When planning a trip to a city on a budget, a lot of people stop preparing once they’ve bagged a bargain flight and hotel. But pre-trip research doesn’t have to be confined to finding the best deal out of hundreds of different types of accommodation. Budget travellers to cities like London will find there are many more ways to save money on a break before the plane even takes off.

One thing that is often overlooked is the choice of local transport options. Sometimes, the cheapest way to get around a city is also the easiest, and deals can be usually sussed out online before you reach the city itself.

While it’s often tempting to make your first journey from the airport in a taxi, it’s worth checking local train or bus services to see what’s available and whether there’s a fast service running to and from the city from the airport. For example in London, both the Piccadilly line goes into central London from the Heathrow terminals, or from Gatwick there’s the Gatwick Express; both options costing less money than a cab.

If luggage is a problem and there’s no other option than to get a taxi, it’s worth giving the hotel a call to see whether they have a recommended firm, or if they offer a shuttle service. Not only does this ensure the first journey in a new city is a safe one, it will also help vulnerable, tired travellers getting overcharged.

Once the bags are stowed safely in the hotel room, the next step is exploring the city. It’s a good idea to research whether there are any all-inclusive travel options, for example tourist deals that give unlimited journeys on buses or trains for a set price. Visitors staying in central London hotels should invest three pounds for an Oyster card for the duration of their stay, a much cheaper option than paying cash fares or paper tickets on every journey.

In some cases it’s even possible to avoid public transport altogether. London is an especially good place for this, as lot of the main landmarks and attractions are in walking distance from one another, and Barclays Cycle Hire bikes are freely available throughout Zone 1 – just remember to bring a street map and a sense of adventure!

Finally, don’t forget there are lots of interesting places around London within day-tripping distance, and national train services often offer very cheap deals on return tickets to cities such as Brighton or Manchester if booking in advance. And while going to another country entirely might seem a little farfetched, it’s worth remembering that Paris is only about two and a half hours away from London on the Eurostar. Get up early and there’s no need to worry about searching for Paris hotels, as regular trains make the city a viable day out from Kings Cross St Pancras. And what’s a better bargain than getting two countries on your holiday instead of one?