killcur
Traveller
7 comments
Posted 15 years ago
Hello, I am probably one of many that is confused by the whole Interrail thing, could someone answer a few of my questions?
A group of us are going interrailing in August/September this year, What train would be the best to get from either Eindhoven/Rotterdam to Berlin? taking into account that this trip is planned on a budget, so basically can someone recommend the cheapest train to get between these 2 places?
We will have purchased one of the flexi interrail tickets and will these tickets be valid to travel between countries? I cannot make any sense of the interrail guidelines!
I am in need of help :P
Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
Hi ...
That's why we help with this forum ... to make it more easier for yo to understand everything. :)
First question: what is your country of residence, as in this you can not travel for free. If it is not the Netherlands and not Germany, the cheapest way without any supplements is by free IC train from Eindhoven/Rotterdam to Amersfoort and then change to the free and direct EC/IC Amsterdam to Berlin:
[u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/amsterdam-to-berlin[/u]
Direct [b]Rotterdam - Berlin[/b]: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/rotterdam-to-berlin[/u]
Next question: do you only want to travel this single route... or also have a return travel or visit some more countries or cities within Europe.
If you only want to have this single journey, a normal single rail ticket will be cheaper. InterRail is better for hopping around.
And you would need a ONE COUNTRY Pass for NETHERLANDS and a ONE COUNTRY Pass GERMANY - each for 3 days in a month.
[u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail[/u]
And if you want to support this forum and project, order them at [ux]https://rail.shop/interrail[/ux] :)
Peter :)
killcur
Traveller
7 comments
Man you are on the ball that was a quick response...thank you.
My country of residence is Ireland.
We are flying into Brussells on the 29th August and then its Holland, Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Czech Re. Hungary and fly home from Prague then.
Getting to Berlin will be the longest train journey so any recommendation is appreciated.
What ticket would you recommend to buy for this trip?
While I am asking questions, could you recommend what is the best route to get if booking the TGV, the fast train? I wont be doing it this time but I would like to travel on it, I heard it goes nearly 500 kilometre/hour :o
Thank you,
Cillian.
Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
Okay Cillian ... here are the details I need... :) Oh now... still one date... when are you flying back home to Ireland at which day? And are all members of your group aged 25 or younger? or 26 and older or mixed...?!? :)
killcur
Traveller
7 comments
OK sorry I should have supplied those bits.
We are flying back either the 14 or 15 September from Prague and the group is all over 26 but under 30.
we plan on doing 2 days in most of the countries mentioned but some might be missed out as we are definitely flying back from Prague.
Cheers.
Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
Okay, then lets start...
the best option would be for you the InterRail GLOBAL Pass ADULT - 10 in 22 days:
[u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-global-pass[/u]
Then you have a period of time of 22 days in which you can use 10 days for train travels. Fill in the travel days manually in your ticket whenever you need them.
Use the connection mentioned above for your travel to Berlin.
For others the schedule planer: [u]https://rail.cc/en/search-interrail-route[/u]
And pay attention to the supplements: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-train-reservation[/u]
But the countries you selected, do not have a lot of supplements - most trains are free!!
Except some night trains - which are listed here at the country topics of the forum .
If you have any questions concerning connections between cities, just let me know and I can give you the details. :)
For the TGV ... yes ... it is definitely fast...! :) If you want to use it I recommend to have this journey outside of the peak season. Better to do it in spring or autumn. Then just fly to France and use an ONE Country Pass FRANCE: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-pass-france[/u]
If you order via the link mentioned above, you support this forum and project. Thank you.
Peter :)
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
[quote]
While I am asking questions, could you recommend what is the best route to get if booking the TGV, the fast train? I wont be doing it this time but I would like to travel on it, I heard it goes nearly 500 kilometre/hour :o
[/quote]
Just to make that clear:
TGV runs up to 320km/h on following routes: Paris - Baudrecourt (- Strasbourg) and Avignon TGV - Aix-en-Provence TGV. On all other high-speed lines the vmax is 300 km/h. However the TGV runs on standard lines too. ;)
The TGV also set the world speed record for a wheel-based railway: 574,8 km/h set on 3rd of April 2007 on the above mentioned track Paris - Baudrecourt by special adapted trainset V150.
Best route to take if you just want to go by TGV for fun probably would be a trip Paris - Marseille in a TGV Duplex (bi-level TGV)...753 km in 3 hours...
Flo 8)
killcur
Traveller
7 comments
Thank you Peter, you have been most helpful.
I think I have it now, if we buy the interrail ticket you suggested in the last post, we will get on most trains without having to pay anything, just to fill in the ticket when boarding?
Then some journeys if we want to get a fast train etc. we can pay a supplement to get on that train?
