A step-by-step travel guide
A step-by-step travel guide
Traveling from London to Valencia by train is a great experience. The journey takes 2 days, through beautiful landscapes, stopping in Barcelona on the way.
Missed trains connections can happen, but no need to panic. If we plan our trips well, a potential delay is not that big of a problem. Here are a few things to think about:
International rail travel is protected by the CIV rules - which means you're usually allowed to travel on the next available train free of charge.
There are few things as nice as watching a movie, listening to a good podcast or getting some work done on the train. And fortunately most long-distance trains in Europe today offer free wifi onboard.
Eurostar, Renfe, SNCF and Deutsche Bahn let you get access to wifi on the majority of their trains. If having wifi is very important to you, the best way to really know if wifi is available is to google the train number (that can be found on your ticket) and you'll find out.
Should the wifi connection let you down, as an EU resident, you still have the luxury to take advantage of free roaming in all EU countries, just remember to turn on roaming in your phone's settings. If you are an EU resident traveling through a non-EU country such as Switzerland, the UK, or Norway, it could be a good idea to bring a 4G dongle in your bag, and switch off roaming to avoid hefty bills.
Most of the trains in Europe have restaurant cars open to all passengers, regardless of the fare. What is offered depends on the operator but also during what time you travel. They usually serve hot food, drinks and snacks available for all customers.
Many train operators don't have onboard catering due to the current situation. And face masks are required on many trains so if possible – eat and drink before you hop on the train.