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The best alternatives to air travel – How to travel Europe on a budget without flying?

Cutting down unnecessary flying might sound easier than it is. Especially in Europe, with such a well-developed railway system. However, when it comes to an alternative to air travel, it is not as easy to go by train. Flying in Europe is still so much cheaper and faster. But you can try, right?

This blog post gives you insight into how to cut down your air miles in Europe and travel by train, coach, or other alternatives. Inspired by my own travel experiences in Europe, I give you valuable insights and tips for affordable traveling on the ground.

Is train-traveling in Europe an alternative to air travel?

Train traveling might be the most environmentally friendly way to travel, a great alternative to air travel. It is very comfortable, as you can stretch your legs at any time without blocking a whole corridor. It also lets you see more of the country you are visiting, as you pass by its landscape. However, one major downside is that it is time-consuming. The new technologies of the Hyperloop are not yet in use. One of the environmental concerns is the use of diesel locomotives since they have higher emissions. For most of Europe, not such a huge worry since 80 % of the traffic is using the electric drive, according to the European Rail industry.

Another advantage to train travel in Europe is that the trains are well-established. Most of the trains are equipped with a boarded restaurant, some might have free Wi-Fi, and of course, you find restrooms on every train.

Here is a list of things that can be from benefit if you travel by train: 

  • headphones 
  • crescent-shaped cushion 
  • snacks (depending on the length of the journey)
  • water bottle with enough water (water in the restrooms of trains is not drinkable, you would need to buy a bottle, which is not so cheap on the train) 
  • downloaded movies 
  • book(s) or notebook
  • e-reader or books
  • comfy clothing 
  • light blanket or scarf (you never know how strong or weak the A/C or heater is) 

For your overnight journey:

  • earplugs 
  • sleep mask 

Here are some additional guides for train traveling: Save a train and Seat61.

For an overnight train journey, keep in mind, to keep your passport and wallet next to you. Bring a light sleeping bag or inflatable cushion, for extra comfort. If you have booked a lying or sleeping cabin, it proves you with a blanket and cushion. For some overnight train tickets, breakfast is also offered. Sleeping on the train is not very comfortable. If you pass a border with checkpoints, they will wake you up and check your passport. For your bigger luggage, you can use a lock, but don’t worry too much, usually European trains are safe. For female travelers: you can book a female-only cabin.

Travel airplane free through Europe – How to get the best alternative deals

Travel in less popular seasons guarantees you get the best and cheapest deals. As well as no overcrowded trains. The high season in Europe is in summer, June-August. Anytime outside of this timeframe is better. The low season is around January and February (depending on where you go). Obviously, in skiing regions, it is not a low season, but for most European cities, it is. Nevertheless, the low season is also changing a bit as more and more people look for a calmer time period to travel.

Taking the train at night is a great option to save money and a wonderful alternative to air travel. You can either book a ticket for a seat or a sleeping cabin. First, you save money on accommodation, and second most of the time those are the cheaper connections.

For instance, a train connection from Salzburg to Budapest at 4 am in different seasons: In February, the train was almost empty, and I could lie down on three seats for the whole journey until an older lady woke me up shortly before arriving in Budapest. Whereas the same train connection in summer was incredibly crowded and delayed, helped by a festival in Budapest. A very inconvenient time to travel. So, it certainly depends on the season.

Regional differences

Keep also regional differences in mind. While West Europe is more digitalized than Eastern Europe, you might be able to find suitable connections offline in the latter area. So, do not research your fingers sore. Some examples: On my Balkan trip, I saw bus connections in different directions, from Shkoder, Albania to Vienna, Budapest, and Prague, with distances of over 1.000 km. Those bus tickets can be booked easily via the reception desk at the hostel.

On the other hand, if you travel to Central Europe, countries like France, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, you need to book your ticket many weeks or even months before the trip in order to get a good price.

In Sweden, for instance, you can get a youth ticket if you are under 25 years. This means a 15 % discount. My sister didn’t know that and was buying the normal tickets for most of the trip. So, there are many regional differences in discounts and options for cheaper train prices.

To know things like this requires a lot of research. If you do not have the time for that make, it easier and ask the locals or travelers who have been there. Some platforms that you can use are Couchsurfing, Facebook groups, and TripAdvisor Forum.

