Europe By Rail Or Mediterranean Break?

‘Europe by Rail’ sounds brilliant doesn't it? A kind of romantic introduction to a film that everyone wants to watch because you are sure to see a lot of amazing things, hear some hilarious jokes and experience a thrilling adventure. It kind of is but it will be the single most expensive way of watching several really good films in one sitting.

My best friend and I took on this mammoth adventure; we planned a round trip using our 1 month continuous global youth InterRailPass and we planned to visit over ten cities in six different countries. This sounds awesome, right? And in all fairness, we had some incredible times. But all in all, this trip cost us over £1000, and realistically, we probably only saw about 8% of Europe.

The constant moving, checking-in, checking-out, running along platforms, reserving tickets and looking for toilets (with huge rucksacks!) took over the majority of the trip that had cost us so much. For the amount of money and time, we should have been able to explore whole countries but instead we were running to and from the hotspots as quickly as possible, paying euros here and there to climb the tallest towers in each place to then catch a train to the next capital. I am not saying it isn’t a good idea, it’s absolutely brilliant but it is a costly flick book to the incredible countries you should be seeing.

For the same amount of money, you could travel to Croatia and explore the Dalmatian coast thoroughly. With living costs being especially cheaper than the main European cities, you can afford to spend your Kuna on having fun and getting really stuck in to a different culture. The main hotspots of Split and Zadar offer a bustling atmosphere, stunning views, excellent cuisine and an extensive history that goes all the way back to the Greek Gods whilst also including a break from Yugoslavia and Communism in 1991.

There are now also several pretty decent festivals in the insanely clear blue waters that offer you some of the best dance acts around. Their duration varies from a week long (Garden Festival) to a few days (Soundwave Festival) but at significantly cheaper prices than your average British festival, these exhibitions of ultimate beach party life, with some incredible boat parties, offer you a festival and a holiday without even denting your summer budget!

If there is a group of you, renting a villa could be the best idea you have ever had. All your mates in the sun with no parents or jobs, you will have the best time of your life. The best thing about this plan is that because there is a group of you, the price of your accommodation will be split so it works out cheaper than a decent hotel, and, you can go anywhere! France, Spain and Italy are some of the main go-to destinations for villa holidays, whether it is inland or right on the sea front. The quality and size of your villa will often vary with price and location, as to be expected, but even some of the most incredible villas to rent in Cyprus can work out well within your holiday budget, and you can get your own pool!

If you treat your villa as your home, you have as much time as you want to go out and explore your surroundings. You can rent a car or some bikes and travel all over the place, or spend your time walking around the local towns and beaches getting to know a more exclusive part of a country many people will miss, especially those dashing in and out.

Obviously people look for different things in their holidays, and for you, as for hundreds of thousands of others, inter-railing may be the most amazing thing you could ever do, and that is great. But it is easy to overlook the hidden gems away from railway lines that require more than just a snapshot approach to exploring them.  

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