How to Travel to Europe Cheaper and Faster

How to Travel to Europe Cheaper and Faster

The ease of traveling around Europe from city to city and even country to country makes Europe a perfect destination for many. Do you wish to travel across Europe more quickly and affordably? Well, trains facilitate travel from the city center to the city center conveniently and sometimes even faster than air. Rail is convenient and has aesthetic routes that are breathtaking to see.

Before the evolution of the internet, getting a train ticket was either through the ticketing window at the station or through an annoyingly expensive travel agent. Thanks to the internet, the hustle and bustle of getting access have been eased. Now, one can book a ticket online through the national rail official website or some cheap third-party booking services.  

This guide helps travelers on a budget get the best deals on train tickets and the fastest routes to their destinations.

The routes faster by train than by airplane

There is a mentality that train equals slow. Contrary to this belief, there are routes where taking the train is faster than a flight. Not only is it faster, but also cheaper and more accessible. The following routes are faster by rail than by air:

• London to Brussels – travel by train only takes 136 minutes, while one spends 272 minutes by air. This trip saves about 136 minutes of travel time.
• Sheffield to London – a flight would take 263 minutes, while it takes 143 minutes by rail. This trip saves about 120 minutes of travel time.
• London to Paris – traveling by air takes around 265 minutes, while the train takes about 157 minutes. This trip saves 108 minutes of travel time.

CO2 emissions that are saved 

As climate change continues to rock the world, measures are being taken worldwide to conserve the environment. One of the best mitigation measures is cutting back on carbon emissions. Air travel is essential and a great mode, but it is also the biggest carbon emitter. Traveling by train significantly reduces carbon emissions into the air, lowering our carbon footprint. The following are some of the quantified cut back of co2 emissions done by rail transport:

• London to Brussels – this trip cuts down carbon emissions by 77%
• Sheffield to London – this trip lowers the carbon footprint by 73%
• London to Paris – traveling by train for this trip reduces emissions by 74%

Where to get tickets

Getting tickets to a new city or country can take time and effort. However, there are three ways to buy a train ticket cheaper and faster.

• Through third-party retailers The advantage of this method is user-friendliness. The service fee of about £2-£3 is worth every cent. The best third-party booking website is Omio. The website makes it easy to find cheaper deals, compare options, and choose your preference. Payment is also secure and transparent, with updates every step of the way.

• Through national rail service websites European countries have digitized ticket purchases through modern websites. They offer discounts and promotions for the locals deeming this method the cheapest. The most significant disadvantage, however, is bugs on the site and unsafe payment methods that are unclear.

• At the train station Getting tickets at the train station is always an available option. However, language barriers, long lines, and hectic payment methods make this disadvantageous.

The best way to get good deals on travel tickets is to Make travel reservations in advance and don’t wait until the last minute.

The takeaway

Traveling across Europe is super fun and exciting, primarily through rail service. It is cheaper and even faster for most routes and lowers carbon footprint. The booking process would better be done by third-party services, which is safer and more accessible. Buying train tickets early also helps save more.

Related: Budapest to Brasov on the Night Train

Related: Taking the Train from Thessaloniki (Greece) to Sofia (Bulgaria)