Planning a trip to Europe. Is it better to fly or travel by land via Eurail/bus?

Question

Planning a 2 week trip. Will fly into Paris. Then I want to go to Amsterdam, Venice, Rome, and Barcelona. (Possibly Milan too if it turns out I choose to fly). Do you think it is better to travel by land with this itinerary, or should we just fly. Flying will be less than $300 on the budget airlines. Never been to Europe and I'm a student so I really need to save money wherever I can. Thanks!

Answer 1

Keep in mind the costs (money and time) to and from the airports. Many of the low-cost airlines use smaller, further-away airports (Ryanair is notorious for this) that might take an hour or more to get to by bus, and the bus does cost money! Even taking the train from the main airports will add to your travel costs and expenses.

I'd prefer trains over busses, generally, because train is usually faster and more comfortable. Each country usually has their own rail site (some like the UK, have more than one). These sites often have specials and disount offers that work out cheaper than a rail pass. The main advantage to rail pass is convenience--you don't have to sort it all out every day, just hop on--but you normally have to stand and line and get a seat reservation, anyway, even if using a rail pass, so why not just buy a normal ticket since you're in line anyway (instead of using the pass). Or, better, you can often get your ticket and seat reservation via the train online booking sites. That way you have your "pass" (a series of tickets that you've booked yourself) for probably much less money.

A good resource for student travels in Europe are the forums at http://www.eurotrip.com

I usually decide on air vs. rail this way: If the train trip will take more than 6 hours, then I prefer to fly--if the price is the same or cheaper. If the flight costs a lot more, then I consider if the scenery along the tracks will be good (throught the mountains or along the sea, or in some boring area?). If the scenery will be good, then I probably rail, anyway, because this should be part of the experience. So, I weigh price, time, and scenery.

Rail sites follow...

Answer 2

A two weeks trip including Paris, Amsterdam, Venice, Rome and Barcelona? Forget it!

For cities this size you need at least 3-5 days each plus one day for travelling between these cities. That is about 20-30 days for the cities you want to see!

Possible combinations doable in 14 days:
- Barcelona, Paris
- Amsterdam, Brugge and Paris
- Paris, Rome, Venice
- Rome, Florence, Venice (Skip Milan, Florence is much better!)

For travelling between these cities I recommend a combination of flights, trains and buses - whatever works out cheapest or the most convienient on the day you are travelling. Buy the tickets in advance over the internet. Do not use Eurail, it will not be worth it if you travel only between 2 or 3 cities. Budget between around 50 USD per day plus cost of transport.

http://www.skyscanner.net
http://www.eurolines.com
http://www.jizdenka.cz
http://www.bahn.de

Answer 3

Yes 3-4 weeks would be enough, but I haven't been to all so I don't know if you would really enjoy it. Since all the places you listed are in close proximity, that would definitely be enough time. My only tips are since I am not a huge expert, is that if you would like to know the weather, search each of the average temperatures for that city during a certain month. That way you have an idea. Air fare would probably be expensive so you can see if you can take more flights to cut the cost down. A lot of cheaper hotels are not directly in the city so if you want to cut cost on that I suggest that too. Generally summer months are the best times to travel (what I have learned) I say this because most people fly to warmer places during the winter in hope to escape the snow and cold temperatures. Sometimes cost are even cheaper in the summer, espeically if you go in August and around then. If you want to know if you'll have enough time, look at all the attactions in each place and plan on which ones you will go to and how long you will spend. Another thing I have learned is MAKE SURE YOU PLAN OUT YOUR DESTINATIONS!! With kids on the vacation there is bound to be nagging by saying "i dont wanna go there" "But i wanna go shopping!" So when you plan out all the events you find stuff you can all agree on and you can keep a schedule. Check out packages, because sometimes planned packages are cheaper, do your research before you settle on one thing and also check to see if certain air lines give you rewards just in case you plan another trip. Oh and I would suggest only getting a rent-a car in italy since most of the places are near. It may be a hassle to get one for france and all of that. See if you can take a bus in those other places, especially when going into major cities. Have fun!

Answer 4

Oh boy...you've got a lot of distance to cover between these cities and I don't think two weeks is enough to do them all. If you fly, you might be able to get some meaningful time in each place but it is still going to cost you quite a bit even if you take charters or student fares (more than $300 in my opinion). I would say stick to one or two countries...Barcelona and Paris would be a good combination...you can get a Eurorail pass or an even cheaper alternative is to go with Eurolines (bus). Another idea might be to do an Italian tour of Rome, Florence and Venice (also by train or bus). Amsterdam, I would be careful about going there...I don't know if you're just getting out of high school or in university but you could get caught up in a bad or even dangersous situation if you don't watch out...don't get me wrong, it's an amazing city, great culture, beautiful architecture...but a lot of stuff goes on there...if you're under the age of 21 I would wait on going there.

Answer 5

I'd say take a bus or train from Paris to Ams, then fly to Italy,
Take the train around Italy then decide if you want to go throught the south of France to get to Barcelona on the train (it's slower, beautiful, and I like trains better really, but maybe more expensive than flying Rome to Barcelona.)
raileurope.com shows a one way train ticket from Venice to Barcelona (changing in Milano) costs about $177
Easyjet has flights from Ams to Milan for about $100
Ryanair has some flights from Rome to Girona (Barcelona's a couple of hours away) for about 100 euros, but some for 189 eu., so it depends on your date.
A eurail youth select pass costs $312 for 5 days/4 countries (Italy, France, Spain, and Benelux) You can get asaver pass if you're traveling with a friend.

Here's the cheapest flight options::::!!!
ryanair from Eindhoven, Netherlands (2 hrs. from AMS) to Milan for only 10 euros (+taxes, maybe 25,) to Pisa was 30 euros and to rome 50 euros. (+tax) I was checking August 14 since i didn't know the dates.
ryanair.com
Then google Eindhoven airport to see how to get there.

Answer 6

I'm from England and one year spent 3 months bumming around Europe, did 10 countries in 12 weeks. Try Ryan Air, they have really low fares and it works out cheaper and more time efficient than catching trains and buses. Good places to visit are Luxembourg City, Zurich, Antwerp and there is good nightlife in Salzburg. There's bars all along the river. Have fun!

Answer 7

rail will be the cheapest and the best way of seeing europe but all these places are very expensive especialy if your from the us coz the doller is very weak now just make sure to stay in youth hostels coz they are pretty cheap

Paris is stupidly expensive and not a nice place atall i wouldent even bother going there.

barcalona is the best city on your list :)

I would include berlin into your trip its a realy nice city and maybe if you have time london but london is also expensive

Answer 8

Try to get a Europe pass, my dear. Travel by night (saves you some hotel costs) and sight-seeing by day. Have fun!