msexton
Traveller
8 comments
Posted 8 years ago
HI all,
A group of 5 of my friends and myself are interrailling from Lake Garda to Madrid this July and I was wondering if people could make suggestions as to the route we have chosen in terms of things to do/see and places to go.
The route is as follows:
LAKE GARDA - NICE - BARCELONA - MADRID - BENICASSIM - MADRID (fly home).
2nd - 4th - 5-7 - 8th - 11th - 12th-14th - 15th - 17th - 18th (Dates in July)
We are going to FIB in Benicassim btw and perhaps would travel to Pamplona whilst staying in Barcelona for the running of the bulls. Any suggestions/tips would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Mark
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Hi Mark!
Where are you flying to? Bergamo? Then you should also visit the city. From Lake Garda, Verona would be an obvious choice for a day trip too.
Travelling from Milan to Nice, avoid the direct EC Thello services which only give a discount for Interrail - you do not have to use a travel day, but the discounted ticket will be 34€.
Nice to Barcelona will take up a whole day of travelling. Personally I would go along the old line on the coast via Montpellier - Perpignan - Cerbere - Portbou, avoiding high speed trains. If you want to travel quicker, take the direct AVE/TGV high speed services to Barcelona which will cost over 10€ [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-train-reservation/tgv-france-espana/298[/u]
Barcelona - Madrid is by frequent AVE trains (10€ reservation); Madrid - Benicassim via Valencia will be 10€/6,50€ depending on the train.
This route could be done with the 5in15 Interrail; if you want to go to Pamplona you would need the 7in1month but this would take 4h each way so I dont know if it would be worth given your tight schedule.
With your route and date already set you could also look for regular rail tickets bought in advance.
Check [ux]https://rail.shop/omio[/ux] or thello.com for Thello trains Milan - Nice (buy Lake Garda - Milan locally); [ux]https://rail.shop/omio[/ux] or [ux]https://rail.shop/sncf/[/ux] for Nice - Barcelona and [ux]https://rail.shop/acprail/renfe[/ux] or renfe.com for trips in Spain.
We are official partners of interrail.eu - to support the free information and the forum on railcc, please be fair and buy your official Interrail pass via our railcc partner link: [ux]https://rail.shop/interrail[/ux]
Thank you! :)
Flo 8)
msexton
Traveller
8 comments
Hi Flo,
I'm flying to Malpensa. Do you mean visit Milan? Thanks for the information on all the routes. Will look into it.
Mark
msexton
Traveller
8 comments
Sorry Flo,
Do you know how frequent the trains are from Linate airport to Milano Centrale station? Or if there are even any trains? Is it busses that run?
Thanks again
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Ah, I was assuming Bergamo since it is also a popular airport for low-cost flights to the Milan area.
Linate has no rail connection.
chloe_hand
Traveller
12 comments
Hi Flo,
I'm also planning on going from Nice-Barcelona. I want to get the 12:21 that gets to Barcelona at 20:40. I understand this would require a reservation for each train (due to the change over) of 9 euros for both = 18euros. I'm happy to pay this but reservation websites aren't letting me book it?
I get the message:
'Online prices are currently unavailable for the selected route.
Please call 1-866-938-RAIL (toll free for USA & Canada) to complete your booking.
We apologize for any inconvenience.'
no matter which date I select. Do you have to book this route in a station? I'd rather book it beforehand as it's a train we need to get!
Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
Hi.
Interrail reservations for the high-speed-trains France to Spain are only available to purchase at stations, not online.
If you travel this route by Interrail, you can also do it for free, by slower, regional trains. I personally recommend a stop along your way of the French coast. Or to include the Pyrenees.
Check these two blogs for inspirations:
Cote Bleue: [u]https://rail.cc/blog/scenic-train-cote-bleue/[/u]
Little Yellow Train: [u]https://rail.cc/blog/little-yellow-train-video/[/u]
Pete :)
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Reservations for high speed trains between France and Spain are now also available at train stations outside of France and Spain, however not available online.