Train Travel
With your tour guide,
Anne P. Mitchell
| Summary: Train travel is often overlooked by busy travelers with hectic schedules and finely honed time-management skills in favor of a quick flight. If you find yourself looking for a different sort of relaxing vacation, train travel gives you the opportunity to enjoy the travel time instead of just the destination. |
Train travel is often overlooked by busy travelers with hectic schedules and finely honed time-management skills in favor of a quick flight. If you find yourself looking for a different sort of relaxing vacation, train travel gives you the opportunity to enjoy the travel time instead of just the destination.
Traveling by train is a much different experience than hopping on a plane and arriving at your destination. With train travel, you get to watch the scenery go by, walk around and meet your fellow travelers, and really relax and take pleasure in the journey itself. Trains come in all different varieties, including those with sleeping cars and even some that feature first-class dining and accommodations. You can find train companies all over the world, on every continent and in almost every country.
You can plan your entire vacation around train travel, including the travel time in your itinerary. Or you can fly to your destination and book a train tour of the area, stopping in major cities or out-of-the-way spots to explore and experience your surroundings. Based on the departure and arrival times of each train line, you can plan and book your own personalized train tours according to your schedule and places you want to visit.
Train tickets, in general, are no more expensive than tickets on a flight. You’ll pay more for upgrades and extra services of course, but that’s also true for any other method of travel. Beds in sleeping cars are comfortable and secure, and you’ll have dining cars and vending machines available when you get hungry. Overall, train seats are plush and provide lots of leg room, and you can get up and wander around to stretch your legs whenever you’d like to.
Services and standards will depend on the train company, but major carriers such as Amtrak in the U.S., BritRail in the U.K., Eurail in Europe, The Blue Train in South Africa, and Via Rail in Canada all offer high quality service and a relaxed atmosphere.
You can book train tickets through a travel agent, online, or directly with the train company over the phone. If you decide to take the train while you’re away, head to the train station and book your tickets there. If you have any special requirements for accommodations or dining, mention these at the time of booking.
Whether you want to see the sites across the U.S. or you’re planning to take a ride on the Orient Express, train travel offers a completely relaxing and leisurely travel experience. Consider enjoying all the train has to offer on your next vacation!
