Cut the cost of travelling in Europe

Hate budget airlines? Here's how to avoid flying completely, and still have a cheap holiday in Europe.

Taking the train on holiday abroad is a relaxing and green alternative to flying. But it isn't generally known for being cheap - certainly not compared with the bargain-basement Easyjet option.

But you know a few hints, tips and tricks to save money on European train travel, fares can start to look a lot more reasonable.

And I can guarantee that once you've done the journey to Berlin or Provence by train, you'll soon see the benefits.

European trains are roomy (far nicer than a plane) and rarely crowded. They often have a proper bar, with space to stand and talk. You can watch the landscape change as you whizz through at 200mph. And there's no hanging around for hours at the airport, having your bags searched, or decanting your shampoo into tiny bottles.

There are some things you just can't put a price on!

What you see is what you get

Any train journey to the Continent is going to begin with Eurostar (this may not seem like a great insight, but bear with me, it gets better).

The good news here is that Eurostar has become a lot more price-focused in the last few years, in an effort to compete with the budget airlines.

Firstly, Eurostar wants us all to know that it has fewer hidden charges than the airlines. Yes, Ryanair and Easyjet may offer tickets for eye-grabbing 99p prices, but we all know that once you've added on airport tax, baggage charges, credit card fees and so on, it all gets annoyingly pricey.

Whereas at Eurostar, what you see is what you get - it's all very civilized, in keeping with train travel in general. In fact, Eurostar is so convinced of this, it's made a cost comparison tool for us all to marvel at.

One thing that's particularly noticeable from the tool is just how much airlines charge for baggage these days - whereas on Eurostar, you can take two suitcases and one piece of hand luggage, all included in the price.

Paris for peanuts

And ticket prices themselves aren't bad either. Singles to Brussels and Paris can be had from just £29, if you travel outside peak hours. So you can get to the Continent and back for £60 (or just £49 if you're under 26).

Eurostar has also started to provide a 'Looking for low fares?' check-box on the home page. Check this if you're flexible (within a few days) about when you travel, and just need the lowest fare.

Another recent, useful innovation from Eurostar is the availability calendar. Say you want to go to Paris for £59, any weekend in November. Just check the calendar, and it'll tell you when tickets are available - it's colour-coded to show when there's high availability, low availability, and when tickets are sold out.

Belgian bargains

One thing to remember about Eurostar tickets to Brussels is that they're valid anywhere within Belgium. So if you've got your bargain ticket to Brussels, you can carry on to Bruges (far nicer than Brussels) and have a weekend of art and medieval architecture there for the same price.

That's also worth knowing if you're changing in Brussels for destinations beyond. For example, it usually costs around £200 return if you buy a train ticket direct from London to Amsterdam.

But if you buy a return to Brussels for £59, then a ticket from Essen on the Belgian border to Amsterdam, you can travel on the same trains and it only costs around £100 in total.

The Man in Seat 61 website, highly recommended for advice on travelling anywhere in the world by train, has an explanation of the Belgian system.

Tickets within the UK

Here's a top tip for anyone who doesn't live in London. If you have to travel from your home town to St Pancras to begin your European adventure, you can save a lot of money by booking your tickets not to London but to "London International".

This is a special destination that only exists if you are connecting with Eurostar. Once again, the Man in Seat 61 has written a good explanation of London International. 

What's the secret? Well, tickets to London International are almost always sold at a special, fixed price, that's lower than the usual London fare. This can save a fortune - particularly at peak times.

For example, a next-day single from Bangor to London at 7.22am on a weekday currently costs £73. But from Bangor to London International it's £37, less than half the price.

And if disaster strikes, your train is late and you miss the connection at St Pancras, Eurostar are legally obliged to put you on the next train to France free - if you have tickets booked to London International.

Booking is easy - just state "London International" as your destination, online or in person. You'll need to carry your Eurostar tickets with you when you travel.

Enjoy your holiday! I promise you'll arrive feeling a lot more relaxed....

More: Ryanair costs more than British Airways | Avoid these sneaky travel rip-offs!

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