Creative transportation

If your train pass has run out or if you want to conserve one, or you never had one, you might want to consider one of the following ways of getting around.

Ride-sharing
Ride-sharing is highly recommended if you have more time than money, and is always worth an inquiry, unless you have an unlimited Eurail pass. Ride-share is also perfect if you lose your rail pass, or if the money you’ve budgeted for transportation is diverted to other and more gratifying uses. Ride-share is a sort of an organized hitchhiking service, whereby drivers with extra room offer seats for sale through an agency. The agency then tries to match the empty seats with travelers going to the drivers’ destinations. Most European countries have one or more of these agencies.

As an example, Munich to Hamburg cost me Pound Sterling 45 in total - dirt cheap compared with a train or bus ticket. The big disadvantage of this mode of travel is the uncertainty of finding someone going both where you want to go and when you want to go there. However, for someone who has no fixed schedule, who is happy to wander all over Europe wherever the next driver takes him, or someone who is trying to conserve Flexi pass days, this way of getting around is fantastic.

I suppose other disadvantages could include being stuck for hours in a car with a cigar-smoking loudmouth possessed of a five-gallon bladder, but that hasn’t happened to me yet. Also, even though ride-sharing is much safer than hitchhiking for women, if you are female and are uncomfortable getting into a car with a particular person, t accept the ride. Or, you can ask only for rides from women, be on the ultra-safe side. Enquire about ride-sharing services at urist offices and hostels. Big cities are good, and big cities with universities are better. If you are near a university, you could always check out the college notice boards. Otherwise, consult the list on P-108, which is by no means comprehensive but covers the major “National services I’ve been able to find.

Ride-sharing and the Web are made for each other. Go to ®www .liftcentrale.net or ®www.hitchhikers.org, or try ®www.allostop .com and click on the “Europe” link, or directly to ®www .allostop.com/english/default.htm, for even more listings than those below. Be aware, however, that these services do come and go, and don’t give up if the sites or numbers don’t work. If they don’t work, call the local tourist office and see if they can help you.