Interail in Europe

[antwacky]

Im looking for tips and info/ideas from anyone who has anyone travelled on an Interail ticket across Europe? I would love to do this maybe 2022 all being well.

I would love to go for 10 -14 days and visit maybe around Denmark, Germany, Austria, other suggestions welcome.
My energy levels are not great and I will have to plan easy is routes and factor plenty of rest/easy days.

Any help gratefully received

[NiceGerbil]

Yes definitely take your own food and drinks on the trains.

[HoldontoOneMoreDay]

Second the man in seat 61, he's basically a train fiend who has collected loads and loads of information into the one place and it's so helpful.

I did it with DS (then 12) - pre-Brexit so obviously you'll have to double check everything, but we both loved it. I would say:

• decide where you want to go then check your prices really carefully. We ended up buying separate tickets rather than an Interrail card as it was cheaper.

• have at least one sleeper in the mix, but go first class. We took the sleeper from Zurich to Prague and it was such a great experience. DS didn't really sleep mind you so he was wiped out the next day, I can sleep standing up so I was fine.

• write out an itinerary with everything in local time. I had one weird experience where the time zone had changed between booking and travelling and then the time of the train changed... it was all totally fine but it did my head in working it out!

• as a pp said, be careful with transfer times. Big central stations can be huge and you often have to change 'section' to get a local train from an international train.

• don't assume the food will be good onboard. Fond - and by fond I mean disgusting - memories of the 6 hours between Berlin and Amsterdam with really horrible food and a starving DS.

• You say this will be tiring, which leads me to think you'll want to pack really, really lightly so plan an Air BnB or a hotel with laundry facilities so you can wash your clothes.

• Enjoy the planning! It's half the fun.

You'll have a brilliant time, it's one of the best holidays we've ever had. For info, we did Paris, Zurich, Prague, Berlin, met DH in Amsterdam for a few days camping, then flew home from there. Oh yeah, if you're going to fly back then obviously you have to factor that into packing...

[antwacky]

Thanks @Aroundtheworldin80moves, what a great experiance for you and the children, I would have loved to have done this with my kids. I shall probably be own my own ( which I'm fine with) as it doesn't appeal to any of my friends. I may see if my sister fancies it.

[Aroundtheworldin80moves]

I've travelled long distance across Europe by train... It's really well organised.

My main tip is check any transfer times are realistic. We were given a 25min transfer at Brussels. We made it, despite the incoming train being late. But by seconds. (It was me, a 5yo and 7yo!). Apparently it's 45mins recommended and no tickets should be sold with less than 30...

If traveling with other people check seating plans when booking seats. I ended up quite far from the children on one train despite the tickets being consecutive. Luggage rack between us. Luckily they were very good train travellers.

[antwacky]

Thanks @nancywhitehead, Im definitely into careful planning, I find it makes life so much easier and cuts out a lot of my stress if I plan and prepare well. I will take note about being realistic, I do tend to think that I can do/see everything!

Thanks @Montalbanosono, I too love train travel and think your idea of booking sleeper trains is a great tip, not only saving on accomodation costs but it could also save me a fair bit of energy.

@HappyHappyHippocampus hope you manage it, I'm allowing my self to be a little excited about it.

[Montalbanosono]

Hi. I love travelling by train. One tip is to sleep on an overnight train to save on accommodation- but pay for the best onboard accommodation! Brexit shouldn't be a problem unless you are planning to be away for over 90 days.

Btw if anyone has an 18/19 year old who is also an EU citizen, they can get a free inter rail ticket to explore Europe. My ds is planning on doing it when he finishes school.

[nancywhitehead]

I did this a few years ago.

My biggest tip is careful planning, especially if you have low energy levels. You can't really over-plan!

Book all of your hotels/ hostels in advance, learn a bit about the areas you are going to and the main things you want to do... we did this and were so glad of it, despite all the people saying it takes away a sense of freedom and adventure. As you only have a couple of weeks, you will have a lot to squeeze in, especially if you want rest days as well. Try to be realistic - you won't be able to do everything.

As for the rest, it completely depends what you want from the trip and what your budget is. It's hard to offer any specific advice not knowing that, but I hope you make it happen and have an amazing time!

[HappyHappyHippocampus]

Following with interest. We are hoping to interail next year too!

[antwacky]

Thanks @Einszwei, see I hadn't even thought of that.

Thanks too @NiceGerbil will definitely check that out. I was wondering about the impact of Brexit but am hoping things might be clearer/more settled by next summer and with Covid too.
I've hardly done any travelling outside of UK and I desperately want to make up for it.

[NiceGerbil]

Do not book through UK sites that inflate the price.

Dunno impact of brexit tbf.

[NiceGerbil]

I didn't know those tickets still existed!

I love traveling by train. The services around Europe are excellent.
You need www.seat61.com/index-mobile.htm. that site is brilliant.

The Paris to Venice sleeper I have done and it's lovely. And cheap. The site I just linked explains the options from private cabin to shared etc.

www.thello.com/en/paris-venice/comfort/

Getting on an overnight train in one part of Europe and getting off miles away. In comfort. Is brilliant.

I've done it a few times and picked destinations, booked tickets in advance through oebb or whichever countries rail company. It's way cheap. And they are all v organised and on time etc. Please look at man in seat 61! It's the go to site for what you want to do!

Do it! Have a fab time

[Einszwei]

Make sure that you will get your moneys worth with the inter rail ticket - it is often cheaper to buy individual tickets as and when needed. Compare in advance!

[antwacky]

Thanks @doradoo

[doradoo]

The German rail network is excellent - you can use the Bahn.com site in English and Book Tickets through them.

Also look at the man in seat 61 website as you can get all sorts of info on ticketing through them.