Trains – comfort and convenience

FOR families seeking a relaxed and family- friendly way to explore, train travel is well worth considering. For many reasons, train journeys are suited for families. Everyone, including restless kids, can walk around and stretch their legs during the journey, all members of the family can use the free Wi-Fi and charging ports on the trains and, of course, there is the choice of reading, dozing or watching the passing scenery, Corné Kotze Senior Rail Specialist and Product Manager at Travel by Train, told Travel News. What makes trains such an ideal option for families is the variety of choices. “Rail holidays make it easy for passengers to choose their own routings or places to visit. This mode of travel allows families to experience the holiday that best suits each of them,” she says. Santa train Kotze points to Finland’s Santa Express, which travels from Helsinki to Rovaniemi, as a train that’s particularly suited to family travel. “It’s a double-decker overnight train that allows you to travel either seated or as two passengers occupying a sleeper cabin.” The trains feature Wi-Fi and the cabins are equipped with power sockets. Some have their own shower and toilet. In Rovaniemi, winter activities to suit all ages include visiting Santa Claus Village, enjoying a cocktail at The Ice Bar or seeing the Northern Lights. Eurail pass For clients travelling in Europe, Kotze strongly recommends they make use of a Eurail pass. “With the Eurail pass, children under 12 years travel free with a full- paying adult, plus there are youth rates for travellers under the age of 26 and senior rates for travellers over the age of 60,” she says. Clients can purchase a Eurail Pass for the specific country they plan to visit or they can opt for a Eurail Global Pass, which gives them access to 33 countries across Europe – Austria, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey.