Mathew
Traveller
4 comments
Posted 10 years ago
Hi there,
We're 4 dutch boys having a great time preparing our trip with Interrail for summer 2014. All this railcc, Interrail, connections and stuff is totally new for us, but we're doing good so far. We've planned 2 routes in detail and we would like to know if you guys have any recommendations or advises concerning these routes. By summer 2014 we will all be 18 years old. We're planning on booking a 10 travel days in 22 days ticket. We have figured the following routes:
[b]Route 1:[/b]
[b]Köln - Vienna [/b](0553-1508) Reservation 4,50
[b]Vienna - Prague [/b](2212-0439) 6Couchette 15 euro
[b]Prague - Budapest [/b](2345-0835) 6Couchette 9,40 euro/4C 14 euro
[b]Budapest - Beograd[/b] (2200-0632) 6C 8 euro/4C 10 euro
[b]Beograd - Zagreb [/b](1100-1815) no additional charges
[b]Zagreb - Venice [/b](0650-1649) no additional charges
[b]Venetie - Rome [/b](0800-1655) no additional charges
[b]Rome - St. Moritz[/b]
Rome - Milan (0700-1000)
Milaan - Tirano (14:20-16:50)
Tirano - St. Moritz. (17:40-20:09)
[b]St. Moritz - Zürich[/b]
St.Moritz - Chur (0702-0903)
Chur - Zürich (0909-1123)
[b]Zürich - Köln [/b]Reservation 4,50
[b]Route 2:[/b]
[b]Köln - Vienna [/b](0553-1508) Reservation 4,50
[b]Vienna - Prague[/b] (2212-0439) 6Couchette 15 euro
[b]Prague - Budapest[/b] (2345-0835) 6Couchette 9,40 euro/4C 14 euro
[b]Budapest - Beograd [/b](2200-0632) 6C 8 euro/4C 10 euro
[b]Beograd - Bar[/b] (2010-0728) 6 6 euro
[b]FERRY Bar - Bari [/b](no interrail, 56 euro for bed, 44 euro for deck seat) Every thursday and sunday, (2230-0830)
[b]Bari - Rome [/b](0715 - 1120)
[b]Rome - St. Moritz[/b]
Rome - Milan (0700-1000)
Milaan - Tirano (14:20-16:50)
Tirano - St. Moritz. (17:40-20:09)
[b]St. Moritz - Zürich[/b]
St.Moritz - Chur (0702-0903)
Chur - Zürich (0909-1123)
[b]Zürich - Köln [/b]Reservation 4,50
We'd like to hear what you think!
[img:2gesdwcv]http://snag.gy/EFz8q.jpg[/img:2gesdwcv]
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Hi!
- Do you want to stay in Cologne or would this just be your starting point? If the latter is the case you might want to think about taking the night train from Arnhem to Prague :arr: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-night-train/amsterdam-prague-cnl457/15[/u]
Then you could go Prague - Vienna - Budapest (Prague - Vienna would be possible overnight).
- If you are a group of 4 I would always invest into 4bed couchette accomodation.
- Personally I would tend towards route 2 since I really like Montenegro: If you take this route, I'd strongly recommend to travel Belgrad - Bar during the day since it is one of Europe's most spectacular railway lines. Also, dont rush through Montenegro but stay at least one or two nights, it is worth it. For instance you can get pretty easily from Podgorica or Bar to Kotor by bus.
- St Moritz is quite dull, nothin special to see there; instead I would recommend to stay on top the Bernina pass at Ospizio Bernina; alternatively there is also a Youth Hostel in Pontresina directly at the station, much more convenient than the Youth Hostel in St Moritz.
Have you seen the blog post about the Bernina route yet? :arr: [u]https://rail.cc/blog/zurich-milano-albula-bernina/[/u]
Thank you for supporting our work by purchasing your tickets at [ux]https://rail.shop/interrail[/ux] or [ux]https://rail.shop/nsinternational[/ux] :)
Flo 8)
Mathew
Traveller
4 comments
Hey Flo!
