Travelling between Europe Cities: car or fly?

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  PissLUR on 03/07/2018 - 21:53

  +1

  Train.

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 03/07/2018 - 21:55

    I agree. Also crossing Dubrovnik out if train, cause it is not going to be easy to get there.

    • 

      AdosHouse on 04/07/2018 - 08:18

      Don't cross Dubrovnik out, it is an amazing place.

      I know Lufthansa fly there. Also Croatian Air.

  • 

    GG57 on 04/07/2018 - 10:56

    I agree, definitely consider using trains, at least for part of the trip (maybe the longer journeys).
    They are so relaxing and you get to see a lot more / different views of the countryside.

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  Randxyz123 on 03/07/2018 - 22:12

  Fly between each city. Then train to London from Paris.

  Not sure if you've used Rome2Rio but it lists all the different options. Flying is by far the fastest.

  4 carry-on
  1 big suitcases

  Really for 4 people? 1 large suitcase? That sounds unrealistic to me.

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 03/07/2018 - 22:15

    It sounds unrealistic that people need a suitcase at all… 1 suitcase is definitely fine when we're using flights 5 or 6 times in a trip……

    I travelled 6 weeks on a 6kg backpack. Didn't need more and in fact regret some item choices.

    • 

      Randxyz123 on 03/07/2018 - 22:22

      Not for backpacking but for family travel(especially with kids) you always take more than you need.

      Anyway, In general, trains are better for Europe. Depending on who you're traveling with a quick flight even though it might cost more is a lot easier.

      You could do a train from Milan to Paris probably will take the same time door to door. Milan airport is miles away and CDG is miles away.

      • 

        [Deactivated] on 03/07/2018 - 22:38

        No kids here, just two young adults and 2 parents.

        I agree trains are much better in Europe. I wish we could do sleepers but I don't think it'll fly very well with the rest of the group.

        We're considering dropping Milan if needed too.

      • 

        Randxyz123 on 03/07/2018 - 22:53

        @StoneSin:

        We're considering dropping Milan if needed too.

        Nah Milan is a great city. Besides if you're going back to London you may as well go that way.

        Look at Rome2Rio. It takes airport travel time by public transport into account. I personally would fly to Dubrovnik from Prague. Only because a one-way rental could cost you.

        Then train from Milan - Paris - London.

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        [Deactivated] on 03/07/2018 - 23:43

        @knick007: I read that a trip across Eurostar with a car is a flat fee, whereas the train is quite a lot. Wouldn't it make sense to take a car over for a day? Or would that kind of NEVER happen due to how many people cross over and back?

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  try2bhelpful on 03/07/2018 - 22:54

  +2

  My preference is to train between the major cities and then hire a car to do the inbetweens. The main problems with cars and major cities is finding somewhere to park them and then you don't need cars for places like Paris, Prague, Rome, Florence, Milan etc because you can do it all with public transport and walking. However it is good to get a car to travel areas like Provence, Tuscany, Loire valley etc for the smaller towns as you can usually find parking and then wander around smaller places within a day. Kids and parent cooped up in a car for long periods are really going to annoy each other but a train gives you room to wander and you can go to the loo whenever you want without having to locate a suitable place and everyone else complaining. Trains also drop you in the middle of cities so you don't have to drag everyone to the airport and go through all the security rubbish.

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  Halo375 on 04/07/2018 - 00:13

  +1

  Train - reliable, fast, cheap and gets you into the centre of each town easily.

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  retiredfeline on 04/07/2018 - 11:06

  +1

  London -> Prague -> Dubrovnik -> Milan -> Paris -> London

  Train is only practical for Milan -> Paris -> London, and may be considered for London -> Prague but check budget airlines.

  It's worth checking for the cheap train fares that open up 60 to 90 days before the journey. I used loco2.com to look for long distance fares.

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  [Deactivated] on 04/07/2018 - 11:51

  What about between London and Paris, is it a flat fee to take a car across?

  Might have an extra person, who can take the car back too.

  • 

    try2bhelpful on 04/07/2018 - 11:52

    +1

    https://www.worldstandards.eu/cars/list-of-left-driving-coun…

    Something you might want to consider before taking a car between London and Paris.

    • 

      [Deactivated] on 04/07/2018 - 12:09

      Driving on the right isn't rocket science, we'll manage on easy-ass highways!

      I've driven on the right side in Korea before, if that's not a testament then nothing is.

      I think the left/right issues should be less of an issue than translation of signs, rules etc.

      • 

        try2bhelpful on 04/07/2018 - 12:28

        +1

        If you take a UK car over to Europe then you will be in a car that has the steering wheel on the opposite side to normal, i.e. the middle line won't be next to the driver. This is slightly different to driving a right hand car in a right hand country.

      • 

        [Deactivated] on 04/07/2018 - 12:52

        @try2bhelpful: Ah you're right. Good point.

        Hmmm strange. I'll have to work on this one.

      • 

        try2bhelpful on 04/07/2018 - 13:01

        @StoneSin: The alternative to Eurostar is looking at the ferry options; it takes longer, and there can be quite a swell, but it might work out cheaper for a family. We had first class rail passes when we did our last trip around Europe - which was wonderful - but I think that the additional money for first class Eurostar is not worth it compared to second class. Elsewhere in Europe first class can be much nicer than second class. On one leg we were the only people in two first class carriages and everyone in second class was crammed in like sardines.