Plan a Euro rail adventure

Crossing continents to the hypnotic chug chug of a locomotive has been a romantic idea for since the brith of rail travel. Here's how to do it properly.

Believe it or not, until a few years ago people had to plan their travels without iPhones or a vast array of hand-held technological devices that could access the internet anywhere at anytime. They had to rely on things called maps, time sheets, watches, and clocks – and a good sense of direction. A lot has changed in the world over the past ten years, including travelling; particularly travelling by rail in Europe.

Not only is the railway system efficient with easy accessibility, there is also a romantic appeal to train travelling throughout Europe because you never know what adventures will come your way, or who you will meet along the journey.

Beginning Your Journey

First you must decide whether you are going to be moving on a 'fixed' or an 'unfixed' schedule. Fixed means you know the specific travel dates and times� including the specific locations. Unfixed means you only know the calendar month you'll be travelling, and a rough idea of the locations you'll be visiting, but nothing is set in stone.

Remember to take the number of travellers into consideration, too, as there are often package deals or 'all inclusive' offers for groups, organisations, students, seniors, and other kinds of parties. Regardless of your plans, once you have made this decision, fixed or unfixed: you can begin to plan your European railway trip.

Do some research: many travel agencies do not offer thorough information that specifically pertains to railway travelling so it’s imperative to be knowledgeable of how train travelling operates. Check Lonely Planet, Rail Europe, and The Man in Seat 61. Students may want to look into STA Travel.

Weather and tourist seasons are also factors to take into consideration before travelling if you are looking to lower your costs and have the freedom of a more flexible schedule. According to Tom Hall from Lonely Planet in London, the best times of year to travel....

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