What trip did you take by train, and what made you choose the train instead of flying?
Hannah: Classical Sicily, and I took the train there and back. I’ve challenged myself to do all of my European travel without flying. As well as being easy, I’ve ended up travelling to loads of new places.
Silvia: Cycling in France - Loire Valley. I chose the train because I had never taken the Eurostar, and it seemed like the perfect opportunity. The itinerary was very straightforward, and all the UK-based customers on my trip had done the same!
Andy: Cycle Dolomites, Lake Garda and Verona. I chose the train from a sustainability viewpoint, but also when looking at costs and experience, it was better value.
Diane: Amalfi Coast Walking - Hotel Risorgimento. I was excited to travel through Europe and see the countries and scenery as I went, rather than flying over with no view.
Ali: Walking in the Dolomites - Campitello – thought it would be fun to travel back overland through multiple countries.
How easy was it to plan and book the train travel?
Hannah: I’ve done quite a bit of train travel now, so I feel confident planning a good route. I booked an
Interrail pass and used the amazing
Seat 61 website for tips. The
rail planner app – part of the Interrail pass – is really good for putting all of your train journeys in to see they fit together well.
Silvia: Very easy!
International Rail took care of everything. I contacted them with the outbound and return dates, and they gave me the best options available to choose from.
Andy: I booked the
Eurostar by calling up and booked the remaining journeys through
Trainline. I wanted to spend some time in Brussels as I grew up there, then travel from Munich to Venice during the day rather than an overnighter.
Diane: We used
International Rail, who sorted all the booking and planning, so it was very easy.
Ali: Super easy,
International Rail did it all for me. They offered two options, the one I took and one including an overnight train to Germany. I was tempted, but by the time I booked, the cabins were sold out.
How did you spend your time on board the train?
Hannah: I love just watching the scenery go by! As part of my trip, I travelled through Switzerland, following the Bernina Express route (on the cheaper, local trains) and got really lucky with the weather – bright blue skies and lots of snow on the ground, so it was an incredibly beautiful journey.
Silvia: Initially, I was going to sleep, but I was so excited to go through the underwater tunnel that I couldn’t. (Plot twist: we went through the tunnel, and I didn’t even realise because it felt like a normal tunnel!). I visited the café for refreshments and was very comfortable throughout my journey. On my connection train (Paris to Tours), I was mesmerised by the views. French landscapes are so beautiful.
Andy: The main journey (Munich to Venice) was seven hours. At first, I napped, then admired the changing scenery from the rolling hills of Germany to the snow-capped peaks of the Alps. I also wandered to the café car and read my book on Venice. It was a much more enjoyable journey than two hours sitting on a plane.
Diane: Looking at the view, reading, and listening to music. On the sleeper train, obviously sleeping!
Ali: Reading mainly, enjoying the views, people watching, snacking, and a snooze or two!
How did the train journey compare with flying?
Hannah: Much more exciting – I hate waiting, so I find train stations more fun than airports. You don’t get much scenery with flying, whereas on a train it’s there the whole time. The space is a bonus; being able to move more freely makes long days of travel more manageable. The biggest bonus has to be the route options, as you can break the journey up and visit somewhere along the way. I could have taken a more direct route to Sicily, but I decided to stop in Switzerland just because I could.
Silvia: Personally, I don’t like flying, so it was great. The security check was quick and efficient. I was able to take a large luggage bag with no fuss. Everything was properly signposted and easy to understand, and all the trains I took were on time.
Andy: Super comfortable, as the seating on the trains to Munich was reclining seats in 2x2. The Munich to Venice train was a six-seater cabin. No stress in terms of checking in time. Even the two hours from 10.30 pm to 12.30 am sitting on a platform at Bonn station were fun.
Diane: It was easier and more enjoyable than flying, as it was more of a journey where you could look at the scenery, rather than flying, which is more of a getting from A to B experience.
Ali: Less stress and more comfort. No border control at all from Italy to France, and France to the UK was quicker than the airport.
How did the trip compare to your expectations?
Hannah: Better than expected, mostly because I had absolutely brilliant weather, so the views were incredible. There was poor weather when I got to northern Italy, and lots of train delays due to fog. That could have been a worry, but at each station, there was someone helping us get an alternative connection. For lots of longer-distance trains in Europe, you have to book a seat, which meant that staff knew when I needed help to re-route and took all the stress out of it.
Silvia: As it was my first time in Paris (and I don’t speak French), I was worried I would struggle to find where I was going. However, with a little help from Google Maps and the lovely French people, I had no issues moving around stations and catching my connecting train.
