sea travel

Anyone who's had to fly this Christmas knows how bad the experience can be. If the trip out to the airport, which by necessity is incredibly inconveniently located, isn't bad enough, then there's the queues, delays and cancellations once there. And after that, the flight - stuck in a seat with no leg room, for hours.

Fortunately, just in time for the new year, The Guardian has provided a list of ten non-flying trips. Of course, you have to be in Europe, first...

The Amsterdam/London Express was, for several years, the most hassle-free method of getting between the two cities. One ticket would get you from London Liverpool Street Station via train to Harwich, then on a fast hydrofoil to Hoek van Holland, and then finally on another train to Rotterdam, The Hague or Amsterdam, in around six hours.

Sadly, the hydrofoil was removed at the beginning of 2007, but the service remains, now using ferries, and renamed as the DutchFlyer; possibly in jest, as the service takes twice as long as it did previously.

However, it still remains one of the least problematic methods for getting to the Netherlands, since there's no annoying airports to deal with. And, as The Guardian explains, you can travel with a clear conscience, too.

Don't like flying? Luxury cruises too expensive? Travelling by freighter might be for you. However, as this article in The Age explains, there are a number of limitations, including age restrictions, incredibly high demand, compulsory vaccinations ... and maybe even sheer boredom.