50 of the world's best budget hotels

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50 of the world¶s best budget hotels

Sara Macefield chooses stylish places to stay that won¶t break the bank.

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The stylish bedrooms at the Hoxton Urban Lodge have flat-screen TVs and granite bathrooms

1 All Seasons Hotels

Hotels 43, mostly in Europe.

Facilities Nearly all are non-smoking, with car park and restaurant. Some have own swimming pool.Free Wi-Fi and free beverages in lobby.

Style Fresh, functional and modular.

Family friendly? Yes; family rooms, children¶s TV channel and magazines plus children¶s breakfast.

Essentials From ¼70 (0871 702 9469; www.all-seasons-hotels.com).

2 B&B Hotels

Hotels 196 hotels in Germany and France.

Facilities Most hotels are air-conditioned and all have free Wi-Fi and satellite TV.

Style Plain and simple.

Family friendly? Yes; some hotels have family rooms. Pets accepted.

Essentials from ¼30 (0033 172 365106; www.hotel-bb.com).

3 Balladins Hotels

Hotels 204 hotels in France, Belgium and Germany.



Facilities R estaurant, Wi-Fi, free buffet breakfast, in-room satellite TV. Some hotels have swimming pools and leisure facilities.

Style Bargain basement.

Family friendly? Yes; under-12s stay free and have free breakfast.

Essentials From ¼35 (www.balladins.com).

4 Campanile

Hotels More than 380 hotels in Europe with 19 in the UK.

Facilities R estaurant, some have bars. Most have Wi-Fi in bedrooms plus satellite TV and internet link.

Style Gallic-style simplicity.

Family friendly? Yes; children aged 10 and under get a free breakfast.

Essentials From £35 (0033 164 625970; www.campanile.com).

5 Comfort

Hotels More than 2,000, including 25 in the UK.

Facilities Most have a bar, restaurant and car parking. Bedrooms have satellite TV and internet access.Breakfast included.

Style From modern to traditional.

Family friendly? Yes; family rooms and special deals for children.

Essentials From £39 (0800 444444; www.choicehotelsuk.co.uk ).

6 Days INn

Hotels 1,875 worldwide, mostly in the US, 87 in Canada, 34 in the UK.

Facilities Internet access and many offer free breakfast.

Style Cheap and cheerful.

Family friendly? Yes; children 12 and under stay free when sharing with parents.

Essentials From £30 (0800 028 0400; www.daysinn.com).

7 dolby hotels



Hotels One, in Liverpool.

Facilities R estaurant, car park, internet points and 24-hour reception. Bedrooms have Sky TV andensuite bedrooms.

Style Cheap, cheerful, well-located.

Family friendly? No; lack of leisure facilities.

Essentials From £41 (0151 708 7272; www.dolbyhotels.co.uk ).

8 econo lodge

Hotels 878, mainly in the US.

Facilities Free Wi-Fi and free breakfast. Some hotels have swimming pools and/or restaurants.

Style Cheap and convenient.

Family friendly? Yes; children stay free in parents¶ room.

Essentials From $50 (001 877 424 6423; www.econolodge.com).

9 etap

Hotels 370 hotels in 11 countries (270 in France).

Facilities 24-hour reception, Wi-Fi and snack shop. Air-conditioned rooms with TV and radio.

Style French chic on the cheap.

Family friendly? Yes; family rooms take maximum of three. Two under-12s stay free in the parents¶room.

Essentials From £32 (0871 222 2288; www.etaphotel.com).

10 express by holiday inn

Hotels 1,852 (120 in UK).

Facilities Bar and lounge area. Bedrooms have internet, TV and pay-per-view movies. Free breakfast.


Family friendly? Yes; family rooms for two adults and two under-18s.

Essentials From £39 (0870 400 9670; www.hiexpress.co.uk ).



11 formule1

Hotels 374 hotels in 14 countries.

Facilities Air-conditioned rooms with TV, radio and washbasin. Lavatories and showers arecommunal.

Style Functional and basic.

