Visit Europe!

It has been a time-honored tradition for the North American university grad to leave his sheltered nest and seek the unknown in a distant land.

Unfortunately, tradition also lends way to cliché.

The early twenties, book smart grad are filled with an ambition to add some life experience to his new set of professional letters. He sits in a dockside café eating hometown food with French provincial names as he writes into a leather-bound booklet some deep insights that he assumes are original. He dreams of having a torrid love affair with some local peasant girl but settles instead for swapping email addresses with some Canadians doing the exact same thing. As entertaining as this prospect seems, it was not my wish. I wanted to carve out my own adventure, and in Europe there is no better way than by train.

The European rail system has been for years second-to-none for accessibility, comfort, and, with Rail Europe, affordability. There are a variety of Rail Europe passes for different prices that can get you anywhere you wish in little time and from city center to city center. North Americans must purchase the Rail Europe tickets before departing Europe (you can’t get them in Europe) and well in advance of their trip, and in certain countries the passes are valid on ferries and riverboats. The passes are easy to use and, if taken advantage of fully, are cheaper than most other forms of transportation. Best of all is that trains can get you to remote areas that you would otherwise miss. For the budget-minded the night excursions or hotel trains save you hotel rooms so that you awake the next day in a new country!

Copenhagen —

I landed in Copenhagen and got immediately roped into the standard tourist sites — Tivoli Gardens, the Royal Palace, etc.

I saw an incredible exhibit of Danish design at the National Art (Kunst) Gallery, and I took a bike ride through an area called Christiania, an area started by a group of Danes in the 1960s looking for free love, free drugs, and free rent, and it hasn’t changed much since. I was here when I was thirteen years old, staying with a cousin. Since, the government has made an attempt to clean up Christiania by taking out most of the drugs but the general atmosphere remains. Old military buildings painted in bright colors are home to all sorts of the local free thinkers from vagrants to artists to very accomplished architects. The tour ended at the National Library, also called the “Diamond” because of its seemingly transparently beautiful aesthetics. It is a remarkable example of the old world class of a European city (half of the building is the original building of the National Library) and the clean lines and simple concepts of modern Danish design that act to seemingly tell a story with nothing but light.

Munich —

As wonderful of a city as Copenhagen is, the tourist route begins to lose its luster and the rails are calling me East. I’ve been to Germany before so I wasn’t interested in staying for too long, but the food and beer would be a shame to miss — yet another perk of train travel. Local trains can always be caught if you simply feel like ending up in a small town outside Munich, ordering a heaping lunch and a few giant steins of local brew and making your way out the same day. Needless to say, between Frankfurt and the Hungarian border I was full, comfortably brewed-up, and happy as the beautiful sites of central Europe flew by.

As can be expected, this type of life can take its toll on a person’s ability to remain conscious. By chance, when my body and mind were screaming for sleep, I happened upon a rather quiet train car. In fact, at one point a person was asked to keep the noise down behind me. I thought there was going to be some sort of movie starting that necessitated such silent attention until I realized that some of the train cars are specifically designated for the lazy kind of traveler that I felt like being. They are quiet cars and I will snore my praises of them for years to come.

Budapest —

A city full of history, incredible architecture, and beautiful women. As you walk around the city you get a definite stench of the former socialist society coupled with an obvious existence of capitalist growth. The city sits on the banks of the Danube. The Pest side is where you would find a much more built-up city center with malls and shopping areas, not to mention the late night venues. You can imagine my desire to visit the other side of the river.

