We’re on vacation and it’s 100% public transportation from beginning to end, the kids are doing pretty good with schlepping their bags on and off trains.
You don’t have to be specific but I’m curious what region you are in and how you are finding it? We did this years ago in Northern-Central Europe and it was such a nice change from the usual method of driving everywhere in North America.
We are from Scandinavia and right now we are in the Alps, later we are going to Italy.
There’s been work on the railways that has changed our itinerary and caused some delays but otherwise it has been ok.
We are not huge travelers but previously we’ve driven in our little car or flown and rented a car (ie Iceland, visiting family in the US). My main concern was changing so many trains with children and luggage but they’ve done really well (they are tweens). They are used to trains though.
Pros:
I don’t have to drive for hours and hours (I am the only driver in the family)
not having to go through security, also we have been inside the Schengen area so no passport controls
you can get up and move around in the trains and it is more comfortable than in a plane
not as much queueing as at airports
night trains can save an overnight at a hotel
you get to see the landscape you are crossing, and even if it is just fields or industry it is better than freeway or clouds
other travelers seem more chill and less stressed than when flying
Cons:
you can’t bring as much with you as in your car and you have to handle your own luggage when changing
there’s still waiting around and risk of missed connections
it takes more travel time out of the total itinerary than flying
still risk of motion sickness especially with seats where your back is to the direction you’re traveling
still not cheap
I would do it again but there are still some destinations where I would prefer to drive, such as far out in the countryside or where the public transportation is not great.
We’re on vacation and it’s 100% public transportation from beginning to end, the kids are doing pretty good with schlepping their bags on and off trains.
You don’t have to be specific but I’m curious what region you are in and how you are finding it? We did this years ago in Northern-Central Europe and it was such a nice change from the usual method of driving everywhere in North America.
We are from Scandinavia and right now we are in the Alps, later we are going to Italy.
There’s been work on the railways that has changed our itinerary and caused some delays but otherwise it has been ok.
We are not huge travelers but previously we’ve driven in our little car or flown and rented a car (ie Iceland, visiting family in the US). My main concern was changing so many trains with children and luggage but they’ve done really well (they are tweens). They are used to trains though.
Pros:
Cons:
I would do it again but there are still some destinations where I would prefer to drive, such as far out in the countryside or where the public transportation is not great.