GORP.COM PREPARES COLLEGE GRADUATES FOR SUMMER TRAVELS ABROAD

-What Every Graduating College Senior Should Know About Cross-Europe Travel-

NEW YORK--(COLLEGIATE PRESSWIRE)--May 11, 2000--It has become a rite of passage for many college seniors to follow graduation with the once-in-a-lifetime experience of traveling through Europe by train. There are many things that need to be considered when planning such a trip, such as safety issues and language barriers. Tapping into its staff of experienced writers, GORP.com, the leading outdoor lifestyle portal, has compiled valuable information that all kids and parents should know before boarding the plane for their European adventure.

The editorial package, accessed from the www.gorp.com/location/europe/eurail.htm or from the www.gorp.com home page, provides a history of the summer-in-Europe tradition, a primer on train travel, key survival tips, and compelling personal recollections of past travelers.

“There are critical things to know before they go,” said Bill Greer, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of GORP.com. “Like the ins and outs of train travel, where to stay and where to play. We have put together a resource to answer all of these questions, and an interactive forum where they can exchange stories.”

GORP provides the history of Eurail travel and information on the different passes available. Did you know that there are 16 different passes to choose from? The traditional Eurailpass covers more than 100,000 miles of rail in 17 countries. But there are other options: Europasses, Flexipasses, Saverpasses, Drive Passes, Single Country Passes, and Multi Country Passes. GORP.com helps decipher the differences and offers pros and cons of each.

“The backpacking-through-Europe tradition goes back to the late 50’s when college graduates traveled back to see where their older brothers fought in World War II,” said Greer. “The tradition continued and developed to what we have today – very well traveled grads looking to experience the cultures they studied in school. These kids are preparing for the global economy by doing fieldwork on international cultures.”

Within the pages of GORP is a complete insider’s guide to the dos and don’ts of Eurail travel. Where else can you learn about those hidden costs not included in your Eurailpass? Also, learn the importance of getting your rail pass validated at the station before you board your first train. GORP provides all the key information needed to make travel by Eurail as relaxing and stress-free as possible.

Imagine arriving in a train station to find there are no more seats or beds available for an overnight journey. GORP tells you what you will need in addition to the rail pass in order to ride the train. Be sure to reserve a seat or a bed if you are traveling overnight. GORP even provides a list of trains in which you are required to reserve seats, as well as tricks for getting on sold-out trains and getting the most out of your day pass.

“Traveling Europe by train can be a wonderful and memorable experience,” added Greer. “Having the information GORP experts have pulled together can put parents’ minds at ease and get their kids excited for their summer vacation.”

GORP (Great Outdoor Recreation Pages) is the largest and most trafficked Web site dedicated to outdoor recreation and adventure travel. With more than 100,000 pages of content, GORP offers a complete package of authoritative, award-winning information, a large, active community of outdoor enthusiasts and a full-range of e-commerce offerings drawing nearly 11 million pages views per month. Started in 1995, GORP offers a full-service adventure travel booking feature, accessible via the Web or telephone, with more than 35,000 departures. GORP has been cited by Yahoo!, US News & World Report, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and many others, as the leader in this category and a ''Best of the Web'' site.