Family friendly? Yes; family rooms available for up to three people.

Essentials From ¼30 (www.hotelformule1.com).

12 future inns

Hotels Two ± Cardiff and Plymouth.

Facilities R estaurant, bar and meeting room, plus bedrooms with either two double beds or one doubleand a sofa-bed.

Style Space and style reflect North American ownership.

Family friendly? No; business-orientated.

Essentials From £50 (www.hotelformule1.comwww.futureinns.co.uk ).

13 hotel bannatyne

Hotels Three in Darlington, Durham and Hastings.

Facilities R estaurant, bar, internet access. In Durham, free access to Bannatyne Fitness Health Club.

Style From higher-priced historic to cheaper and modern.

Family friendly? Yes; children stay in parents¶ room for £10. Cots free.

Essentials From £60 (www.bannatyne.co.uk ).

14 ibis

Hotels 800 in more than 40 countries (52 in UK).

Facilities 24-hour reception, bar, restaurant and snacks available 24/7. R evamped bedrooms with air-conditioning and internet.

Style French feel with cosy touches.

Family friendly? Families welcome, but no special children¶s deals. Dogs accepted for small charge.



Essentials From £27 (0870 609 0963; www.ibishotel.com).

15 innkeeper¶s lodge

Hotels More than 80 in the UK.

Facilities Hotels are non-smoking and have Wi-Fi, and a pub and restaurant nearby. At some lodges breakfast is included.

Style Cosy and comfortable.

Family friendly? Yes; most lodges have family rooms for two adults and two children under 16. Cots provided.

Essentials From £29.95 (0870 243 0500; www.innkeeperslodge.com).

16 wetherspoon lodges

Hotels 13 in the UK.

Facilities Some have meeting rooms.

Style Pub atmosphere and pub grub.

Family friendly? Some lodges allow children in the bar area, others don¶t.

Essentials From £40 (www.jdwlodge.org).

17 jurys inns

Hotels 17 in the UK and six in Ireland.

Facilities Bar, restaurant and coffee bar. Air-conditioned bedrooms have internet access and satelliteTV.

Style Budget with trimmings.

Family friendly? Yes; under-12s stay with parents for free in family rooms. Cots available.

Essentials From £59 (0870 410 0800; www.jurysinns.com).

18 knights inn

Hotels 290 (278 in the US, 12 in Canada).

Facilities Cable TV in bedrooms, free internet access and free breakfast.

Style Cheap and cheerful.



Family friendly? Yes; under-17s stay free when sharing with parents.

Essentials From $39 (001 800 843 5644; www.knightsinn.com).

19 kyriad

Hotels 206 in France.

Facilities R estaurant, and bedrooms that can sleep up to four adults. Some hotels have Wi-Fi,swimming pool, hairdresser and room service.

Style French with frills.

Family friendly? Yes; under-16s stay free in parents¶ room and under-10s have free breakfast.

Essentials From £35 (0033 164 625970; www.kyriad.com).

20 la quinta

Hotels More than 650 in the US, Canada and Mexico.

Facilities Free internet, breakfast and local calls. Most hotels have pools.

Style Distinctive and comfortable.

Family friendly? Yes; children 18 and under stay free in parents¶ room.

Essentials From $29 (001 800 753 3757; www.lq.com).

21 metro inns

Hotels Five in the UK.

Facilities Free parking and Wi-Fi. No ensuite ± shared facilities.


Family friendly? Yes; hotels accept ³schoolchildren´. Bedrooms sleep maximum of three people indouble bed and bunk bed, unsuitable for children under six; dogs stay for £2.

Essentials From £24.50 (www.metroinns.co.uk ).

22 microtel inns


Facilities Internet access, cable TV, free local and long-distance calls and most have fitness facilitiesand a swimming pool. Some suites have a kitchenette.



Style All-round appeal.

Family friendly? Yes. Under-16s stay free in parents¶ room.

Essentials From $49 (001 800 771 7171; www.microtelinn.com).

23 motel 6

Hotels 905 in the US; 13 in Canada.

