Minty14
Traveller
11 comments
Posted 8 years ago
Hi all
I'm looking at interrailing this summer and I've just got a couple of questions that I can't seem to find an aswer to elsewhere, so apologies if I've been an idiot and missed an answer somewhere :|
Say for example I were to purchase the 7 days in 1 month pass, this means I can travel for 7 days over a period of 1 month. If I were to start my journey with a train to a London airport (I live in the UK), this is counted as one of my travel days I think, which means I essentially have 5 days for european travel and an outbound and inbound train journey.
For these remaining 5 days, does this mean that I could get as many trains as I like in the same day? Say for example I went from Paris to Brussels, stayed for an hour or so then on from Brussels to Amsterdam, staying again for a little while and then getting another train out of Amsterdam, and this would all just be one travel day, leaving me 4 left?
Also, if I were to get a ferry from somewhere, e.g Spain to Italy, this counts as a travel day the same as if it were a train journey?
Thanks in advance for any answers, I'm getting slightly confused by this :D
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Hi!
Yes, if you have a Flexi pass (eg 7in1 month) you need to use a travel day if you want to travel in your country of residence.
The average cost of a travel day of the 7in1 month is 35€/27GBP, so if you have a cheaper option to get to the airport, use it. ;) Keep in mind that Interrail is not valid on both Heathrow Express and Connect services.
As the possibility to use Interrail in your country is new, you might encounter some still unknowing staff I assume but since the rules are written on the pass dont worry (also, staff in the GB never really bothered checking my Interrail tickets).
On a travel day outside your country of residence you can use as many trains as you like between 00:00 and 23:59; if you travel overnight you can also make use of the 19:00 rule: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-night-train[/u]
If a ferry offers free transportation, a travel day is needed (but only the ferries between Greece and Italy, between mainland Italy and Sicily as well as the Helsingborg (Sweden) - Helsingor (Denmark) ferries are free.
If you use other ferries (such as Barcelona - Civitavecchia/Livorno) no travel day is needed, even if you are granted a discount.
If you have more questions jusk ask. 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)
Minty14
Traveller
11 comments
Hi Flo, many thanks for your helpful reply! :D
I have just a couple more questions:
How does it work if a long journey is across 2 days? Say for example I got a night train which left at 6:30pm and arrived the next day? I know the 7pm rule which applies if you depart after 7pm and arrive after 4am, but what about if the journey happens overnight but doesn't fall within these times?
Also, with regard to reservations for high speed/overnight trains, is there some info on the pass to put in when making a reservation online? So that you put this in and then only have to pay the €30 or whatever for the reservation/extra charge?
Thanks again :)
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
On longer overnight journeys you are going to have to use two travel days of your pass. However, it is also possible on most night trains to book a regular ticket to the first scheduled stop after 19:00 and then use the 19:00-rule and just use one travel day.
In general, online reservations for Interrail pass holders are not very common. If they are available, you usually have to select Interrail, rail pass or global pass to get the Interrail reservation.
Online reservations are possible for France at [ux]https://rail.shop/sncf/reservation/[/ux] for Italy at trenitalia.com for Sweden at sj.se/en for Czech Republic at [ux]https://rail.shop/cd/[/ux]
Many reservations are also available via [ux]https://rail.shop/acprail/reservation/[/ux]
Minty14
Traveller
11 comments
Thanks again! That sounds like a very good idea regarding overnight trains.
I was more thinking about reservations for high speed and overnight trains, I don't plan on reserving seats on normal trains :)
I've just looked at a high speed train between Madrid and Barcelona as an example via [ux]https://rail.shop/acprail/reservation/[/ux] and it says the seat reservation is £12.00 for second class, so I'm assuming this means that my interrail pass is used as the train ticket, but the £12 reservation is also required to board the train, so it's a supplement of £12 in order to use the high speed train
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
There are high speed trains which require no reservation (eg ICE in Germany) and normal trains which do (eg IC trains in Hungary), so you cant really say that high speed trains = compulsory reservation and normal train = no reservation
Regarding the AVE high speed trains between Madrid and Barcelona, the reservation fare locally at a station is 10e, ACP adds a small fee on top of that.
Like you said, your Interrail pass is your ticket on top of which you need reservations to board certain trains.
