Travel Methods
While travel methods are essentially the same in many countries, it is interesting to note that in Europe the younger generations favor different modes of getting around. For example, it is not uncommon for German youths to take bicycle tours across their country. Considering that the country is much smaller than many Americans can fathom, especially when compared to the size of the average state, it is not surprising that the charm of such an outing may be lost on someone. Keep in mind that in the same way that the landscape changes as you travel from state to state in the United States, so does the landscape change in the country of Germany as you travel across. Using bicycles as their favorite travel methods, young Germans are able to get some great sightseeing done, while getting a healthy amount of exercise.

If they are not using their bikes, the next mode of transportation – perhaps surprisingly – is the train. While in America the ownership of a car is akin to a rite of passage, in Europe the ownership of a car is very often not attainable to a youth at the age of 16, and thus their travel methods are a bit different. Being well aware of the need for transportation, the railway system is very well developed, and special discounts for students and youths are offered, especially during peak travel times. You would be surprised to see how many young people are excited about their train travels as they traverse the picturesque countries.

While so many speak of the German Autobahn as the Holy Grail of car enthusiasts world wide, many German youths still favor their two feet as popular travel methods. Going on a hike across the country for a few weeks is not unheard of by bands of youths, and you can find them walking on the sides of the highways, or across the wide fields. The end goal is usually a train station that will take them back home and there is no set itinerary, other than reaching their destination in a certain period of time. The trip there is the actual vacation and travel, and people met along the way are considered the highlights of such a trip. As you can see, European travel methods vary greatly from American ones, yet they carry their own charm.