Interrail planning
Discussion
We lashed out on the bargain half price tickets back in May….2 months, First Class, donchaknow!
(well, it was only a tiny bit extra!)
Context: we are not spring chickens, but also don’t mind some sleeping on trains - I did Interrail back in ‘87 - mostly slept on trains between places….but we would mix things with nicer hotels, Airbnb etc.
Need to start some serious planning over the next few months: our vague 50,000ft plan is to head away around late March or early April, head south, would like to perhaps head to Portugal, a week in or around Lisbon….then head along Southern Europe and roll upwards later, maybe some Scandinavia. Have several cities/areas in mind to visit (Venice, Luce Bled, Croatia, Scandinavia, Vienna, Berlin)….
Given we have 2 months, we don’t mind pausing for a few days to a week in some spots.
I have [URL]The Man in Seat 61 | https://www.seat61.com/european-train-travel.htm[U... bookmarked for perusal over coming weeks….but would welcome any suggestions. How best to use the First Class piece - any particular routes that are extra nice, and how to book them, etc.
Look forward to suggestions/advice (need a new passport for me - runs out Feb’23, best apply now!)
(well, it was only a tiny bit extra!)
Context: we are not spring chickens, but also don’t mind some sleeping on trains - I did Interrail back in ‘87 - mostly slept on trains between places….but we would mix things with nicer hotels, Airbnb etc.
Need to start some serious planning over the next few months: our vague 50,000ft plan is to head away around late March or early April, head south, would like to perhaps head to Portugal, a week in or around Lisbon….then head along Southern Europe and roll upwards later, maybe some Scandinavia. Have several cities/areas in mind to visit (Venice, Luce Bled, Croatia, Scandinavia, Vienna, Berlin)….
Given we have 2 months, we don’t mind pausing for a few days to a week in some spots.
I have [URL]The Man in Seat 61 | https://www.seat61.com/european-train-travel.htm[U... bookmarked for perusal over coming weeks….but would welcome any suggestions. How best to use the First Class piece - any particular routes that are extra nice, and how to book them, etc.
Look forward to suggestions/advice (need a new passport for me - runs out Feb’23, best apply now!)
mikeiow said:
Context: we are not spring chickens, but also don’t mind some sleeping on trains - I did Interrail back in ‘87 - mostly slept on trains between places….but we would mix things with nicer hotels, Airbnb etc.
An AirBnb in 1987 ?I went in 1988 (I think that was the year), and I'm sure I still have my ticket (the little brown book thing); that takes me back !
snuffy said:
mikeiow said:
Context: we are not spring chickens, but also don’t mind some sleeping on trains - I did Interrail back in ‘87 - mostly slept on trains between places….but we would mix things with nicer hotels, Airbnb etc.
An AirBnb in 1987 ?I went in 1988 (I think that was the year), and I'm sure I still have my ticket (the little brown book thing); that takes me back !
No - the non-train-travel nights were distinctly hostel/dodgy-joint-based back then, & the travel decidedly not First Class! Although I do recall some trains had benches that would both pull out flat and line up: 4 of us had a massive bed for the journey down from Verona to Athens (over a day, IIRC)
“but we would mix things with nicer hotels, Airbnb etc.” - that was referring to our planning for the trip this time round
I suspect my ticket is long gone…..but there are some boxes in the attic, it could be there!
Still have vivid and happy memories of my jaunt back in the day….hoping to get some nice ones next year!
Looks like PH isn’t the place to get any new top tips though!!
Edited by mikeiow on Thursday 28th July 15:21
I'm sure mine is in a box under the spare bed. I shall have a look and post up my journey for nostalgic purposes if I can find it.
Two of us went, manly is cheap B&Bs and camp sites. We made an error and failed to pack a tent. We either manged to hire one from a camp site, or, amazingly, a couple we met leant us half a tent (a triangle tent without the fly sheet - fine until it rained). We also planned to use Youth Hostels, but that never happened.
The weirdest thing was waiting for a sleeper train in a station. My mate nodded off, sitting upright with is rucksack on his back. Then after a while he appeared to wake up and started asking me questions that made no sense. Then he appeared to nod off again. He woke up and had no recollection of asking anything, so he must have still be asleep but could speak and respond. It gave me the right willies !
Two of us went, manly is cheap B&Bs and camp sites. We made an error and failed to pack a tent. We either manged to hire one from a camp site, or, amazingly, a couple we met leant us half a tent (a triangle tent without the fly sheet - fine until it rained). We also planned to use Youth Hostels, but that never happened.
