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There Is a Better Way to See Europe
Boats, bikes, trains – the options are endless.
Why it works
- Open with a relatable opinion to give the editorial theme a clear point of view.
- Use a personal anecdote to make the theme feel vivid before presenting related guides.
- Keep recommendations skimmable with short, descriptive titles.
How it is built
- Personal travel hook
- Case for train-free travel
- Curated travel guides
- Featured destination
- Reading recommendations
- Publication footer
Email copy
Let's be honest, planes these days are kind of awful. But I'll take the tiny alcove on my nonstop to Europe. VIEW IN BROWSER How Not to Fly Let's be honest, planes these days are kind of awful. But I'll take the tiny alcove on my nonstop to Europe – headphones in, blanket burrito, world shut out for 8 hours – as long as it gets me there in one piece. Once that's over? I want freedom, baby. The freedom to feel the wind in my hair while cycling around an alpine lake. The freedom to drink bad train coffee while glaciers trundle past the window. We did this crossing of Alaska by rail, and I still think about it. The freedom to watch dolphins jump through the wake on a ferry, which is exactly what happened when my son and I loaded our bikes onto a boat at Fort Morgan and rode across to Dauphin Island. He was little. The dolphins jumped. Core memory unlocked. My colleague Rachel Lewis recently returned from a trip where she took the Eurostar from London to Paris, and, my friends, her life changed. I love that a plane can get me across an ocean. I just don't need one for anything after that. Here are eight ways to prove the same thing to yourself – in Europe, without ever touching an airport. Freedom, Baby Trending Destination KUTA BEACH, BALI ISLAND, INDONESIA Bali is more than a place. It's a whole vibe, an aspiration, a way of life. Beyond yoga retreats, there are surfing, volcano trekking and white-water rafting. This is more than a trip; it's a state of mind. Flight-Free Reading Island-Hop the Caribbean by Ferry A Complete Guide to Car Camping Hike This Trail in Coastal Japan Travel Across Australia by Rail Photography by: James Jackman for Lonely Planet, Dawid Kalisinski Photography/Getty Images, Violette Franchi for Lonely Planet, Joseph Tarr/Shutterstock, Danielle Amy for Lonely Planet,Stockbym/Shutterstock DID SOMEONE SHARE THIS EMAIL WITH YOU? SUBSCRIBE HERE. THIS EMAIL WAS SENT TO YOU BY: LONELY PLANET PUBLICATIONS LTD. | 1101 RED VENTURES DRIVE, FORT MILL, SC 29707 © 2026 LONELY PLANET UNSUBSCRIBE|PRIVACY POLICY