Posted on December 22, 2011
First idea was come-up after discovery of euro-railpass. As i know, common way to visit Europe are auto-trip. Bus trips also popular for people from Eastern Europe. But thats most horrible way to do it. At least if you are planning to use bus all the way from home town. No way.
So plan is simple. Get in the midle of interesting region by air – quick and cheap way. Sometimes even a single option available, if you live on remote island, for example. Then visit nearby countries by public transport that are most convinient and quick in this region. So i choose starting point will be Amsterdam, The Netherlands. It’s in the heart of Northern Europe where i can get with non-stop flight. Also i plan to spend most time in that region.
Turns out direct flights a bit expensive than such with a stop. And as common, just flight to first stop cost more than full route. LOL. So there doesn’t matter how long yours journey, price almost all the same. Even cheaper on longer route with lot of connections. Crazy air system.
Travelling from non-shengen country will requere to go true customs in first country where you enter shengen area. Even on connected flights. Because airpost have different zones for domestic and international flights. So be carefull with planing connection flights time and visas. You can’t make 2 transfer-stops in Shengen countries while travelling true EU somewhere outside it. Its like the fact, that you can’t make air transfer stop in US without US-visa.
Once i traveled true shengen to non-shengen country, i had only 1 stop, so both departure and arrival flights in Prague was from international zone. I don’t have to go true customs, so do not need any visa too. But you will need a visa to make 2 stops in shengen countries. Because all flight betwean them are considered as domestic flights. One more thing to be carefull with, not all airlines have check-in in airports transfer zones. Mind that, when you have different companies on connected flights.
So for travel in Europe you have a lot of chooses. Trains have tickets that valid for any train in any country with fixed days of use and price. Check web sites for details. No matter how much trains you ride. Pay once for number of days you need. Price for EU citizens and otheres are a bit different. Rules almost there same, except that second class seats not available for non-EU citizens.
Second options will be traveling by…. bus! Heh. Yep, same ticket valid for N number of days for any bus in any country. If you expect a lot of rides – save money, and no need to worry about shedules in a non-sheduled trip. Who know if you will like next city or not that much.
OK renting a car maybe better. So, second that too.
Third may be airplanes. Cost almost the same as train/bus for middle distance, and even less for longer distances. Yep. Low-cost airlines have nice deals. But remember the time and cost to get to the city-center from the airport. It can not cover the differense with just train for same middle distance route.
4th will be ferries. For Scandinavian routes its deart cheap and funny. Tax-free alchohol may be attracting to choose this kind of transport :) Some ferries even covered by rail/bus passes. Or have disscount.
You still use “help” from travel agencies? Why, what the fun? Unless you plan “relax” on the same beach all 14 days of you “supereb” vacation time. Than go, do it.