Plan your trip ahead

Are months of planning ahead required? In some instances, yes. Planning time highly depends on the season in some instances, also on the region.

However, sometimes it can be still quite early, and prices are already high. As I booked the tickets for an overnight train trip from Linz, Austria to Hamburg, the price for a normal seat was 60 Euros, whereas the price for the lying wagon was 120 Euros. I couldn’t believe that it was the double amount. I booked the tickets in April for the journey in July. Just to showcase to you how high the demand is in summer. The train was full. And also, the connecting trains to Gothenburg were packed.

If you want to do your travels without an airplane in central Europe during summer. Plan as early as you can. Train tickets in Germany and Austria can be insanely high. The discount tickets, in German Sparschiene, are usually nonrefundable and binding on a certain train connection. This does not leave much space for being flexible. Make sure you have travel insurance in case you need to cancel your trip.

How can you make your fly-less trip through Europe easier?

You can buy an Eurorail or Interrail ticket that covers more countries and lets you travel flexibly. Also, if you just want to explore one country. Anyhow, it might be cheaper if you pay for every single trip, you make and book the ticket in advance. The Eurorail tickets just give you full flexibility. You can hop over to the European railway travel expert to get more information.

Don’t become too stressed about the long hours of traveling on the train. Make the trip the journey, enjoy every bit of it. And bring some tools that you can use for pastime. For instance, a book, a notebook to write, knitwear, snacks, or some card games (for you and your travel companions).

Alternatives to train and plane travel

There are some alternatives if you don’t want to travel by train or if you want to get the cheapest deal. BlaBlacar is a private carpooling network. The disadvantage is that you can’t plan much in advance and never know if there is a car going the route you want to take. Sometimes you can find rides a week prior sometimes a few days before departure.

Traveling by coach is another option. In Europe the cheapest operator is Flixbus, operating in most of Europe’s countries. In the UK the cheaper option is Megabus.

The long-distance buses are equipped with comfortable seats and on-board toilets, some sell drinks and have limited Wi-Fi. If you travel during the night, or very early morning hours make sure you take a crescent-shaped cushion, a small blanket, and an eye mask. Just the same items I have mentioned for the train trip. Make sure you wear comfy clothes, to make your trip as comfortable as possible.

Less flying in Europe – For the adventurers

Hitchhiking might only be an option for the fearless. For those not sure about it: take a friend with you. Hitchhiking as a pair seems less scary. Use Hitchwiki to get information about where is a good waiting point, etc. Also, very important is to listen to your intuition. If you have a bad feeling about getting in someone’s car, don’t. 
Another adventurous option to discover Europe is on the water, on sailing or on a motorboat. And don’t only think about the Mediterranean Sea, you can travel by boat also at the north, to the following countries the Netherlands, Denmark, or Sweden. In her blog, Paulina is telling her experience with boat hitchhiking across the Atlantic.
Besides a well-established railway network, Europe also has well-established cycling paths. Another alternative to air travel is a much slower alternative, traveling by bicycle.

A bicycle trip with a friend and my sister in Austria

Carbon offsetting as an alternative to travel more environmentally conscious

Traveling on the ground is often time-consuming. That’s true to a certain extent. The infrastructure in Europe is improving in many ways to make train journeys faster and more convenient. For example, a train connection between Munich and Berlin is a high-speed train that connects the two cities in less than 4 hours.

Sometimes flying is just cheaper, faster and the only option for a certain trip. For that, you offset your carbon. Carbon offsetting is about compensating your negative impact by contributing to aid projects, such as planting trees or other environmental initiatives. It is certainly not making your CO2 emissions disappear, but it is an option to compensate it. Some might argue that it is a tool to feel less guilty.

However, if you are conscious about the way, you travel and the impact it has on the environment, then you are already one step further to making a great decision on which mode of transport you use. And may influence others on your path to an environmentally conscious traveler.

It is not all black and white 

Aviation provides jobs, contributes to globalization and results in economic growth. We need aviation. However, in recent years, cheap airline companies pooped out the ground like daisies.

Additionally, the income levels of society rose, and everyone could afford to travel by air, thus raising carbon emissions. We need to change our approach to it. To take the consequences of our actions into account and be more conscious about our decisions.  No one is perfect. If everyone contributes a little, it can have an impact.

I hope this article was helpful to you and inspired you to travel by any of the mentioned alternatives to air travel more often.

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