Two extra hours of time
Arrive at least two hours prior to departure? Not on a train, savvy traveller. Excluding the
Eurostar, if you're onboard before the train doors close, you're fine. In this day and age, time is money. Two hours is probably worth, what, $40? $100? Use those precious extra hours to sleep in, enjoy breakfast at a cafe, pack properly, visit a museum or have a wine tasting (but did I mention 'sleep in?'). Two hours is a fair amount of time. You're on holiday, and you deserve it.
Hassle-free check-in
Check-in? What check-in? You basically just climb on the train. Forget complicated procedures with bothersome metal detectors, disgruntled security personnel, invasive and only occasionally fun pat-downs. No thank you. Keep your belt, shoes, jacket, jewelry, mobile phones and heavy coins exactly where they were when you packed them properly (see #1).
No luggage weight restrictions
Put the scale away. Your bags can be as heavy and cumbersome as you want them to be. As long as you are physically able to pull them onto the train, you're fine. No one can tell you to leave that new ten-kilo leather pantsuit at home, or that you can only pack nine pairs of shoes, or can't bring that set of outdated Encyclopedia.
Use of all electronic equipment — all the time
Turn off all electronic equipment? Not necessary. You may board the train, earbuds in place, iPod blaring, mobile vibrating, GameBoy doing whatever it is that GameBoys do. Those precious 10 or 15 minutes, both at the start and finish of each aerplane flight, can rob you of key plot points in a downloaded movie, or the best part of that Lady Gaga song. Again, it's about time being money (see #1). Pay yourself in minutes.
No time-consuming training program
Learn to operate a seat belt buckle, use drop-down oxygen masks, locate seat cushion floatation devices or lighted signs and posted placards; decipher the aircraft safety card, prepare for the evacuation slide, not to mention the profound responsibility required of the exit-row seat occupants. What is this, the ADF? The most complicated instructions you'll receive on the train are "hand your ticket to the conductor". You may have to assist your seatmate if they are unable to do this themselves.
A claustrophobia-free environment
The dreaded middle seat. Thankfully European trains don't have them! So there's no danger of being awkwardly sandwiched between Body Odor Lady and Too Many Sandwiches Man, and having both of them hogging the arm rests. On the train, it is most likely that Too Many Sandwiches will be spending most of the trip in the dining car anyway, and you might have an extra seat for all your electronic devices. Which you can keep running all the time (see #4).
Natural light, and a view
On flights, there are always those Window Seat People who insist on pulling down the shade, obstructing your views and depriving you of sunlight — creating a veritable dark and spooky cave of transport. Not on the train. Huge windows allow for maximum passing scenery viewing.
Wandering options
Although you aren't suffering the Curse of the Middle Seat (see #6), you may just be antsy and want to move around the train. Someone else's screaming child? You can avoid them, and simply make your way to the dining car. Or just wander between cars until the child stops screaming. Should screaming child belong to you, take your little angel on a train walkabout.
Uncompromised air
Why are most of those children screaming on aeroplanes (see #8)? Cabin pressure meddling. The intermittent popping of eardrums can be brutally painful, not to mention the dryness of the air can wreak havoc on your skin. Consider the train trip a spa of sorts, where you need do nothing more than be on it.
Smooth starts and stops
On a flight you are subjected to turbulence, bumpy landings, and possibly nose-dives — not to mention the occasional incessant babbling of the wannabe stand-up comedian pilot. The worst you'll have to endure on the train is the screeching of the brakes, which you won't even notice because you'll still have your iPod on.
By now you are, no doubt, clamouring for a rail trip. While you'll have to fly out of Australia, once you reach Europe run, run, run from the airport to the closest train station. The one thing that is
not quite seamless about train travel in Europe is the planning. There are a plethora, a multitude, an overabundance of train stations and you'll give yourself a headache trying to work out which train stops where. You don't need a headache on your holiday, so let
Railbookers.com.au plan the trip. They're pros.
Railbookers tailor-makes itineraries by train across Europe. Rail travel is the perfect way to explore more of the continent and visit many destinations on a European adventure. All packages include rail and hotel accomodation. For more information check out Railbookers.com.au or ring 1300 938 534.
