There is train station virtually in every city and town in Europe. The best part, all these major cities have international link that connect up different countries. Paris to London, London to Amsterdam, Venice to Rome, Genoa to Milan and so on.
The Europe is ushering in a new golden era of train travel. European trains are the best for short trips and even longer trips that last for few days. How cool it is to have your breakfast in London and dinner in Paris?
Despite all this, European travelers are finding it difficult to get cheap tickets and great deals in Europe. With different types of tickets available, the rules around it are becoming complicated.
Here is a quick rundown on how to get a cheap train tickets in Europe.
- Book in advance
The earlier in advance you book your ticket the cheaper it will be. For example, a one-way standard class ticket from Amsterdam to London will cost around 300 for last minute ticket on the day. Meanwhile, an off-peak ticket from Amsterdam to London when purchased in advance would cost 82.
Most of the train companies sells the same tickets at the same regulated price in their websites. But for advance booking, some train companies offer discounts and great deals that are not available in other websites. So it is best to check and compare prices before you buy a ticket or your budget rise up.
- Late & split ticketing
Most of the travels in Europe usually start before 9.30am and that is the time when the demand for tickets is high, so try as much as possible to start your journey after this peak hours. If you must travel before 9 am then look for a way to purchase 2 tickets; the first ticket for the trip before 9 am and the second one for the trip after that. This is called split ticketing.
- Save money with singles and returns
Returns tickets set out before 9.30am usually cost twice as much as a single. While tickets that are valid after 9.30am usually have a return price that's less than 1 more than the single. So, buying single and return tickets together is cheaper, especially if you are travelling the same route again.
- Check the operator
Always check and know how many operators are running on a particular route, and the kind of tickets they offer. For example, Roma to Milan Journey is runs by 2 operators, which offer a direct service, all with a different journey duration and price.
- Take a break
All train tickets are valid in any reasonable route, except in a situation where it is clearly written on the ticket. This means that as a traveler you can decide to break your journey, by getting off at a stop along the way. So you can have amazing trip on peculiar tickets.
For instance if you are on a trip to Manchester you can visit Birmingham and Swindon. You can as well visit Edinburgh from London. Breaking your journey means you can decide to visit your aunt or uncle at any or all of these cities. Sometimes you might not even make it to your end destination.
Remember, this tickets are only valid for one calendar year and your routes on this kind of journey must be justified, avoid double traveling on any section of track.