Sunsh1ne
Traveller
0 comments
Posted 10 years ago
Next summer my daughters will be 13 and 14 years old and they will attend Dana Cup in Denmark in July. We want to continue our vacation from Denmark and buy interrail passes 10 in 22 days. I would like to use night trains when its possible instead of travel in daytime except when we take the Zurich - Milano trip, we really look forward to the Bernina railway and might stop several times and sleep over if we can find a good place. We want a vacation with fun for the children and not shopping and museums every day. They like roller coasters and aqua parks and that stuff so if someone has good knowledge, please let me know. We want to go to Normandy and see the landing beaches, and my youngest girl would really like to end the trip in London. Is it very expensive to take trains to London from France? I was hoping it was just a small extra fee but it looks like its very expensive? So, my questions: Would you advice me to buy 1st class tickets for me and my girls? Im a woman if thats important. Its a different in price, though. And does our plan look ok? We had 3 important points with this vacation: travel through the alps, see Normandy, London and have fun, so if you would recommend other routs for me its Go Ahead!
Here is our first thoughts of plan:
Hjorring – Copenhagen, nighttrain
Copenhagen - Basel, nighttrain
Basel – Zurich
Zurich – Milano, jump off somewhere in the middle and find a nice place (or more) to sleep.
Milano – Paris nighttrain
Paris – Le Havre
Le Havre – Paris
Paris – London
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Hi!
Sorry for the late answer but luckily there's still enough time until next summer... ;)
IMO you will be fine with 2nd class tickets - better spend the extra money on food, accomodation etc... The main reason for me would be the huge price gap since there is no Youth Pass for 1st class, unfortunately. :|
Regarding route route; the overnight train from Hjorring to Copenhagen is just a regular IC train with no couchette or sleeper options; however seats are quite comfortable so it is ok for one overnight trip IMO.
The Copenhagen - Basel night train will be withdrawn in a few days and not run anymore in 2015... :( So, you could travel to Hamburg during the day and then take the night train to Zürich from there.
Zürich - Milan via the Bernina Railway: [u]https://rail.cc/blog/zurich-milano-albula-bernina/[/u]
On the Milan - Paris night train, you only get a 25% reduction with your InterRail pass since it is operated by private company Thello; fares currently are 71€ in a 6bed couchette, 90€ in a 4bed couchette; sleeper accomodation is only available to 1st class ticket holders, 3bed sleeper would be 113€ then (all fares per person).
To get to London I would recommend to use a ferry which will be cheaper than using the Eurostar through the Channel Tunnel (which would be from 89€ with the InterRail ticket); there are for example two Le Havre - Portsmouth services available; for example the crossing with LD Lines is just 32€, however you would then have to spend the night in Portsmouth since arrival is only at 2130. The other operator, Brittany Ferries offers overnight services, prices start at 39€ in a pullman seat.
However, there is a number of different ferry routes as well, for instance Caen - Portsmouth, Cherbourg - Portsmouth/Poole and of course Calais - Dover.
Also keep in mind that there are almost no railway lines that run along the coast, you will have to rely on buses to get to most historical sites. However there is a line from Trouville to Dives which will be practical depending on where exactly you are headed.
Flo 8)