4,500 km, 6 countries and countless memories
“I can say that this trip of mine was quite spontaneous. I remember thinking about traveling to Europe on Monday and on Sunday of the same week I packed my backpack and flew to France. The first thing I did was to decide where I wanted to go and what I wanted to do. On Google Maps, I marked the places I wanted to go, from there I could draw out the most reasonable route,” said Thomas Harris.
For 30 days, Thomas had a truly impressive European train adventure. The journey of more than 4,500 km across 6 countries and stopping at 43 destinations gave him memorable experiences. He spent 60 hours sitting on the train and watching the constantly changing natural scenery outside the window.
Thomas Harris decided to take a long vacation to explore Europe.
With a train ticket and an eager heart, Thomas traveled through France, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Germany and the Netherlands. The ancient cities, beautiful natural landscapes and friendly people made him extremely surprised and excited. In particular, admiring world cultural heritages such as Landwasser Bridge, Hallstatt village or the historic center of Vienna... were invaluable experiences. And then, he was especially attracted by the magnificent beauty of Notre Dame Cathedral in Lyon.
“I remember one day in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland, I cycled along the valley and then walked from Lauterbrunnen to Grindelwald. In total, I walked 24 km and cycled more than 30 km that day. Although I walked so much, I was really happy to admire the majestic beauty of the Alps from many angles, crossing streams, waterfalls with enchanting wildflower fields, along with the melodious bells from the cows raised on the mountain. Looking back now, I only regret not having enough time to spend a few more days in Switzerland to explore more,” the student recalled.
A month-long journey to experience the culture, cuisine and stunning scenery of six countries
All the secrets of traveling by train
“Traveling in Europe allows you to see beautiful scenery, without having to go through the procedures to board a plane or worry about driving. The trains are also fully equipped with amenities including wifi, so I think travelling by train is the best option for me,” Thomas affirmed.
The ancient cities, beautiful natural scenery and friendly people made him extremely surprised and delighted.
Thomas traveled through France, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Germany and the Netherlands.
To optimize his time and fully enjoy his trip, Thomas chose cities and accommodations that were about 2-5 hours apart by high-speed train. Taking midday trains helped him save travel time, allowing him to check out of one hotel and check in at another.
Thomas deliberately avoided night trains so he could enjoy the beautiful scenery outside the window and keep track of his personal luggage. After planning his itinerary in detail, the student chose a 15-day Eurail pass within two months, which allows flexible travel between countries and use of most public trains in Europe.
Thomas has selected cities and accommodations that are approximately 2-5 hours apart by high-speed train.
Thomas deliberately avoids night trains so he can enjoy the beautiful scenery outside the window and conveniently keep track of his personal luggage.
For solo trips, trains are always the most ideal means of transport. What Thomas likes most about trains is the freedom and flexibility. However, during his trip to Germany, he also encountered a few train delays, mainly due to schedule changes. However, thanks to his flexible train ticket, he was still able to catch the next train without too much trouble.
If you are planning a train trip to Europe, Thomas recommends looking into Interrail/Eurail tickets. They are really convenient and economical, especially if you are traveling between countries a lot. With Interrail/Eurail tickets, you can change train times freely and don’t have to worry about seat reservations.
What Thomas liked best about the train was the freedom and flexibility.
You should learn about Interrail/Eurail tickets
With an Interrail/Eurail ticket, you can change train times freely and don't have to worry about reserving seats.
Thomas recommends choosing a high-speed train and traveling during the day to ensure safety and have the opportunity to admire the beautiful scenery of Europe. If you are traveling from West to East, remember to choose the right seat when taking the train in Switzerland to have the most "virtual life" photos. In particular, with a Eurail ticket, you can also experience famous trains such as Glacier Express and Bernina Express for just a small booking fee.
“After this trip, I realized that traveling solo is not as scary as many people think, but is actually very fun. My confidence level after the trip increased significantly. I met more people, I didn’t have to ask anyone’s opinion about what I wanted to do or eat, and I paid more attention to and integrated into the places I went to. There was never a moment during the trip when I felt lonely or anything because I just focused on having fun. In short, traveling alone is extremely enjoyable,” Thomas humorously said.
Thomas recommends that you choose a high-speed train and travel during the day to ensure safety and have the opportunity to admire the beautiful scenery of Europe.
With a Eurail ticket, you can also experience famous trains such as the Glacier Express and Bernina Express for just a small reservation fee.
