By Gary Lee
Sunday, March 22, 1998; Page E7

Select a starting city and desired destination: From Amsterdam: To Brussels To Frankfurt To London To Madrid To Paris To Rome To Stockholm From Brussels: To Amsterdam To Frankfurt To London To Madrid To Paris To Rome To Stockholm From Frankfurt: To Amsterdam To Brussels To London To Madrid To Paris To Rome To Stockholm From London: To Amsterdam To Brussels To Frankfurt To Madrid To Paris To Rome To Stockholm From Madrid: To Amsterdam To Brussels To Frankfurt To London To Paris To Rome To Stockholm From Paris: To Amsterdam To Brussels To Frankfurt To London To Madrid To Rome To Stockholm From Rome: To Amsterdam To Brussels To Frankfurt To London To Madrid To Paris To Stockholm From Stockholm: To Amsterdam To Brussels To Frankfurt To London To Madrid To Paris To Rome

For Eurotravelers, 1998 may have brought the best news since the value of the dollar began its upward creep a couple of years back: a new phase of modernization of trains and other intra-European transport systems. High-speed rail lines and easy-access flights have made gadding about the Continent and Great Britain easier than ever before. Those contemplating a European excursion this spring or summer should do as much planning as possible, to lower the risk of finding window seats on the TGV from Paris to Nice all booked up and only the priciest flights from London to Rome available.

As savvy Eurotravelers know, arranging trips around Europe is usually simpler and cheaper out of Paris, London or Frankfurt. All three are hubs for air and rail transport. Before planning a trip, I check the travel advertisements in newspapers from these cities for special deals.

To jumpstart your planning, we offer some of our favorite ways of getting between some of the more popular cities in Europe. Some careful research may turn up some more efficient or cheaper alternatives, but these examples are good for a start.

Europe '98
The Brussels Puzzle: Europe's Emerging Center
Grand Touring: What to Hit, and Miss, This Summer
Intra-European: Charting a Course with the Euro-matic; City Hopping is Half the Fun