Facilities Cable TV, computer points, free local calls. Most properties have a swimming pool.

Style Breezy and basic.

Family friendly? Yes; 17s and under stay free when sharing parents¶ room. Cots provided free.

Essentials From $29.99 (0871 702 9469; www.motel6.com).

24 premier inn

Hotels 500 across the UK.

Facilities R estaurant, bar and

24-hour reception. Most hotels have in-room internet for extra charge.

Style Plain and simple with shades of purple.

Family friendly? Yes; up to two under-16s stay free when sharing with parents. Free breakfast whenaccompanied by an adult. Families can claim two-for-one and Kids Go Free vouchers to UK attractions.

Essentials From £49 (0870 242 8000; www.premierinn.com).

25 premiere classe

Hotels 217 in France, Belgium, Netherlands and Poland.

Facilities R estaurant for buffet breakfast (costs extra) and vending machines. Most hotels have free

Wi-Fi and car parking. Free beverages and 10 per cent discount on dinners at selected CampanileHotels.

Style French functionality.

Family friendly? Yes; free breakfast for under-fives.

Essentials From ¼38 (0033 164 625970; www.premiereclasse.com).



26 purple

Hotels 10 in the UK.

Facilities All hotels apart from three have café-bars. Air-conditioned rooms, Wi-Fi and wired broadband throughout, plus flat-screen TVs, walk-in power showers.

Style Cool and functional.

Family friendly? Yes; family rooms and free stays for under-15s sharing with parents. Pets welcome.

Essentials From £39 (08444 823823; www.purplehotels.co.uk ).

27 quality inn

Hotels 1,225 worldwide with 40 in the UK.

Facilities Most have bars, restaurants and leisure facilities, including swimming pools. Bedrooms havesatellite TV and free internet.

Style Budget with mid-market pretensions.

Family friendly? Yes; family rooms and special deals for children.

Essentials From £40 (0800 444444; www.choicehotelsuk.co.uk ).

28 ramada encore

Hotels 13, including six in the UK.

Facilities Vary depending on hotel, but can include business centre, restaurant, free parking, freeinternet and free breakfast. Bedrooms have air-conditioning and internet access.

Style Stylish simplicity.

Family friendly? Yes; depending on hotel, facilities include family rooms. babysitting/childcareoffered for extra charge and cots provided free. Some take pets for extra charge.

Essentials From £79 (0808 100 0783; www.ramada-encore.com).

29 red roof inn

Hotels More than 325 in the US.

Facilities Wi-Fi, cable TV in rooms. Some hotels have swimming pools and offer free breakfast.

Style Comfortable and spacious.



Family friendly? Yes; under-18s stay free when sharing parents¶ room. Cots provided free.

Essentials From $35 (001 800 733 7663; www.redroof.com).

30 rodeway inn

Hotels 303, mainly in US.

Facilities Free local calls, premium TV channels and breakfast included. Some have restaurants,swimming pools and leisure facilities.

Style Varies from city centre to resort style.

Family friendly? Yes; if you choose the resort-style hotels in tourist areas.

Essentials From $50 (001 877 424 6423; www.rodewayinn.com).

31 sleep inn


Facilities Spacious bedrooms with air-conditioning, satellite TV, free internet and pay-per-viewmovies. Ensuite rooms with walk-in showers. Breakfast included.

Style Budget with premium pretensions.

Family friendly? Yes; children stay free in parents¶ room.

Essentials From $70 (0800 444444; www.sleepinn.com).

32 stop inns

Hotels Six in the UK (in the Midlands and North).

Facilities R estaurant, bar and car parking and some have a leisure centre. R ooms with TV and, in mosthotels, internet access and Wi-Fi.

Style ³Value-conscious´ rather than budget. Hotels vary from stark to plush.

Family friendly? Yes; leisure facilities plus family and interconnecting rooms.

Essentials From £39 (020 8233 2001; www.stop-inns.com).

33 studio 6

Hotels 46 in the US; one in Canada.



