Christmas might be done and dusted for another year, but there’s still time to enjoy a festive break before the New Year rolls in – and at a fraction of the cost, too.
‘Twixmas’ is an unofficial term for the quiet days between Christmas and New Year’s Day (26 December to 31 December), essentially a time for winding down and resetting after the Christmas rush.
And for those hoping to squeeze in a quick trip during this period, brand new research has revealed the best budget breaks – with the cheapest selling beer for less than £2.50 and an average night’s stay starting at £30.
The survey unpacked which European cities are the most wallet-friendly by taking into account different factors, such as the cost of flights, accommodation, beer, and nearby Christmas markets to help savour the final moments of the holidays.
Leading the top 10 is the lesser-known Polish city of Poznan, which might not be as popular as Warsaw and Krakow, but makes for a great option for last-minute breaks thanks to its relatively low cost and traditional Christmas market offering.
In Poznan, UK holidaymakers can hop on a £52 flight from London, knock back £2.49 beers, explore its annual Christmas market in the Old Market Square, and recharge at a local hotel from as little as £30.40.
Closely following in second place is Budapest, Hungary, a popular spot for weekend breaks and festive trips.
The capital offers a modestly-priced Twixmas experience, with a one night’s stay costing £44.84 and a single beer setting you back around £2.29.
Leading the top ten of the most budget-friendly European cities for a Twixmas break is the lesser-known Polish city of Poznan, which offers £2.49 beers and £30 hotel stays
Coming in third is Prague, Czech Republic, with one of the lowest prices for beer at £2.17, and a cost of a meal around £43.25.
Rounding out the top five of SumUp’s survey is Craiova in Romania in fourth place and Metz, France, in fifth.
Other European cities that made include Germany’s Dresden and Trier, Valkenburg in the Netherlands, Sarande in Albania and Latvia’s Riga.
Meanwhile, the warmest short-haul destinations to visit in January have been revealed – and you can fly to the top spot for just £20.
Global searches for ‘Post-Christmas holiday’ have surged by 126 per cent in the last month, with travellers looking to swap grey skies for a quick dose of sunshine.
Searches for ‘destinations for winter sun’ have climbed by more than 500 per cent in the past year.
To help holidaymakers make the most of the winter sun, global booking platform Omio has analysed temperature data across all European capitals to reveal the cities offering the warmest weather.
At the top of Europe’s winter-sun leaderboard sits Valletta, Malta’s compact, culture-rich capital.
In second place is Budapest, Hungary, with a one night’s stay costing £44.84 and a single beer setting you back around £2.29
In third place is Prague, Czech Republic, where UK travellers can knock back £2.17 beers and splash out £43.25 on a full meal
Valletta is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a high concentration of monuments, built by the Knights of St John as a fortified city.
With its 16C highs, bright blue skies and views of the Mediterranean Sea, it’s an ideal warm-weather escape just a few hours from most European airports.
Whether wandering the historic harbour of the Port of Valletta, taking the ferry to neighbouring islands, or dining above the coastline at the famous Panorama Restaurant, Valletta’s winter days feel more like early spring.
If you don’t mind flying out on New Year’s Day, we’ve found Ryanair flights from London Luton to Malta for as little as £22 – and the journey takes just three hours and 15 minutes.
