cabbage sour kraut and potatoes is a popular dish.
TIP: Looking for accommodation in Prague? I stayed at Sheraton Prague which is close to all the main attractions :)
Bucharest
You might be surprised when you hear Bucharest being described as the “little Paris” however when you see all of the French influenced architecture in the city, you will understand. Walk down the tree-lined streets and enjoy the sights including the Arch of Triumph, Revolution Square and the Cantacuzino Palace.
For eating and drinking, the old town is the best place to head to. The place is awash with bars, cafes and restaurants and is one of the only places to have survived the communists so called regeneration. Smoked bacon is good at any time of the day, tripe soup is a lunch staple and sausages can be found almost everywhere.
TIP: What surprised me about Bucharest? The city is very different to what many people expect and I have to admit, there’s 12 things that surprised me about Bucharest.
Budapest
This beautiful city situated on the river Danube is a picturesque city to visit. It is famous for its hot spring baths and Széchenyi Baths are the most-visited. They offer 15 indoor pools and 3 outdoor pools all heated to around 38°C. So, make sure you bring your swim suit. There are also plenty of unique and interesting buildings. The fisherman’s bastion, the castle and the royal palace are all excellent sights to see.
The food here is also quite hearty, a popular dish is Chicken Paprikash and of course Beef Goulash. There are so many local and traditional restaurants and cafes to choose from, its best to check the reviews. But often if you see locals eating there it must be good!
TIP: Planning a visit to Budapest? Here’s 5 things you need to know about Budapest :)
Do you think you will explore Central and Eastern Europe’s best cities?
As you can see if you follow these great tips you will find some fantastic deals to these great cities in Central and Eastern Europe. Which destination will you choose? Or will you explore the whole Central and Eastern part of Europe in one trip. The possibilities are endless and as long as you bag yourself a bargain flight, the whole experience will be a cheap as can be. Enjoy a fantastic Eastern European break on a budget and enjoy the alternative experiences these amazing destination have to offer.
