Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The French TGV train zips across France at 200mph.
Traveling by train is the quintessential method for touring Europe, and rightfully so. It's ro-
mantic. It's inspiring. Some might say it's almost magical. And to those of us that don't live in
a country where train travel is prominent, it's a little mysterious. Europe's rail network is ex-
tremely developed and train service is very reliable—except for the occasional strike. In this
section, you'll learn how to plan your journey, how to buy tickets as cheap as possible, and
how to make the most of your rail travels.
REASONS WHY RAIL TRAVEL IS AWESOME
Arrive in the center of town.
Unlike airports, most European train stations are located
right in the center of town. You don't have to spend the time and money traveling into the
city because you're already there. Traveling from the airport into the city will usually take any-
where between 20 and 60 minutes and cost $10 to $40.
No long check-in or security lines.
There are no lengthy check-in procedures for train
travel or security screening. You can simply show up a few minutes before the train leaves,
buy a ticket if you don't have one (often from a ticket machine with English instructions), and
hop on the train.
No luggage fees.
There are no extra fees for your luggage. Just make sure that you're able to
lift your bag onto the train.
Bring your own food and alcohol.
You can pretty much bring whatever you want on a
train—including alcohol. Bring a bottle of wine or a case of beer if you want. You're sure to
make a few friends if you give a few away to your fellow travelers.
A vast rail network and multiple trains.
Europe's rail network is extremely vast, and it is
normally possible to travel to even the smallest towns by train. Most destinations offer mul-
tiple trains a day and the most popular routes usually have hourly train service.
Sleep on the train and extend your travel time.
If you're traveling a long distance, consider
taking an overnight train. These trains have special sleeper cars with bunks. A bunk in a sleep-
