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Travel Times By Train
Tue, 05/16/2006 - 00:00
cutewithoutthe_E
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My brother and I are currently planning a trip to backpack through europe in August. So far, we have some details worked out. We will be going in early August for three weeks starting in Dublin Ireland, and going to London the day after. This trip seems to be an overwhelming and exciting trip to plan, but as a resident of North America and more specifically Canada, I am finding it hard to fathom the travel distances between countries. After all, it takes at least a week to travel across Canada by rail. The places we wish to check out are paris, barcelona, possibly greece (although it seems like a dead-end of sort, not in the loop of the basic trip), italy, prague, germany, amsterdam. and return to dublin to fly back. We are ambitious guys and seem to think we could possibly cover this in three weeks, any experienced travellers know how the travel times between these countries by train/ ferry would be greatly appreciated.

Tue, 05/16/2006 - 01:57
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augustin25
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You’re trying to cram in too many places to see. Even if you only see one place in each of the last countries you listed (Greece, Italy, Germany) you’re averaging less than three days a place. Once you figure in the time you’ll spend in transit you won’t really get to see anything, your trip will be a blur, and you’ll run yourselves ragged.

For an idea of transit times, you can check train times here:
rotocol=http:&” title=“http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en?newrequest=yes&amprotocol=http:&”>http://reiseauskunft…

Tue, 05/16/2006 - 07:34
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Don
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I agree. The extra stress of all the details, bookings, timetables, being on time, etc. for so many places in such a short amount if time will stretch your relationship with your brother to new lengths.

It’s hot in southern Europe in August. If not staying at a seaside resort, I wouldn’t want to be there. For me, early August would be better to concentrate in northern Europe—how about Ireland, UK, and Amsterdam or Paris this time? And maybe next trip in Spring or Fall to Italy, Greece, Bavaria, Prague? Just some ideas.

As an alternative, consider cheap flight hops to cover longer distances (Athens to Rome, or Paris to Prague for example). www.whichbudget.com