List of reservations: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-train-reservation[/u]
Minty14
Traveller
11 comments
That link is just what I was looking for, so than you once again for your help.
I was mainly concerned about how far in advance I would need to book a reservataion, but it seems possible to just go to the station a few days before or even on the day itself and get a reservation then.
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Yeah, normally you can show up on the day and get your reservation. As in the UK, trains tend to be full during peak times (esp friday/sunday evenings) so there is a risk of trains being fully booked then. Also, in France 9€ reservations for TGV are limited and can be 18€ at short notice.
If you know in advance that you are going to need a certain train/connection or if there are just a few trains each day it also makes sense to get such reservations early.
Minty14
Traveller
11 comments
Thank you so much for all your help Flo! :D
The route I'm thinking of taking is Rome---Venice---Vienna---Budapest---Berlin, taking an overnight train on from Venice to Vienna and from Budapest to Berlin. Is it recommended to book night trains far in advance? I'm not worried about travelling Rome to Venice or Vienna to Budapest as they are regional trains and reservations are not required.
I've got the links on the rail.cc to book reservations which you provided, and it seems to be €20-€40 for a reservation on a night train depending on whether I take a sleeper or a couchette. Does this mean I could book over the internet before I leave and get a ticket sent to my home address, or use an e-ticket/reservation number?
Apologies if this seems silly but I'm a complete newbie to this :)
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Rome - Venice: Hourly Frecciarossa and Frecciargento high speed trains are the fastest option, taking just 3h45. Reservation (10€) required, buy locally at a ticket machine - using the Global Pass fare.
Venice - Vienna: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-night-train/venice-vienna-en-236/97[/u] Online reservation possible, collect reservation at a ticket machine in Italy.
Vienna - Budapest: At least two-hourly direct Railjet or Eurocity express trains, no reservation required.
Budapest - Berlin: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-night-train/budapest-berlin-en-476/54[/u] Online reservation possible, however only paper tickets are available which have to be sent to your home adress. You could wait until your trip to get the reservation locally at a station (for instance in Vienna). In case that the night train was full you could also go with the Budapest - Prague night train, spend a couple of hours in Prague before continuing to Berlin: [u]https://rail.cc/blog/berlin-prague-train/[/u]
Dont forget to support us and buy via [ux]https://rail.shop/interrail[/ux] ;)
Minty14
Traveller
11 comments
Of course I will buy via this website, you've been so helpful :D
I was slightly confused about the fare that would need to be selected for reservations, if there is no specific Interrail fare/ticket am I just to select Global Pass Fare or something similar?
Do you know roughly how long it would take for a paper ticket to arrive in the UK? I didn't know that it was possible to book a train, for instance Budapest to Berlin, in a different country (Austria) but I'll just do that if paper tickets would take too long to arrive.
Thank you for the tip about Prague, I'll certainly do that should the Berlin train be full, or maybe I'll just do it anyway. It seems to me that the Budapest to Berlin train actually stops at Prague, so the Budapest to Prague may be the same train and is simply split when reaching Prague :)
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Thanks for supporting. :)
Global Pass usually is the designation for rail pass reservations - as they are available not only for Interrail pass holders but also for eg Eurail travellers from outside of Europe.
The paper ticket from DB (German Railways) for Budapest - Berlin) should take up to eight working days, if you follow the links to the night trains above it is explained how to get the reservations online.
In mainland Europe you can book in most countries tickets and reservations for trains to and within other countries, no big deal. However it is not possible in all countries (Portugal sells only reservations to Spain and maybe France I think; Sweden doesnt sell any at all) and you sometimes have to pay a fee (Netherlands and I think Belgium and Denmark).
The Budapest - Berlin and Budapest - Prague night trains indeed are coupled together, however to Pardubice only so that you dont arrive too early in Prague:
[u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-night-train/budapest-prague-en-476/218[/u]
Online reservation for the Budapest - Prague night train should be possible via Czech Railways [ux]https://rail.shop/cd/[/ux] however seat reservation is not compulsory.
Minty14
Traveller
11 comments
Thanks again Flo :)
The Budapest to Prague train seems cheaper than the Budapest to Berlin, the most expensive reservation for a single sleeper compartment is around €50 whereas the Berlin train is about twice that. It also appears that you can book online with Czech Railways no problem.
