With fares this cheap, does it really
make sense even to consider traveling by train anymore? The answer: It depends!
For one thing, the discount airlines aren't actually quite as cheap as they
appear. Even if you do net an incredibly affordable flight, government taxes,
fees and a bunch of extra costs bump the price up to at least 60€.
Then come the airlines' own fees.
On Ryanair, for example, there are so many that the airline has put together a
handy table so you can see at a glance what you'll be charged for checked bags
(with higher rates during the summertime and December holiday "peak"
periods), online check-in, priority boarding, even purchasing a flight, and…
and...
Is that all? Unfortunately no.
Discount airlines tend to fly into secondary airports that are an hour or more
outside of the city you're trying to visit. Trains, on the other hand,
typically arrive in or near the centre of town, and usually link up easily with
the city's mass transportation system.
The benefits of low-cost airlines
are however quite appealing: fast, cheap and everywhere. And these are an important
justification why more and more tourists keep using them. Because in terms of comfort,
train is still the best solution in long-distance trips. Also important: in
Europe rail companies offer several discounts on fares (e.g. Interrail).
