Summer holiday - advice required re: european transport

[superbiatch]

I'm planning to do a 3 city break this summer, before finally finishing off for a week in Lanzarote with a friend.

Initially we want to fly to Amsterdam (dead easy with easyjet from Liverpool), but then we want to go by coach/train to Berlin for a few days. Upon leaving Berlin we want to travel down to Barcelona for a few more days, before flying from Barcelona to Lanzarote for a week on the beach.

Has anyone ever used transport in Holland, Germany or Spain? Any handy links for me to use or any advice would be gratefully received. I've generally only travelled by plane from country to country in the past, but thought we'd do things a bit differently for a change

Many thanks for any advice given

Dunno about getting from city to city, but once you get to Barcelona I would recommend the official tourist bus

http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.c...-bus-tour.html

- and have a great time - we'll look forward to some piccies when you get back

[Halcyon]

This Euro rail ticket lets you go through 3 to 5 different countries in Europe:
Don't know if it's worth a look:

http://www.raileurope.com/us/rail/pa...pass_index.htm

[Charlie_Bubble]

I've used trains in the Netherlands and Germany, both much better than the UK. You should easily get a train from Amsterdam to Berlin. I'm not sure about Berlin to Barcelona. Have you tried just searching for amsterdam to berlin by train in google?

[superbiatch]

Originally Posted by Charlie_Bubble

I've used trains in the Netherlands and Germany, both much better than the UK. You should easily get a train from Amsterdam to Berlin. I'm not sure about Berlin to Barcelona. Have you tried just searching for amsterdam to berlin by train in google?

Now isn't that just the obvious thing to do! (now searching on google )

[danielf]

Dutch railways

Amsterdam to Berlin - 6 -9 hours

German railways

Berlin - Barcelona ~ 22 hours. I'd fly

I agree about flying Germany to Spain, gaining nearly a day in Barcelona is worth it, imo

[superbiatch]

Originally Posted by homealone

I agree about flying Germany to Spain, gaining nearly a day in Barcelona is worth it, imo

Didn't realise it would take so long tbh, done the england to spain thing on a coach when i was a kid - so i'm deffo thinking about flying from germany. Just need to find a low cost airline from germany to spain now

[danielf]

Originally Posted by superbiatch

<snip> Just need to find a low cost airline from germany to spain now

Easyjet, Air Berlin and Clickair. Apparently

(That's from Berlin Schoenefeld and Tegel to Barcelona)

Edit: Bear in mind that, unlike Tegel, Schoenefeld Airport is a fair distance from the city, so you might prefer to fly from Tegel. I flew Air Berlin once, and they weren't bad (better than sleazyjet in fact).

[superbiatch]

Originally Posted by danielf

Easyjet, Air Berlin and Clickair. Apparently

(That's from Berlin Schoenefeld and Tegel to Barcelona)

Thanks very much indeedy

Having trouble finding any berlin airport on the easyjet website

[danielf]

Originally Posted by superbiatch

Thanks very much indeedy

Having trouble finding any berlin airport on the easyjet website

They fly to/from Berlin Schoenefeld. Also, have a look at my edit

[superbiatch]

Originally Posted by danielf

They fly to/from Berlin Schoenefeld. Also, have a look at my edit

Ta v much, very helpful

So far i've got flights to Amsterdam, train from Amsterdam to Berlin, flight from Berlin to Barcelona and lastly flight back to Liverpool. Total cost £226 for two of us - bargain!!

I'm thinking about separating the holiday to Lanzarote to a different time - not sure i'll be able to fit all the appropriate attire in one case

[BBKing]

DB run modern sleepers on Berlin-Paris - my Mum's booked on one from Brussels to Hamburg in a month or so, so I'll pass on any comments. Still a bit of a drag to Barcelona, but if you can sleep some of the way that's got to be an improvement. Saves a hotel night anyway, and it's a bit more interesting than another couple of hours in a 737.

[alferret]

I think travelling by train\bus\car gives the traveller far more of a chance to see the world they live in. Planes have shrunk the world to a size where you can get just about anywhere in 24hrs but see nothing.
Going overland will give you a far better experience IMO although you wont get anywhere quickly.

My in-laws often drive to their apartment in Mercia and go the scenic route. It often ticks off another place they have seen rather than flown over.

[BBKing]

you wont get anywhere quickly.

You'd be surprised how quickly you can get about if you time it so you have a sleeper in the middle when you'd be asleep anyway. London->Paris on Eurostar and then to Rome on a sleeper is a decent overnight (18 hours 47 minutes), and you get there mid-morning. It's roughly equivalent to going to Paris, checking into a hotel, and the hotel moving to Rome during the night.

What it isn't going to be is particularly cheap, though.