Planning a holiday is no longer simply about deciding on a destination and trawling Airbnb for a centrally-located apartment with unbeatable sea views.
These days, we're becoming more thoughtful about the way we travel. And with a growing sense of responsibility for how our globe-trotting habits affect the planet – ‘flight shame’ is now very much a thing – for many of us, this means looking closer to home when it comes to choosing our next out-of-office-worthy holiday destination.
With Europe offering an abundance of brilliantly diverse and culturally-rich cities, there's no better time to explore the Continent. Here, team ELLE reveal the European city breaks they’re lining up for this year, based on 2020’s most talked-about travel trends.
The travel trend: Slow travel
Where are you off to? With far-flung destination weddings filling up my 2020 calendar, I’ve decided to break up the long-haul travel with a weekend in Paris – but with a twist.
Why Paris? On 5 April, my boyfriend, two friends and I will be running the Paris Marathon. We're thinking of driving there (it's been a while since I've enjoyed the fun of a road trip!) and once there, I’ll be using the experience as a way of slowing down the way I travel. Instead of exploring a city I’ve seen by train, bus and taxi on numerous occasions, this time, I’ll be exploring it on foot and with up to 50,000 other runners. I can't wait.
What are you most looking forward to? I’m most excited to run down a completely car-free Champs-Élysées and enjoy a glass of Châteauneuf-du-Pape at the finish line. I’d usually disregard Paris as a holiday destination given its close proximity to London, but I’m seeing this year as a chance to tick off another marathon in one of the most beautiful locations on the planet, on a budget and with friends. Better yet, this transformative way of travelling enables me to get fit while sightseeing.
What’s your top travel tip? To find the perfect setting for our victory meal, we’ll be researching eateries on Instagram using #TopParisResto and #ParisRestaurant.
The travel trend: Eco-friendly travel
How are you approaching travel this year? As travel lovers, my husband and I have racked up more air miles than most would consider reasonable for a lifetime. We’re both planet-conscious, so this year we’re attempting to reform the way we see the world. With so many amazing cities just a hop, skip and a jump away, we’re really excited about reawakening our love of central Europe.
Where are you off to? We’re planning multiple city breaks across the Continent, but the one I’m most looking forward to is Salzburg, which Lonely Planet named top city to visit in 2020, this summer. It’s the 100th anniversary of the Salzburg Festival (three weeks of music and performing arts) this year, so we’ll be exploring the famous opera houses and making the most of the alpine views. We’ll likely make a road trip of it - my husband has family in Rotterdam that we’ve yet to visit, so we might stop there on the drive back.
How will you budget for it? Taking fewer flights and choosing to drive instead is our way of curbing spending. This year, we’re trying to think more seriously about saving money for a house.
Anywhere else? I’d like to book in a winter trip, too. Perhaps we’ll head back to Sofia in Bulgaria, which was the first European city we ever went to as a couple.
The travel trend: The micro-cation
Where are you planning to travel? This spring, I’ll be heading to the city of Arles, which sits on the Rhône, for a long weekend.
Why Arles? My partner was already going for a design summit, so I decided to join him and make a trip of it and we’ve since invited friends. Two of our best friends welcomed a baby late last year so we figured, what better opportunity to hang out with their new son? The south of France is easy to get to and pretty stress-free – the perfect place to take a baby.
What will you be doing? A group of eight of us will spend a few days exploring the historic city, which is best known for the ruins of an impressive Roman amphitheatre. We’ll be taking long bike rides and enjoying walks through the Camarguais village and the surrounding countryside, which inspired some 200 of Van Gogh’s paintings.
What are you most looking forward to? Unsurprisingly, my partner reports from a previous trip that the food and wine in Arles is second to none, so I fully expect to indulge on this short but sweet holiday. I’m all for spreading out my annual leave and prioritising mini holidays over longer trips if it means I can see more of the world.
The travel trend: Second-city travel
How are you approaching travel this year? My boyfriend and I are trying to travel more sustainably, so we’ve settled on Ghent, which is only a few hours’ drive from Calais. By choosing somewhere less well-trodden than Bruges, for example, we’re looking to play our part in reducing over-tourism and lessening our environmental impact.
Why Ghent? When it comes to deciding where to go, the most important factor for us is the food. After a quick Google, we discovered that fresh moules-frites and whipped-cream-loaded waffles are Belgium’s national dishes – we didn’t need much more convincing.
How will you budget once you're there? Our rule is that it’s fine to splurge on the things we enjoy the most if we’re careful with everything else. For us, that means spending money on culture (The Design Museum, for example) and a few nice dinners, but then grabbing coffee and a croissant for breakfast.
What are you most looking forward to? My favourite thing about a city break is the endless walking it brings. I love getting lost down unknown streets and stumbling across tiny shops and restaurants you wouldn’t necessarily find on TripAdvisor. Because of this, picking the right season is very important. March looks ‘light jacket weather’ and is out of peak travel time, so it shouldn’t be too busy. Plus, it’s only a couple of months away – not that I’m counting down the days…
Eurotunnel is the fastest, most eco-friendly way to cross the Channel. Be in Calais from Folkestone in just 35 minutes, ready to explore all that Europe has to offer. Visit Eurotunnel for driving guides and inspiration for your next adventure