Facilities Fully-equipped kitchens, voicemail, data ports and Wi-Fi, free local calls, cable TV, weeklyhousekeeping service.

Style Aimed at guests wanting to stay five nights or more.

Family friendly? Yes; under-17s stay free if sharing with parents.

Essentials From $40 (0871 702 9469; www.staystudio6.com).

34 super 8

Hotels 2,095 mostly in the US, 121 in Canada and 75 in China.

Facilities Breakfast included, internet access, some have swimming pools.

Style From chintzy to charming to stylish.

Family friendly? Yes; children 17 and under stay free if sharing with an adult. Cots provided.

Essentials From $49 (001 800 800 8000; www.super8.com).

35 travelodge

Hotels 348, with 337 across the UK, eight in Ireland and three in Spain.

Facilities 24-hour check-in, king-size beds and remote-control TV in rooms. Some hotels haveadditional facilities, depending on location.


Family friendly? Yes; there are family rooms and cots are provided at most hotels.

Essentials From £19 (0871 984 8484; www.travelodge.co.uk ).

36 welcome break

Hotels 21 near UK motorways.

Facilities 24-hour reception, free newspapers, Sky Sports channels, free parking, restaurants nearby.

Style Cheap and convenient.

Family friendly? Yes; rooms accommodate up to two adults and two children. Pets stay free.

Essentials From £39 (www.welcomebreak.co.uk ).

CHEAP AND CHIC



37 base2stay

Hotels One, in London¶s Kensington.

Facilities Stylish air-conditioned rooms containing fully equipped kitchenette and interactive directoryof local amenities.

Style Boutique style on a budget.

Family friendly? Yes; superior rooms sleep up to three and deluxe rooms up to four. Some rooms can be configured to create a family suite.

Essentials From £93 (0845 262 8000; www.base2stay.com).

38 the big sleep hotel

Hotels Three in the UK, in Cardiff, Cheltenham and Eastbourne.

Facilities Modish and modern interior with funky furnishings and internet access. Cardiff hotel has acar park and meeting facilities. Breakfast included. Cardiff has a bar and Eastbourne has Wi-Fi.

Style Chic and trendy.

Family friendly? Yes. Cheltenham and Eastbourne have family rooms.

Essentials From £40 (www.thebigsleephotel.com).

39 capsule hotel

Hotels Two, in Holland.

Facilities Not your average hotel. These are orange survival pods moored in The Hague which were built in 1972 and previously used on oil rig platforms. They come equipped with a chemical lavatory,sleeping bag and rations.

A James Bond version boasts silk-lined sleeping bags, fairy lights, a DVD player with Bond moviesand Martini-making set.

Style Cosy, basic and bizarre.

Family friendly? Definitely not.

Essentials From $61 (00813 3437 5511; www.capsulehotel.info).

40 capsule inn shimbashi

Hotels Several capsules in Tokyo.



Facilities Aimed at businessmen (many are men-only) who miss the last train. This capsule hotelclaims to provide the industry¶s first VIP capsules, with feather quilts, pressure-relieving mattress and pillows. Guests have own locker and access to a communal shower room.

Style A bed and little else.

Family friendly? Definitely not.

Essentials £16 (www.capsule-inn.net).

41 citizen m

Hotels One, in Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.

Facilities Distinctive design runs through the lounge-style lobby (where guests check themselves in) tothe 24-hour canteen and bar and bedrooms. Lights, music, blinds and wake-up calls can be customisedat the click of a button via a touchpad. There are free movie channels, Wi-Fi and a power rain shower.

Style A true one-off that¶s fresh, funky and contemporary.

Family friendly? No.

Essentials From ¼69 (www.citizenm.com).

42 easyhotel

Hotels Five in London; two in Switzerland; one in Hungary.

Facilities Big on location rather than facilities. There is Wi-Fi and/or an internet terminal for an extracharge plus snack machines in public areas.

Style Cheap, cheerful, orange.

Family friendly? No; too little space and too few facilities.

Essentials From £25 (www.easyhotel.com).

