Travellers wanting to book inter-continental rail journeys across Europe currently face a nightmare of red tape when booking each stage, country by country. The exceptions currently are Eurostar and Thalys high-speed rail services but their services are limited to certain central European cities.
The European Union has now paved the way making it as easy to book rail journeys between countries as it is to book flights, with a combination of stops and destinations to suit the needs of both business people and tourists. The EU is adopting new regulations to force the standardization of rail passenger data on fares and timetables right across Europe.
In 2012, by law, rail operators must bring their computer systems and practises inline, making it easy for travel agents and individuals to book tickets to and from most destinations, hassle free.
One of the main reasons behind this approach from Brussels is that inter-city travel by rail is far more environmentally-friendly than travel by car or by air. Rail travel considerably reduces harmful emissions and the effects on global warming, possibly making it the recommended method of travel for forward-thinking governments of the future.
by Gillian at Luxique Luxury Hotels
If the Royal Wedding created an interest in Europe’s architectural treasures, there are a host of affordable cities that offer incredible sights and history to match that of the 1000-year-old Westminster Abbey. Consider spending a few days in a luxury hotel in London to recreate your own royal London experience before flying on to a second city of culture.
London’s prime sights are of course Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament (which are not as old as you might think!), the Tower of London with the crown jewels and the famous Westminster Abbey.
From there, Barcelona is just a short hop away. Luxury hotels in Barcelona can be found right on the famous Las Ramblas where street performers entertain visitors as they browse the flower stalls or sit at an outdoor café. If the street is a little noisy, there are plenty of other luxury hotels to choose from near the Passeig de Gracia shopping mecca, overlooking the port and beach or in the Old Cathedral district. Antoni Gaudi’s unique architecture can be seen all over the city from the UNESCO listed Park Guell, which is filled with his sculptures, to the iconic spires of the Sagrada Familia Cathedral.
Other options include the French Riviera, a hotspot with celebrities and the place to spend the summer if you have a private yacht. Those preferring to stay on dry land will find Nice has a delightful old town filled with squares lined with historic architecture.
If you want to combine blue seas and sunny skies with 2000-years of history then choose one of the 6000 Greek Islands. Luxique has an excellent choice of luxury hotels in Crete, which make a great base for discovering the many churches, monasteries, castles and forts that the island is known for.
by Gillian at Luxique Luxury Hotels
The German train operator, Deutsche Bahn (DB), has unveiled the prototype of the new high-speed trains it hopes will provide a service through the Channel Tunnel from the UK to the European mainland.
Assuming the trains satisfy all the safety tests and other criteria, DB expects to start the programme in late 2013. It’ll mean that passengers will be able to travel from London to the centre of Frankfurt in five hours (compared with a two-hour flight) and to Amsterdam in the Netherlands in four hours (an hour and a bit by airliner).
DB wants to run services three times a day. Trains would leave London, travel to Brussels and then split. One half of the train would go on to Amsterdam via Rotterdam, with the other half travelling to Frankfurt via Cologne. The trains would be capable of travelling at 200mph.
Eurostar, the only rail operator running passenger trains through the tunnel since it opened in 1994, supports Deutsche Bahn’s move, saying it is another step in the expansion of high-speed rail travel across Europe.
“We welcome Deutsche Bahn’s plans, we want them to help us grow the rail passenger market together,” said Eurostar’s Chairman, Richard Brown, at the presentation of DB’s plans at St Pancras station in London.
by Andy Moreton
London, Brussels, Cologne, Frankfurt, Rotterdam, Amsterdam: Luxique can secure you the best rates at a variety of luxury hotels throughout Europe.
There’s a great deal of nervousness in Europe about the possibility of a Mumbai-type terrorist attack.
Concern that al-Qaeda is plotting to send gunmen to the streets of major European cities for commando-style raids has prompted warnings from the British Foreign Office and the American State Department.
The Foreign Office warned tourists that there was a ‘high threat’ of attacks in countries including France and Germany, rather than the ‘general threat’ previously identified. The UK’s threat level, as set by the Home Office, remains ‘severe’.
The US alert noted ‘the potential for terrorists to attack public transportation systems and other tourist infrastructure’. The warning did not advise Americans against travelling to Europe, but to take care while in tourist areas.
France in particular is on red alert, with thousands of police and soldiers deployed. The Eiffel Tower in Paris was evacuated twice last month on bomb threats that turned out to be false.
by Andy Moreton
