Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
store is more like $12 USD in Europe. But luckily, just as in the United States, there are plenty of ways to
eat cheap so don't fret!
TRANSPORTATION
Transportation around most European cities by local tram, subway, or bus is typically between $1.30 USD
and $2.60 USD for a one-way ticket. Europe has a large and well-funded public transportation system that
makes getting around cities very convenient for travelers. City tourism cards, as discussed in Chapter 14, all
provide free public transportation.
Trains
Intercity trains connect every major part of Europe. Trains are my favorite form of transportation because
they are spacious, there is food, and you can relax, walk around, and see the countryside as you speed from
city to city. Intercity train prices vary widely from country to country and depending on whether you take
the slow train or a high-speed train. High-speed trains like the French TGV or German ICE cost around
$100 USD or more per trip. For example, a high-speed train from Berlin to Munich costs around $160 USD,
Bordeaux to Paris is about $93 USD, and Madrid to Barcelona is about $154 USD.
Non-high-speed trains and other intercity lines are a lot cheaper, with short distances (one to two hours)
costing $20-30 USD and longer journeys (three to five hours) costing around $50 USD. Train prices vary
a lot by distance, but generally speaking the slow, short journeys cost about 40-50 percent of the price for
high-speed trains.
Additionally, booking train tickets (high-speed or regular trains) a week or more in advance can get you
prices up to 50 percent off the same-day price.
In the United Kingdom, the National Rail (nationalrail.co.uk) service is always expensive, no matter
how long your trip is. It's one thing citizens in this part of the world love to complain about. Bring up the
National Rail with Brits and just see how long they'll carry on. A journey from London to Liverpool can
cost as little as $40 USD or it can cost as much as $200 USD during peak hours (midday).
Booking your ticket with the National Rail more than a week in advance and during off-peak hours can
secure you tickets for as little as $20 USD. These seats are often available in very limited numbers. The
company Megabus (uk.megabus.com/default.aspx), the UK's cheap bus service company, also does cheap
train rides. A ticket search for the London-to-Liverpool route came up with about $14 USD when booking
more than a week in advance, as opposed to about $28 USD when booking via the National Rail website
for the same date. The United Kingdom's national rail service is grossly overpriced, and I try to avoid it as
much as possible.
Moreover, be on the lookout for deals from the national rail companies. In Germany, you can get special
discounted weekend passes for unlimited train travel as well as family fares. In Denmark, there are special
online orange fares that are sometimes up to 50 percent off. Be sure to always check your options online
before you walk into the train station to purchase a ticket.
Rail Passes
Eurail passes are one of the most popular travel products in the world. Few travelers making their way across
Europe go without one. These train passes give you a set number of stops in a set time period. You can
get continent-wide passes, country-specific passes, or regional passes. Just as there are trains that go every-
where in Europe, there is a pass for everyone. Passes come in two varieties: first class for those over the
