Brussels - Amsterdam - Berlin - Krakow - Prague-Munich-Paris

Peter
Traveller
9333 comments

Hi.
First important information: the Eurostar has a reservation fee of EUR 75 for Interrailers. So the best is to book a special price in advance ([ux]https://rail.shop/beurope[/ux]) or to use an other way of travel (ferry, bus, ...): [u]https://rail.cc/en/train/london-to-brussels[/u]
Stena Line offers Rail&Ferry tickets for the ferry line Harwich to Hoek van Holand: [u]https://rail.cc/en/harwich/ferry/c[/u]

In Belgium it is also nice to stop in some other places like for example Bruges: [u]https://rail.cc/en/bruges/c[/u]

Instead of Amsterdam, you could stop for example in Hamburg - I personally like it there and hostels are not that expensive: [u]https://rail.cc/en/hamburg/c[/u]
My preferred hostel in Hamburg - but prices may vary depending on your travel date: [u]https://rail.cc/en/hamburg/hostel-kiezbude/l2791[/u]

Did you ever went to Budapest - I can definitely recommend it... so change you route to Berlin - Prague - Krakow - Budapest - (Vienna) - Munich - Paris.
If you want to travel Berlin - Krakow, the best option is the direct ICBus with a reservation fee of EUR 4 for Interrailers.
If you want to travel the route I mentioned above, include some night trains... :)
All connections here: [u]https://rail.cc/en/search-interrail-route[/u]

Munich to Paris is also nice by night train (booking information see bellow the map): [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-night-train/munich-paris-cnl40418/33[/u]

And finally back home to London: by Eurostar special price, bus or ferry ... read here for details - [u]https://rail.cc/blog/london-to-paris-by-eurostar-train-bus-or-ferry//[/u]

To support the free information and the forum on railcc, please be fair and buy your official Interrail pass via our partner link [ux]https://rail.shop/interrail[/ux]
Thank you! :)
As soon as you ordered, let me know your oder-ID (PNR), then I can set your profile to PLUS for more detailed answers. Thank you for supporting our work. :)
Peter :)

Alexdude
Traveller
11 comments

Hi Peter :)

Thanks for your reply! I've also been to Bruges so will probably skip past there, as beautiful as it is.

I think I'll probably follow the route you've given me. I really want to go to Budapest but left it out of my route as I'm only away for 15 days and wasn't sure if it was a bit too far out for a short trip. I am going to select my date by the end of this week and will let you know my ID once I have purchased my ticket :)

If anyone has any recommendations for the route Peter has given me, then I'd love to hear them. Or if you are away at the same time then let me know if you'd like to meet up somewhere. I'm probably going to try and hit Oktoberfest on my way back through Munich.

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

Hey!

Have you already thought about what kind of ticket you want to buy?
I think the best option would be to get a Eurostar ticket to Bruxelles, then use a 5in10 IR Pass to go to Paris and then finally a pre-booked ticket Munich - Paris via [ux]https://rail.shop/bahn[/ux]

You could also add a short visit to Vienna (or Budapest as already mentioned) by using the night train from Praha to one of these cities then taking a Railjet train to Munich in the evening.


Flo 8)

Alexdude
Traveller
11 comments

Hey Flo,

I had originally planned to buy the 15 day continuous pass for the flexibility of it. What are your reasons for suggesting the 5in10?

Thanks for your advice :)

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

Too expensive and you would not really make use of it at all...the 5in10 would fit your needs:

1 London - Bruxelles
2 Bruxelles
3 Bruxelles - Amsterdam; first day of use of the 5in10
4 Amsterdam - Berlin
5 Berlin
6 Berlin
7 Berlin - Krakow
8 Krakow
9 Krakow - night train to Prague
10 Prague
11 Prague
12 Prague - Munich; end of 5in10 pass
13 Munich
14 Munich - night train to Paris
15 Paris - London

Alexdude
Traveller
11 comments

Ahh I see! That seems like a good plan. So on night 11 I could travel to Budapest on the night train, and then head to Munich on the railjet as you said. Am I right in thinking I just write my travel day on the pass before I get on the train that day? So it's still flexible?
Thanks for your help flo. If I'm aiming to leave London on 28th of September would you say that's enough time to arrange everything travel wise?

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

Yeah, you only have to determine the starting day of your pass when you purchase it. The travel days can then be spontaneously by used during your trip; you have to enter the travel date in the pass before you board the first train on that day.

Prague - Budapest: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-night-train/prague-budapest-en-477/282[/u]
Budapest - Munich: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/budapest-to-munich[/u]

Plenty of time to get everything sorted out until 28th September, however you should book your Eurostar tickets and Munich - Paris as soon as possible to get cheaper fares.
While using your IR pass you would only need a reservation for the Berlin - Krakow IC Bus (4€, better connection than by train) and the two night trains. You can do so on the go, for instance in Berlin or Bruxelles at the train stations (dont do it in Amsterdam since they charge extra booking fees and the ticket counters are always a crowded mess).

