5 WAYS TO TRAVEL AROUND EUROPE

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5 WAYS TO TRAVEL AROUND EUROPE - Thinking of planning a Eurotrip? There are many ways to explore the continent – here are five different ways of traveling around Europe and how to get the best out of each form of travel.

BY AIR

Whilst you’ll most likely need to take a plane to reach Europe, it’s possible to take advantage of short distance flights whilst you’re there allowing you to hop easily from country to country. This can be a fast way of getting around and useful if you’re bringing lots of luggage, however, it could get expensive if you plan lots of stops. Some flights can be cheap if you book last minute. There are lots of budget airlines that you can take, but they may charge a lot for storing baggage in the hold.

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BY ROAD

Another option could be to hire a vehicle and explore Europe by road. This can give you the ultimate freedom to take your own route. There are a lot of costs to consider such as the rent cost, insurance, fuel, parking, tolls, and vignettes, however, you could save money on accommodation by renting a camper van. The laws of the road are a bit different in Europe (and can vary from country to country) – this Rick Steves guide is worth a read!

There are also coach tours for those that don’t want to do the driving themselves. The disadvantage of this is that you will be limited to a certain route. It can, however, be a very social way to travel as you’ll meet lots of people.

Then of course, there’s hitchhiking. This is certainly the cheapest way to travel, but maybe a little scary for some people. A lot of drivers won’t pick up hitchhikers – if you’re not prepared to spend a lot of time waiting around, you may be better off paying for ride-sharing.

BY TRAIN

Inter-railing is a popular way to get around Europe on a budget. This does require packing light – ideally, you’ll want nothing more than a backpack. This Backpack Wiki site has some useful tips on backpacking. As for buying interrail passes, you can do so through the Interrail website.

There are a few luxury trains that travel across Europe for those that want a more relaxed form of traveling. These will be more expensive however and you may not have as much freedom when it comes to planning your route.  

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BY SEA

There are many cruise companies that sail around the coast of Europe. Cruising is expensive, but your accommodation and travel are all in one, plus it’s a much more luxurious way to see the continent. Cruise ships have set routes and you may have to pay extra to book excursions.

BY RIVER

There are also, cruises that operate down several of Europe’s rivers such as the Danube and the Rhine. This can be another way of seeing Europe, although you’ll take a much more limited route. It could be a better way of seeing inland cities, which you may not be able to do so through sea cruises without booking an excursion.