Hi,
Thinking of going Inter Railing next year with a couple of mates, something a bit different from the usual lads holiday. Always wanted to do this and now seems a good time to do it.
Just wondering has anyone ever done/know anyone that has or just travelled around Europe in general and have any tips or just anything to say about it?
Thanks.
Inter Railing
Started by
toffee-nose
, Aug 10 2012 06:27 PM
3 replies to this topic
#2
whitey
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Posted 10 August 2012 - 06:39 PM
I've never done it but I imagine it's a great way to see Europe. In a couple of weeks you could probably see 10 or more city's. However I think you'd have to be happy to put up with long journeys, delayed trains, lots of waiting, queuing, make lots of changes etc. It would do my head in I think, especially in a large group. Also the cheaper trains are mainly at night so I guess you'd have to put up with very little sleep. It wouldn't be a holiday, but I guess it would be a good adventure.
#3
AndyCJ
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Posted 10 August 2012 - 07:03 PM
Don't try to cram in too many destinations at the expense of having enough time to explore and get a feel for each place.
Buy the right interrail ticket, they are expensive so think through which one will work out cheapest for what you want to do, i.e. 10 in 21 days, 15 day pass, 30 day pass and so on.
If you're in Poland/Krakow going to Auschwitz is interesting but pretty horrible, a lot of tourists are a bit disrespectful with photos and it gives the place a weird vibe. It takes up most of a day and I'd much rather spend the time in Krakow.
Booking night trains is almost impossible, we thought we could save money and time by using night trains to get between some cities but it worked out messily.
Rent bicycles in Amsterdam.
EU health card. Photocopy passport. Check out currency exchange rates for the less common European currencies and make sure you don't get played. Metro ticketing systems are varied and sometimes you have to validate tickets, same goes for trains in Italy I think. Would recommend taking a hiking bag rather than a suitcase.
Sort out hostel bookings before you go so you don't waste time/risk ending up bedless when you arrive in places. Do your research on things to do/ places to avoid etc etc, print maps/directions for important things. Any guidebooks and language dictionaries would be a welcome addition although they're exactly the kind of thing that ends up unused and buried at the bottom of the bag for the whole trip.
Take at least one book, music and whatever else, being on a train becomes boring fast. My friend completed the whole of Pokemon Blue over the course of 3 weeks, tragically.
Try to fit in a festival somewhere along the line, even if it's just a day ticket.
Two copies of important documents/booking receipts etc. Get a secure pouch or something to keep valuables in.
It's great fun and I'd definitely recommend doing it. With a good group of mates it should be brilliant, although you'll get pissed off with eachother at times and expect things to go wrong, the good and the bad all make for good memories in retrospect anyway.
Buy the right interrail ticket, they are expensive so think through which one will work out cheapest for what you want to do, i.e. 10 in 21 days, 15 day pass, 30 day pass and so on.
If you're in Poland/Krakow going to Auschwitz is interesting but pretty horrible, a lot of tourists are a bit disrespectful with photos and it gives the place a weird vibe. It takes up most of a day and I'd much rather spend the time in Krakow.
Booking night trains is almost impossible, we thought we could save money and time by using night trains to get between some cities but it worked out messily.
Rent bicycles in Amsterdam.
EU health card. Photocopy passport. Check out currency exchange rates for the less common European currencies and make sure you don't get played. Metro ticketing systems are varied and sometimes you have to validate tickets, same goes for trains in Italy I think. Would recommend taking a hiking bag rather than a suitcase.
Sort out hostel bookings before you go so you don't waste time/risk ending up bedless when you arrive in places. Do your research on things to do/ places to avoid etc etc, print maps/directions for important things. Any guidebooks and language dictionaries would be a welcome addition although they're exactly the kind of thing that ends up unused and buried at the bottom of the bag for the whole trip.
Take at least one book, music and whatever else, being on a train becomes boring fast. My friend completed the whole of Pokemon Blue over the course of 3 weeks, tragically.
Try to fit in a festival somewhere along the line, even if it's just a day ticket.
Two copies of important documents/booking receipts etc. Get a secure pouch or something to keep valuables in.
It's great fun and I'd definitely recommend doing it. With a good group of mates it should be brilliant, although you'll get pissed off with eachother at times and expect things to go wrong, the good and the bad all make for good memories in retrospect anyway.
Edited by AndyCJ, 10 August 2012 - 07:04 PM.
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