Get European Train Tickets Online With EuRail

Before you head over to Western Europe it’s a good idea to map out train routes between destinations. Get your tickets online in advance, check schedules, and get youth passes with EuRail.

If you plan to travel from city to city extensively check out the Eurail Global Pass which lets you travel in 18 European countries for any 10-15 days within a 2-3 month period (depending on the plan you get). Prices will run you about $700 for unlimited travel. Consider also, less hassle in airport security and cheaper that taking multiple short flights. (It’s also better for the environment).

Many Eurail offers also include hostel, dining, and museum discounts with the price of a ticket or pass. Train does take longer than flying so make sure your video iPod is prepared, you’ve got the essentials, and have read up on international faux pas.

What to Travel With as a Worldy Student

Many of those crazy college kids will be going back to the far, far nether regions of the country and the world. Here are some tips from Peaceluvbug for all of you who decided you needed to get on a plane to escape mommy and daddy

-aop

• 1. for the long plane ride home, be sure to bring your iPod (or any other electronic device) and a good book. you never know what movies will be playing on the flight, and if the movies are anything like what i got this time around, you’ll be happy to turn to your alternative modes of entertainment.
• 2. bring gifts! but be sure they are light gifts… everyone likes gifts (no matter how many times they tell you “oh you shouldn’t have!”)
• 3. be a stylish traveler. of course comfort comes first, but you can be comfortable and look good at the same time. you never know who you’ll be making an impression on. a bit superficial, yes, i know… but deal with it.
• 4. be sure to wear shoes that won’t be a hassle to take off at security check points. no one likes to be the person who holds up the line at the airport!
• 5. the more hassle avoided = the happier the traveler. meaning, make sure your carry on has what it is allowed to have (check airline regulations at www.tsa.gov). and don’t pack it too much because i saw far too many people being asked to unload carry ons so officials could see what was inside. don’t be the dumdum in the security line!

Pretty interesting list, thanks “worldly student”! Anyone else leaving for school – or have any travel tips from when you were walking 15 miles across campus in the snow? Add them in the comments – holla!

Mogu, The Great (Small) Gift for Travelers

That doesn’t look too cheap. These Mogu pillows are small and very comfortable. They can adapt to any shape and are great for neck rests for those plane, train, and even car drives. A good $20-30 gift for that traveler friend or family member. I think you can find these at most malls in the US, and once you feel one you’ll be compelled to get it.

After an international flight with a Mogu, the thank you cards will begin to roll in.

Amazon’s Mogu page?

Not a Good Place to Nap When You’re Drunk

Kevin Craswell drank so much he passed out with his head on a railway line in Epsom. He’s been given 180 hours community service and fined ?560. The 48-year-old former company director risked being electrocuted or run over.

experiencing eastern europe

here are some things i learned during my awesome trip to Bratislava, Slovakia this weekend:

1) always leave ample time for traveling by train and bus to an airport; you never know how much traffic there might be or the weather conditions!

2) try to buy a roundtrip train ticket especially if traveling through Milano Centrale because it is such a huge train station and you can save time if you already have a ticket ready

3) bus #61 in Bratislava goes from the airport to the city center and tram #14 takes you to Patio Hostel (we learned this in a difficult fashion). a bus ticket costs 22 SKK, but you can get away with no ticket at all (all you rebels out there!)
4) Slovakia was formerly part of the USSR, so no commie jokes, please.

5) really, all you need for a weekend is about 5000 SKK, which is about $184.

6) Bratislava is not as touristy as other European cities such as Milan or Paris, so don’t expect everyone to speak English. yes, most of the young people do speak English, but you should always try to speak Slovak because it’s just the polite thing to do.

7) Slovakians, as well as pretty much any other people, don’t like loud Americans who draw attention to themselves. therefore, try to blend in rather than sticking out like a sore thumb.

traditional slovakian food consists of a lot of sausage, dumplings, and poppy seeds. as well as weird combinations of these things. Vinea is a traditional drink… more like an aperatif which is delicious. oh and get a cheap sandwich from one of the 24-hr stands at like 3 am. SO good.
9) i have heard that Americans smile way too much, but i really realized this in Slovakia. don’t expect everyone to smile back! i think that’s definitely a big cultural difference.

10) GO TO BRATISLAVA! i loved the fact that it wasn’t smothered in tourists

On the Train to Zurich

The last train from Lugano to Zurich leaves at 20:35 and of course the train is very punctual. There are clocks all over Switzerland at the corner of almost every other street. I had to leave Lugano at 20:35 in order to make it on time for my flight the next morning at 9am on the road to Turkey. I’ll be flying in via Munich and Lufthansa offers onboard wireless so I’m hoping that they deliver.

One thing about the train station at night is that you have to get the tickets from the automated system they have at the train station – navigating the windows is pretty easy except for the last part. You have an option of getting a “1/2″ or “1/1″ ticket even though you are already asked if you are traveling one way or not. I’m not sure what this means – both tickets are the same price. I decided to get the “1/1″ ticket and take my chances. They ticket man made a joke in Italian and I laughed (played it off beautifully I thought) and he stamped my ticket.

If anyone knows what 1/2 vs. 1/1 means let me know

UPDATE: I found out in Zurich – “1/2″ means kid “1/1″ means adult