The weirdest thing was waiting for a sleeper train in a station. My mate nodded off, sitting upright with is rucksack on his back. Then after a while he appeared to wake up and started asking me questions that made no sense. Then he appeared to nod off again. He woke up and had no recollection of asking anything, so he must have still be asleep but could speak and respond. It gave me the right willies !
I went Interailing after A-levels in 1992, I guess it’s changed a lot since in terms of where you can go.
We did a month’s travel with an extra few days on the end to bring it up to 5 weeks.
Our journey was anti-clockwise, starting in Rotterdam off the Hull ferry.
Rotterdam> Paris> Geneva> Nice (inc Monaco)> Venice> Rome> Brindisi> Corfu (beach holiday for a few days)> Athens> Istanbul> Thessaloniki> Budapest (via former Yugoslavia, the military send off at Belgrade station was interesting) > Prague > Berlin > Copenhagen > Amsterdam.
Many nights on overnight trains, plus some dodgy hostels.
We based ours on the defunct Thomas Cook European train timetables.
We did a month’s travel with an extra few days on the end to bring it up to 5 weeks.
Our journey was anti-clockwise, starting in Rotterdam off the Hull ferry.
Rotterdam> Paris> Geneva> Nice (inc Monaco)> Venice> Rome> Brindisi> Corfu (beach holiday for a few days)> Athens> Istanbul> Thessaloniki> Budapest (via former Yugoslavia, the military send off at Belgrade station was interesting) > Prague > Berlin > Copenhagen > Amsterdam.
Many nights on overnight trains, plus some dodgy hostels.
We based ours on the defunct Thomas Cook European train timetables.
snuffy said:
I'm sure mine is in a box under the spare bed. I shall have a look and post up my journey for nostalgic purposes if I can find it.
Two of us went, manly is cheap B&Bs and camp sites. We made an error and failed to pack a tent. We either manged to hire one from a camp site, or, amazingly, a couple we met leant us half a tent (a triangle tent without the fly sheet - fine until it rained). We also planned to use Youth Hostels, but that never happened.
The weirdest thing was waiting for a sleeper train in a station. My mate nodded off, sitting upright with is rucksack on his back. Then after a while he appeared to wake up and started asking me questions that made no sense. Then he appeared to nod off again. He woke up and had no recollection of asking anything, so he must have still be asleep but could speak and respond. It gave me the right willies !
Mainly B&B & Camping?Two of us went, manly is cheap B&Bs and camp sites. We made an error and failed to pack a tent. We either manged to hire one from a camp site, or, amazingly, a couple we met leant us half a tent (a triangle tent without the fly sheet - fine until it rained). We also planned to use Youth Hostels, but that never happened.
The weirdest thing was waiting for a sleeper train in a station. My mate nodded off, sitting upright with is rucksack on his back. Then after a while he appeared to wake up and started asking me questions that made no sense. Then he appeared to nod off again. He woke up and had no recollection of asking anything, so he must have still be asleep but could speak and respond. It gave me the right willies !
Pfft!!
We did the month with only 4 or 5 nights *not* sleeping on trains
A lot of zig-zagging!Weird experience with your mate - were odd drugs involved, perchance?!!
We headed indirectly down to Algeciras - I fancied seeing Marrakech...but the other lad only had a 1 year passport, so had to stay. The girls just came over for a day (nearly managed to trade the blond one for half a dozen camels), then they went back - we regrouped a week later in Northern Italy.
I only got one stop down the line before being 'befriended' by a student lad, Mustafa (of course).
Cordial and entertaining evening with his pals (it was the end of Ramadan)....then later the next day one of his mates wanted money off me for their hospitality - I ended up being chased through the backstreets of Asilah before I shook him off, & I got the next train outta dodge....back to Tangier, & back to Spain the next day!
Met an Arab lad on the train up Spain who had been similarly ripped off by his alleged friend.....'twas a lesson indeed....
Joined by a friendly group of Brazilian girls and headed to Monaco for the Mansell v Senna F1 race there with them...fun times!
Found my pals in northern Italy - they were reporting the other lad having his wallet stolen....from inside his sleeping bag, with him sleeping in it, on the train in a station.
I later had my little Kodak Disc camera stolen in Athens.....went to report that, kept being fobbed off, so I burst in on the Inspectors office to get a report signed (for insurance - the rashness of youth!)....only to find him being sold shoes by a dodgy geezer from a suitcase which the fella rapidly shut. All very bizarre!
