Ground transport: trains, buses, ferries
Compare trains, intercity buses, and ferries through specialist booking platforms. The big OTAs (Expedia, Booking) are weak here — ground transport inventory is fragmented across hundreds of regional carriers, and the right tool depends on where you're going.
Recommended starting points
- Omio — trains, buses, and flights across Europe in a single search. Strongest in Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK.
- 12Go — trains, buses, ferries, and minivans across Asia. Indispensable for Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
How we recommend comparing
- Check the operator's own site first for major rail networks (Deutsche Bahn, Trenitalia, JR, SNCF). Direct booking avoids OTA fees and surfaces every fare class.
- Use Omio or 12Go for cross-operator routing. If your trip combines two regional rail networks or mixes train + bus, the metasearch view is faster than juggling separate operator sites.
- Verify the e-ticket format. Some operators require a printed ticket or a specific app. Read the booking confirmation carefully — OTAs sometimes don't surface this until after payment.
- Watch the cancellation window. Bus and ferry tickets are usually non-refundable or refundable only with significant notice. Train tickets vary by fare class.
What to watch out for
- OTA fees. Both Omio and 12Go add a small booking fee on top of the operator's price. The convenience often justifies it; sometimes it doesn't — compare both ways for long trips.
- Schedule changes. Rail and ferry schedules shift seasonally. Re-confirm departure times 24h before travel, especially for early-morning departures.
- Strike risk. European rail strikes are common in France, Germany, and Italy. Travel insurance with strike coverage is worth checking for date-critical trips.
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