Why overground travel beats flying

With the ubiquity of budget airlines offering return flights for £1 (plus taxes!) it's easy to forget there is any other way to travel.

But flying to every destination on your bucket list means you spend a good proportion of your holiday staring at souless airports, or watching inflight movies - not exactly the cultural epiphany you had in mind!

Travelling overground (or underground!) or by boat means you see more of the landscape, and absorb more of the culture, seeing things you could never imagine from 10000ft above the clouds!

Overground travel doesn't always have to mean more expensive, travelling at night on sleeper trains or ferries saves on accomodation costs and you wake up somewhere new!

Airports tend to be located only in major cities, so if you want to explore somewhere off the beaten track, overland is the only way to go.

Just like aeroplanes, trains have different classes to suit every budget. Whether you're craving the old-time elegance of the orient express or slumming it in Plastskartny (third class) there is something for everyone.

Flights are inflexible. They can be infrequent and difficult to book at short notice. Overland travel doesn't have the same restrictions. Imagine you've found paradise and wanted to stay on an extra day or two, changing your flight can be practically impossible, and will almost always incur financial penalties! Trains, taxis and tuk tuks can be booked on the day, or not at all, allowing you to be more spontaneous!

Plus it's how the locals travel! So you'll be mixing with real people, observing them going about their business, seeing how they really live, not just surrounding yourself with like-minded tourists! You never know who you might meet.

Speaking of locals, it's they who drive the taxis, act as bus conductors or run the rickshaws, so by using local transport you're supporting local people, and giving back to their economy. I'm sure Richard Branson is a great guy, but he's already a billionaire, why not share the love a little!

So next time, you're wandering around this amazing planet of ours, forget flying - take a train!