Europe just keeps making it easier and easier to ride the rail. For the first time this past month, I rode on Spain’s rail system, the Renfe, and I have to give Spain some major props! Those people on Spain’s rail system definitely know what they are doing.

Here are 5 reasons why the Eurail (particularly Spain’s Renfe system) beats flying, any day.

1. Very. Comfortable. Seats. – Forget “Eurotrip” seats of awkward Mi-scuzi’s, these seats, more roomy than a plane, are incredibly comfortable and built large enough to avoid any awkward pants-less encounters.

A Renfe Train in Malaga

2. Popcorn Anyone? – Every Renfe train I have been on has had a recent movie shown, such as Quantum of Solace, Made of Honor, Marley and Me, and What Happens in Vegas. Of course, since it is Spain, the language is dubbed over in Spanish, but if you are wanting to brush up on your Spanish skills, it can be more entertaining than discovering how many spit-wads you can land on the opposite side of the train.

3. Food… YES! – All Renfe trains come equipped with a cafe with reasonable prices, in case you get the mid trip munchies.

4. Time is on your side – With train travel, you don’t have to spend two hours after check-in waiting or 1 hour passing through the security trying to decipher the 3-1-1 rule. Yes, they scan all baggage, but they do not have the tedious rules that the aviation industry sets about. I recommend being at the train station 30 minutes before your train departs if you have a reservation (usually the trains only arrive about 15 minutes before departure anyways). Instead of spending time at the airport waiting, you could be traveling and be there, in the same amount of time.

5. You arrive in the <3 of the city – How many times have you arrived at an airport only to find out that you have to pay 20 Euros and an hour worth of your time just to get from the airport to your destination city? With the train system, you arrive at a train station in the middle of the city and go on your way. In Europe, many times it just makes sense to travel by rail.

No overweight baggage fees, no credit card fees, no carbon offsetting fees, no check in fees, no lost luggage, no lost time. With a Eurail pass, train travel is super cheap!

And the best part? You see the country like you have never seen it before.

So grab your Eurail pass before you cross the pond, get out there, and get traveling!

Follow the rest of my travels on my travel blog.

Photo Credit: Terry Wha on Flickr

Before you RSVP to that family reunion in Paducah, Kentucky, this summer, make sure to consider your options.

• Helping elders clean food out of their dentures or chasing a roll of cheese down a hill in England?
• Babysitting the kids table or jumping over a row of babies in Spain?
• Listen to your aunts and uncles carrying on about their wonderful kids or attend the wife carrying world championships in Finland?

Catch my drift? There is a lot to do this summer around the world and it is cheaper than ever to get there thanks to the poor economy.

Here are a few options:

The Baby Jumping Festival, Castrillo de Murcia, Spain, June 11-15

Stretching back to 1620, men dress up like the devil and jump over a row of babies in the street to “cleanse” them of evil. The event is held every year in honor of Corpus Christi, but the tradition has evolved as I’m not sure if the devil ever wore Nikes.

Wife Carrying World Championships, Sonkajärvi, Finland, July 4

This Is Called Estonian Style

While on the subject of putting family members in danger, the Wife Carrying World Championships gives husbands the opportunity to carry their wives (or their neighbor’s wife or another female) around a course upside down. The wife must be wearing a helmet at all times and teams are punished 15 seconds for every “drop.” Former participants include the legendary Dennis Rodman.

La Pourcailhade, Trie Sur Baise, France, August

Come on…who needs horse racing when you can watch short, stubby-legged swine race around the track at less-than-amazing speeds? In addition to the race, la Pourcailhade includes a pig imitation contest with costume and noise requirements (including mimicking reproduction) and a pork-sausage eating contest. I don’t want to hazard a guess at what happens to the pigs that lose the race.

La Tomatina, Valencia, Spain, the last Wednesday of August each year

This giant food fight held in Bunol, a small town near Valencia, is the cream of the crop when it comes to summer festivals. The tomatoes at la Tomatina are specially grown for the occasion and people are supposed to squash the tomato before throwing to prevent injury. All in all, it is a crazy good time with the favorite target being the camera guys who are there filming the event.

Cheese Rolling Festival, Gloucestershire, U.K., May 25, 2009

Often rainy and still a bit cool, truckloads of people head to Gloucestershire to watch people chase a wheel of Double Gloucester cheese down a very steep hill. What’s worse is that to compete in the race, you have to climb up the hill right before heading back down. And don’t worry women who pine for cheese, there is a separate ladies race as well.