Cheers.
Now the TGV, I saw it on the Where in the hell is Matt clip on youtube, so I searched and I saw the clip of the world record.
Paris - Marseille, that quick that is crazy, when I do it that is the route I will be taking.
Cheers Flow, thank you for the information.
Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
yes ... correct. just fill in manually the date of the travel day (easy to do) and enter the train.
and on some high-speed-trains, you will have to pay a supplement (listed at the link above) - but as I said: not often in these countries and if there is one, it will be a cheap one.
if you know some of your journeys, let me know and I will check it for you and as well give you free options to avoid trains with supplements.
but the basics like Netherlands-Berlin then Berlin to the East are free! :)
killcur
Traveller
7 comments
The plan is to go from Brussels to rotterdam hopefully or Eindhoven, then it is onto berlin definitely, from there it will be onto Krakow, then it will be into Slovakia(dont know where yet, prob decide when over there), then it will be Budapest and then if there is time we will head into either Vienna or Salzburg and fly home from Prague on the 14th/15th September.
I know there is only about 2 weeks but we are going to try and fit in as much as possible.
Cillian.
Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
For 2 weeks it is okay this tour ...
Within the Netherlands or eventually Belgium, use the free IC trains - do NOT use the expensive THALYS
Netherlands to Berlin is mentioned above (also free).
From Berlin to Krakow I recommend to do this by the direct night train (book early if you are a group - maybe already in the Netherlands):
[u]https://rail.cc/en/train/berlin-to-krakow[/u]
Berlin-Lichtenberg Dep: 2104
Krakow Glowny Arr: 0918
Krakow to Slovakia (Bratislava): there is a direct night train - compare these prices:
[u]https://rail.cc/en/train/krakow-to-vienna[/u]
From Bratislava you can go to Vienna (1 hour) then to Budapest (3-4 hours)... use the Railjet train which is direct and free of supplements.
[u]https://rail.cc/en/search-interrail-route[/u]
Then... there are several night train possibilities back via Vienna to Prague. Have a look at the country topics - and of course the train schedules.
Peter :)
killcur
Traveller
7 comments
Hello again, you are very helpful.
I figured Berlin to Krakow would be a night train journey, when taking a night train am I right in saying that there would be supplement to be paid? and would it be better to book these sort of journeys in advance or could we show up on the evening and buy the tickets at the station?
I have probably asked this before but theres so much to know about the Euro train system.
Cheers.
Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
... just click the link I mentioned above... there are the supplements listed. and better to buy this supplement in advance - you save the hostel - but in summer the train might be full. buy it on your arrival in Berlin for example. :)
sapphojean
Traveller
1 comments
hi there!!
i am just a little confussed when it comes to choosing a pass for my trip around europe. I am travelling for two months so at this stage am thinking i will have to purchase two tickets??
my plan is the start in Amsterdam > Berlin> Prague> Budapest> Italy... maybe a ferry accross to greece and a few stops in italy from south to north and then across to paris and a stop or two on the way down to barcelona then a couple of stops down the coast of spain... so basically i want to see italy, france and spain the most and am just doing a quick stop over in the other places mentioned... i just need some advice on which passes to get, as i have no idea how many days of travelling this actually will work out to be! i am also worried that i am going to spend alot of money on my pass only to find that i cannot get max use out of it and have to spend more money on other forms of transport! ... am a bit worried also about the whole supplement thing??? would this be the case??
any advice would be very appreciated.. am a little confussed and overwhelmed by the whole thing!!
thanks heaps
Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
hej ... :)
if you want to get the maximum out of your InterRail ticket, you have to plan exactly.
the cities, the route, where to start, where to end, the night trains you want/can use.
then you can chose your perfect ticket.
but if you want to have freedom and flexibility, move on if you dislike a city or the weather is bad - or if you meet other nice travelers and spontaneously decide to stay for some more days or to join them for a week, then an InterRail GLOBAL Pass will be the best solution for you.
and yes ... if you want to travel two months, you need more than one ticket. the maximum of flexibility is then the 2 X InterRail GLOBAL Pass - 1 month continuous. :)
but if you only want to travel around France or Spain the second month, maybe have a swell a look on the ONE Country Pass SPAIN and ONE Country Pass FRANCE.
and in deed ... especially in Spain you have to pay often supplements. As well in France and Italy, bit there you have as alternative at least free regional trains - which are slower, but you see more of the country - I even prefer this way of travel in Italy (and France as well sometimes).
Spain is a bit ugly concerning supplements.
always have a look at the journey planer: [u]https://rail.cc/en/search-interrail-route[/u]
and then compare to the supplements: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-train-reservation[/u]
night trains are mentioned at the country topics here at the forum .
Peter :)