There are many ways to see and travel Europe; the way you go just depends on your personality type. The different modes of transportation speak to different types of people. One mode may frustrate and repel one person, while it is the only way that another person will travel. So you have to see how you match up to a European train, car, bus, plane, or boat.

1. You are super organized, want to get everywhere the fastest way possible and you are not interested in seeing the sights along the way, only after your get there. Then the best way for you to go is from one bordering country to another on one of the super sleek, super fast rail cars. Some of them are so fast you almost won’t have time to blink.
2. You are a backpacker, like to camp or stay in hostels wherever you go, and want to just get to know everyone and see every single bit of Europe you possibly can. Hitchhiking by auto will probably be your mode of choice—you get to meet interesting locals or tourist—and see the country along the way. Hitchhiking may be illegal in some countries; in others it is highly acceptable.
3. You are carefree, don’t have an itinerary planned, you don’t mind a crowd and are willing to go where ever the day takes you. The bus might just be the way for you to go. You get to meander and get off wherever you like along the route and you don’t really mind there isn’t another bus to catch for a few hours or a day, because you’re easy to please and can enjoy anywhere you find yourself.
4. You are efficient, very particular about whom you sit next to and cautious about whom is around you. You will definitely want to plan your trips by rail in a private compartment, possibly a sleeper. This will give you the most private of travel modes, while still being able to check out the scenery and get where you want to go efficiently and alone.
5. You are the seafaring type and love to be on the water. Your perfect European trip is on the lakes, the oceans and the high seas of any country you visit, the boat and ferry are your obvious choices. Ah, that fresh salt air!
6. You are a do-it-yourselfer and are a control freak, more or less. You’ll want to have your own rental car, so that you can get up and go when your itinerary says it’s time. This type of transport might keep you in gridlock in the cities, but traveling between countries means the open road all the way, but only if you don’t get stuck behind a herd of sheep in the country.
7. You were a bird in a previous life. You are a frequent flyer junky. You’re going to take the plane anytime, anywhere you can. First class or economy you’re just happy being in the air. Luckily for you there are lots of flights between many European countries.

So you want to know how travel Europe? Look to yourself and your personality will lead the way. You’ll enjoy your trip so much more if you have it just as you like it. Planning your trip is almost as much fun as going there, while you are making all your plans be sure to include travel insurance to your list. If you are paying fees up front such as transportation and accommodations then you will want to get a trip cancellation policy with your additional travel insurance. Just in case you have to cancel your trip, because of illness or another covered reason, you won’t be out the thousands of dollars you’ve already invested.

Many travelers consider the train by and far the best way to travel to and around Europe. There are so many advantages to going by train as opposed to other types of travel like by car or bus. The benefits are so perfect for tourists who want to see the country and not have to fight traffic or hop connection flights everywhere they go.

RailEurope.com can give you the inside track on all the great things the rail has to offer travelers or just keep reading for a list of some of the features that attract so many, such as:

• E-ticket retrieval—its available at self-service kiosks at the train stations—make your reservations online and pick up your tickets when you get to the station
• Many types of rail passes to choose from, with some providing unlimited rail travel between two, three, four or even five neighboring countries
• Twenty-four countries to choose from with access to the rail
• Continuous passes are available for 15 days, 21 days, 1 month, 2 months or 3 months
• First class available for adults, youth passes only available for second-class travel
• Discounts available for youth, seniors and couples
• Create a formal rail travel itinerary for a smoother trip experience
• Restaurant or café cars available on some longer distance routes
• Overnight trains offer sleep cars and a nighttime experience not to be missed
• Take a slower train for maximum savings
• Take one of the sleek, faster trains if you want to get there super quick
• Spacious and comfortable interiors—lots of leg room
• Faster in most cases than taking a plane
• Catch a train from virtually anywhere in Europe with a population of 50,000 or more
• Frequent connections
• Fast and convenient transfers
• Train stations also have bus hubs for traveling within the city or town

One of the advantages that can’t be passed up by tourists is the slow train trip with its beautiful views of the European countryside and a relaxing atmosphere. If you decide to travel by rail to Europe or while there, you will be glad you did. The only real downside to traveling by rail is the security. Beware of pickpockets and luggage thieves who frequent crowded commuter trains, but this goes for buses as well.

While planning your trip to Europe be sure to plan on getting your travel medical insurance in case of accident or injury. Most policies will cover emergency services, transport, hospital and doctor’s costs as well as medical evacuation if you need to be transported back home for medical care. Get your travel insurance while you are booking your flight and making your accommodation reservations. You’ll be very pleasantly surprised how cheap travel insurance can be.

