SandraHJ
Traveller
2 comments
Posted 11 years ago
Hey there! Sorry, this may be a bit of en essay of a question...
Me and my fiancé are doing a bit of a round trip of Europe next summer and have some questions, the main question is regarding Greece and using the global interrail pass there, what with the trains not running as they once did... We are getting two 1 month global passes each, so will be able to travel for a total of 60 days (well, 61 to be exact). Our stops being France-Switzerland-Italy-Greece-Turkey-Bulgaria-Serbia-Hungary-Austria-Czech republic-Germany-Netherlands-Belgium-and home from there.
I am not too concerned getting into Greece, as we arrive by ferry from bari-patras. But I do have a couple of questions regarding the Global interrail pass and using it to get around. I would be so appreciative if someone could help us out on this!
1) when we arrive in patras, we would like to get down to Pyrgos (or actually we would be staying in Katakolo for the few days we are there and take the tour bus or similar into Olympia). I read the local trains in the pelepponese are no longer running, and that there is a bus replacement. I am unsure whether we can use our global interrail passes on this bus replacement? It will be a very expensive trip if we suddenly have to pay extra for all the bus replacements in greece. Any info I can get hold of regarding whether we can use our global interrail passes on the bus from patras to katakolo/pyrgos is much appreciated. Same with getting from Pyrgos to Athens.
2) My next enquiry is something I might already know, just looking for confirmation so I can go ahead and jot it down on my itinerary :) Since there are no trains in and out of Greece, particularly into Turkey (Istanbul) I am guessing we will take the bus there. I know of the bus that goes from Thessaloniki to Istanbul, but it is an extra cost to the global pass. So perhaps it is possible to take a train (free with the global passes??) to somewhere closer to turkey like Alexandropolous, and catch that bus from there for cheaper? Will there be a train or bus service to Alexandropolous where we can use our global passes again? As I outlined in my itinerary stops up above, I am unsure whether we will stop in thessaloniki or alexandropolous for the night, as it will greatly depend on whether I can indeed use my global pass to get to alexandropolous, and then take the cheaper bus service on to Istanbul.
Sorry to write such an essay. This Greek train business has given me a bit of a headache trying to plan this! Thanks for any advice or info in advance, and if anyone has any advice or anywhere they know is exciting that I may be able to squeeze in that would be great! We currently have a couple of days leeway to explore somewhere additional or spend an extra couple of days somewhere we like, so no time constraints as of yet. :)
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Hi!
You already paid for your IR passes? Where? How? Pre booking time is three months so you cant get them now if you are travelling next summer. Or did I get something wrong?
Flo 8)
SandraHJ
Traveller
2 comments
Oh no, sorry I meant to have written that at that point in time we will have already paid for them and would be handy to be able to use the pass on the new services from patra to pirgos & Delfi to Alexandropolous. :D I am clumsy with my words, sorry. We haven't booked yet, we were planning to book late february for a late may departure (and book our 2nd pass in late march)
------ I've edited it so it won't confuse anyone else :D
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Oh, alright then. :)
Well, I would recommend to just purchase a single One Month Global Pass for the first part of your trip until you reach Greece (however this would require to rearrange the route to fit in Germany and Benelux before going to Greece).
For the remainder of the trip, go with single tickets where needed and purchase a Balkan Flexi Pass locally in Greece that will cover travel in Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria and Serbia (and a few other countries which you didnt mention as destination); what kind of tickets you should get for the remainder depends on how you want to get home...
If it is possible for you to rearrange the route in order to travel with your Global Pass in Western Europe during the first month of the trip and with Balkan Flexi Pass and single tickets during the second month I am sure you will be better off compared to buy two Global Passes.
ad 1) As far as I know IR tickets are only valid on the buses from Patras to Kiato (from where connecting trains run to Athens). I would plan with buying regular bus tickets for your trip around Peloponnes - which wont your budget that much if you follow my advice from above.
ad 2) There are certainly several bus services from Alexandroupolis to Istanbul, I know of Metroturizm, who operate the route from Thessaloniki, the buses (two daily) also stop in Alexandroupolis. Unfortunately journeys to Turkey cannot be shown on the website of Metroturizm but you can inquire locally, it wont be a problem.
Flo 8)
nltrainer
Traveller
1405 comments
it is nonsense that compared to the cost of 2 global passes, a few short bustrips in GR would break the bank. be flexible, also as told above with pass-use, and it will save lots of pounds and stress.
SandraHJ
Traveller
2 comments
thanks for the advice from all of you :) we calculated every train ride and bus ride on our route and found that buying individual train tickets and taking the bus long haul throughout the route is cheaper than getting either the global and balkan pass. Although we'll have to book some tickets in advance to get the cheap fare, which is fine with me since I've got the route planned anyway. The extra reservation and supplement fees everywhere is actually making the passes quite a bit more expensive.
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
I would love to see your calculation. :)