A flightless travel enthusiast has revealed the three “best hibernation trains” for Brits looking for a low-emission holiday in the coming months.
Sarah BM, who goes by @sarahbmarks on TikTok, said the routes offer the opportunity to visit destinations that would be completely missed on a direct flight.
However, the airfares for two of their trips were more expensive than for the one-time flight Overnight accommodation has been taken into account for each sleeping car ticket.
All three of Sarah’s suggestions start with you taking the Eurostar to Amsterdam – the return flight costs around £80 to £120 if you book a few months in advance – and then switching to a sleeper.
The first of the three destinations at the time of publication was Innsbruck, Austria, although prices are constantly changing.
Sarah BM has revealed her top three sleeper trains she will be taking this winter. They all depart from Amsterdam – you can reach them from London on the Eurostar
The first suggested destination was Innsbruck in Austria, which you reach with views of snow-capped mountains
“You can sit comfortably in your cabin and enjoy traditional Viennese pastries for breakfast while driving past snow-capped mountains,” said Sarah.
Once you get there, you’ll be blessed with a number of options.
READ MORE: The best European Christmas markets you should visit this year
You can choose to walk and admire the beautiful 12th century village, or take advantage of the seasonal delights of skiing or sledding in the surrounding mountains.
A bunk bed on the 14-hour train will set you back around £70 each way, but if you’re on a budget and confident you’ll make money sitting down, a seat in a cabin with six berths cost from as little as £25. .
In contrast, a return flight from London to Innsbruck costs between £50 and £70, with two extra nights in a budget hotel to compensate for the nights otherwise spent on the train, which cost around £40 each – so the whole trip with the sleeper train will be around £70 more expensive.
Sarah’s second offer was to take two standard trains from Amsterdam to Hamburg after an overnight stay – for just under £30 each way – and from there take a sleeper train to Stockholm, Sweden.
Depending on when you book, a bunk cabin costs just £50, or you can enjoy a cabin with two luxury double beds and an en-suite bathroom.
If you choose the cheapest of these options and the connecting trains, a return flight from London to Stockholm – plus booking the extra nights you save – is almost £100 cheaper, although you’d think the extra costs would add up a few. extra worthwhile attractions and emissions savings along the way.
This train also has the attraction of an onboard bistro from where you can watch the snowy landscape pass by as you enter Sweden.
Stockholm has a classic Christmas market in November and December, but if you’re too late for that, you can still enjoy the Old Town or try your hand at ice skating.
Stockholm has a classic Christmas market in November and December (above), but if you arrive late you can still enjoy the Old Town or try your hand at ice skating
The sleeper train from Amsterdam to Zurich costs just £45 and you can take it the same day you leave London on the Eurostar for the Netherlands
The last and cheapest suggestion was to take you back to Austria, but stop in Zurich, Switzerland.
The sleeper train from Amsterdam to Zurich can be as cheap as £45 and times can be so consistent that you can leave the Netherlands on the same day as you arrive from London.
On the other hand, flights to Zurich are the most expensive of all these destinations: a return trip this winter is expected to cost more than £100, and “budget” overnight stays there cost around £70.
So if you fancy a trip to Zurich, you can save up to £70 by taking the sleeper train.
Sarah suggested that while you’re there, you could “take an ice-cold swim in the lake or hop on one of the incredible local trains in the Swiss mountains.”
Source link
James is an author and travel journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a love for exploring new cultures and discovering unique destinations, James brings his readers on a journey with him through his articles.