As air travel becomes cheaper and easier, more and more people are choosing to fly more often. But air travel is the most damaging form of travel when it comes to the environment, and many people are looking for more ecologically friendly forms of transport at the same time as they are looking for cheap holidays .

Minimising the environmental impact of air travel
Sometimes air travel is the only option you have, whether it is due to the time you have available, or the location you need to get to. Many airline and holiday companies now have schemes where you can pay a little extra on the cost of your ticket and they will make your flight carbon neutral. Often that means they will contribute to the planting of trees, or donate money to an environmental scheme to give back to the environment what your flight takes away.

Other alternatives
Air travel isn't the only option you have if you are travelling in Europe. Certainly, if time isn't your main consideration then you have a number of options, all of which can be more enjoyable and less stressful than air travel. The most traditional alternative way of getting to Europe is by ferries. Although less popular than they used to be, ferries offer a way for drivers, cyclists or foot passengers to travel in a more environmentally friendly way, and a more comfortable way, than flying. On a ferry you usually have a choice of restaurants, bars, seating areas, and even entertainment facilities. You are free to walk around during the trip, and on longer trips you can book a cabin. It is much more comfortable than a cramped flight with food which tastes of plastic!

Since the Channel Tunnel opened, the choice has increased. It is now possible to drive through the tunnel, via a special train. Using a car isn't very environmentally friendly, but if there are several passengers then it is much better than travelling by plane. You can also book coach tickets to Europe, which also go via the Channel Tunnel. Another option which the Channel Tunnel opened up is the Eurostar train. This is very fast, and you can get from London to Paris in less than two and a half hours. The prices, if you book in advance, are comparable to cheap airline tickets.

Once you have crossed The English Channel then the options for onward travel include an efficient road network, a train service that connects everywhere in Europe and beyond, and buses and coaches.

With a bit of planning, the alternatives to the aeroplane are convenient and often cheaper. So next time you go to Europe, consider the available options before you reach for the plane tickets.