Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: Which is the Least Expensive?

A lot of tourists like to rent cars upon their arrival in Europe, which can get rather expensive. Not only do you have to pay for the rental, but you're usually required to get the insurance on top of it. And gas? Wow! It's extremely expensive. Also, driving in Europe might be quite a bit different from driving in your home country, and driving in major cities can be downright terrifying. And there's always the chance that you'll get a traffic ticket, which is rather costly. So if you're trying to save your money and your sanity, do not rent a car.

A lot of major European cities have a reliable transit system, usually subways, trams, busses, or a combination of them. If you're staying for at least a few days, you can usually get a discount on your travel for the time that you're there. In Paris, for example, you can buy a 10-pack of tickets for the Metro for less than what you would pay for 10 individual tickets. Don't be afraid to ask at the ticket counter to find a discount that works for you. Public transit in Europe is usually pretty efficient, runs from early in the morning until late at night, and has good maps at the stations to help you figure your way around. Many of these public transit systems will get you from the airport into the center of town. No need to pay an expensive cab fare!

What about transportation between cities? Don't forget that Europe has an amazing rail system. There are plenty of discounts to be had if you time things right. You can definitely look into a Eurail pass, if you plan to travel a lot by train during your trip. Visit

If you're only traveling within a single country by train, check at the train station upon your arrival for any discounts to get to your next destination. For example, if you're spending 3 days in Cologne and then moving on to Berlin, go to the train station your first day and ask about Sparpreis tickets. If you book at least 3 days in advance, you can get a 25% discount, even more if you book up to a week in advance. Some restrictions apply. If yo're traveling within a region on a weekend (say, from Aachen to Dusseldorf), you and up to four other people can purchase a "Happy Weekend" ticket, which allows all five of you to travel for one very low price, all weekend long. Of course, these are just the deals in Germany, but many other rail systems have discounts too. All you have to do is ask as early into your trip as possible. Also, you want to be in second class, as the fares are cheaper.

Another note about the trains: if you're traveling on the high speed train between cities, you may be charged an additional fee for the speed. It's not much, generally a euro or two. Also, it's definitely worth getting reserved seats on the high speed trains. Reserving seats cost a few euros extra, but it's so much more comfortable than sitting on the floor, waiting for a reserved seat to come available. And bring snacks. The restaurants on these trains are way overpriced.

Let's say you want to travel between England and somewhere on the Continent. The first thing that probably pops into your mind is the Channel Tunnel. And while that is an effective means of getting across the English Channel, it's not the most cost effective. You might be surprised to discover that Europe has many very low-cost airlines that fly you pretty much anywhere in Europe that you want to go. Here are some of the most popular: