Andiamo Kiddo 101: Train Travel in Europe Via Trainline

Trainline: the must-have app for getting around Europe

Watching trains zip by in the Zurich Hauptbanhof

One of our greatest joys has been the ease and convenience of train travel in Europe. From our first trip with a Eurail pass -- which allowed us to explore with confidence and make itinerary changes on a whim -- we have been incredible proponents of riding the rails. From zipping up and down the Italian peninsula, jumping on a TGV to speed from Paris to Nice, or falling asleep in a private car in Munich and waking to a glorious morning in Rome, trains can offer amazing convenience and freedom.

But, we've also made our fair share of mistakes throughout the years. Booking a sleeper car incorrectly -- for a grouping of three men instead of the private car for two. Jumping on the "regionale" train instead of the InterCity and making EVERY STOP. Or overestimating how long it would take to run across the station to make a connection.

Reading about Rome on a train to Rome

While all of these experiences were annoying and stressful, we have discovered a way to correct our errors moving forward: Trainline. This digital platform -- app and website -- is an easy and convenient way to research and book train and bus tickets for use throughout Europe. Trainline works with 270 rail and coach companies connecting thousands of destinations in and across 45 countries in Europe. Simply plug in your starting point, destination, and dates of travel, and Trainline will generate a number of different itineraries. You can parse out options by price, speed, time of travel, and carrier.

During our first European adventure in 1997, we lugged a two-inch-thick guidebook that was just train schedules. Having that brick of info replaced with a simple app is amazing.

And while I generally start with Trainline, I always check the rail operator's direct site to ensure I'm getting the best price, seeing all the routes, and making the best decision with our time and money.

Step 1

Fill out your departure and arrival stations. Be sure to research your destination -- cities large and small may have multiple stations. Choose your outbound and inbound dates and times. Fill in the info for yourself and your travel companions. Pricing can be less for children -- and many train routes are even free for kids five and under -- so be sure to use accurate birthdates.

Step 2

Review your options and choose the itinerary that best suits your needs. You can search by departure time, cost, length of journey, operator, etc. Choose your outbound journey for a one-way trip -- or the return as well if it's roundtrip. And if you need to change trains, pay attention to transfer times and platform details.

Trainline includes bus and ferry info as well.

Step 3

Choose your class of service. Review cancellation policies or other rebooking restrictions. You can also add additional services if available.

Standard ticket option

Compare the cost of first class and economy. On some routes the difference in fares is about the cost of a cup of coffee.

Also, be sure to check if seat reservations are required. On popular routes (like Paris to Nice or Venice to Florence) you need to buy a seat reservation AND a ticket. Your ticket allows you to board the train, but the seat reservation puts you in a specific seat. Without a seat reservation (if required) you are left to scrounge for whatever open seats there may be--like flying on Southwest Airlines. On a crowded train, your family might end of sitting apart. We've also been stuck on a crowded train with zero seating available. When that happens you basically have to sit on your suitcase in the vestibule between two train cars. Definitely not the idyllic way to see the rolling hills of Western Europe.

First class ticket option

First class service options

Consider a sleeper car on an overnight train as well. It is often the same or slightly cheaper than a night in a hotel and can be great fun for the kids -- especially if the rocking motion of movement helps them sleep. Plus there is something romantic about falling asleep just outside of Venice and waking up in Paris.

Once you've decided, book your tickets in US Dollars and pay securely with ApplePay, PayPal, and more. Your tickets -- including platform information and departure times -- will be accessible via the app. No need to print them out unless you like having the extra security of in-hand tickets (which is not a terrible idea given the whims of cellular service).

It's also a trusted seller and official distributor for hundreds of operators, so you can feel confident that you're getting a 1,000-foot view of your options.

All in all, we've found great success using Trainline to brainstorm ideas, develop itineraries for trips long and short, and book tickets for our whole family.

Give it a try!