economie

I’ve been riding trains across Europe for 15 years. I love it, but I often watch people make the same 4 mistakes.

October 27, 20240
I like to stay near train stations when I travel in Europe.

Jamie Davis Smith

I see too many people changing their whole trips around to avoid an early morning or evening train ride because they’re afraid to get to the station when it’s dark, assuming it’s in a “bad” part of town.

Although it’s always good to be aware of your surroundings, especially in a new city, I haven’t worried about my safety in or around any of the European train stations I’ve been to.

In fact, when I travel alone or with two of my kids, I usually stay near stations because it’s more convenient — the area tends to be well-connected to the rest of the city.

On a trip to Vienna last summer, one of the best hotels I stayed in, the Andaz Am Belvedere, was a block from the train station and a short walk to one of the city’s most upscale areas, Stephansplatz.

You’re probably missing out on deals.
I like to know that I’ll have a seat on a train.

Jamie Davis Smith

Not all trains in Europe require you to book a seat in advance, but some do. And on certain routes, it’s important to track when reservations open.

When I was traveling from Kraków to Warsaw, reservations didn’t open until 30 days before my trip. I set a calendar reminder, but when I logged in, it was already late afternoon in Poland, and many seats were already booked.

If you miss making a seat reservation, you may still be able to get on a train, but you’ll likely have to stand until a seat becomes available. It can be awkward or uncomfortable, especially on long journeys.

Moreover, prices tend to be cheaper the further out you book, so planning ahead is usually worth it.

Don’t bring too much luggage.
Carry-on suitcases tend to be easiest for us.

Jamie Davis Smith

One of the reasons trains in Europe are so efficient is because they don’t really linger at each station. But that also means passengers need to be prepared to get on and off quickly.

Having too much luggage can slow this process down considerably. Additionally, there hasn’t been a ton of space for luggage on most of the trains I’ve ridden.

I now travel with a wheeled, carry-on suitcase and try to keep it as light as possible.