Eurorail system vs flying

Im currently in the planning of my OE. My Aries has left it up to me to decide where we are going and how we are getting there having only nominated two places he wants to visit Greece and the Oktoberfest 2012. Suits me perfectly as Greece is my dream but what a huge task! So I plan to start at the best, in the Greek Islands for a week and then make our way to London through Rome, Venice, Munich, Paris & Amsterdam (for a joint of course 🙂 Unfortunately we only have a month stay and a budget to work to and some of these countries are quite some distance apart.

So can anyone over there or anyone that has done it shed any light, which is the more affordable way to travel. Am I best to fly or use the rail service and what are the ups and downs. Also any tips on where to visit and what to forget about, I have limited knowledge of Europe and only know mostly the tourist attractions which I plan on avoiding mostly. I am armed with a Student travel guide for budget stays and eateries etc but it really doesn't cover best way to travel. Any bits of information will be welcomed.

I wish I could get to Ireland as it's part of my nationality but I'll have to make do with bangers and mash in an English pub this round and get back another day 🙂

Oh and any dxpers that want to meet up for a coffee/beer/wine while I'm there, yell out!

I can help you out! I live near Amsterdam and have done most of the cities/countries you've mentioned, mostly by train. In fact I'll be in Greece (Rhodes) and Italy (Rome and Tuscany) in about a month from now so when I get back in early September I'll definitely give you some feedback on those two 😉

I'll PM you soon about your questions!

Thanks Shaks 🙂

I'm completely lost and bewildered but soooo very excited even though it's over a year away. This is my dream and I have been waiting years to be able to do it!

Dont worry 🙂

Its all a lot less complicated than you imagine, as long as the money is there you'll have no problems 😛 well not saying it can get TOO expensive because you can do pretty much everything on low budget but still..if you want to do a little European tour you know you're going to be expending quite a bit, especially cities like Venice, London and Rome are more expensive than other European cities.

Can't wait to hear about your trip 🙂 And any little tid-bits you can share.

I'm going to Thailand in Aug and it pails in comparison to my OE

Hey Shaks,

would it be safe to assume that traveling by train 100km would roughly be an hours travel? Most countries are around 500 -900km apart.

Are you and your lady holidaying or is this a business venture?

Posted by sweethearts
Can't wait to hear about your trip 🙂 And any little tid-bits you can share.

I'm going to Thailand in Aug and it pails in comparison to my OE

Yeahh I usually return excited enough to tell everyone about wherever the hell I've been lol Thailand is pretty damn good though!! I wanna hear those stories too when you get back 😛

Posted by sweethearts
Hey Shaks,

would it be safe to assume that traveling by train 100km would roughly be an hours travel? Most countries are around 500 -900km apart.

Are you and your lady holidaying or is this a business venture?

It depends a lot on whether you take a high-speed train (TGV, Thalys, etc) or a regular one. Although the first one is a lot more expensive, you can literally be within a couple of hours of relatively huge distances, as I said it depends a lot on your budget 😛 often though it is way way cheaper to take a low-budget flight (Ryanair, easyjet) those have a pretty wide range of destinations within Western Europe. What most people do is they combine both, train and low-budget flights.

As for my cappy and moi, we're going to be holidaying for 2 weeks in Greece, then a weekend in Luxembourg and then we'll be flying to Rome together for like 5 days (more holidays lol) after that she'll be returning home and I'll continue my way into Italy; I'll be working at an archaeological dig in Tuscany (Italy) for 2 weeks.

Thats our schedule 😄

An archaeological dig?? Are you an Archaeologist, I never knew. I knew you were studying at one point. What a fascinating career!!

Thanks for the tips on the trains, all useful and Im diarying everything. I'm a nutter for having well laid out plans. Eurorail is all I know about through the books but now I will google and look into these other tips.

You and your Cappy are going to have an incredible time, I bet you are looking forward to that 🙂 You're so lucky to be living there where you can visit so many countries and experience all the different cultures.

Greece has always been my desired place to visit and party and eat and I will be in the city of love, Paris, for my birthday. Excited hardly, I'm Ecstatic!!



@eee. For London I have to have bangers and mash and a pint of ale 🙂 Then off to Buckingham Palace and maybe Westminster Abbey just to see the opulence first hand. Anything I shouldn't miss while there? Are you close enough to shout me a beer? lol

Thailand is a more pampered holiday where you lay around in the sun and are waited on hand and foot. Im sure there will be more than just massages everyday and riding elephants and having your dead skin from your feet eaten by fish lol. We are staying in Patong which is one of the best party towns in Phuket at a resort that has a private beach. The main Patong beach is fairly crowded with tourists so I think we have chosen well for a little extra moola 🙂 Then onto Bangkok to shop! haha As if I don't get enough of that here in the GC.

Leaving next week on Thursday 😄 😄

Have the best time Shaks 🙂 I know you will I'm sooooo jealous but know I'm getting there too. I want a full report when you get back, all the romantic places/history and highlights pls 🙂

Oh and I'm off to Thailand in 25 days 🙂 I'm now looking forward to that and some much deserved R & R and Pampering...not to mention partying 😛

Thanks E 🙂

Will do, and may I say much needed!! I'm real curious about this ping pong show 😛