Budgeting on trains and planes
Fast, cheap or risky - your choice!
Going by train may be slower than flying, but you
have the opportunity to see the scenery and talk to locals. To keep
it cheap, think about various discount cards, like Interrail and the
Balkan Flexipass. Do not forget to check out the possibilities of
separate countries, as Germany for instance offers the 'schönes Wochenende
ticket', allowing you to travel the country almost for free
By CELINE te BRAAKE
ISWiB 2007 Media Workshop
If you want to travel, but do not have a car, consider hitchhiking
too risky and walking too slow, getting around by train or air are
probably two of your best options. Obviously, money-wise this is not
a very attractive idea at first sight, but if you play your cards
right, you can go to many destinations without going broke.
Going by train may be slower than flying, but you have the opportunity
to see the scenery and talk to locals. To keep it cheap, think about
various discount cards, like Interrail and the Balkan Flexipass. Do
not forget to check out the possibilities of separate countries, as
Germany for instance offers the 'schönes Wochenende ticket', allowing
you to travel the country almost for free.
For flying goes: consider flying from an other airport then the one
that may be your first choice. Tickets nowadays are sold for as little
as 0,99 euros, but taxes will eventually make up the price you pay.
This price depends highly on which airports you use. A little surfing
on the web can save you up to hundreds of euros.
Of course, you will probably end up flying one of Europe's many low-budget
airlines. Ryanair, Sky Europe, German Wings and many more airlines
offer online bookings, making it easy to work out your own plans.
There are also multiple websites that compare the prices airlines
charge for different itineraries.
It may take some time, but in the end you can find the right price
with the right flight. Now all you have to do, is find a good destination
for the money you just saved. Have a nice trip!