Alexdude
Traveller
11 comments

Hey guys. I've booked my IR ticket :) I'm trying to book my Munich-Paris overnight train, but the website is saying I'm unable to book the ticket through the agency or something along those lines. Any ideas?

Peter
Traveller
9333 comments

Hi.
Which date are you looking for.
If you follow the description like explained bellow the map, it should work: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-night-train/munich-paris-cnl40418/33[/u]
Peter :)

Alexdude
Traveller
11 comments

Hi Peter, it's for Friday 11th October. There is a cnl train listed there but it's 93 euros :o so I'm trying to select the train before which has 5 changes and under standard fare, it has a box saying 'booking via travel agency'. If I click that, I get this message


Booking via your travel agency
Dear customer,
unfortunately this ticket may not be booked as an online-ticket with self-printing option. You may get this ticket in all travel agencies with a DB licence. We invite you to visit our travel agencies and will be pleased to advise you individually.
Your travel agency - Bahn-Online-Partner of the Deutsch Bahn
Back to DB Travelservice Back to your travel agency

Am I just going to have to pay the 93 euro one?

Alexdude
Traveller
11 comments

I chose the book only extra charge option, but I don't think I can use that as I have got the 5 in 10 ticket as flow suggested, and my final travel day is a couple of days before

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

Hi!

The problem is that you want to travel on a Friday. On the following Saturday, the ticket for the night train would only be 43€... :|

You can only book the CNL and connections which include a ICE or TGV Alleo online as one single ticket, for all other options you would have to go to a station to book the ticket - but this wont be cheaper either.

If possible, travel one day later...I hope you arrange your travel to do so... :)


Flo 8)

Alexdude
Traveller
11 comments

Unfortunately I've booked a flight from Paris to London on the Saturday. What about the ICE TGV connection at 3:25 am on Saturday 12th? 30 euros cheaper but has a change on the journey.

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

Yeah, you could take this as well of course...it leaves quite early but if you go out in Munich the night before it wont be a problem to get the train and then sleep there.
The change of trains is no problem, you can book the train online...as mentioned before to be able to do so the connection has to include a TGV or ICE Alleo (the German - France internation high speed trains) which is the case.

Alexdude
Traveller
11 comments

1 week until I go guys, just have a few random questions if you can help me out :)

1. As its my first trip and I'm a complete rookie, was just wondering when you arrive in each destination, is it usually best to go find your hostel straight away and get settled in before going out exploring?
2. How far in advance should you I have my accommodation booked for? I was going to book accommodation for Brussels before I leave London, should I also have a place in Hamburg booked for my next stop? Or just leave that until the day before?
3. Where is the best place to find hostels for each location whilst on the move? Should I choose which hostels I'm going to use before the trip starts?
4. What's the best way to find out train times whilst I'm away in each city?
5. I have my eurostar to Brussels booked, my train from Munich-Paris and my flight home from Paris. I was going to book the night train from Krakow-Prague whilst I'm away, maybe in Brussels if that's possible? And also the bus from Berlin-Krakow, again in Brussels. Have I missed anything?

Thanks for any answers, I understand you probably get these questions all the time but I just want to make sure I'm prepared as I'm notoriously unorganised usually :D

Peter
Traveller
9333 comments

Hi.

1) My first stop is always the hostel - hostels usually have a luggage room which you can use for free, if you are to early to check in. Or if you are in time, check in. Then explore the city, much more comfortable without the big backpack. :)

2) Just check the typical booking websites (see above in the bar... Hostelworld, etc). There you can see if hostels are already full or not. But I recommend to book in advance, at least the day before arrival. So you know where to go in the new city and you save a lot of time. Most hostels offer internet access and free WiFi - easy to get online.
If you book via the links above, it is the same price for you, but you support railcc. Thank you. :)

3) Use the booking websites above and check the rankings. Or have a look here at the country section, then accommodation: [u]https://rail.cc/en/countries[/u]

4) Here [ux]https://rail.shop/bahn[/ux] . You can also ask at stations, but expect you have to wait a little bit.

5) Yes. Try it in Brussels (both).

Have fun on your trip, Peter :)

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

Hi!

2) If you do not book in advance it would be at least a good idea to get a list of a few hostels to check out beforehand so you dont have to search too long for information after arriving.

5) Bruxelles is good; do not do it in the Netherlands as they would charge you extra booking and payment fees... You could also contact railcc user Alcolin.


Flo 8)

Alexdude
Traveller
11 comments

Thanks guys you've been awesome :) I'll let you know how I get on!

Alexdude
Traveller
11 comments

Does the ICBus from Berlin-Krakow count as a travel day?

Alexdude
Traveller
11 comments

Any idea on this guys? If the ICbus Berlin-Krakow counts as a travel day on my pass? If not then I still have a travel day to use

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

Hi!

Yeah, it does count as a travel day.


Flo 8)