PARIS TO LONDON (VIA THE EUROSTAR)
Unlike Robert Langdon and Sophie Neveu, I did not have the luxury of hopping on Sir Leigh Teabing's private jet from Paris to London. But I'm happy I didn't, because I would have missed out on Eurostar. I have always wanted to take this train service that carries passengers between Paris and London (and other cities as well) since it began in 1994. I must admit though, I have always been a little nervous, because it travels under the English Channel. I used to think the Channel Tunnel was a prime terrorist target, but after doing some research I realize it would be very difficult to do significant damage. The 31 mile-long tunnel (24 miles are actually under water) runs 150 feet below the seabed. That's not easy to blow up -- and even if that happened, it wouldn't fill with water. Both entrances are heavily guarded, and passengers go through airport-style security checks before getting on. That made me feel so much better!

SAVE TIME AND MONEY
Passengers use Paris' Gare du Nord and London's Waterloo stations (here's helpful info on Waterloo and Gare du Nord). Right now the trip takes 2:35 between those two cities. The top speed is 186 mph, and we spent 23 minutes going through the tunnel (I timed it!). In the second half of 2007 London's station will be moved to St Pancras. This will allow access to faster tracks, and will cut travel time by 20 minutes. Prices are reasonable (especially if you book in advance), starting around $100 USD roundtrip for coach class, $242 for Leisure Select (first class). Tickets are available online from RailEurope.com. I love to fly, but it's silly to take a plane (unless it's Teabing's jet) between these two places. Eurostar is really the only way to travel. It saves time, money and aggravation as you arrive in the heart of each city. No wonder 65 million travelers have taken Eurostar since it began. Interesting tidbit: The Eurostar staff has found more than 1,000 copies of The Da Vinci Code left behind by passengers.

PACK LIGHT
One of my best tips for traveling by train (especially in Europe) is to pack light. Trust me: It makes your travels so much easier. Just take one rolling bag and a smaller tote/backpack/camera bag as the maximum to carry. Follow the same rule as before going on any trip: Lay out all the clothes you plan to take on your bed, then pack half as much -- and twice as much money! For more click HERE.