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2021
11
August
What are the pros and cons of taking the train versus flying in Europe?

Question:

Profile picture of Elle

Elle

Hello YVR community!
Our family of two adults and two teens are spending the month of July in Europe (London, Switzerland, Italy, France - 9 cities) and would like to hear recommendations and experiences with travel between the countries and cities.
Is training
or flying
better/cheaper/etc? If training, how far in advance should we reserve?
We are not interested in driving

TIA

Humans say...

Profile picture of Linda

Linda

I just booked my train tickets for a short trip between Paris and Amsterdam in July today. Many of the coach seats for popular times were gone already and so limited to other times or more expensive seats. Book now! I just bought indiv tickets but you may want to buy a pass first. Seat61.com has lots of advice for Europe train travel.
SEAT61.COM
The Man in Seat 61 | The train travel guide

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Marc

Linda seat 61 is an excellent resource! DB Bahn was my favourite booking site

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Linda

I booked direct with Thalys but a different company might be better for you because you are going to different countries. So inexpensive and much less hassle than planes, also less carbon footprint.

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Kaitlynn

We rented a car from France and drove country to country and just beware that the monuments are better on TV, I didn't like Paris and would never go back, we took a train into London, did a lot of hop on hop off, we stayed in cheap hostels, we used Ryanair I forget from where to where but it's cheap

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Ron

Nothing like the high-speed trains there, like the TGV in France. You can travel by night as well, sleep in a bunk, save on a night’s hotel bill.

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Gerrilyn

Ron thats our plan for next year travel as much as we can by night in train

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Kymm

Ron that’s what we did- travelled at night and saved on accommodations

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Chris

Flying for sure. Unless you have lots of time. Use a travel advisor, they will save you a ton of time and money. Or do a small group guided tour. You will make the most of your time and maximize what you get for your money. Way less stressful. Check out cosmos / globus

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Christer

Since you have a month, why fly and miss everything in between places? Use the time and see the countryside from a comfortable train seat, arrive in the city centre and skip the airport hassles and long transfers. Don't travel in some group, do your own thing, cheaper, less stress and YOU decide!

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Christin

Christer i agree. Paris to CDG airport is a nightmare! City centre trains are awesome.

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Sue

Definitely trains and buses! Book major routes ahead through Romr2Rio. Great site!

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Donna

Train in France and Switzerland, but fly out from London to Italy for obvious reasons. Bus too if travelling within a country

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Joe

https://www.eurail.com/en/eurail-passes/bestseller-10-days
10 days of unlimited train travel
Travel on as many trains as you like from midnight to midnight on each of your travel days. Spread them out or use them back-to-back – you choose.
2 months of adventure
You can use your travel days any time within 2 months of your start date. Activate your Pass when you want to start traveling, then just start adding journeys to your Pass as you go.
Extra benefits and discounts
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EURAIL.COM
Meet our bestseller

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Jennifer

I agree - use trains as much as possible, and if you can stay near the stations which are often located in the most historical areas of cities, you can make getting in and out so much easier.

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Lynn

Trains are great and reasonable

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Monica

We flew from city to city because often it’s cheaper and you don’t lose as much leisure time but we only had carry on bags which didn’t cost anything at the time to bring on board thereby saving baggage fees. We used Easy Jet quite often.

Profile picture of Eva

Eva

Consider flying between countries further apart to save time, and train between cities.
The Italian train system, although extensive, can be a bit confusing and they don't always run on time. Make sure you write down all the information to make traveling more smooth (platform, train number etc). Have you heard of Kacie Rose? She's an expat living in Italy and has great food/travel tips (Instagram).
It can be much cheaper to book trains ahead of time, they get more expensive closer to the travel dates, especially for speed trains.
The budget airlines in Europe can be super cheap to fly, but it helps if you only have a carry on as luggage can be a bit expensive. I also recommend booking flights earlier as they get more expensive closer to travel.
I've done a few overnight buses/day buses as well. Overnight you never get any sleep, so you end up being so tired the next day. The day buses can be a more economical option, but tend to take a bit longer.
I often googled recommendations for how to best travel between countries + cities.
I spent a year living in Spain / traveling around Europe so I've done my fair share of planes, trains and buses. No experience driving.

Profile picture of Karen

Karen

Definitely a combo. The Eurostar is fantastic between London and Paris (and also Amsterdam or Belgium). We flew into the major cities with low cost carriers otherwise, and took the train between cities in the same Country. Our last itinerary was
YVR-Amsterdam
Amsterdam-Hamburg (train)
Hamburg-Venice (fly)
Venice-Verona (train)
Venice-Paris (fly)
Paris-London (train)
London-Amsterdam (train)
Depending on your itinerary, the ICE trains are so fast, and you don’t need to get there really early. As a bonus, they take you directly into city centre and save you potentially lots of time and money going from the airport to your hotel. Well worth looking into those as an alternative to flying. That being said, for longer routes flying totally makes sense

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Eleanor

Or

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Brenda

Check out Man in Seat 61 - have used the website for Europe and Asia. https://www.seat61.com/index-mobile.htm so much info
SEAT61.COM
The Man in Seat 61 - the train travel site

Profile picture of Sue

Sue

Highly recommend travel by train in Europe Linda. I use the Rome2Rio website for train travel. If you need connect ting trains, which I'm sure you will,I always ask at the train station to confirm stops and the timetable. The only times I book in advance are for 3+ hour trips in first class. Not that much difference in price and well worth the price. Leave yourself 30 minutes between trains as you'll need to change platforms and it can be a tad stressful if the timing is too tight. Enjoy!!


A.I. says...

AI Profile Pic

Hello YVR community!

Our family of two adults and two teens are spending the month of July in Europe (London, Switzerland, Italy, France - 9 cities) and would like to hear recommendations and experiences with travel between the countries and cities.

Is traveling by train or flying better/cheaper/etc? If taking the train, how far in advance should we reserve?

We are not interested in driving.

Thank you in advance for your help!

Recommendations for Traveling in Europe

When traveling between cities in Europe, the choice between taking a train or flying depends on several factors such as cost, convenience, and time. Here are some recommendations based on our experiences:

Train Travel

Traveling by train in Europe can be a scenic and comfortable way to get between cities. It is often a popular choice for travelers who want to avoid the hassle of airports and security checks. Train tickets can be cheaper than flights, especially if booked in advance.

For train travel, it is recommended to book tickets as early as possible to secure the best prices. Typically, tickets can be reserved up to 3 months in advance, but popular routes may sell out quickly.

Flying

Flying between cities in Europe can be a quicker option, especially for longer distances. Budget airlines offer competitive prices, but be aware of additional fees for baggage and other services.

If you choose to fly, it is recommended to book tickets in advance to get the best deals. Flights can be booked several months ahead, but prices may fluctuate based on demand.

Overall, both train and flying can be viable options for traveling between cities in Europe. Consider your budget, schedule, and preferences when making your decision.

Safe travels and enjoy your time in Europe!



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