Floating to Your Destination by Ferry in .NET

Maker Code 128 Code Set B in .NET Floating to Your Destination by Ferry

Throughout the length of your stay, you may occasionally cross the waters in Europe, whether you do so over the traditional English Channel crossing from Dover, England, to Calais, France; en route to Greece from Italy; or just off to an island somewhere Ferry travel is often scenic and can be cheap, but it s also invariably slow Don t think of it as a cut-rate cruise or you ll be disappointed Ferry rides are strictly a mode of public transportation For approximately double the money of a ferry, you can often take a hydrofoil (a sort of a ferry on steroids) A hydrofoil travels about twice as fast as the ferry, but you re stuck below deck for the entire trip I recommend taking the Eurostar train through the Channel Tunnel to get from England to France or Belgium rather than taking a hydrofoil across the waters The time you save, and the aggravation and seasickness you avoid, more than offset the difference in fare

Regional and long-haul bus service in Europe mirrors the trains in its efficiency and remarkable network density If a train in Europe can t take you where you want to go, a bus can almost certainly get you there

Although prices are comparable to train prices, buses take two to four times as long, and they re five to ten times more uncomfortable Avoid uncomfortable overnight bus trips I only take buses when a train isn t running to my destination point (as is often the case in rural areas), or if the bus makes a better connection (Florence to Siena, for example) In some countries especially Ireland, Greece, Turkey, Portugal, and parts of Spain and Scandinavia the bus network is more vast and better connected than the train service

Although trains are great, a car is sometimes the best way to see Europe with the wind in your hair and the freedom to turn down any road and visit vineyards, medieval hamlets, and crumbling castles With a car, you can make your own schedule and get away from the set time structures of trains Using a car is the only way to explore any small region in depth Of course, driving a car also has its downfalls For example, you have to deal with aggressive drivers, navigate nerve-racking and confusing city traffic on occasion, and find and pay for parking whenever you stop Likewise, you can t relax and do research on the trip between towns when you re behind the wheel, and the gasoline prices in Europe are shocking Regardless, unless you walk or bike through Europe, you can t get any closer to the land and have the true freedom to go where you want than you can renting a car

If you plan to drive in Europe, you may want to bring along and carry, in addition to your regular driver s license, an International Driver s Permit (this permit isn t required; it merely translates your data into several languages) The permit costs $10 from AAA (call % 407-444-7000 to find the office nearest you) You don t have to be a AAA member to get the pass, but if you are, ask for any free info and maps that they can send you to cover the countries in which you ll drive

If you want to cover lots of ground, concentrate on the cities, or go solo, taking the train is better than renting a car However, if you re exploring a single country or region, planning to visit many small towns, and you re traveling in a party of three or more, rent a car Splitting the cost of one car rental is cheaper than train tickets when you re traveling with a group, and renting a car allows you more flexibility if you re traveling with kids Tuscany, Provence, southern Spain, and Ireland are among the most scenic and rewarding areas in Europe to explore by car