Decisions: plane or train

With the U.S. having relatively little public transit, the choices that other countries offer may surprise you. From trams and buses to trains, planes and even canal boats, you have much to choose from beyond your own auto.

The airlines offer services, too, of course. But choosing how you move around comes down to just three factors:

• cost

• time

• experience

Cost

Ryanair, easyJet and others have made travel very affordable within Europe; you might fly from Berlin to Munich for around $40 (just watch those add-on fees for luggage, seating and more). The same train journey might run $25-50.

When you're deciding which mode of transportation to use, be sure your cost comparison is equal. The budget airlines offer low air fares by charging extra for things like luggage and seat reservations; they're also notorious for size restrictions on carry-on and checked luggage. Trains tend to be much more generous, with luggage often limited only by how much you can carry, and seat reservations at $3-6.

Time

Flying is always faster, right? At first, it sure looks that way. A flight from Berlin to Munich takes just over an hour, while a train takes just over four.

But airports are often outside cities, which means you'll spend 20-30 minutes getting there. You need to get to the airport at least an hour early; two hours is better.

Train stations, on the other hand, are usually in the middle of the city, and you can arrive minutes before your departure, although I don't recommend cutting it quite that close. Thirty minutes is ideal as long as you know where you're going.

When you arrive at your destination, again the airport is outside the city, while the train station is not. Now your 70-minute flight from Berlin to Munich takes about four hours: about the same time as a train.

What is your time worth? How busy is your schedule? Where are you staying? What do you want to see, and where is it? These are all questions to ask yourself as you decide.

Experience

Rail enthusiasts are quick to say that you see more of the scenery from a train than you do from a plane.

I don't necessarily agree with that, although what you see from a train window is different from what you see through a plane window.

I like traveling by train, whether it's an inexpensive regional train or a high-speed train like Italy's Frecciarossa, Germany's ICE (always pronounced I-C-E, never ice) or England's Virgin Trains line.

I try not to let that affect my decisions, though. When it makes sense, I do travel by plane.

For example, when we had to choose between a 7-hour train ride from Berlin to Vienna, and a 90-minute flight from Berlin to Vienna, I chose the easyJet flight. Even with the extra fees, advance arrival at the airport and travel from the airport, easyJet was less expensive and more efficient.

If you'd like to know more about train travel, check out The Man in Seat 61. If you'd like to know more about plane travel, check out Google Flights, Kayak or Skyscanner. And if you'd like a comparison of all the ways to get to a destination, visit Rome 2 Rio's site (just double-check the info there, because it can sometimes be out of date).

Regardless of what you choose, travel smart and enjoy the ride.