When you’re trying to plan your next holiday destination there are many things that you should think about. The most obvious is the price of your trip. Yet, this isn’t where your considerations should end. Recently, there’s been an ongoing debate about what mode of transportation is better between a plane or train.
While things like your ticket price and travel time seem like a significant factor, you should understand the implications of traveling on the environment. If you want to know what’s the best way to travel to your next destination, you should keep on reading.
Factors that Influence your Traveling Expenses
If you love to travel in your spare time you should have noticed how your traveling expenses vary depending on different circumstances. These factors can influence your plans no matter where you’re traveling to. But what are these factors and can you avoid being affected by them?
Research shows that these are the common factors that can impact your dreams of traveling the world one day.
1. Mode of Transportation
The most popular ways to travel the world include using a plane. But if you prefer to sightsee in your travels then a train is an ideal mode of transportation. However, you can still choose to take a long drive on windy mountains if you’re up for many pit stops during your trip.
The most important thing to consider is not necessarily how you’ll arrive at your destination, but it should be the costs that are involved to get you there. If you don’t feel like using a plane, then taking a train can be a better option for you.
2. Your Accommodation
When you’re traveling by plane or train, you still need to ensure that you’ve sorted out your accommodation needs. The great thing about traveling by plane is that while you’re on your way to your destination, you don’t have to worry about finding accommodation. Most trains are equipped with comfortable cabins.
It depends on how much money you’re willing to part with to get the best out of your small canines.
3. Your traveling Companions
Before you can determine if traveling by plane or train is ideal for your needs, you should know the number of people whom you’ll be traveling with. If this is your first family vacation, it’s recommended that you skip the plane travel for a comfortable train journey. However, if you’re traveling solo, a plane ticket might be your best option.
Especially if you prefer to keep to yourself when you travel.
4. Insurance
Your travel insurance and what you can afford can also be something that impacts how you travel to your destination. This is also determined by where you’re traveling. For instance, it’s cheaper for you to travel within the country than it is when you travel through Europe.
This is why it’s important for you to speak to your qualified insurance agent before you decide whether to travel by plane or train.
5. Your entertainment
This may sound like an insignificant consideration for you to make. Yet, it can also affect your choice when you finally decide on your mode of transportation. The expenses that you should consider for your entertainment can determine whether you travel by plane or train.
Train vs Plane Travel
Flying for you may seem like a cheaper and even faster option to reach your destination. But is this convenience really the best for you and the environment? The thing is when you fly to your destination, you know that there are many hidden costs that are disguised as taxes.
It’s no secret that the aviation industry is one of the leading industries when it comes to emitting dangerous gases that are harmful to the environment. If you consider these many things, you might realize that plane travel is not that better than train travel. A recent study conducted a comparison of plane vs train travel to establish which mode is better for your next destination.
The following are the factors and conclusions that were provided by this study.
Ticket prices
After much sampling and data analysis from a computer software program, this study found interesting results. These results show you that your flights on budget airlines are cheaper than traveling by train. However, if you can’t find a budget airline, you should find that your train ticket offers you more savings.
Additionally, when you travel by plane and need to purchase your ticket closer to the time of your departure, you should pay more than you would if you use a train. But you’d be shocked to know that there’s a hidden social cost of carbon emissions. Your plane ticket prices can be increased by these costs.
Journey times
The thing is when you compare journey times to see what fits you better, it’s not a fair comparison. Your train journey can be daunting and long when you compare it to your very speedy flight. But, you’d be surprised to find that when you add things like commuting to the airport, going through customs security, and eventually boarding, you might find that you’re spending an additional amount of time flying.
A trip that is meant to be 2 hours can be extended by 3 or 4 hours if you’re unfortunate to experience delays. When you look at things from this angle, then a plane seems like a more favorable option for you.
Carbon emissions
The thing is convenience is a very convincing reason to choose flying to your destination. But when you start to consider the environmental impact of your choice, then you should reconsider. You don’t need to be a Scientist to understand just how much carbon dioxide is released from the burning kerosene in your flight.
In addition to this, the engine releases other toxic substances. But that’s not even the least of it. These emissions are released at a high altitude. This means that you can’t have an estimate of just how much harm they cause to the environment. Perhaps, this is the reason why there’s an accelerated global warming crisis currently.
Carbon tax
The environmental impact that’s caused by the greenhouse gases is not the only thing that should make you think twice about using a flight to get to your destination. Although this hasn’t been passed yet, it’s still something important to consider. Maybe, the next time that you choose between your plane or train, you might be swayed by the possibility of the carbon tax being a thing.
What’s the best option for you?
The best traveling option for you depends on the previously mentioned factors. Another important thing that you should consider when you choose between train or plane travel is how much you can afford to pay for your trip. At times, you might want to use the best alternative when you travel, but your budget doesn’t allow you to.
In addition, the environmental impact of flying should be a good enough reason for you to reconsider using a flight to get to your destination. Besides, when you use a train to get to your destination, you should see more of your country’s landscape. Additionally, you should also make new memories with your loved ones.
Frequently Asked Questions About Train vs Travel
Is train or air travel safer?
This depends on various factors. For example, statistics show that trains generally have more accidents than planes. Yet, planes on the other hand have more fatal accidents than trains. However, there are ways to effectively minimize any risk of your traveling.
Is it cheaper to travel by plane or train?
If you use a budget flight option, it should be cheaper for you to fly. This is still dependent on whether you’re flying during peak season or not. Generally, when you’re traveling outside the country, you’ll find that it’s cheaper to use a train.
Is it faster to travel by plane or train?
A plane is your fastest option to get to your destination. However, you should still know that there are many environmental problems that arise when you choose this convenience.