Riding the rails in Europe makes for relaxing trips when you know ahead of time how to manage the travel. Reduce stress with these tips and let someone else do the driving while you take in the cityscapes and countryside.

Purchase Your Ticket
Make your reservation and purchase your ticket in advance for optimum ease. Sometimes purchasing your ticket once you arrive at the train station is your only option, but prepare for longer queues and have all your documentation handy, such as your passport. Remember that Europe runs on military time, the 24-hour clock. For first time travelers, 2:30 pm is 1430 hours on the train schedule. Rail pass holders with a reservation, go to your platform and wait for your train. First time initiation of a rail pass means waiting in the queue to get it validated without a guarantee of a seat. However, a rail pass means flexibility and if you don’t get a seat, find another train and hop on.

Check Your Ticket
If you’ve made that reservation or already have your ticket, check the name of the station to make sure that you are in the right place. Cities often have quite a few centrally located stations and when the stations are in another language, especially an unfamiliar language without English translation, first time travelers can find themselves in a train station down the road from where they are supposed to be. Arrive early so you don’t have to rush. Riding the rails is fun, but be prepared that locals who use them all the time don’t always have patience for tourists. And neither do porters who don’t get tipped, so keep some change in both local and U.S. currency on you.

Find Your Platform and Wait for Your Train
All stations pretty much run about the same, get your ticket or reservation, check the departure board, follow the signs to your platform and wait for the train. Don’t forget to check your ticket or reservation for your carriage number and seat number. Keep your passport and other ID on your person, not in your luggage. You can leave other documentation in your handbag, backpack or suitcase, such as your travel insurance information or travel medical insurance information as the conductor won’t be asking you to see it. Even in the quietest of stations with the friendliest people, never leave your luggage for a moment on its own or with a stranger, not even to run to the bathroom or to get a snack. Wait until you are settled on the train.

Once you find the number to your carriage and your seat number, get your luggage situated, then relax and wait for the conductor to come to see your ticket, rail pass, and passport. Once that bit of business is out of the way, find the dining car, get a drink and a snack, chat up your neighbor, read or watch the scenery and enjoy the ride.

There are a few great ways to sail the ocean from the United States to Europe. The boat you take will depend upon your departure location, your destination and the season in which you wish to travel in. Many people take boats because they don’t like to fly, have bad a back, bad knees, can’t sit for long periods of time or simply just love to sail and smell the fresh salt air. Whatever your reason for sailing, instead of flying to Europe, you’ve definitely got your choice in vessels.

Cruise Ship
Make getting there part of your trip experience by taking a cruise ship to Europe. Several hundred large cruise ships make voyages on routes worldwide. Taking a cruise ship to Europe means you have to travel within certain months of the year, May- August for some ship lines and spring and fall for others. The advantages of taking a cruise ship are the food, entertainment, sea life sightings and the comfortable atmosphere. Many of the accommodations are downright luxurious. The length of your voyage will depend upon weather and the number of port of calls the ship stops at.

Private Yacht
If you have the money, chartering a private yacht is a trip made in heaven for a long distance ocean passage such as from United States to Europe—that is if you can handle the rolling waves. They come with a full crew or you can learn and help with the sailing yourself. Stops are made along the way for watching sea life and partaking in water activities like scuba diving. The length of voyage depends upon the stops that are made and, of course, the time for ocean passage.

Freighter
It is still possible in this day and age to hop a freighter to sail to Europe. Many freighters limit the number of passengers, but you won’t be bunking with anyone else. The accommodations are not by any means as luxurious as a cruise ship or yacht, but they do have their own charms, are quite adequate and your meals are provided. There are age restrictions of those age 5 years and below to 79 years and above, though these ages may vary a bit between lines. The trips themselves are slow going. For example, a trip from Los Angeles to Germany takes around 41 days.

Sailing is a great way to travel for those who wish to take it slow and easy on their voyage to Europe. Each type of vessel has its perks, but all can be costly. Most ship lines and charter services ask for at least half of the total price of voyage up front, and that can amount to a couple of thousand dollars per person, depending on your choice.

One of the most important ways to protect yourself from losing that money, in the event you have to cancel your trip, is to purchase travel insurance. Travel cancellation insurance is inexpensive and valuable with many reasons for cancellation being covered. Don’t put yourself or travel mate at risk of losing a great deal of money, get financial protection up front.