The other side of the river is the Buda part of the city (are you picking up on the basis of the name yet?). A little quieter and lush, Buda contains some beautiful homes and sites. The Gelhert Hill, marked by a statue that can be reached by hiking paths, offers an incredible view of the city. I was lucky enough to meet a lovely local named Janka and I was invited to a dinner party. Hungarians are often seen as slightly less personable than some western European counterparts. This can be chalked up to a very dry sense of humor. I can attest, however, that this is not the case at all. After a great, home-cooked meal and a few cocktails in a quaint apartment in the hills filled with great people, including Zigga (who I knew for a few days and offered me a lift to the train station), and of course the beautiful Janka; I would say that kindness and generosity are staples in the social diet of Hungarians. They also have an uncanny ability to have a good time

Europe is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. No other place on Earth offers so much to do in so little time. Besides being steeped in rich history and culture, Europe is also beautiful and relaxing all over the continent. Of course, there is a decision to be made about how to get from land to land in this gorgeous area. The best suggestion would be to travel Europe by rail. There is no other way to see so much and relax in amazing comfort at the same time.

To travel Europe by rail you will need to obtain some rail passes. This is not difficult in the least and is far more cost effective than air travel. The best way to get rail passes is to go through a travel agent. You will need to tell them how many destinations that you intend to visit while you travel Europe by rail. The travel agent will be able to work out a great package deal for you that will get all you want to see into the amount of days that you have available. There are also several preset travel Europe by rail deals that give you only the best of what the land has to offer. Check with your travel agent to determine what the best package is for you and the pricing that is available.

When you travel Europe by rail there are many destinations that you will surely want to visit to make the vacation unforgettable to say the least. Prague is one such destination. To travel Europe by rail and not stop in Prague is a big mistake. Besides being one of the most beautiful cities in the world, it has a rich nightlife and wonderful attractions for everyone. Stop in for some of the best cuisine that the world has to offer.

Venice is another must see destination when you travel Europe by rail. Venice has been touted as the number one spot for tourists all over the world. This is no surprise considering the overall appeal of the city and its historical richness. Be sure to visit one of the wonderful cafés that line most of the streets.

Finally you will want to stop in at Munich when you travel Europe by rail. As a city, Munich provides something for everyone. The night is always alive in Munich with nightclubs and jazz centers as well as great theater and film houses. Do not leave until you have visited some of the fine restaurants in the area as well. You will not regret it for sure.

Next time you take a vacation be sure to check into a package that will allow you to travel Europe by rail. Not only will you travel to some of the finest locations across the continent, you will do so in high style and comfort, not having to worry about long lines to get through an airport terminal. Travel Europe by rail and enjoy.

Europe travel is a dream for some budget travelers. Even though the costs of Europe travel have increased these few years, European travel can still be affordable, for budget travelers, independent travelers, college students and families.

One of the most popular budget travel tip for your Europe travel is to get a rail pass that matches your budget and travel requirements. When choosing between rail passes, always consider your travel destinations even before you leave to go for your Europe travel.

Some rail passes are only valid for one country, while some other rail passes can be used for all European countries (for a specific period of time). If your budget travel only covers one country, then get the single country pass.

If you plan to spend a considerable amount of time in Europe, you will probably want to visit many different locations. So check out the rail pass that is valid for a longer period of time. It will be much cheaper for your Europe travel if you get those extended-length rail passes if you plan to stay in Europe for quite a while.

It is a good idea to get the European rail passes before leaving home. Most travel agents can help you buy European rail passes, as well as providing advice on which type of rail pass best suits your needs. AAA provides valuable information on European rail passes. You can get the passes from them and may even score some discounts. You’d never know!

European rail passes are also available on the Internet from a number of sources. You may opt to purchase a European rail pass directly from these sources. Double check to make sure that you get your rail passes before you leave for your budget travel to Europe. It may take longer than expected to reach you, so be sure to get this done promptly.

Another important point is that many trains in Europe require a reservation. Holding a rail pass does not mean that you have a reservation. You must make a reservation on the train you want as soon as possible after arriving in Europe, or ask about making one before you leave home.

It is also important to remember that many overnight trains will require an additional reservation, and extra money for sleeping compartments. This is very important especially if you are boarding a long distance train. Always ask about the sleeping facilities that are available when making your reservation.

Europe travel by train is hugely popular within Europe. It is comfortable, fast, safe and most importantly, at a reasonable cost. Traveling to Europe doesn’t have to be stressful on your wallet. You can still travel without blowing your set budget.