Interrail

[Temporaryanonymity]

I'm planning an interrail trip for this summer for me and my two sons aged 11 and 9. Ive have sketched out around five routes and can't decide what to go for.

Ive got as far as Paris, five nights in Nice, two in Rome and then I get a bit stuck. I would quite like a few days in the lakes and mountains of the Alps but Austria air bandb isn't cheap. Any ideas about where we could go after Rome? I would like to relax for a bit before heading back to Paris and then home.

Or - any alternative suggestions? We definitely want it to include Paris and Rome and to relax in between. 14 nights in total.

Someone must have some tips!

Austria isn’t cheap. Would Germany br better? There’s beautiful mountains and great walking. All very accessible and well marked.

I don't know. I had visions of hanging by the pool, lakes, eating lovely cakes and heading up the mountains. I was thinking of Zell Am See and trips from there. I don't know Germany at all. Could you recommend somewhere?

We got a cheap Airbnb in Verona and did a day trip to lake Garda. Innsbruck is cheaper in the summer out of ski season and it's really pretty. And maybe Munich/Bavaria?

That sounds good. I am really looking forward to this and already thinking I need at least two different trips!

Last year we did Paris, bologna, sorrento (5 days there, lovely and relaxing and also day in pompeii) Rome, pisa, Milan. We booked all journeys separately as worked out cheaper than inter railing

That sounds like a great trip! My pass is £257 but the boys are free because they are under 12. I really want to go to Pompeii.

Down to the south of Italy, boat over to Greece and train back from Athens to Paris.

Why do you need 5 nights in Nice? It's lovely, but the beach is crap (all pebbles). I'd push on south after a couple of nights, or hit the med further west, round Fréjus way.

I love the sound of a ferry to Athens!

I thought five nights in Nice because I spent the summer there after my A levels and loved it. Travelled the entire coast from there.

I do l

I do like Nice, but I'd have thought 5 days with the boys too much.
There's a ferry to Patras from Brindisi. Get the overnight train and pay the few quid extra for a bunk bed.
Then train from Patras to Athens.

Greece is cheap too.

I went interrailing twice when I was young - this has brought back great memories.

The first time we went to Paris, Venice, Florence and Rome - we went to Pompeii on that trip, too.

The second time we went to Paris, Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, Tangiers, Casablanca and Marrakesh. That was a fantastic trip.

Florence is beautiful and the perfect antidote to Rome. There are lidos and the like plus the trains are lovely.

If you want to go to the Alps then Chamonix is great in the summer and you can get good value accommodation.

I've probably got enough trips now to keep me going for years.

Ive no idea how to choose which one to do. I'm now wondering what bags to take...

I haven't been so excited about a trip in years.

I think it's a fab idea and am thinking of coming with you. I haven't interrailed for about 30 years!

Did this years ago, went to Pompei then headed down to Brindisi and got a ferry across to Greece where we did a week of chilling out on beaches.

The beaches in Greece look fabulous. Ive got only got 2 weeks off work and I am thinking now of asking for three and really going for it.

Right now I am thinking Paris, Rome, Florence (those lidos!) Austrian lakes somewhere, then Prague then home.

Or we might just sod it and head to Greece and stop along the way.

Mind you Romania was amazing when I went there a few years ago and I would love to go back.

Have you looked at Croatia or Slovenia?

Bled is lovely - you could train from Rome to Venice overnight ( or via Florence on cheaper slower trains), spend a day in Venice, and get a train from there to Bled where hostels are cheap as chips. The trains are a little complicated, but they get there ok and don't cost much.

Then travel north from there to Prague or Bratislava, swing west via somewhere in Germany (Cologne maybe) and back home

Be very careful of Pompeii in July or August. Anywhere south of Rome (and even Rome itself) can be unbearably hot as well as unbearably crowded at that time of year. I wouldn't bother with 5 nights in Nice either; there are nicer places and much nicer beaches.

I've discovered it's much cheaper to buy train tickets than buy an inter-rail ticket too, especially as for anything long distance you have to book a seat for an extra price (Italy is notorious for this).

I presume you have looked at The man in Seat 61

Finally, if you are going as far as Greece investigate cheap flights home; you will be exhausted by then.

x-post. Do your last list, but with Bled instead of Austrian lakes. More beautiful, and much cheaper. Great hostels with three bedded rooms right on the lake.

I had considered Bled briefly then got distracted. I will give that a go, I've been to Austria lots but never with the kids. Somewhere new would be fun.

I wonder if I will ever finally decide? Maybe I should just let the kids decide and give to them as a learning opportunity....

As an update, I have still not decided on a route but I've spent hours trying to decide.

Ive also started to wonder how the baggage situation will work. Older son is 11 and pretty strapping. He isn't much shorter than me and I am 166cm so I'm guessing he can carry quite a bit. Any recommendations for bags and what to take?

Agree - Slovenia is great & you can pick up cheap accomadation around Bled, Ljubljana is an interesting day trip or place to stay for a night or two. You'll get the mountains, lake swimming & forest without the price tag. I'd happily spend 5 days in Nice - yes the beach is crap but just take a 10 minute train to Villefranche which has a very nice beach. Old Nice is lovely and overall it's a good city to base yourself in and take days trips from being connected to most of the Riviera.

And take something luggage wise that's going to fit on luggage racks over your heads. In Italy for example, lots of trains have compartments where luggage has to be overhead or left in the corridor. We spent some money on backpacks with wheels. Do a quick Google and see if you can get one not full size but with wheels that he can manage. Don't take suitcases!