What I did notice on the German rail website was that there does seem to be an option for online reservation, but I'm not sure if it is only limited to Bahn card holders, as there is something about identity verification being required.
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Yeah the Prague train is considerably cheaper, although if you are lucky you will be booked into an identical ( quite comfortable) sleeping car.
Yes, you can make certain reservations online at [ux]https://rail.shop/bahn[/ux] - for instance night train reservations for trains to and from Germany are possible. No BahnCard required, but as I mentioned above reservations have to be sent by mail.
Explanations how to make such reservations can be found it the link I posted: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-night-train/budapest-berlin-en-476/54[/u]
Minty14
Traveller
11 comments
Ah right, I was getting confused as DB BAHN site states say that it is possible to buy an online ticket and then print it out from your own computer. I assume this is just referring to the ticket and the (seperate) reservation is what must be sent via mail?
Think I shall opt for the Czech option anwyay but it is nice to know for the future :)
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
It depends on the connection whether online (=print at home or PDF on mobile device) tickets are available or not. For instance, online tickets are not possible for inbound (= to Germany) trains from some countries where train staff doesnt have the devices to check online tickets for validity.
Regarding seat reservations for Interrail, these have to be sent by mail - or were you offered an online seat reservation? If so, for what connection?
Minty14
Traveller
11 comments
You are quite correct, I just wasn't going through to the next stage as it was payment and I didn't want to actually purchase anything yet.
I was met with the screen you can see in the attached picture:
It is possible to book an online ticket and print it out via Czech Railways for booking the Budapest to Prague train, but what isn't immediately clear is that a 1st Class ticket is required for travel in a single sleeper, even if it is only a single Economy class rather than deluxe.
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
OK, I would have been surprised since I also checked if there are other options possible rather than sending the reservation via mail. ;)
Single sleeper requires a first class ticket on most night trains.
It is also mentioned here: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-night-train/budapest-prague-en-476/218[/u]
Minty14
Traveller
11 comments
Just about to buy my pass (via the link of course!), I've got 2 more questions then I shall leave you alone (for now) :D
When I enter the starting date when I order the pass, this is simply the first day of validity? So does this mean that I could have the pass start on one day, but not actually decide to take my first train until a day or two later?
Also, when entering journey details in the travel diary, is it necessary to enter the destination? For example, what would I do if I took the train from Vienna to Budapest but then decided to get off at various stops, have a look around and then get the next train to Budapest?
Thanks :)
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
You dont have to travel on the first day of validity. :)
Normally it is required to enter departure and arrival station in the travel diary and I would do so. It wont be a problem though if you decide to leave the train spontaneously an continue later - simply fill in a new line in the travel diary.
Thanks for supporting and just ask away if there are more questions :)
Minty14
Traveller
11 comments
Just wanted to make sure with the travel diary :)
If I went from Vienna to Budapest, I would put Vienna (station name) - Budapest (station name) before boarding the train, but if I decide to get off at Station X and then get a later train that continued onto Budapest, I would put Station X - Budapest in the diary?
And would I be able to hop on and off like this as many times as I chose?
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Well, I can only tell from my own experience that on 10+ Interrail trips throughout all of Europe the travel diary got checked less than 10 times. Of course I fill it in correctly on every trip but it would surprise me if anyone would make a fuss if you'd get off at another station than you filled in. And if you do so, I would cross out the departure and correct it (dont mess around with the travel calendar though where you fill in travel days - if you enter a wrong date here, you are not allowed to change it, this is much more serious than the travel diary). The main purpose of the travel diary btw is to document your journeys so that Eurailgroup (the company overseeing the Interrail and Eurail offer) can calculate the amount of kilometres you travel in each country so that revenue can be shared accordingly amongst railway companies.
Minty14
Traveller
11 comments
That's good to know, that is what I do should I decide to hop off :D
My pass got here today, am I correct in assuming that all I need to fill in is the travel dates and diary? There is a part of the travel diary about outbound and inbound journey from my country of residence, but as I'm not going to use the inbound/outbound option (rather I'm taking flights to and from my home country) I don't think this applies. You can see how its done in the example image but I think that's only because it includes an inbound and outbound journey
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Yeah, if you dont use the pass for inbound/outbound travel just leave these parts empty. :)
The remaining parts fill in as in the example.