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Top Picks For Alternative Transportation in Europe: Off the Eurail Trail

By Marie Javins, GoNOMAD TRANSPORTS EDITOR

The classic way to travel around Europe is by rail, using a Eurailpass. But sleeping on trains in Western Europe is not for everyone. Leave Eurailing to the crowds and find yourself a nice, out of the way slice of the old country, by car, boat, bus, or bicycle. 

Hop the Bus

Plenty of buses offer hop-on, hop-off passes similar to railpasses, but at cheaper rates than trains. Like railpasses, some bus passes are good for all of Europe, while others are usable only in certain countries or certain regions. Buses are more versatile than trains, serving untouristed areas — some even offer door-to-door service, accommodation and tour options.

buseireann.ie
busabout.com
gobycoach.com
straytravel.com
eurolines.com

Or you can forget about passes altogether and take a slow train through Bohemia, enjoying the Czech countryside en route to Karlsbad.

For more information on railpasses, see the GoNOMAD MINI GUIDE TO RAILPASSES

railpass.com/eurail/passes
europeonrail.com

For more information on self-cruising Ireland, see WHISKEY AND WATER.

1800sailaway.com
aquayacht.nl
cruise-ireland.com

Barge About

Barge your way through the waterways of Europe and you won't have to change hotels even once! Sign up for a luxurious barge cruise in Western Europe, or rent your own budget barge. Or start in Tulcea, Romania, and take a "ponton" boat through the Danube Delta, Europe's greatest wetlands.

afloatinfrance
leboat.com
bargecompany.com
bargeaif.com
frenchwaterways.net

Bike and Barge

Like the idea of a barge, but need a little more activity during the day? Many companies offer bike and barge holidays in Holland, and some are offered in other countries. If you tire of riding your bike, just stay on the ship and laze around. Most bike and barge trips are in well-touristed areas.

tripsite.com
bikebarge.com
vbt.com/htm/our_tours.cfm

Bike Europe

Bike your way around Europe, camping at night or staying in inns. Some travel agencies offer gourmet bike tours, or DIY bike trips. Bicycle Beano even offers vegetarian bike tours of Wales! Go with a group or independently. If you want to have a bike for day trips or for journeys around town, you can rent bikes at many European train stations. Many of them come with built-in locks, but take your own for added security.

A bike tour truly gets you out into untouristed Europe. You'll stop in towns too small to merit public transport. France' Loire Valley is popular with bicyclists, as is Austria's Donauradweg trail and much of the Netherlands.

adventurecenter.com
bicycle-beano.co.uk
backroadtravel.com

Ferry Hop

Ferries ply well-known routes between Greece and Italy, and between France and England. But you can also move on from mainland Europe to Scandinavia, from there taking a coastal ferry along the fjords of Norway, or to the Baltic Republics via Tallinn. Or stay on the mainland but go east, first taking a ferry from Vienna to Budapest, and then sailing up the Danube from Budapest to Esztergom.

budgettravel.com/eurofery.htm
hurtigruten.com
tallink.ee
Self-Drive

A self-drive car is convenient for families, and is essential for wilderness areas such as Lapland, or for geographically isolated areas like Brittany. Rentals aren’t limited to cars, either: consider renting a camper-van to save on accommodations, as well. A short-term lease (minimum 17 days), such as Renault's popular "purchase-repurchase" plan, can be cheaper than a rental, saving the driver money on taxes, insurance and daily rental fees. Most rental companies also offer leases. Make an advance booking from the States to get the best rental rates.

For great deals, check out the various fly-drive packages offered by airlines and tour companies. Ireland’s Fly/Drives are famous and also include vouchers for lodgings!

For more information on driving, renting and leasing in Europe, see Rick Steves’ GoNOMAD MINI GUIDE TO DRIVING EUROPE

renaultusa.com/
europebycar.com
europcar.com

Hitch A Ride

It is also possible to "hitch," through a shared ride service such as Moto Europa, Allo Stop Provoya, and Mitfahrerzentrale (MFS). You must share costs with the driver, but it’s a great way to meet people and travel the continent inexpensively.

ideamerge.com/motoeuropa
mitfahrerzentrale.de (in German)
ecritel.fr (in French)

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