The Perfect Weekend in Liverpool – Considering a trip to Liverpool? Here are some great tips to make the most of your experience.
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Booking Central Accommodation
If you don’t have a lot of time to explore, then the accommodation you choose needs to be central. Most people are usually lured by cheap apartments and hotels that are on the outskirts of the city. Price matters a lot when you are on a budget, but if it is going to take you an hour to get to the city each day, then it is worth it to spend a little extra cash. This will let you maximize your time. If you have to stay outside the center, then make sure it is close to public transport.
Get great hotel deals in Liverpool and enjoy a break in this thriving city.
Bookmarking Cafes, Restaurants, and Attractions on Google Maps
People love to go through travel blogs and check out suggestions for attractions and places to eat before they leave on a city break. When you are on the ground, it can be hard to find time to check out blog posts. You can easily miss some of the recommendations made by bloggers or locals.
This is why it is a good idea to bookmark the places on Google Maps. When you are in the city, you can easily refer to the places you have bookmarked. You will easily find out the recommended attractions, restaurants, or cafes nearby. This is going to save you time because you don’t have to wander around looking for places to eat.
Bookmarking a place on Google Maps is simple. Type in the name of the place you are interested in and click on the listings with details. You will then click the ‘save’ button and then choose the icon you want to show on the map. You can choose different icons for different places. I usually use a yellow star for bars, cafes, and restaurants, a green flag for attraction sites, and blue pointers for vegan restaurants in case I travel with someone who has dietary restrictions.
When using Google Maps, it is a good idea to download the city map for offline use. This means it is going to help you even if you don’t have a signal.
Booking Attractions and Events Tickets in Advance
When you don’t have time, the last thing you want is to spend a lot of time standing in queues. Whether you book tickets for attractions in advance or opt for a city pass, you are going to be happy you did it when you get to walk to the front of the queue. Many cities have passes that let you jump in the queue, enter certain attractions, and even offer free public transport.
Purchasing a Public Transport Pass
You will get some kind of public transport pass in most cities, such as New York City’s MetroCard, London’s Oyster Card, and Sydney’s Opal Card. Instead of having to fumble around the bag looking for a change, you can just top up the card or buy a pass that is going to serve you for a given time. You just have to tap on and off when you enter a station or board transport. This is way better than having to look for an ATM when you are out of cash.
Passes make more economic sense because they come with a big discount when you pay using the car instead of cash. This is going to save a lot of time and money. London’s Oyster Card comes with a price cap depending on the zone you travel to. This is going to help you avoid spending over a given amount. Research the pass available in the city you are in and see whether it saves you money or not.
Planning your Itinerary Well
When going on holiday, most people don’t like to plan too much. When you are home, you most likely plan your day. When going on holiday, it is normal to break from the routine and a chance to be free and spontaneous. It can seem counter-intuitive to plan an itinerary as you travel, but when you have limited time and a lot to see, it is important to try to make the most out of the city break. You will have a lot of fun when you plan things well.
You don’t have to plan every minute of your day. The better approach is noting down the attractions you are interested in, where there are located, and how much time you are going to need. This gives you a rough idea of what you can do in one day. This is also a flexible plan that is going to help you know what you can do.
Flexibility is important when exploring. If you come across an awesome view, a market, or a cool coffee shop you didn’t know about, you can wander from your plan and go with the flow.
A good approach to use is sticking to one area of a city each day. This makes a lot of sense because it is going to save you a lot of time. You don’t have to spend all the time going from one end of the city to the other. Find out the attractions in one area, especially the ones that are close enough that you can walk between. This is going to let you make the most out of your city break.
Taking a Bus or Walking Tour
If you want to kill two birds with one stone, you can take a walking tour or a bus tour. Walking tours and city bus tours are usually led by locals who have a good understanding of the city. You have the chance of seeing more of the city than you normally would and learn more about the city through a local’s eyes – just get your walking boots on.
You can find free walking tours in most cities (but it is a good idea to give a voluntary donation to the tour guide). There are also in-depth and specialized bus tours or walking tours for a fee.
