Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: A Guide to Traveling in Europe

When traveling around Europe, there are several options for transportation depending on your budget and which country you’re visiting. 

• Buses: Taking a bus is the cheapest option for traveling, but it also takes the longest amount of time to get to your destination. There are many different companies that offer cheap bus rides around Europe. For example, I often took the bus from Reims to Paris. Although the ride takes 2 hours, it usually only costs $6-$15. I also took a bus from Reims to Brussels, which was also a long bus ride, but the cheap ticket was worth it. My favorite sites for booking buses in Europe were Flixbus.com and Oui.scnf. 

• Trains: France has a high-speed rail line that runs through most of the country called TGV. This was my favorite way to travel because it was faster than the bus and it ran more frequently. The only downside is that it is more expensive. To illustrate, a train from Reims to Paris takes around 40 minutes and costs between $25-$50. It is also more convenient because it arrives and departs from the two main train stations in Paris: Paris Gare de l’Est and Gare du Nord. I also took a Eurostar train from Paris Gare du Nord to London, which, again was much quicker but more expensive than a bus. 

• Planes: Of course, if you plan on traveling to somewhere other than a nearby city or a neighboring country, the typical choice is to take a plane. Yet, it is well known that flying is not a cheap endeavor. If paying $100 or more for a flight isn’t in your budget, and you have extra time, there is usually the option of taking a bus or a train instead. Sure, this will take up to 12 hours longer to arrive, but you will be saving a lot of money in the end. If taking a plane is your only option, your best bet is to plan your trip ahead of time, so you can buy your plane tickets a month or two before you leave. This way, the tickets are a lot less expensive than if you buy them a couple weeks in advance.
  
  
  As this shows, traveling throughout Europe requires choosing between planes, trains, and automobiles. There are pros and cons of each mode of transport, so the best option depends on your budget, schedule, and destination.