Can I Travel by Train In Europe?

As a travel agent, I've received several questions about purchasing a ticket online. Some of these were from parents who either do not have children or do not want to travel alone. Others were from people who had traveled in Europe and wanted to take a virtual tour of that continent and asked if they could download a European train timetable to see where they'd be traveling.

Digital technology is changing travel as never before. Gone are the days when you get off the plane at the gate and your passport and visa documents needed to get you into the country, which wasn't too much of a problem in Europe but can be if you've traveled to Latin America, Asia or Africa. So now you can go to a travel agency, or an airline, or a hotel reservation desk and just punch in your country of origin and passport number and away you go.

A travel agent knows the best way to access the web sites of many airlines and travel agencies so that they can inform their clients about bargains and special discounts and other offers. This allows them to play an important role in bringing business back to small-town travel agents.

The European rail schedules are usually quite current. Often it will be quicker and more economical to find out where you are going at least two months ahead of time. Then all you need to do is search for the lowest cost airline ticket available.

Airline schedules are available through airfare agencies, and sometimes by national railway companies. Sometimes travel agents will connect you with many of the major national rail companies. That way you can receive emails alerting you to special deals, or you can search for individual airlines.

Those on a tight budget might prefer to book a flight for one-day time travelers. The two main methods you can use our online booking systems like Expedia and Orbitz, and by phone.

Express ticketing services like Expedia and Orbitz are the better option because they give you the most options at the best prices. They offer a variety of modes of travel, including flights, trains, cars, buses, ferries, cruise ships, and even ski and biking vacations. There's an assortment of travel in almost every city, and you can select to travel to whichever city is within your budget.

You'll find the closest airports to popular European cities like London, Geneva, Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt, and Rome. These are among the most popular European cities, and they provide reasonable fares and great access to travelers.

Use Expedia and Orbitz to purchase tickets, and avoid purchasing train timetables on the European railway schedules, as you're more likely to find something cheaper on Expedia. After searching for airfares and train itineraries, you'll be able to make your final decisions about travel dates and destinations.

By choosing to book your actual ticket to travel as soon as possible, you'll save money. If you were able to buy your ticket before a weekend and then get to your destination on time, you could expect to pay a few hundred dollars less. An option to consider is purchasing two tickets instead of one, as the cost savings could add up.

So, just what is the best way to travel to Europe? It's probably less expensive to fly or car or train, and you'll get to see sights like Florence, Rome, Venice, Milan, Zurich, Nice, and Paris. But you can also choose to travel by train, plane, or ship to cover a lot of ground.