Thank you very much for your reply! As unexperienced young adults we really appreciate the help of a pro.
- First of all we're not planning to visit the city Köln itself, however, we thought it would make more sense not to take the night train on the first day, because you then will lose one day of the 22 days available. So as you travel by night train, the first day goes in as soon as you step on the night train (19h rule is not apliccable). Is this logical reasoning? Another reason for us starting in Köln was that we are dutch, so our Interrail ticket isn't valid in the Netherlands.
- We will definitely take the 4 compartments. Sometimes, however, there are only 4 compartments available in 1st class, can you then upgrade for one night, even though you have a 2nd class ticket?
- Route two was also our favorite after discussing it more. We will also definitely take the day train to Bar, it would be such a pity if all that beauty, that we didn't know of, wouldn't be seen in the dark. We're planning to stay in Montenegro for 4 days on the following camping: http://oliva.co.me/kamp-en.htm
- The Bernina route looks amazing! Thanks very much for that. We're planning to take tents with us, any recommendation for a good camping site in Ospizio Bernina? Is this the route you mean?
Dep 0620 / Arr 1523 / [u]https://rail.cc/en/train/milan-to-zurich[/u]
Again, thanks so much for your guys advices. We will definitely buy all our tickets on interrail!
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
You\'re welcome. :)
It is true that you would lose one day if you\'d take the night train from Arnhem. However you will need a ticket at least until the border anyway (or all the way through to Köln if you would stay there overnight before starting with InterRail).
The 1900 rule would be applicable if you would have an extra ticket covering the stretch from Arnhem to Emmerich (Gr), the border point and if the IR ticket would be valid already (eg you leave on April 23 you could use the 1900 rule and only mark April 24 as travel day but the IR ticket would have to be valid on the 23 already).
Yes, you could upgrade to 1st class if needed, but I am wondering on which route you would need that?
Few pics from Montenegro, we took the Budapest - Bar night train last year:
[p]http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3764/9724979514_18b69520eb_b.jpg[/p]
[p]http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3688/9724979020_a3f6f6f562_b.jpg[/p]
Blog post to follow...
Humm...do you plan on camping in all of the cities you are visiting? It makes not much sense to lug a tent around only for a few nights of your trip.
Accomodation also is not too expensive in most of the places you are visiting and you would usually need extra tickets for public transport to get in and out the city centre. Anyway, if you want to go by tent, do it! I did this myself during my first few trips as well. :)
Bernina route really is amazing; if you decide to go by tent there is a really nice campsite at Morteratsch: [u]https://rail.cc/en/morteratsch/accommodation/c[/u]
If you stay in the area overnight and keep to your initial plan of visiting Milano before, thus arriving late in the Bernina area you should really go back up to the top on the following day during daylight.. :)
Please buy your tickets at one of the links above; as we are not linked with InterRail we only get a bit of money if you use these links, thank you.
Flo 8)
Mathew
Traveller
4 comments
Hmm that's true. Maybe our parents will drive us to Köln, if not, we might use your idea. The train to Bar looks like something that is only seen in movies, can't wait! We are indeed planning to take lightweight tents with us, we've already planned some camping sites in the cities. The campsite at Morteratsch does indeed look great.
Thanks for all advises so far, we will try to work everything out. We now know to find you! :D And of course we will buy all tickets via railcc in return of the amazing possibilities and services you guys provide. Also we will try to document our trip with a GoPro, so even a blog might follow 8)
If there are any more recommendations, we would be pleased to hear them.
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Alright - you might also book a cheap advance fare ticket to Köln at [ux]https://rail.shop/nsinternational[/ux] or [ux]https://rail.shop/bahn[/ux] and spend a night there before you set off with InterRail - it is quite a nice place, especially if you have a drink in the old town along the Rhine. :)
Thanks for supporting! It\'d be great if you would make a blog/video - maybe this would serve as inspiration? :arr: www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yVuI3iVthM
Recommendations...humm I\'ll think about some.
For a start: Pizzeria Andrea in Via dei Mille, just behind Roma Termini: Best pizza in town.