We are from Scandinavia and right now we are in the Alps, later we are going to Italy.

There’s been work on the railways that has changed our itinerary and caused some delays but otherwise it has been ok.

We are not huge travelers but previously we’ve driven in our little car or flown and rented a car (ie Iceland, visiting family in the US). My main concern was changing so many trains with children and luggage but they’ve done really well (they are tweens). They are used to trains though.

Pros:

• I don’t have to drive for hours and hours (I am the only driver in the family)
• not having to go through security, also we have been inside the Schengen area so no passport controls
• you can get up and move around in the trains and it is more comfortable than in a plane
• not as much queueing as at airports
• night trains can save an overnight at a hotel
• you get to see the landscape you are crossing, and even if it is just fields or industry it is better than freeway or clouds
• other travelers seem more chill and less stressed than when flying

Cons:

• you can’t bring as much with you as in your car and you have to handle your own luggage when changing
• there’s still waiting around and risk of missed connections
• it takes more travel time out of the total itinerary than flying
• still risk of motion sickness especially with seats where your back is to the direction you’re traveling
• still not cheap

I would do it again but there are still some destinations where I would prefer to drive, such as far out in the countryside or where the public transportation is not great.