One very impactful manner of travelling more sustainability is through transport, with the Eurostar cutting CO2 emissions by at least 94% versus going by plane to the same destination. Of course, there are positives and negatives to all options, but the greener alternatives can at least ease a guilty conscience. With that in mind, let‘s discuss the cheapest methods to aid you in your green getaway…

Eurostar

The aforementioned Eurostar trains are by far the chicest and swiftest method of travel, taking one from St Pancras International to an array of European destinations. The beauty of this is, that you not only arrive in the heart of capital cities, but once you‘re on the continent, there are cheap sleeper trains left, right and centre to take you further into the powerhouse that is the EU. Of course, this can be rather expensive, but it needn’t be if you’re smart in buying tickets. Eurostar now offers a service called ‘Eurostar Snap’, which is great for the more spontaneous travellers, granting up to 50% off standard ticket rates and telling you the precise time of departure 48 hours in advance of your chosen date. However, for those who are more keen on savings and happy to book in advance, you can save hugely in doing so. Tickets for certain lines are released about 6 months in advance, and if you keep an eye out or sign up for the newsletter to find out the release dates, initial tickets can cost as little as £39 each way (sometimes even less when they do sales around early January and Black Friday).

Ferry

Another option, which still amounts to a whopping 80% less CO2 emissions than a plane, is overnight ferrying. For the eastern counties, a good port to check is Harwich International, as they offer return trips to Hoek van Holland for as little as £100, with a ‘Rail & Sail’ deal which gets you from your London or eastern terminal to Harwich from £58 each way. For those looking to travel to France and beyond, Dover is your best bet, as the infamous port is home to the equally infamous ‘P&O Ferries’, which offer foot passengers a £62 return to Calais. It is also a good option for families looking to get around Europe in their vehicle and can turn out to be a cheaper option than flying. Ferries can also take you between mainland Britain and Ireland via multiple routes on the cheap.

Coach

It's not my favourite of the lot, but this form of public transport can get you there for a reasonable price: your sanity. FlixBus allows customers to choose routes that will get them from most UK cities to most Central European ones. London to Paris can cost as little as £18 each way (even less if you apply your student discount via StudentBeans or UniDays) but takes a good chunk of time and youth from you. That journey takes only a measly nine hours, but the further you go, the harrowingly longer it can take. Of course, there are pockets of resting and stretching in between for changeovers, but it can take a physical toll on one. Anything for the environment, right?

The beauty of Europe

Unlike our shockingly expensive rails, a lot of cities on the continent offer a much lower price for trains, which span a much wider and more intricate network. They are also rather impressive, with some trains racing averaging a respectable 300 km/h, covering more distance in far less time than we could possibly conceive upon our isles. Once you reach countries like Germany, they offer schemes such as the ‘Deutschland Ticket’, allowing passengers to traverse any local bus, tram or regional train (not the fast ones) for a measly €49 a month. This type of ticket can even take you into some of the country’s bordering countries - do be careful, though, as it runs as a subscription for each calendar month, not each month from the date of purchase (remember to cancel before the 11th of the month) !

To conclude, will any greener alternative ever be as cheap and fast as a Ryanair flight? Yes, actually. If you want to be there in a jiff, your best bet is the Eurostar - it can save time (you only need to be there an hour before boarding) and at least equal the money side. If you are happy to be as budget as possible, albeit sacrificing your time as a consequence, then bussing across Europe is the most student-budget-friendly option. Whatever your means, reducing your carbon footprint one step at a time and encouraging others to do so can go a long way.