Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast August 8th - Race across Europe: a brutal challenge to get from London to Tallinn
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Aug 8, 2025 Bram Houtenbos, a Dutch financial services executive and travel enthusiast, shares his thrilling experience racing across Europe via public transport. He covers the challenges of navigating unexpected delays and the importance of strategic planning in ensuring efficiency. Bram emphasizes the role of a support network and discusses the trials he faced on his journey from Kaunas to Tallinn. His insights on optimizing pre-booked arrangements reveal the balance between comfort and competition in this brutal challenge.
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Race Rules And Phone Use
- The race forbids flying and limits travel to terrestrial public transport and taxis within cities.
- Competitors may use mobile phones and internet for planning and check-ins.
Choosing Prague For Redundancy
- Bram chose Prague for redundant overnight connections to absorb delays.
- A delayed sleeper train let him hop on a faster train instead of a bus.
Build A Remote Support Network
- Build a remote support network to monitor delays and validate split-second choices.
- Use friends, past contestants and family across timezones to catch opportunities when you're sleep-deprived.