The reasons for traveling to Europe are endless. As if its history, culture and natural beauty are not enough to draw you; the cuisine, the locals and the myriad of sights and wonders to see would be more than enough to suffice many a visitor. Europe is Earth’s second-smallest continent covering only 2% of the World’s surface and home to 11% of the Earth’s population, but within that small space is a plethora of incredible countries that have to be seen at least once in a lifetime.

The continent of Europe is made up of: Fifty sovereign states; Seven non-sovereign territories and regions; Four partially recognized republics, territories and regions; and Two unrecognized republics, territories and regions.

The most popular tourist destination countries of Europe include France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Switzerland, Germany, Ireland, Scotland and the United Kingdom. Although, some of the lesser traveled countries such as Sweden, Russia, Turkey, Portugal and Belgium hold priceless historical and natural treasures that are not to be missed.

The most unique feature of Europe is the proximity of all of its countries. For example, France is surrounded by Spain, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. You can easily hop a plane, or even better, ride the rail to any of these countries in a short period of time. Stepping foot from one country to another provides an instantaneous feeling of change. Nowhere else in the world can you see so many different cultures, ecosystems and natural and man-made beauty all in one relatively small area. Many European countries are home to the most cultured of all civilizations. They live their lives full of tradition through their architecture, their arts, their history and the nature that surrounds them.

Each individual has their own personal reasons for the countries they choose to visit while in Europe. Some want to see Paris, France for the famous Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and the street-side cafes. Others may want to visit Germany for the bratwurst, beer and beautiful countryside. Yet others will want to see Italy for Vatican City and the authentic Italian cooking. After doing your own research of Europe, you will find you are drawn to certain countries, cities and cultural for your own reasons.

No matter the European countries you choose to visit, it is of utmost importance that you make sure you are covered with travel insurance. Europe may be just a “hop across the pond” as some like to say, but you are entering a foreign country and accidents can happen just as they do at home. You, or a travel mate, may fall or get into an auto accident while touring. Did you know you would have to pay all medical bills including emergency, doctor and hospital care out of pocket before you leave the country? Most people could not afford this and would be financially devastated. With an inexpensive but valuable travel medical insurance policy you would be covered should the unfortunate happen and leave you to enjoy Europe without fear.

While purchasing travel insurance for a cruise is not required, you may not want to skip this step when securing and planning your trip. Travel insurance offers many coverage options that you can fit together so that you get the coverage that meets your needs.

It can be somewhat confusing and a bit risky to put together an insurance package if you are unfamiliar with all the choices and how to piece them together. If this is the case, working with a reputable travel insurance provider may be the answer. They offer all types of coverage in addition to packaged policies and many have a 24/7 call center available to you should you need assistance. Below are travel insurance choices available for most cruises.

Cruise Line Coverage
Most cruise lines offer travel insurance and will probably try to get you to buy it when you book your cruise. Be aware that not all travel insurance is the same and the best move is to explore other options so you can make an educated decision. Cruise line insurance can be overpriced, may not provide appropriate coverage and make getting a claim processed incredibly difficult. The alternative is to go through an actual insurance company specializing in travel insurance policies.

Trip Cancellation Coverage
Just imagine you have paid in full for your cruise; you’re looking forward to your vacation and can’t wait to set sail. But what if the unanticipated happens and you can’t take the trip? You or a family member or a travel companion become ill or have an accident. Then what? You could lose the hundreds or thousands of dollars you paid for a trip you can no longer take. With trip cancellation coverage, if your trip is canceled for a reason covered by the policy, then you will get a full refund of the money you paid. That refund can include any part of your trip cost that is prepaid, including flights to the port of call, hotels along the way and the cruise itself.

Medical and Evacuation Coverage
Once on your cruise, if you, your spouse or children should have an accident or become so ill that you need to seek onshore medical attention, medical evacuation could cost tens of thousands of dollars. Would you be prepared to pay out of pocket for the cost of medical care plus the cost of being airlifted to get the help you need? If you make sure to add this important coverage to your travel medical insurance policy, then you would not have to add financial trouble to your lists of woes and concentrate on getting well.

Package Plan vs. Single Plan
Many travel insurance companies will let you buy a separate travel insurance policy for each coverage, but getting a package plan can cover you across the board. A good package plan will cover trip cancellation, missed connections, lost or stolen baggage, trip interruption, travel delay and medical emergencies and evacuations.