43 hoxton urban lodge

Hotels One, in London.

Facilities Open fireplaces, brick walls and leather sofas bring an earthy and rustic feel to the publicareas, while the stylish bedrooms have flat-screen TVs and granite bathrooms. There¶s free Wi-Fi and alight breakfast, delivered to the room.

Style Country house meets city chic.

Family friendly? No; far too hip.



Essentials From £59 (020 7550 1000; www.hoxtonhotels.com).

44 motel one

Hotels 21 in Germany.

Facilities Hotels generally have 24-hour reception plus a café and bar. Most are non-smoking. Air-conditioned bedrooms with flat-screen TV, Wi-Fi and granite bathrooms.

Style Design-led minimalism with trademark touches of turquoise.

Family friendly? Yes; generally one child sharing with parents stays free and has free breakfast; sevento 12-year-olds stay free in parents¶ room but pay for breakfast where applicable.

Essentials from ¼49 (www.motel-one.de).

45 nitenite

Hotels One, in Birmingham.

Facilities Bar with Wii console and TV, restaurant, 24-hour reception, free Wi-Fi and computers inlobby. The snug bedrooms, designed to emulate a yacht cabin, have air-conditioning, 42in plasmascreen TV and wet room.

Style Funky no-frills with lashings of wood and leather.

Family friendly? Not really a place for children.

Essentials From £44.95 (0845 890 9099; www.nitenite.com).

46 qbic

Hotels Three, in Holland.

Facilities Cube-style living space with an extra long bed, Philippe Starck bathroom fittings, TV, safeand internet. Guests can change lighting according to their mood. Self-service check-in and ³Grab andGo´ corner with vending machine and other essentials.

Style Cheap chic pod-style hotels.


Essentials From ¼69 (0031 433 211111; www.qbichotels.com).

47 room mate hotels

Hotels 14, mainly in Spain.



Facilities Bold innovative designs and colours flow through these hotels, each one of which is namedafter a person. They have free Wi-Fi, friendly staff and buffet breakfast until 12pm and some roomshave DVD players and mini-bars.

Style House-party feel with a personal touch.


Essentials From ¼53 (0034 913 995777; www.room-matehotels.com).

48 sleeperz

Hotels One, in Cardiff.

Facilities Modern urban feel with café-style dining area, lounge with real fire and leather sofas plusfree Wi-Fi and UK calls. Air-conditioned bedrooms have wet rooms.

Style Stark, striking and stylish.


Essentials £65 (0800 043 9035; www.sleeperz.com).

49 umi hotels

Hotels Two, in London¶s Notting Hill and Brighton.

Facilities Coffee shop and restaurant in London and coffee shop and bar in Brighton (restaurant

coming soon), satellite TV in rooms. Safe and internet connections offered for extra charge.

Style Funky, fun and young.

Family friendly? Yes; family rooms that can take up to five.

Essentials From £59 (www.umihotels.co.uk ).

50 yotel

Hotels Three, in Gatwick, Heathrow and Amsterdam¶s Schiphol airport.

Facilities Central location in or close to terminal buildings. Small, but cleverly-designed bedrooms or ³cabins´ with fold-out study desk, charging points, TV, free Wi-Fi and decent shower room. Meals can be ordered through cabin menu 24/7 and delivered.

Style Cross between a capsule and an aircraft cabin.

Family friendly? No. Good if you¶re delayed and want to chill out, watch movies or get the children tosleep. Not so good for overnight stays due to lack of space.



Essentials From £25 for four hours; overnight from £55 (020 7100 1100; www.yotel.com).

Your carriage awaits, sir

July 31, 2010

Make tracks ... en route to Davoz, Switzerland. Photo: Getty Images

The founder of The Man in Seat 61 website, Mark Smith, offers his top tips for travelling by

train in Europe.

I've just finished a tasty ham omelet in the restaurant car and I'm nursing a second glass of equallydelicious Croatian red wine, when the Zagreb-Vienna EuroCity train bursts out of the SemmeringTunnel, high in the Austrian Alps.

