Backpacking/interrailing with kids

[TopKnotch]

My DC are so keen to visit more places abroad and realistically we are not going to be able to afford package holidays and even flights the way things are going.

Have been looking at public transport options and am quite excited by the idea of Eurostar and interrailing as prices look more manageable and it could be an experience in itself.

Any tips for places to go, especially short trips to interesting places?

Also, where would you look for rucksacks for these kinds of trips? Would want the kids to each carry most of their own stuff!

We did Prague, Bratislava, Budapest, Vienna, Tirol, Munich a few years ago. It was fabulous. Rucksacks are a pain in the arse though. Small wheely case much better and book apartments with washing machine. Booking in advance you can sometimes get better pricing than the Interail ticket with the benefit you can book your seats at the same time. And you can't use interail tickets on all trains.
www.seat61.com is the holy grail of European train travel.

Back packs - Go Outdoors. Their basic 60l one is usually on offer.

Back packs - Go Outdoors. Their basic 65l one is usually on offer. £30 today. One of ours was only £15.

www.gooutdoors.co.uk/15989082/eurohike-nepal-65-rucksack-15989082

We have 3 that have survived multiple scout camps and 3 backpacking holidays.

I was looking at Eurostar but found cheaper to fly this year. We're in Slovenia now but flew in to Venice as much cheaper, and out of Trieste. Then bus/trained around.

Look at cities near your targets to add on extra sights and cut costs.

We've stayed mostly in backpackers/hostels with kitchens to self cater. Lunches from bakeries or supermarkets.

We’ve done Vienna, then boat to Bratislava - think cheap regular catamaran boat, similar to Uberboat on Thames, then from Bratislava train to Budapest.
We’ve done Venice to Llublijana. Though but more complicated. A train to Trieste, funincular railway to border with slovenia, walk across border then train to Llublijana.

croatian island hopping, followed by overnight train to Zagreb. Also then took a day trip to Llublijana one day as weather so bad in Zagreb.
Travelling by train incredibly cheap and easy on the continent.
All with DS under 6

If we’re on a city break for more than three days, we’ll often hop on a train somewhere else.
We usually find a launderette somewhere, which cuts down on the amount you need to carry.

This is all brilliant, thank you!

Be aware that Interrail are a bit chaotic.

I bought a pass, then discovered there was no way I was getting a Eurostar interrail ticket for months to come, because they only allocate about 6 tickets per train & they are booked up forever, so I couldn't actually get out of the country on it.

Requested either a refund or a re-set, & 5 weeks' later we've cycled through:

-No you can't have a refund.
-But your T&C are misleading, your website advertises fares that aren't available, your customer service sucks & basically the product is unuseable.
-Ok. You can have a partial refund.
-I'd like a full refund, but process the partial one for now then please.
-We've actually changed our policy & you can't have a refund at all.
-See reasons above for why I'd like a refund.
-fine but you need to contact this completely different department
-JUST REFUND ME PLEASE
-Ok, you can have a refund.

I still don't have a refund.

Would avoid. Shame, I really wanted to love them...😒.

Oh no nightmare @CorvusPurpureus - maybe I will just be more general re trains and public transport

I might just have been unlucky, although going by their TrustPilot reviews it's a really common problem.

I think it's mostly that there just isn't availability on popular routes. & it doesn't help that their app/booking wizard doesn't seem to track actual availability! From what I can gather it works fine for mooching around Europe on journeys that don't routinely sell out.

One of my colleagues is doing exactjybthis with his primary school age DDs at the moment. I'm looking forward to hearing what they did and how they get on.

Are you wanting to avoid flying all together? Otherwise book a flight into one destination and out of another.
if you want to see Eastern Europe, or the southern Mediterranean you waste a lot of time
if you’re starting off via Eurostar.

No, not completely against flying, it just seems to be more expensive in general but happy to consider flights of we can find them early at a good price

We did the trip above, including flying to Prague, and some of it first class, for less than the price of the 3 interrail tickets. You can get bargains if you book when the tickets first go on sale. If you are planning travel in southern france - also look at ouigo.com. As mentioned, seat61.com is a brilliant resource for planning. Most tickets can now be bought on trainline.com or raileurope.com. Trainline is a bit limited as you can't enter a "via" point. So for example, I always try to avoid changing stations in Paris, which can be done by going e.g via Lille, or Lyon or one of the big TGV stations, depending on destination. Bahn.de is very good for timetables and looking at different potential itineraries. I've booked Italy for September for 200 euros each first class from Brussels.

I've just come back from a fab week with DD, Amsterdam, Hamburg and Copenhagen and earlier in the year went from Geneva to Verona, Venice, Lake Garda and Luzern.

It is possible to find cheaper train tickets especially as many routes need or recommend reservations as well but it is flexible and you can add on local trains too.

This April, Interrail did a 50% off sale so the unlimited days travel tickets were great prices!

It can be exhausting so it's good to plan some downtime too. Pack light, bring a small back pack for day trips.