This section is devoted to providing tips and resources for getting around
the UK and Europe.
Airlines
There are four airports that serve London: Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, and Luton, and all are easily accessible by either
the Underground or by National Rail Service.
Flights out of Heathrow include major airlines such as British Airways,
American, United, Delta, Air France, etc. These airlines generally cost
more and run service to any city that you are traveling to, but flights
on these airlines, if you cannot find good deals, can be expensive.
Don't rule them out, though. They usually fly to the major airport of
your destination, while low cost airlines, especially Ryanair, do not.
There are two budget airlines operating out of the other three
airports, EasyJet
and RyanAir.
Booking flights for these airlines is typically only done by internet. Their fares are generally the
cheapest, often only making you pay for the airport taxes (especially
RyanAir). Purchase tickets early, to ensure that you can get these low
rates, as they naturally increase until the day of the flight.
There are a couple of things to warn you about regarding these two
airlines. Tickets are never refundable on either airline. If you miss
your flight, you will be subject to their penalties of having to buy
another ticket. They may overbook their flights or cancel them, and you
are pretty much at their mercy. Understand that this does not happen
often, though. Also, they have much stricter weight limits than major
airlines, and will charge you if you go over that limit. On board meal
is only for purchase as well, and seats are not assigned: it is first
come first serve.
Also note, they may not necessarily fly to the
destination they advertise. For instance, RyanAir claims that it flies
to Bologna, Italy, but actually flies into Forli, an airport that is an
hour bus-ride away from Bologna. So take into consideration the extra
transportation cost when determining savings when taking the low cost
airlines. It is still recommended to take these
airlines, simply because they offer such great deals, but be warned for
that unexpected event that can happen just as easily on any other
airline.
Trains
Europe has an extensive network of trains that literally connects any two cities on the map. They are generally
reliable, smooth, and a comfortable way to travel while seeing the countryside. Eurail
is a one place to book tickets in advance for Europe, as well as order a variety of
different passes to suit your travel needs. Please note that
Eurail tickets can only be purchased in the United States, so it is a
good idea to either plan way ahead, or order your tickets and have
someone mail them to you from the U.S., which can take up to a week or
more.
For traveling in the UK, check National
Rail for tickets and prices. The earlier you book your tickets, the
cheaper they will be. You can book National Rail tickets as early as
three months ahead.
Eurostar is quickly becoming one
of the major train operators throughout Europe. While it cannot yet
boast of completely covering Europe, that is changing quickly, offering
over 100 destinations. It is the major link between London and Paris,
and Italy has also begun to run a Eurostar service, especially with the
arrival of the Olympics in February 2006.
If you are unable to purchase ahead of time, or are traveling
spontaneously, tickets and information are always available at all
train stations to get you where you are going.
Bus
There is also an extensive bus network in Europe, but often these are only national services and
do not run across borders. In the UK, National
Express runs a service throughout the country. For bus services on the continent, check the
tourist information for the country that you are traveling in, as well
as your guidebook. Buses are slower, and can cost just as much as trains. Yet,
in some countries, buses may be the best option, such as in Ireland for example. They are also subject to traffic, are typically less comfortable than
trains, and not nearly as smooth.
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