A £200 Coolstays voucher awaits the traveler who delivers the sharpest tip on an underrated European city break. Tom Hall from Lonely Planet will judge entries, and the winning recommendation lands a stay at one of more than 3,000 properties worldwide.
Summer crowds routinely swamp Barcelona, Venice, and Amsterdam. As a result, savvy travelers keep hunting for alternatives that deliver culture, food, and atmosphere without the crush. The Guardian wants those discoveries: the quiet museums, the neighborhood bistros, the half-timbered streets you stumbled into by accident.
Whether you championed Ferrara’s frescoed palazzos or fell for Rennes’ medieval lanes, the competition asks for specifics. Mention the hotel that surprised you, the cafe where locals actually eat, the gallery that felt like a secret. Keep the entry tight at roughly 100 words. Photos can accompany submissions, but the writing alone determines the winner.
Meanwhile, a few practical rules apply. Entrants must reside in the UK for legal reasons and be at least 18 years old. Submissions close Monday 24 August at 10am BST. You can share your tip anonymously if preferred.
The strongest entries will appear in the Guardian Travel section and website. Past winners offer a model: precise details, honest enthusiasm, zero travel clichés.
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