Want an Interesting Travel Adventure? Try Rail Travel!

I’ve always wanted to go on a rail trip.  Call me crazy, but I think there is something romantic about traveling by train.  A friend of mind who commutes regularly by train disagrees with me and really does think I’m crazy.  Nonetheless, train travel holds a certain mystery and excitement for me.

Trains really are a great way to travel.  Yes, they take longer than airplanes and often will be almost as expensive, but there are many pros to train travel.  Trains will pick you up and drop you off in the middle of major cities and they travel through some of the most gorgeous countryside.  There is nothing more relaxing than staring out the window during your train journey and watching the scenery roll by. 

My first train trip was in Europe and I was impressed with the sophistication and modernization of most of the rail lines I tried.  Since trains are a major transportation mode in Europe, European trains are frequent and you can get a ticket for an immediate departure.  In my experience, with the exception of Italy, trains generally run on time.  I managed to see much of Europe with my European rail travel pass.

I enjoyed that trip so immensely that I decided to be a bit daring and planned a train trip in China.  For any of you who have had that experience, you know that train travel in China can try your patience as you struggle to get a ticket for the next day.  I was also astounded with the overcrowding and found on several occasions that it was hours until I could get a seat.

Another benefit of train travel is the ability to meet the locals of the country you’re visiting.  Since you often have quite a bit of time while on the train, it is easy to strike up a conversation with a friendly seatmate.  During my European trip, I met a friendly French couple and I ended up being invited to visit them at their villa!

If you’re planning your own train trip, here are a few tips to consider:

  • Figure out how much time you have, how many countries do you want to visit and how much ground do you want to cover.
  • If you’re flying to a foreign country and will be traveling by train once you arrive, find out if there is a shuttle service to the train station from the airport.
  • Overnight trains are a great way to save a little money on your trip.  You will sleep on the train and avoid accommodations for that night.  The best part is that you’ll wake up in a new city or even a new country!
  • If there is a particular part of your rail journey that you want to be sure and experience, then make sure you’ll be traveling through that attraction when it is light out.  There’s nothing worse than missing something you were looking forward to seeing because it’s too dark out!
  • Try to get on the train at the start of its journey.  While that might not always be possible, if you do, you can definitely secure a reservation and you greatly increase your odds of getting a great seat,

So, there you have some quick and easy tips to apply for your next train journey.  See you if you enjoy the beauty and relaxation of train travel as much as I do!

Posted by on 11/29 at 10:17 AM

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