Transportation in Europe

Transportation in Europe is easy and affordable. There are many different modes of transportation available to the traveler depending on the type of European vacation you have in mind. If you plan on taking a multi-country vacation then you have the following options: Rail , Car Rental, Coach (Bus), Ferry, Cruise, Hiking (Backpacking), Cycling. First lets take a look at the European rail system.

Rail travel in Europe

Rail travel in Europe is highly organized and is the best and most affordable way to get from city to city and town to town. The rail network is not just extensive it is all encompassing. You can pretty well get to anyplace in Europe on either a national or regional train, which are usually covered by the Eurail network. Rail Europe provides a fantastic service for anyone planning their vacation from outside of Europe. Always book your tickets and passes in your country of origin. Quite simply it will save you money. Booking is easy, just go to the Rail Europe site below and begin planning your vacation. Remember, you usually have a choice between 1st class and 2nd class cars. I would recommend the 1st class ticket because it really doesn't cost that much more and you'll appreciate the cleanliness and comfort. One of the best things about transportation in Europe is the hassle free train system.

One of the things I love to do when I travel in Europe is to take advantage of the high speed rail system. In France it is known as the TGV which literally means "really fast". This is a fantastic way to travel especially in 1st class. Don't worry if you don't want to buy a 1st class ticket 2nd class is also pretty good with just a few minor differences.

The most important thing that you have to do before you book your tickets or passes is decided how many countries you want to visit and for how long you are going to be away. They offer very affordable passes bewtween two countries. For example, traveling between France and Italy is a great deal. You can book multi-country passes as well and you usually pay according to the number of travel days you decided to have. A travel day is a day where you use the train service, but the neat thing is you can use it on that day as much as you like.

To book your Eurail Passes use the widget above from Rail Europe. Here are some other modes of transportation in Europe.

Click Here for

Europe Train Schedules

Car Rental

Another type transportation in Europe is Car rental. Although I don't think renting a car is necessary it can be an alternative especially if you happen to be staying in just one country or one region. Driving in Europe can be a little tricky and stressful. Here are a few things you should know:

It's hard to find an automatic so make sure you are able to drive standard. Automatics will cost more to rent.

Gas is extremely expensive. Count on double what you are use to paying.

Driving in the cities can be treacherous. ie. Rome, Paris

Left side of the road in the UK

Roads are typically smaller than North American standards

If you do decide to rent are car there are some benefits:

You'll be able to drive directly to your hotel

You might get the opportunity to see more (freedom)

Renting from your country of origin can be quite cheap.

Make sure you rent the car from home and not at the airport when you arrive. It will cost significantly more to book it overseas. Most Airports support all the major car rental companies. Be sure to check the vehicle before you leave the lot for any damage because they will certainly charge you. Consider getting a diesel to save on fuel costs. If you would like to book your car rental please use one of the links below.

Coach (Bus)

Another mode of transportation in Europe is traveling by coach. This is the way tour groups travel. Frankly, I hate it! If you happen to be a group that is planning a trip to Europe such as a school group, sports team or a seniors group I would say go for it. It makes sense if you are part of a large group. On all the trips I did with students we hired a coach because we needed to have everyone together. However, if you are a family or a couple or even a small group than stay away from coaches and tours.

Tours force you to follow a set itinerary and you end up missing so much of the culture and out of the way attractions. You need to have time to yourself. Remember it's your European Vacation of a lifetime.

If you happen to be planning a trip for a group then I would suggest using the following coach company if they are available. Marc Van Gysegem is the owner of the company and has become a personal friend. He is a true professional and you will love his service. Click on the photos below to go to his site. The site is in French and Dutch but if you send him an Email in english he will get back to you.