Is it possible to travel to Bulgaria, and back by train? I cannot seem to get further than Italy! Tony Elliott, by email

Times Online rail expert Alan Heywood responds: Yes, I can understand that you would come unstuck if you tried to go to Bulgaria via Italy. I grant you it looks easy on a map but, in practice, you would either need to take a ferry from Italy to Greece and then head north from there or take a train via Trieste into Slovenia and then travel through Croatia and Serbia.

This was, of course, a classic route in days gone by - the Venice Simplon Orient Express went that way - but the break up of Yugoslavia into separate countries and therefore railway administrations has made it much more difficult. Each country publishes its own timetable and fare tables and, whilst there are some international trains, none have the standing or convenience of those wonderful trains of old.

The recommended route nowadays is Eurostar from London Waterloo (St. Pancras from November 14 2007) to Paris Nord, then overnight sleeper from Paris Est (one stop from Nord on the Metro) to Munich, a day train from Munich to Budapest and then another sleeper to Sofia.

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Leaving London in the late afternoon of Day 1, you would arrive in Sofia in the evening of Day 3. The return is by the same route.

Prices would depend on the the type of sleeping car accommodation needed or indeed whether you even want a sleeper. It is possible to sit in an ordinary seat for the overnight journeys but you should bear in mind that you have two nights on the train. Taking advantage of the cheapest advance purchase fares on Eurostar and without a sleeping berth, you could do this trip for around £530 return. At the other end of the scale, first class all the way and sole occupancey of a first class sleeper would set you back over £1,200.

I have to confess that, because of the distance involved, this is one of those journeys where rail doesn't compete easily with air. Even £530 seems a lot to pay for a three-day journey without a good night's sleep. On the other hand, if for you, as for so many people, seeing the countries through which you pass is all part of the magic of travel, it's a good way to do it.

You might even decide to break your journey for 24 hours in Paris, Vienna or Budapest (or even all three). It wouldn't cost any more and that would be quite an experience. Make the journey part of the holiday and enjoy it.

Alan Heywood is a director at rail specialists, Ffestiniog Travel

Got a question for Alan, or any of our other travel experts? Email us at yoursay@timesonline.co.uk

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