John Corbett from Escape.com in Australia recently wrote an article about why he prefers traveling by train instead of by air. He makes some compelling points we'd thought we'd sum up here.

1. Trains do the navigating for you

No need to worry about getting lost, or fighting with your travel partner about who told you 10 miles ago that you should turn left instead of going straight (I mean...theoretically....), or having to contend with other drivers who don't share your sense of "responsible driving". With a train you get on at point A, relax, and get off at point B. Easy peasy.

2. Trains go right into city centers

Since trains were a form of transportation before cars and airplanes, the railroad tracks got first dibs on location. There are always hotels close to train stations and you don't have to stress about finding transportation to a distant airport.

3. Train trips often take the same time as flying

This might be more applicable in Europe than in the U.S. or Canada, but in Europe if you're traveling a shorter distance, say from France to Brussels or the Netherlands to Germany for example, if you add up the time getting to, through and from airports plus the flight time, it often adds up to close to the same amount of time as traveling by high-speed train.

4. Trains are comfortable

Trains have space, you can walk around, there's plenty of room for your luggage, and there are sleeper services for overnight trips. On many trains the food is good and stations often have good restaurants and bars.

5. On trains you actually see stuff

On an airplane you see clouds and blue sky. Maybe some ocean or patches of land with ants (or are those people? It's hard to tell from 35,000 feet.) If you're in a car you need to keep your eyes on the road. But on a train you have up-close scenery to watch. Sometimes it's gorgeous mountains like in the Canadian Rockies or the U.S. National Parks, sometimes it's more gritty industrial areas, sometimes it's quaint train towns and people's backyards. Whichever it is, it's a good representation of how the world actually is.

6. Train travel comes with little extras

There are still porter services in many countries to help with luggage. Fancy hotels sometimes have complimentary transfer services with escorted fast-tracking through security. Quiet Carriages provide travel with no annoying cell phones, loud one-sided phone conversations, or music played without headphones.

7. Train travel is often sociable

It is socially acceptable while traveling by train to talk to fellow travelers. And since you can move around the car, you aren't forced to spend all your time chatting it up with just one person.

8. Trains are romantic

Treat yourself to the pace of a more gracious time. Think about the great train journeys of the world and enjoy the soothing soundtrack of clickety-clack and the gentle rocking of the car.

Interested in traveling by train? Ask your AAA Travel Consultant about a train journey in the U.S.A. on Amtrak Vacations, in the Canadian Rockies on Rocky Mountaineer, or in Europe on Rail Europe.

Original article by John Corbett, May 5, 2017 www.escape.com.au