EUROPEAN VACATIONS CENTRAL
EUROPEAN RAIL
TRAVEL
Welcome to the European Vacations Central European rail travel
page. I use trains
extensively on my European
vacations. Travel by rail means embarking on a
unique European
travel experience. Along with comfortable accommodations,
picturesque landscapes, and interesting company, comes a sense of
freedom and
flexibility not found with airplanes, buses or cars. There are
a
wide range
of possibilities and choices to suit every traveler and budget. Click here
for Rail Europe
Depending
upon your vacation strategy, rail travel can be your main source of
transportation or a great additional alternative that you can use
selectively. I'll go over some of the main pros and cons of
rail
travel so you can determine: (1) whether European rail travel is right
for you;
(2) if yes, what rail package is best for you. I'll have
travel
articles on rail travel on my website soon.
Advantages
of
European Rail Travel
A EURAIL
pass is great if you like to visit the
major cities of Europe.
Traffic and parking make driving a car in European cities unpleasant
and often frustrating. Additionally, driving long distances between
cities on autobahns and turnpikes can be monotonous and tiring. On a
train you just relax, look at the scenary, read a book or just take a
nice nap so you are fresh when you arrive. What's great about trains is
that train stations are right in the heart of the city so your good to
go as soon as you arrive. Although a EURAIL is great for
visiting
cities that are far apart and in different countries, single country
rail passes are more cost-effective if you want to visit several cities
in a large country such as France or Great Britain.
For 75 years RailEurope has helped North American travelers see more of
Europe. Book train tickets if you plan to travel between 2-3 cities.
Check their selection of rail passes for more flexibility and savings.
Another
tip, which I will be writing articles on soon, is that in some
countries you can get a set of 10 tickets which you can use to go
anywhere in the country. For example, in Belgium you can get a
10-pack (it cost me
about 60
euros in 2005 or roughly 6 euros per ticket) and you could use one
ticket to go from one end of the country to the other. What a
steal!
Disadvantages of European Rail Travel
One disadvantage of European rail travel is that it isn't
cost-effective for
families. For example, a family of four needs four
EURAIL
passes but would need to rent only one car. Also, you have to drag your
luggage around wherever you go instead of just keeping it in your car
trunk.
Trains aren't good for visiting the country side. To get to
small
villages you need to make connections for local trains which can get
time consuming and difficult (especially since the more isolated the
area your visiting the better chance they don't speak English). For
that matter, some of the villages you may want to see won't even have
rail connections! Then,
when you get to the small town you still have to walk to see the
countryside. A car has more flexibility so you can see a larger area of
the countryside and stop when and wherever you feel like.
Tips for
European Rail Travel
Looking for the right Rail Pass can be overwhelming.
There are
so many choices, it will make you dizzy. Don't
let the type of rail pass you buy determine the style of vacation
you have. Have the style of vacation determine the type of rail pass
you get. In other words, first set up the itinerary and structure of
your vacation, then select a rail pass that's applicable. By
knowing exactly what you need, you won't get overwhelmed and confused
by all the options. For example, first decide:
- How many countries and cities you want to visit;
- The countries and cities you want to visit and how long you
want to be in each;
- Then fantasize about your ideal way of using a rail pass on
your trip and what your willing to pay to achieve it;
- Do a cost benefit analysis between a rail pass and car
rental;
- Pick a rail pass option that fits your objectives.
Click here
for Rail Europe
Suggested Rail
Travel Trip
A EURAIL is great for city hopping in the off season. Flights
and hotel rates are cheaper and there are no tourists so you can see
the city as it really is. Although the weather is cold and it gets dark
early, it doesn't matter if you like museums and castles.
Another benefit is that winter food in Europe can be better than summer
food. For example, in Belgium they have hearty stews, wild game and
other heavier fare that isn't appealing or available in the summer. You
can also drink with the locals in pubs and cafes, so who needs good
weather? Hey, just because you go in the off-season doesn't mean the
weather will be bad. I've been to Paris in November and it was sunny
with the temperature in the 60s. I went to Belgium one January and it
was sunny with termperatures in the 40s and 50s. Weather in Europe is
always a crapshoot no matter when you go.
Click on the banner below to order now or to learn more about
Rail Europe:
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