OT - Train travel in Europe

[RV4ker (RIP)]

Am toying with idea of taking kids to Europe for white misses (I mean Christmas). While we there may do a bit of sight seeing. I have only driven in snow twice and both times I kaked myself. Once in Canada and we slept in can and once in USA. After that I was cured and went greyhound so am not keen to drive.

Question
How difficult is it to travel with little kids on the trains in Europe. I have traveled in Chermany on business in trains and it was a pleasure, but what about France, Switzerland and Italy for eg? Most folks say the euro-pass is the way to go. Is it as simple as arrive, swipe and sit? Don't want to Spend R20K on a travel pass and then the dam thing is more hassle than it worth....

Any comments appreciated.

[Tumbleweed]

Eurail tickets is the only way to go. Unless things have changed, its the best way to get around.

Extremely efficient- 7h45 is 7h45- no Africa time Clean (do your ablutions and save going to dodgy expensive toilets- one Euro to open the door and you must tip the attendant ).

Plan your trip well i.e. once you stamp your ticket for the day you travel as much and anywhere you want till 23h55 that night. Stations normally in the centre of activity so you wont need taxis e.t.c.

You'll notice the top end trains -German 200 km/h aircon or heated with your own compartment taper down to more social Italian family jaunt affairs, but a good jol. Always cold beers and good food at the stations and you just hire a locker to stash your crap while you go sight seeing.

[Lesser_spotted_owl]

Can't go wrong with the trains in Europe George,
just check that the places you want to go are on the lines ( just missed making a huge mistake in Germany by assuming everywhere was accessible) all available on the net.
I much prefer using them to doing the short hops by plane, seats are better, windows are bigger, you get to look around too!

I am off to Europe this weekend and will be using the trains in Denmark for the internal travel ( 3 hrs etc.) always do and always will, much better way to travel imho.

Chat to Russ, this is his stomping ground every Winter.

[RV4ker (RIP)]

Excellent. The trip we did with Mel and Russ was Best ever, but the kids eat and drink up a storm so the all in Club med deal is very attractive...

We planing Paris to Wengen via Basel then Wengen to Rome via Spiez & Milan on the train.... Just to see a bit of the countryside while we there... Prob never get chance to go back again....

[Lesser_spotted_owl]

Now that sounds like a good trip, the Alps, Switzerland.

Very very nice

Enjoy

[Alkemac]

You might even get to see this place - somewhere in Neuchatel, but this was at the end of January.. Old brown sherry, fireplace, Bearskin rug...oh yeah...

Link for trains etc in Switzerland

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Switzerland-157/Geneva.htm

[Low Level]

Hi George

If I may comment. Last year December we visited my wifes brother in Gauting, Germany, just south of Munchen. The idea was to travel for two weeks and then enjoy a white christmas with them. I decided on a rental. Her sister went with, with two kids and she decided to do the Eurorail thing.

The efficient German train broke down three times in two weeks - twice they got on another train within an hour, and once they had to overnight while waiting for another - not that serious cause they chose to travel overnight - sleep on the train - and spent their days in various destinations. You need to make the most of daylight cause you only have from nine to four.

What we discussed over Christmas dinner - after being there for two weeks. The trains are efficient and easy to use, and they saw the main sentra but they missed out on Europe. One day, we also traveled via train to Garmisch, but after a while you stop staring out of the small windows and indulge yourself in the train, missing out on the country side. The whole day we had to carry all our stuff around that we took with.

With the car we visited various interesting small towns, had beer in pubs next to the road, pizzas along the road in Italy, stopped at filling stations for a pint and a panini and we decided - sometimes on the spot, or by referral - where we want to go. Visited a monastry that has it's own brewery. Lots of pints and eisbeins there, but no train tracks. Not limited to Eurorails routes and times. We experienced Europe and we only had to carry our cameras, the rest was in the boot of the car. Think you miss half the fun if you are stuck in a train, and confined to schedules and destinations. Countryside is stunning when in dressed snow. Lots of stories to tell where the car is involved.

If I have to do it all over again - a car will be my ride.

I have only driven in snow twice and both times I kaked myself.

December is not really snow month - yet. The snow is still manageble. From middle January, I think the inexperienced need to stay off the roads.

Just my 2c.

Some cellphone pics.

15:56 already dark in Europe

Coldest was -15

Snow not so bad

[nicow]

Vat my saam

[RV4ker (RIP)]

Problem is the distances we need to do. Paris to Wengen and then to Rome. For a plaas jaapie like me who knows only the kalahari flaktes those koppies (alps) scare me a bit. Also not gonna be doing much pint and piannini with 4 kids in the Bus (Ever tried to hire a bus - costs about same as 3 cars )

Trains it is for us.