Andy: Exceeded them, it was a little adventure travelling by train.
Diane: I was slightly nervous about making my connecting train and how to navigate my way around the station. However, I looked up the journey on YouTube beforehand, as you can see the step-by-step route through the Metro in Paris, which made me feel more confident when I arrived.
Ali: I was worried about missing connections and finding the correct connecting local buses in Venice and trains across Paris. It ran much more smoothly than I expected, and I had enough time between the connections so far less stress than I was expecting.
What was your favourite part of the journey?
Hannah: When the train reaches Villa San Giovanni, it actually gets on the ferry over to Messina in Sicily! Two carriages roll onto the ferry and then roll off the other side. There are only a couple of trains each day that do this, so you have to pick the right time, but it’s very cool!
Silvia: The fact that I could take a large suitcase and keep it with me, as well as tons of snacks (oh and the gorgeous French landscape around the Loire Valley, of course).
Andy: The journey from Munich to Venice was brilliant. I got chatting to the other four passengers (two German couples) in my cabin, and we shared snacks and a bottle of wine. The journey through the Alps was beautiful, with lots of switchbacks and stunning views. I even had an impromptu stop in the mountains, and as we stopped, it began snowing.
Diane: The journey through France was very pretty and relaxing. Also, the sleeper train was so efficient, and once you're on, you don't have to worry that you won’t make your stop!
Ali: Exploring the stations and finding local snacks for the next part! Also, the fact that I could get up and walk around whenever I wanted.
Did travelling by train change the way you experienced the destination or the trip overall?
Hannah: I felt really relaxed when I arrived – it’s like taking a holiday on the way to your holiday! The travel to the destination really becomes part of the trip, so it felt like I had a much longer holiday. What a result!
Silvia: It changed in the sense that when I arrived at destinations, I was already downtown. From our accommodation at Blois (where the trip ends), it was only a five-minute walk to the train station, ready for the journey back home. No annoying, endless airport transfers!
Andy: Arriving in Venice by train is much more enjoyable than by plane, as the train crosses the headland to the island.
Diane: I think it built in more of an adventure element, which I really enjoyed and made the start of my trip more fun than functional.
Ali: I felt like I belonged there, more of a local than a tourist!
How likely are you to choose the train for future trips, and why?
Hannah: Very likely. I really love it as a form of travel; it’s relaxing, you see so much along the way, and you can make the journey your own.
Silvia: I'm already planning a trip to Germany to visit my brother by train! You get to enjoy the journey a lot more than by plane, and I love having the opportunity to stretch my legs whenever I want to go for a wander.
Andy: Yes, for any future European trips, I would definitely want to go by train. For personal trips (depending on what the trip was for), I would look to spend a day or two less in the destination and spend it travelling by train instead.
Diane: I would choose to travel by train every time if it were possible. I love the adventure element, and it is also very relaxing compared to a busy, stressful airport.
Top tips for someone who’s considering taking the train for the first time?
Hannah: Take your time – add in stops along the way so you can see more. Stop somewhere for lunch – it’s a chance to stretch your legs and explore somewhere new. Most stations in Europe have luggage lockers, so you don’t have to worry about carrying all of your stuff. And use the Seat 61 website – it’s got so much information.
Silvia: If you're booking the Eurostar, economy seats are VERY comfortable, so consider that option instead of the premium one and get some savings in!
Andy: Think of it as extending your holiday.
Diane: Do your research, perhaps YouTube your journey, and download apps on your phone for the local train companies so you can monitor your journey and purchase tickets if need be.
Ali: Go for it, try it at least once for the experience.
If you could bust one myth about train travel, what would it be?
Hannah: Myth: it’s really complicated to do. Reality: it’s not! If you want to organise it yourself, use the Seat 61 website. The Interrail passes are an option if you don’t want to have lots of different tickets. And if you want someone to do it for you, then use International Rail – they know everything there is to know about train travel and will help you plan the perfect journey.
Silvia: That it takes longer. Overall, if you add up the time spent at the airport doing prechecks and waiting to collect luggage, I spent roughly the same amount of time on trains as the airport journey would have taken me.
Anldy: That it's boring! It definitely wasn’t.
Diane: That it is stressful or complicated. I found it very relaxing and straightforward.
Ali: Train travel is only for people who can't fly. In reality, many people choose trains for the comfort, ability to work, scenic routes, reliability on certain routes, lower environmental impact, or simply because they prefer the experience.