dubphil
Traveller
1 comments
Posted 10 years ago
Hi folks, I stumbled across this site while planning my trip, I just have a few quick questions on the travel side of things. I'm planning the following itinerary.
14/02: Fly from Dublin to Dusseldorf. Train from Dusseldorf to Dortmund, Dortmund
15/02: Dortmund
16/02 Train from Dortmund to Berlin, Berlin
17/02: Berlin
18/02: Berlin
19/02: Train from Berlin to Munich, Munich
20/02: Munich, Night train from Munich to Paris
21/02: Train from Paris to Clermont-Ferrand, Clermont-Ferrand
22/02: Clermont-Ferrand
23/02: Train from Clermont-Ferrand to Lyon, Lyon
24/02: Train from Lyon to Paris, Paris
25/02: Paris
26/02: Train from Paris to Brussels (via Lille and Tournoi to avoid Thalys), Brussels
27/02: Brussels
28/02: Train from Brussels to Amsterdam (via Rotterdam to avoid Thayls), Amsterdam
01/03: Amsterdam
02/03: Amsterdam, Train from Amsterdam to Hook of Holland, Night ferry from Hook of Holland to Harwich
03/03: Train from Harwich to London, London, Train from London to Holyhead, Night ferry from Holyhead to Dublin
I have booked a 10 days in 22 Interrail pass and the flight from Dublin to Dusseldorf The aim is to arrive in my destination cities via train in and around 3 in the afternoon of each travelling day. So onto the questions:
1 - Am I correct in assuming that I only need to book seats for the Munich-Paris, Paris-Clermont-Ferrand, Lyon-Paris and Paris-Brussels train journeys, how much do these seat bookings cost and how soon in advance should I book them?
2 - With the Interrail pass a 30% discount applies on ferry bookings with Stena Line and Irish Ferries, can I avail of that booking in advance and will it be valid on the Holyhead-Dublin sailing (as the ferry departs at 02:30 it will technically be onto the 11th day of travel)?
3 - Am I correct in assuming that a standard travelers adapter plug is all I need for charging my phone and laptop?
I think I am fairly sure about most things but it is always nice to have any misassumptions corrected in advance. Many thanks
nltrainer
Traveller
1405 comments
1.depends on what trains you will use. Lyon-Paris CAN be done with the 2 horuly regional trains with no RES-but that takes 5 hrs.-you can stop/break in Dijon or other wine-towns. In FR there are limited quota for IR-that means you will often be told ''full'' by lack of english to tell exactly what the reason is. IF you get in the quota current price is 6 eur per ride in FR-maybe higher from 1/1.
There are also direct TGV Lyon-Lille-and on to Brussel-maybe better to change Par stay?
2.dont know-ask Stena. Again it might be much cheaper to book advance or use alternatives. IF any disc. is given, its only on the high full fare, without the oil/whatever supplmnts they also have.
I have used IR with Stena once for Belfast-Scotland and it was indeed given, but turned out to be just a few GBP-much less as that 30%.
3.depends what you call standard-does IE have the UK-style? Then forget it-standard is what continent has-2 round plugs and no earth. And do not assume that those plugs are so anywhere in trains-if they have, often only in bisnis/1st cl.
dubphil
Traveller
1 comments
Many thanks nltrainer.
1. The only really mission critical trains are the Munich-Paris-Clermont leg (part of the intention of the trip is to go to the Clermont Auvergne v Montpellier rugby match on the 21st), I have discovered how to book a berth on the CNL train from Munich to Paris in advance so I guess I just need to figure out how to do the same for the train from Paris to Clermont (is it possible to do this through this site?). Lyon to Paris with an hours stopover in Dijon for lunch does actually seem quite appealing so I think I may forgo the TGV and the possibly high supplement for that leg.
2. True, I guess I'll just give them a call to sort that out, if it's only a few euro I'll save then no harm if I miss out on it.
3. Yes we use the same 3 pin plugs as the UK in Ireland but most electrical shops here sell a converter plug that is supposed to work (assuming there are no major voltage differences).
Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
Hi.
Just let me know your order-ID (PNR beginning with AA) of your Interrail pass purchase via the railcc partner link [ux]https://rail.shop/interrail[/ux] . Then I can set your profile to premium for detailed answers. Thank you for supporting. :)
Peter :)