A WORD ABOUT ROSIE...

I have fond memories of taking a night train through France in the late 80's and now love travelling by train with my own family. I really enjoy researching and booking holidays but I know how painful it can be to sort out rail travel, even with the amazing Maninseat61. I want to help demystify taking flight-free holidays to inspire more people to make the switch...

MORE FUN AND ADVENTURE.

I believe the journey should be part of the holiday.

The speed and cost of flying around Europe is an illusion, where a 1-hour flight can really be a stressful and uncomfortable 5-hour trip from door-to-door.

Rail travel allows you to reflect, connect and make more memories along the way.

LESS CARBON.

Changing the way you travel is one of the single biggest things you can do as an individual to reduce your carbon footprint. Did you know a return flight to Madrid adds around 0.4 tonnes of carbon to your footprint? That’s 6 times as much as the train.

The impact of those 0.4 tonnes is similar to failing to recycle for TWO years or switching to meat for 6 months from a vegetarian diet.

By making the switch, even just one way, you’ll make a real difference.

NOT JUST FOR GAP YEARS.

Interrail passes are sometimes associated with ‘gap years’ but they are for everyone.

They can also make rail travel much more affordable. Up until the age of 12 kids will get a free interrail pass with every adult pass purchased. While rail travel is never going to compete with a cheap Ryanair flight, in my experience it is often cheaper than people think.

While interrail passes are known for their flexibility and spontaneity, you can also use one to create a fixed itinerary with seat reservations on all journeys.