braposo
Traveller
4 comments
Posted 14 years ago
Hello I´ll be travelling on September 2010.
I want to buy a guide and a timetable, so i´ve choose two Thomas Cook´s books: Europe by train and European Rail Timetable(Summer2010), but do I need both?
They give more or less the same information or they are different?
In sum, do I need do buy both?
Thanks
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Hi!
These are certainly two different books.
I dont know Europe by train but I assume it consists of suggestions of routes or places to stay where you can go by train. There are probably also information about general train travel in the European countries etc..
The European Timetable is a collection of European timetables only (consists of most of the routes and timetables you'll need on your trip - of course it doesnt include all timetables in Europe) - in my opinion it's a very useful book since you can plan during your trip where to go next and dont have to search for an Internet access or queue at a train station to get information.
Flo 8)
nltrainer
Traveller
1417 comments
T COok Eur by train is only for complete rail-analfabets. And it has not been properly updates since 4-5 years in new prints. Certainly does not aim at low-budget travel.
mkchris
Traveller
20 comments
Hi,
I'm afraid I have to defend TC 'Europe by Rail'. :os
I have the 'holy trinity' - timetable, map and E by R. E by R is the only book that gives me an idea of what I will see whilst on the train (which will be a sizeable amount of time).
Basically there are 50 routes which cover the whole of Europe and they are chosen to link major centres but also to take you through places of interest or via scenic routes. On their routes you can find gems such as the little yellow train over the Pyrenees etc.
They also have 26 'hub' cities (the usual suspects!) with an in depth description of each. No word of a lie, I have probably spent about £100 on various books while planning my trip - it's becoming an obsession - and this is the one which I have read the most. I won't be taking it with me - but that's because I am limiting my baggage. This book is best for planning - but if you take one book with you (as I am) then probably something more gazeteer like such as the Lonely Planet or Rough Guide would be better.
However if it's an either/or - get the timetable as it is an essential (yes I will be taking the timetable!). :!:
Hope this helps.
Chris.