The Romance Of Traveling By Train

There is something truly romantic about traveling by train. It gives you a perspective unlike any other. Maybe people who use trains for commuting to and from work would disagree with me, but for my money trains are the best way to see the world.

Trains will do more for you than simply take you from point A to point B. They take you through all of the places in between. You can see and hear every town, every farm, every river. You can even smell them. You really experience your journey in a way that you can't in, say, an airplane. You experience more of the world. And because you are not driving it is superior to traveling by car too. You get to actually look at what there is to see, and enjoy it.

I really recommend traveling on European trains. As a rule they are on time, and they come to most of their stops on a frequent basis. Plus you can usually buy tickets for immediate departure. Traveling by train in India or China can be more problematic. It can sometimes be difficult to get the tickets you want in those countries, and overcrowding on their trains can be a real problem. I have even seen pictures of Indian trains that were so crowding that people were riding on the roofs and hanging on the sides! Though if you are not in a big hurry and can deal with the overcrowding then there are many beautiful places to see in both those countries. Travel through South America by train can be excellent as well, with an opportunity to savor many local dishes and customs as part of customer service on some of their train lines.

One of the greatest parts of the experience of seeing the world by train is the people you get to meet. If you are taking a long trip then you will likely have the opportunity to really get to know some of your fellow passengers. Not only is it a great way to make new friends it is also a great way to get to know the places you are traveling through by the people that are from those places. Trains give you a traveling experience that is more involved than any other!

You can save a lot of money by taking overnight trains instead of taking day trips by rail and renting hotels or hostels at night. Not only is the cost of your accommodations bundled into the cost of the ticket at a lower rate, but you also get to wake up every morning in a different city, maybe even a different country!

Of course, planning in advance is an essential part of any train tour. Make sure you know when each train is leaving, and where from. Make sure you know when and where they arrive too. Leave yourself plenty of time between arriving on one train and departing on another, to give yourself room for error if there are unexpected delays. This is how you have a stress-free trip.

Schedules and special offers, as with all forms of travel, are usually subject to change without notice. It is always best to call a day in advance, and also just before you leave for the station. Checking in at the station is also wise. If being on a particular train at a particular time is important, it is usually best to purchase reservations.