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Awhile back I wrote a Kid Trippin' post about budget airlines in Europe.  I said that they were a great deal under the right circumstances, but that you still shouldn't overlook rail travel options, especially with kids and especially since flying is pretty painful these days. 

Here's another voice in favor of rail travel in Europe -- Harry Shattuck, the travel editor at the Houston Chronicle.  He just enjoyed a blissful few days via boat and train on and near the Rhine River in Germany (just a couple of hours from my old home in Limburg, the southern part of the Netherlands.)   I've been to two of the Rhine Valley towns that he mentions, St. Goar and Bacharach, and they are lovely. 

This part of the Rhine features the supposed spot of the legendary Lorelei, who sang sailors to their rocky doom.

Shattuck also puts in a plug for the high-speed Eurostar (Channel Tunnel or "Chunnel") train between London, Brussels and Paris.  I went on this train with my family from Brussels to London and back, and the convenience and comfort can't be beat compared to TSA shoe inspections.  He reminds us that on a train in Europe, you tend to arrive right in the center of town (and can plug directly into the city transport system with minimal fuss.)  No long, expensive taxi or bus rides in from a far-flung airport.

Give 'em you-know-what, Harry, and get people onto the train!

Technorati tags:  travel, family travel, Europe