Rail Europe

No one should fly within Europe. Travel by train is the way to go. With petrol at $10 a gallon, renting a car is not for long distance driving. Today, you have to plan your itinerary more carefully. Rent a car for short journeys only.

Travel Time by Train Air Car

Amsterdam to Brussels 1.hr 51 train, 4 hr. 15 m air, 2 hr. 21 m car

Barcelona to Madrid 2hr 30 m train, 4hr. 50 m air, 6hr 26 m car

London to Paris 2hr 15 m train, 4hr 45 m air 5.50m car

With the high speed trains at over 200 miles an hour, they have excellent meals at all stations and on the train, it is a much easier journey than all the hassle of airports etc. For years I travelled with backpack, ski equipment, ski boots, suitcase and I forget what else. Today, I would rent skies.

The top three countries on the American holiday list are France, Italy and Great Britain. If you are a senior, ask for a discount.

What I would recommend is choosing one country, and getting a rail pass. I would base yourself in one city, and do day trips. For example. France. Base yourself in Paris, and days trips Avignon is 2 hr.40 mins. Bayeux, 2hr.12 min. Bordeaux, 2hr.04 min and Strasbourg 1.46 min. You can get a Paris City card which will give you entry to over 60 top attractions, public transportation in central Paris, a Seine River Cruise, wine tasting and hop on/hop off bus tour.

For Italy, I would base myself in either Florence or Rome. Get a city pass for Rome which includes fast track entry to Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, including St.John's in the Lateran & Cloister and St.Peter's Basilica. If you base in Florence, you can be in Siena in 1hr.28 mins. Bologna in 35 min. and in Rome in 1.28 mins.

Arriving in Venice by train and seeing the Grand Canal is a wonderful experience.

Switzerland is the most organized country in Europe when it comes to trains. You can get a hotel package when you book your rail pass. You can get free travel for children under 16. Ask for a family pass when you book. You can request your luggage be delivered to your hotel directly from your overseas flight. Most popular scenic routes are 1. Bernina Express, 2. Cheese Train, 3. Chocolate train, 4. Glacier Express, 5. Golden Pass Line, 6. Gothhard Panorama Express, 7. Voralpen Express. If this is your first time to Switzerland, I would look at the Grand Train Tour of Switzerland, an 8 day/7 night passage which is excellent.

Happy planning. Remember, travel light.

Maureen Jones

Al Horizons Travel/Frosch

825 Santa Cruz Ave

Menlo Park, CA 94025

650-961-2340 direct

www.froschvacations.com