The view takes my breath away. The railway clings to the mountainside, the summits tower above andthe valley floor is a Toy Town vision thousands of metres below. The wheels beneath me screechagainst the rails as the train curves first one way then the other among the fir trees, the waiter bracinghimself expertly as he makes his way to my table with my Zagreb schnitzel.

We reach Vienna right on time, just after lunch. It's a world-class experience without the worldclassexpense. The ticket costs 213 Croatian kuna ($42.50), including reservation fee, bought at the stationthe previous day. The two-course meal with two small bottles of wine and coffee costs ¼23 ($33). Nor is it a particularly time-consuming way to travel from Croatia to Britain. I leave Zagreb at 7.25 onSunday morning, spend a sunny afternoon in Vienna and board the Euro- Night sleeper for Cologne(from ¼49 with couchette). I sleep well and emerge from my compartment on Monday morning to yetanother breathtaking view, the R hine R iver Valley's Lorelei rock, followed by a succession of vineyards and pretty R hine villages with castle after castle perched high on the hilltops.

The journey reminds me yet again why I don't fly within Europe. But what I cannot claim, of course, isthat European train companies make it easy to find out about and book long-distance journeys acrossEurope. Indeed, the gap between how easy it is to travel by train (and affordable, too, if you knowwhere to look) and how difficult it can be to find out how to do it, is precisely why I started a websitecalled The Man in Seat 61 (seat61.com). Named aftermy own preferred seat in Eurostar's first class, itexplains how to travel by train or ferry between Britain and almost any country in Europe, and beyond.



It certainly helps to have had inside experience of the rail industry. I always knew the career I wanted.In my university holidays I worked as a European rail agent, booking train tickets across Europe, andwith the ink barely dry on my final exam papers I ran away from Oxford to join "the circus" - or BritishR ail, as it was then called. I was the station manager for London's Charing Cross, London Bridge andCannon Street stations in the early '90s, ending my employment as the Department for Transport's faresand ticketing expert.

I started Seat 61 purely as a hobby. On a rainy evening in 2001, I wandered into the WH Smith bookshop at Marylebone looking for something to read on the commuter train home. A teach-yourself-html book caught my eye, in retrospect perhaps the best £2.99 I've ever spent.

With a home PC and a few megabytes of free webspace I soon had a webpage online, initially a single page explaining train routes from London to a handful of European cities. I never really thought anyonewould see it. Nine years on, the site receives more than 850,000 visitors a month and has become a full-time job (visits during the Iceland volcano ash crisis exceeded 1.3 million). Here are some of myfavourite train journeys across Europe and some of the tips I've acquired on the rails.

London to Fort William The cosy sleepers of ScotR ail's Caledonian Sleeper leave London every night about 8 o'clock (exceptSaturday) for Fort William in the west highlands of Scotland. The lounge car serves excellent haggisand tatties 'n' neeps, and a wee dram will send you soundly to sleep, waking up to deer bounding awayfrom the train over the superb scenery of the West Highland Line.

Tickets cost from $307 one way in summer, including a berth in a two-bed sleeper. See scotrail.co.uk ;raileurope.com.au.

To Spain by 'trainhotel' From Paris, travel overnight to Barcelona or Madrid aboard an Elipsos "trainhotel". These little Spanishsleepers feature "gran" class sleepers with private toilet and shower, "turista" sleepers with shared four- berth compartments and an elegant restaurant and cafe-bar.

Tickets for the Paris to Barcelona journey in gran class cost from $455 and turista-class tickets costfrom $152; Paris to Madrid tickets range from $190 to $525.

See seat61.com/Spain.htm; raileurope.com.au.

To Italy via the Gotthard Pass Leave London on an afternoon Eurostar to Paris and switch to a fast "TGV Lyria" to Zurich, arrivinglate in the evening. Next morning, take a train to Milan through arguably the most scenic of all themain lines into Italy. The track climbs steeply, surrounded by snowcapped peaks, passing through theGotthard Tunnel then descending through forest towards Lugano and Italy.