While circumstances causing you to need travel insurance aren’t pleasant to think about, planning ahead and considering the possibilities are very important when you are leaving home and traveling overseas. Purchasing a travel insurance policy for your cruise will give you peace of mind and assurance that in case something does come up, you are covered and will not have to go through the incident without financial protection.

Most of the poor traveling to the United States in the early 1900s were not traveling as tourists, but immigrants. Most traveled by sea, the more affluent in staterooms, the poorest of the poor in steerage. Many would “buy” their passages, contracting as indentured servants for a specific length of time, some forced by circumstance. Involuntary indentured servitude was abolished by the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865. However, many laws were not changed until nearly a century later.

Airline travel changed the way many poor traveled to the United States, especially in the latter part of the 20th century when price wars among airlines made air travel affordable for most travelers. The advent of no-frills airlines made travel it even more attainable.

Illegal Immigrants
Can you live on $2.50 a day? Almost half of the world’s poor–over three billion people–do. Many of those poor travel to the United States in search of work and a better life. How do they do that if they make less a day than what it costs for cup of coffee?

Those immigrating to the United States include both legal and illegal immigrants. Most tourists arguably do not qualify as poor, unless you arguably count some students into the mix. And it depends on your definition of poor and economists haven’t changed this definition much since the turn of the 20th century, only the minimum levels of poverty, which many argue are set way too low.

Today, Mexicans overwhelmingly make up 56 percent of illegal immigrants journeying across the border into the United States with most settling in California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Arizona. Some are smuggled across the southern border in hot semis during the spring and summer; in many instances, people died along the way from the close proximity and the heat. Central and South Americans make up the next tier at 22 percent, Asia, 13 percent; Europe and Canada, six percent and just three percent come from Africa.

Breathing Free
Before 9/11, borders were considerably less secure and immigrants fleeing oppression sometimes traveled by homemade boat or rafts from nearby islands such as Cuba. Some rafts break apart or sink if they have too many people on them, making such travel toward the Florida coast an often-deadly mistake.
Today, to enter by air or sea into the U.S., you have to show proof of income or sponsorship, have documentation such as itinerary, travel insurance or travel medical insurance in case of emergency; whereas in the 1900s you just had to show identification, so it is more difficult to be penniless and enter the United States.

Still, the Statue of Liberty quietly proclaims:
“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

And the poor continue to come.

Can’t part with your pooch when you fly from the United States to Europe? If he’s under 10 pounds, you just might be able to get away with Fido under your seat for a fee with a little advance planning.

Think any airline will allow your small dog as long as you have him in a pet carrier? Think again, and then let your fingers do the walking and call your airline to see what its specific pet policy is. Most airlines have restrictions limiting carry-on Fidos to one or two per transatlantic flight, with pet carriers of specific dimensions to fit under the seat or under the seat in front of you.

All dogs, cats, and often, small birds, traveling in-cabin must have proper veterinary documentation of vaccinations. Carry copies of these documents with you, just like you would a copy of your passport or travel insurance, as you may need to fill-in an in-flight form for your animal before landing. Most Zoo Sanitary Certificates and import permits are completed before even getting on the plane. You might want to check your travel insurance policy to see what provisions it includes, if any, regarding traveling with your pet.

Most airlines, such as British Air, KLM, Northwest, and Iberia Air do not allow small dogs to travel in-cabin to the United Kingdom, even if you are stopping there to change planes or airlines. Bypass the U.K. on your way to mainland Europe, and you should have no problem.

If the flight is very long, including those with layovers in Europe before traveling to Asia or the Middle East, or if there are multiple plane changes in order to reach your destination, you will likely be asked to check Fido as baggage or cargo.

Note that most pets must be stored as cargo; and, when runway temperatures top 84 degrees Fahrenheit, pets may be refused. An acclimation certificate may be required should the runway temperature dip below 45 degrees. Check with the specific flight for all rules regarding your pet. Flight personnel must keep cargo bays transporting pets regulated to the same temperature and pressure that your cabin is set.

Some final tips for traveling from the U.S. to Europe with Fido:

• Make sure that your pet is at least eight weeks old before traveling. This is a requirement by the USDA. Your pet must also be fully weaned.
• Book nonstop flights.
• Avoid traveling during high traffic times such as holidays and weekends.
• Travel in early morning or late evenings in the summer to avoid extreme heat fluctuations.
• Get your vet’s health certificate no more than seven to 10 days in advance of travel.
• Don’t sedate your pet as tranquilizers have unpredictable side effects at high altitudes–pets have died as a result. If Fido needs a little extra mood medicine to mellow out, follow your vet’s advice.