Subject: train
I had warning. An email from the Padova bus website, a service I had mistakenly signed up for when trying to figure out their maze of bus routes a few weeks prior. "There is a possible transit strike this Friday, May 15th. Buses and public transportation will operate on a limited schedule, with service between the hours of 12 and 3 pm." I worried for a moment and then brushed my typical anxious thoughts aside. It's Italy...go with the flow, I told myself. Don't worry about it unless it actually happens.
Ok, guys we need to get off NOW.... it's the Smithsonian stop and these doors might just close in on us and eat us alive. Run!!! Grab the children and run. The rest of the train sits unphased, motionless and glassy-eyed, much like the zombies above. These are the real DC metro riders, the commuters; and a tourist is their worst nightmare. They don't know the rules, they get in the way, and they're all too cheery about riding around the city when the rest of the train just wants to get to work. I was that zombie for six years when I lived and worked in Washington, DC. And over the course of it all, I learned a few lessons that make the ride just a bit smoother. So, the next time you head into the nation's capital, keep these tips in mind. Please, don't be that guy.
Looking for an easy way to calculate the time and cost of rail travel across Europe? Rick Steves has a great map that can help you decipher the web of trains in Europe. His handy map lets you know general fares in US dollars, as well as the average time it takes between cities.
An Oyster Card? No this is not the secret ticket to an all-you-can-eat buffet, but your ticket onto London's immense transit system. In reality, it is one of the most useful pieces of plastic in London...after your credit card.
Our question today for Francesco....Hi Francesco! Italian trains stress me out....I was wondering if you had any advice for taking the train while in Italy. How early do I need to arrive for the train? What's the easiest way to buy a ticket? And what is the whole deal between first and second class? Would appreciate any advice you could give on how Italians take the train.
We read recently on Tony Wheeler's blog (that's Tony Wheeler of Lonely Planet fame) that when he needed to get from the UK to Italy, he decided to skip the affordable, quick trip on Easy Jet and take a ride down on the Orient Express. We were intrigued and the idea of chugging across Europe in a vintage locomotive appealed to our romantic sensibilities. But, his account of his trip was noticeably lacking any details on how one could take such a trip themselves. Details that we quickly learned took this romantic ride deep into luxury travel territory.
I recently flew to New York into JFK airport, and being the savvy traveler that I am (read cheap), I decided in advance that I wanted to take the AirTrain. The AirTrain is a light rail system that connects JFK to both the subway system and Long Island Rail Road. There's a bunch of information about it on AirTrain's Site and Wikipedia, but nobody tells you how to buy a ticket. Until now.
I'm heading to NYC this weekend and it's been awhile since I've been there. When considering my transportation options, the seasoned travel advice "get a transit pass" popped in my head. But more importantly, when transit is concerned....know thy options. Sure, a tourist card may make sense in other cities throughout the world, like Berlin. But for my four day stint in New York, I discovered it's better to pay as you go.
Figuring out how to use mass transit in any major city can be a major headache, even if you've done your homework. However, Berlin, with its 7 different ways to get around, is an entirely different affair.
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