Change in Milan to reach Florence, Venice or R ome by late afternoon. London-Paris on the Eurostar costs from $120 one way; Paris-Zurich costs from $148 one way; Zurich-Milan from $101 one way.

See seat61.com/Italy.htm; raileurope.com.au.

To southern France From Lille or Paris, take a TGV to the Cote d'Azur. Most Paris-Nice trains are now impressive double-



deck "duplex" TGVs with great views as the train speeds along the R hone Valley, past churches and pretty villages. At Marseilles, you glimpse the harbour and past Toulon the train runs along the coast, past millionaires' villas and harbours filled with yachts. Buy tickets at raileurope.com.au from $134.Oslo to Bergen This is Norway's most celebrated scenic rail route. Make sure you have time for a rideon the Flaamsbana from Myrdal on the main line down to Flaam. The trip from Oslo to Bergen costsfrom $161. A Norway in a Nutshell pass (Oslo- Voss-Bergen) costs from $254, with five itinerariescombining those three destinations. See nsb.no or raileurope.com.au.

Zermatt to St Moritz It's called the Glacier Express but it's express in name only, because this 290-kilometre trip takes sevenhours. But you won't mind a bit, as you take in the R hine Gorge, Mattertal Valley and the high OberalpPass. The panorama coaches have huge windows and an excellent lunch is served at your seat, withequally excellent Swiss white wine. Fares from $195. A train on this route derailed last week, killingone passenger and injuring 42 others.

See glacierexpress.ch; raileurope.com.au.

Zurich to Innsbruck Travelling through the Arlberg Pass, this is one of the prettiest routes in the Alps. The line hugs thevalley sides, passing villages and alpine meadows that appear to have come straight from the film The

Sound of Music. Fares cost from $104. See the Swiss railway site, sbb.ch, or raileurope.com.au.

Planning your trip -The R ail Europe website, raileurope.com.au, includes a journey planner that covers almost all of thecontinent, which therefore makes it the cyberplace to visit for train times for any two points withinEurope.

-The website seat61.com shows the best routes, times and fares for journeys from Britain to mostEuropean countries and suggests the best way to buy tickets. It covers luggage arrangements, how totake a dog or bike, how to change trains using the Metro in Paris and more.

-Published since 1873, the famous Thomas Cook European R ail Timetable has train schedules for every major route in Europe plus ferries and some bus services. See thomascooktimetables.com or branches of Thomas Cook.

Buying tickets online -Most European train reservations open 90 days before departure, although Eurostar opens 120 daysahead and a few countries open reservations 60 days ahead. You can't book before reservations open - but nor can anyone else. -The easiest way to buy train tickets from London to France, Spain,Switzerland or Italy is online at R ail Europe, raileurope.com.au. It's often best to split the journey intotwo: for example, book the Paris to Venice sleeper train first, click "add another ticket", then book theEurostar from London to Paris, allowing at least 90 minutes to cross Paris.

-You can also buy tickets to France, Spain, Switzerland or Italy at the French R ailways website, tgv-europe.com.

-Sometimes you'll need more than onewebsite. For example, you can book a sleeper from Cologne toCopenhagen, Prague or Vienna at bahn.de, then buy a London-Cologne ticket at either eurostar.com or raileurope.com.au.



-The cheapest way to buy train tickets is usually direct from the relevant national operator; for example, go to www.renfe.es for Spain, trenitalia.com for Italy and bahn.de for Germany.

-For Australians, other, more complex journeys, such as London to Istanbul, are best booked through atravel agent.

By ferry -A combined train-ferry ticket from London (or any East Anglia station) to Amsterdam is £35 ($60)each way by day, or £57 overnight including private cabin; see dutchflyer.co.uk. There are overnightferries from Newcastle to Amsterdam (dfds.co.uk ) and from Hull to R otterdam ( poferries.com).

-A train-ferry ticket from any other station in Britain to Dublin costs £30.50 one way (Belfast from£42).

Sunday Telegraph, London

50 of the world's best budget hotels

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