Visit Europe’s Christmas markets without breaking the bank

http://www.theguardian.com/money/2014/dec/02/visit-europe-christmas-markets-cheap-trips

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If you fancy experiencing the atmosphere of one of Europe’s Christmas markets, stocking up on handcrafted gifts as you sip glühwein, there are ways to do it without breaking the bank. Here are the best value ways to get your festive fix.

Lille (until 30 December) is one of the nearest continental destinations for UK travellers. There, the main square is transformed into a French winter wonderland, with a market featuring more than 80 stalls, an 18-metre high Christmas tree and a giant Ferris wheel. If you get an early start, it is possible to do it as a day trip, taking the Eurostar from St Pancras International, which takes one hour 20 minutes each way and costs from £69 return.

Brussels (until 4 January), again from £69 return on Eurostar and just a tad further along the line, taking two hours each way, is home to Belgium’s largest Christmas market, Plaisirs d’Hiver with over 240 stalls, street performers, a 60-metre ice skating rink and a nightly sound and light show.

If you plan to spend two or more days away, Christmas market package deals, offered by dozens of operators, which combine transport and accommodation in one price, are generally cheaper than booking your travel and hotel separately.

There are no shortage of coach trips on offer from the UK to European Christmas markets. Shearings Holidays, for example, offers four nights B&B at the Velotel in Bruges, touring markets in Lille, Brussels and Bruges. Departing from various points around the UK and including two evening meals and one lunch, the trip costs from £287 per person, based on two adults sharing a room.

If travelling further afield, time dictates that most people will prefer to fly.

Vienna (until 24 December), Austria’s capital, hosts more than 20 Christmas markets set in palace courtyards and grand squares, offering a glut of choice for UK visitors with shopping stamina. Christkindlmarkt is the city’s biggest and, allegedly, the oldest Christmas market on record, taking place in front of the city hall.

British Airways is offering four nights room-only in a four-star hotel in Vienna, with return flights from London Heathrow from £219 per person, departing 7 December, while Lastminute.com has an equivalent deal for those travelling from Manchester on 15 December from £247, via Travelsupermarket.com.

Prague (until 1 January) has a Christmas winter wonderland market in the Old Town Square, and another in Wenceslas Square, five minutes’ walk away, both open on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day – handy for anyone spending the festive period itself in the Czech Republic’s magical capital.

The best packages on offer to Prague this week are three nights B&B in a three-star hotel travelling out on 10 December from London Stansted with easyJet Holidays at £139 per person, or three nights B&B in a four-star hotel with return flights to Manchester at £232 per person from Lastminute.com.

Berlin (until 31 December) has a choice of over 60 Christmas markets, from fairytale and traditional to trendy and urban, spread around the city’s boulevards, squares, side streets, castles and museums. There’s a list of the best known here. Ebookers.com via Travelsupermarket are offering three nights room only with two sharing at the four-star Axel Hotel Berlin with return flights to Gatwick, 8-11 December at £137 per person or staying at the same hotel with return flights to Manchester 16-19 December at £209 per person.

Valkenburg (until 23 January) in the Netherlands is somewhat off the Christmas market beaten track and offers a different sort of experience, with an underground Christmas market held in the illuminated quarry tunnels and caves beneath the town.

With no direct flights available, a novel way to see Valkenburg’s Velvet Caves market is on an excursion included in the River Cruise Line’s four-day Christmas markets cruise, stopping at Lille, Liège, Maastricht and Bruges. Including coach travel from points around the UK, full board in an en-suite cabin and nightly entertainment, the cruise costs from £279 per person.

But if going abroad is too much hassle or too pricey, there are plenty of Christmas markets to visit around the UK.

Edinburgh (until 4 January) hosts the Scottish Market in St Andrew Square, plus a variety of other events. British Airways offers two-night breaks in Edinburgh as well as Glasgow, Manchester or Belfast, to experience the Christmas markets closer to home. A break in Edinburgh from 15-17 December costs £116 per person including return flights (leaving Gatwick and returning to London City Airport) and two nights B&B at the Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh-Waterfront hotel close to the city centre. Or you could take the train – a weekend break with SuperBreak from 12-14 Dec costs £134 per person, staying at the Travelodge.

Look out, too, for shopping package deals offered by local tour companies, which can often be cheaper than driving and parking your own car. Welsh coach tour operator Edwards runs Christmas market and shopping day trips from various south Wales pick-up points, starting at £25 per person to Bath, Birmingham, Cheltenham, Blenheim Palace, London, Manchester and Worcester.