Overall, the holiday of a lifetime - very clear memories of the whole experience, and hoping to gain some moderately less scary ones next year!!
smifffymoto said:
It’s not the same as when we were kids.
Unlimited travel is a thing of the past,as I understand you buy so many trips but it doesn’t matter their duration or distance.
Eh?Unlimited travel is a thing of the past,as I understand you buy so many trips but it doesn’t matter their duration or distance.
The tickets are for the duration from when you start using it. Surely that means unlimited travel for that 1, 2 or 3 months?
I believe some trains need small supplements paying, but clearly I need educating ‘cos I haven’t don’t serious European train travel in 35 years
Has anyone here *done* Interrail in recent years?
smifffymoto said:
It’s not the same as when we were kids.
Unlimited travel is a thing of the past,as I understand you buy so many trips but it doesn’t matter their duration or distance.
Well, you understand it wrong then.Unlimited travel is a thing of the past,as I understand you buy so many trips but it doesn’t matter their duration or distance.
It doesn't have to be a month (like it used to be), other periods are available, including X days out of Y. But you don't buy a number of trips.
Edited by snuffy on Friday 29th July 15:34
mikeiow said:
Weird experience with your mate - were odd drugs involved, perchance?!!
No, definitely no drugs. Not even that much lager !It is possible for people to speak and respond whilst asleep. I was frightened to death at the time. It was like he'd lost his memory and had no idea where he was. A few minutes later, he woke up and was fine.
Heh heh - must admit, we have always enjoyed his journeys, but whilst I do have a penchant for loud shirts, those trousers he picks are...not me!
Yes, I know you can got a 7 day pass that can be non-consecutive days - ours is the Global Pass for 2 months, which *is* consecutive - clock starts ticking with the first train.
cheers
Yes, I know you can got a 7 day pass that can be non-consecutive days - ours is the Global Pass for 2 months, which *is* consecutive - clock starts ticking with the first train.
cheers
mikeiow said:
Heh heh - must admit, we have always enjoyed his journeys, but whilst I do have a penchant for loud shirts, those trousers he picks are...not me!
Yes, I know you can got a 7 day pass that can be non-consecutive days - ours is the Global Pass for 2 months, which *is* consecutive - clock starts ticking with the first train.
cheers
Me and the missus met him up The Shard several years ago. We arrived and he'd just finished doing some filming, all the cameras and so on where being packed away. We had a quick chat about his programmes.Yes, I know you can got a 7 day pass that can be non-consecutive days - ours is the Global Pass for 2 months, which *is* consecutive - clock starts ticking with the first train.
cheers
And also went to see him give a talk as well. The missus got to stand up and ask a question - she was dead pleased with that.
Poisson96 said:
I'm thinking of doing it next year. London to Hamburg, do Miniatur Wunderland, Heide Park and Hansa Park before heading north, current thinking is Grona Lund, Kolmarden and Liseberg in Sweden before flying home for time reasons from Gothenburg
That’s a decent theme to your trip! Probably not for us, but getting ideas is what this thread is about 
Have you been to Parc Asterix? No massive rides, but our kids loved it when we went, and I did love the lovely smooth wooden roller coaster they have!
We’ve started our planning by listing the possibly countries and adding places of interest….this will take some figuring out….glad we have made a start.
Parc Asterix is on my list of many parks I need to do. I imagine it'll be a combo trip of Asterix, both Disney parks, Jardin and Nigloland.
I started with just spitballing parks out and trying to make sense. We always wanted to do London to Stockholm, it just turns out that London to Hamburg is a sensible break in the plan as that is 1 days travelling. I use Rome2Rio along with the Interrail site.
I started with just spitballing parks out and trying to make sense. We always wanted to do London to Stockholm, it just turns out that London to Hamburg is a sensible break in the plan as that is 1 days travelling. I use Rome2Rio along with the Interrail site.
Poisson96 said:
Parc Asterix is on my list of many parks I need to do. I imagine it'll be a combo trip of Asterix, both Disney parks, Jardin and Nigloland.
I started with just spitballing parks out and trying to make sense. We always wanted to do London to Stockholm, it just turns out that London to Hamburg is a sensible break in the plan as that is 1 days travelling. I use Rome2Rio along with the Interrail site.
Rome2Rio looks interesting....but I can't see how to restrict it to trains!I started with just spitballing parks out and trying to make sense. We always wanted to do London to Stockholm, it just turns out that London to Hamburg is a sensible break in the plan as that is 1 days travelling. I use Rome2Rio along with the Interrail site.
Google maps might work as well as the Interrail site for some of the prep....
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