Woodster
Traveller
2 comments
Posted 15 years ago
Hello,
I've been reading this site with great interest and I am still a little bit puzzled and confused! :|
I am hoping to go interrailing and I want to include these countries/cities :
* - France, Paris
* - Berlin, Germany
* - Austria, Salzburg
* - Rome, Italy
* - Pisa, Italy
* - Athens, Greece
Now my question's are -
1) Is this a good bunch of countries/cities to visit?
2) How the hell do I start out - I am a bit useless at understanding timetables etc.
Do I need to book all the train journeys before hand, or can I just turn up at a station and book a train?
Do you need to book all the hostel accomodation beforehand?
3) I'll be starting out in England, is it best to get the Eurostar to Paris and then start using the IR ticket around the countries and then fly home from Athens?.
All help will me much appreciated!!
Thanking you
SiDUDe
Traveller
752 comments
Hi
This sounds great - these cities are really amazing (although id substitute pisa for florence...) They are mostly western european and so all quite expensive however.
2) Dont Panic! Most of the time you do not need to book tickets beforehand, you can just turn up and get on a train (obviously it helps if you know when the train is leaving...) For some high speed trains and most night trains you need a reservation/suppliment, that you can pay for at the train station (ideally a few days in advance so they dont sell out)
I tend to book hostel accomodation the day before I arrive in a new city, that way I can remain flexible, but always know ill have a roof over me!
3) The eurostar is one option, though it can be quite expensive. Another is to get the ferry from dover and then carry on from there.
If you have limited time you might want to look into the ferry that goes between italy and greece, for which there is discount with the IR ticket. Otherwise, if youre feeling a bit more adventurous/have more time travelling through the balkans is a really great experience
Woodster
Traveller
2 comments
Thanks for all the advice,
When you book a hostel the day before - do you do it online at an internet cafe?
So much to sort out - June 2010 seems ages off until I sit down on this website!
Woodster
Traveller
2 comments
Also, does anybody have any recc's for good hostels to stay at in those cities?
SiDUDe
Traveller
752 comments
Yeah i do it either in the hostel if they have internet or in a cafe