'Popularity of budget airlines is waning'

Stag weekends away have long centred on cut-price flights to party towns in Europe, but an increasing number of travellers are becoming "fed up" with budget airlines, it has been claimed.

Amanda Munroe, a spokesperson for Rail Europe, said additional charges for baggage handling and even going to the toilet are "turning people off from flying".

Indeed, she suggested that many travellers are now considering getting to their destination by train, with a number of great rail routes and low-cost fares making overnight train journeys more popular.

Ms Munroe said: "Whether it is going to a football match or a festival or for a holiday generally ... people are thinking more about the way they travel."

She added that trains are likely to prove particularly popular with people who are concerned about their carbon footprint and the effect of travel on the environment.

This comes after Rail Europe reported an increase in the number of bookings it makes to Rome as football fans looking to make their way to the city for the Champions League final seek an alternative to flying.