The European Travel Upgrade Rick Steves Warns Is A Waste Of Money

While exploring the rich history, culture, and architecture of Europe, a popular way to skip around from country to country or city to city has always been by train. Unlike Amtrak rail service in the United States, the network of European trains is both comprehensive and frequent. It's also a scenic way to travel and better for the environment than flying. Not to mention that you'll likely be more comfortable than when crammed into a tiny airplane seat.

If there's anyone that knows about transiting around Europe, it's television host and bestselling author Rick Steves. A lifelong resident of Edmonds, Washington, Steves spends about four months in Europe each year performing research for his popular guidebooks and filming videos. Remarkably, that's something he's been doing since the early 1970s.

Besides dispensing advice on subjects like destinations, attractions, and meals, Steves also has a frugal side that's frequently displayed. For example, he's advised which ATM machines to avoid in Europe to save money. And when it comes by traveling by train during your European sojourn, Steves has a particular piece of advice for that too: refrain from splurging for first class seats. Let's investigate if this recommendation is indeed on-track.

To begin, an article on Steves' website states the obvious, which is that "Second-class train cars get there just as fast as first-class ones." But what about the enhanced comfort and roominess of first class seating? Well, the travel expert has a retort for that, as well. "The difference in comfort is usually minimal — it's not like first versus coach on a plane. The vast majority of Europeans don't travel in first class unless someone else is paying for it," says the author.

The logic is that since second class train seats are already more spacious than their airborne counterparts, the extra room afforded by first class may be gratuitous and not entirely necessary. At the risk of being evasive, it's difficult to make blanket statements about what exactly travelers get for their first class rail dollar. That's because train equipment, seating configurations, and amenities vary between European Union member countries, plus the United Kingdom.

That said, second class train cars will often have four seats across — two seats on each side of the center aisle — while first class cars are frequently found with three seats across. That is, two seats on one side of the aisle and just one seat on the opposite side of the carriage. This allows for some additional seat width in the first class cars.

Exactly how much can you expect to save by booking second class? According to Steves, "tickets in second class cost about a third less than those in first class," which begs the question: besides a wider seat, what else is on offer in first class? Having fewer seats overall, the car will be less densely occupied. As well, there may be fewer children or families present because of the higher cost. Therefore, first class is quieter for napping or working. You're also more likely to find power outlets for charging electronics. 

Something else that travelers associate with being a wealthy first class passenger on an airplane are complimentary meals and beverages. Indeed, many European rail operators offer similar amenities in first class. However, if free grub is important to your decision which class to book, do confirm availability. For example, meals on Germany's high-speed ICE trains must be purchased separately. Drawing one final similarity to air travel, first class passengers may have access to a pre-departure lounge away from the hectic main terminal to relax, eat, and drink. Obviously, not all stations offer this perk, especially smaller ones.

In conclusion, Rick Steves is generally correct that second class train travel in Europe operates at a high standard. Therefore, you should save your hard-earned vacation budget — perhaps accumulated in a change jar — for more worthwhile pursuits. However, the price difference between first and second class may dwindle as second class nears full capacity, making a splurge more palatable if you're wanting to sample the good life.