Easter city breaks on a budget David Williams, an award-winning motoring journalist, replies With the recent fall in value of sterling against the euro (and other European currencies), planning is key. The latest City Costs Barometer, produced by Post Office Travel Money, reveals that Eastern European cities are currently cheapest for eating out, drinks, travel to and around the city and sightseeing. Prague and Budapest are great value choices while Scandinavian cities, such as Copenhagen, are costlier. Inside the eurozone, Lisbon offers the best value and is significantly cheaper than other capitals, including Amsterdam and Paris. If you include car-hire costs for two days, including the all-important Excess Waiver Insurance (EWI), which reduces the excess payable in the event of an accident or car damage to zero, and petrol for around 200 miles (6.67 gallons), Prague and Budapest remain great value but Lisbon pips them to the top spot for value. If you add up Lisbon's Post Office "barometer" total (it covers 14 essential items, including two days" car hire, petrol, EWI, return bus/train transfer from the airport to the city centre, a cup of coffee, a 48-hour travel card, eating out, and so forth) it totals £214.25 compared with £221.21 in Prague and £222.33 in Budapest. On the practical side, if you book your car with an international car rental firm you can often pre-book at a lower rate than by paying at your destination. Ability to pre-book EWI depends on location, although some rental firms let you reserve in advance, paying on arrival. Access to a car in a city opens up new horizons. If you choose Copenhagen there is Kronborg Castle - better known as Hamlet's castle - at Helsingor, a 28-mile drive. You can also make the 29-mile trip over Oresund Bridge to Malmö, Sweden's second city, with its medieval centre. A car in Prague gets you to some of the most stunning castles, including Krivoklat (37 miles) and Karlstejn (38 miles). You could visit the wine cellars in Melnik or Kutna Hora, a Unesco World Heritage city. Outside Budapest are four towns of the "Danube Bend" - Szentendre, Vac, Visegrad and Esztergom - all worth visiting and 16-31 miles from the city. In Lisbon you are spoiled for choice as a car gives access to the picturesque fishing town and surfers" paradise of Cascais. Farther south is Arrabida, a region reached only by car, with beautiful wild areas, in complete contrast to the city. Best of all is the romantic town of Sintra, 17 miles away and with fabulous palaces. A car also opens up the country's prettiest medieval whitewashed village, Obidos. Wherever you decide to go, it's always a good idea to check local rules of the road at theaa.com. The site could well save you money, too, as it will help you avoid motoring infringements for which you might have to pay a fine. About David Williams David is an award-winning motoring journalist.