So what are you doing this summer?

Wife Carrying Photo Credit: jurveston on Flickr

La Tomatina Photo Credit: grahammclellan on Flickr

La Tomatina is creepin’ up on us, so you know i’m starting to harvest. Now I’ve never personally been to this spaghetti sauce makin’ street magic event before, but I have my tomato strategy put together.

I wouldn’t just grab any tomatoes… I’ve got an arsenal picked that is sure to wreck.

Check out my weapon selections:

• Better Boy VFN: The giant round red fruit that is sure to explode on impact.
  

  Where's the pasta?

• Champion VFNT: This is a large, more meaty like tomato. Why you might ask? Cuz I’m pretty sure it be hilarious to scream “BEEFSTEAK!”, watch someone turn around, and smash it to em.
• Golden Boy: It’s medium sized, and it’s yellow. Who brings a yellow tomato to La Tomatina? Me.
• Golden Gem: A smaller cherry tomato. Smaller means rapid fire. Good for those moments when someone may have just pulled the “BEEFSTEAK!” trick on me.
• Beefmaster VFN: Not as beefy as the Champion… odd. This one resists cracking. Good for long throws with accuracy.

Now that I’ve gone over my arsenal, I’ve got a secret weapons I’d like to share:

• The moldy tomato: This can been any type of tomato, as long as it is dressed in full coat of fuzz.
• Rotten egg infused tomato: Because it smells awful. Lolz
• Can of tomato sauce: Skip the middleman.

Duck.

David Goodlin

Online Marketing Coordinator

After we asked you guys to name your cheap summer travel destinations, we asked for your favorite “must-see” things or places in Europe.

We had an overwhelmingly 130 responses and – after much deliberation – we are pleased to present the top 30 “must-see” spots in Europe according to our readers. Make sure to click on the linked text to see a picture of the suggestion on Flickr.

The Monasteries of the Meteora, Greece (Suggested by Kyanne)

The Sacre-Coeur, Paris, France (Suggested by Monica)

Piazza San Marco, Venice, Italy (Suggested by Jenna)

Interlaken, Switzerland (Suggested by Caitlin S.)

Grant Museum of Zoology, London, UK (Suggested by Harriet Baskas)

Marienplatz, Munich, Germany (Suggested by Kara)

The British Lawnmower Museum Didn't Make the Cut

Belem, Lisbon, Portugal (Suggested by Oscar)

Piazza del Campo, Siena, Italy (Suggested by Giovanna Palatucci)

The Narva Gate, St. Petersburg, Russia (Suggested by Chris)

Worm’s Head, Swansea, Wales (Suggested by Renee O.)

La  Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, Valencia, Spain (Suggested by Cara Z.)

Bruges, Belgium (Suggested by Hannah Kim)

Saint Melo, near Rennes, France (Suggested by Graeme)

Dubrovnik, Croatia (Suggested by Emily Osvold)

The Keukenhof, near Lisse, Netherlands (Suggested by Marisa)

Mercat de la Boqueria, Barcelona, Spain (Suggested by Jenn Vargas)

Grandhotel Pupp, Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic (Suggested by Lauren)

All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, United Kingdom (Suggested by Ng Sook Zhen)

However, the Sacre-Coeur did

Isle of Skye, Scotland (Suggested by Cassie S-C)

Sainte Chappelle, Paris, France (Suggested by Jamie)

Dunnottar Castle, near Aberdeenshire, Scotland (Suggested by Brianna C.)

Bonehouse of Sedlec, Kunta Hora, Czech Republic (Suggested by Karina Giraldo)

Chiesa di San Ignazio, Rome, Italy (Suggested by Arielle)

The Gorges of Verdon, Provence region of France (Suggested by Lauren)

Canterbury, England (Suggested by Cherie)

Mount Vesuvius, Naples, Italy (Suggested by Kassie)

Jungfaru, Switzerland (Suggested by Sarah)

The Vasa Museum, Stockholm, Sweden (Suggested by Jordan Brooks)

Nyhavn, Cophenhagen, Denmark (Suggested by Marie Z.)

Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland (Suggested by Gloria)

Check out STA Travel’s top 30 recommnedations and see how they compare to our readers.

The Sacre-Coeur Photo Credit: ndrewfgg on Flickr