da1jonty
Traveller
3 comments
Posted 14 years ago
Hi everyone! I'm new to the forums, and new to InterRailing - I signed up in the hope of finalising and buying InterRail passes ASAP as my departure date is fast approaching!!! (I'm kicking myself for not having discovered this forum weeks ago...)
Anyway, I'm a bit stressed trying to visualize and plan out my massive backpacking trip through Europe, I'm a first-timer, and it seems daunting! I've tried to figure out as much as I can by reading up on the Internet, but there's nothing like getting words of wisdom and other advice from people who are a lot more knowledgeable than me!! I hope y'all can help me out on this, I would be really grateful!!!
OK, so I'm going to touch down in Copenhagen on Nov 12th to kick off my European adventure, and would like to organise InterRail passes ASAP - so I realise that getting a good idea of my travel route is IMPERATIVE as it will hugely influence what Passes I should buy and what Start Dates I need to specify before ordering.
My first leg will be through Scandinavia(mid-to-late Nov), second leg Baltic States (end of Nov/beginning of Dec), third leg Poland(early Dec), fourth leg Germany(mid to late Dec), ... after that yet to decide which way to go, BUT I have one fixed date :- I must be in Budapest on Jan 7-9 2011. This is proving a challenge as it means I am unsure where I'll be come that first week of January, and then probably have to fast train or at a stretch, take a budget flight to Budapest... I'll get to that in a minute.
[b]SCANDINAVIA LEG[/b] - I want to visit Copenhagen, Gothenburg, Stockholm, Turku, Rauma, Helsinki. Travel Route envisioned:
[list:1tebi8gw]
[*:1tebi8gw]Copenhagen stay and sightseeing (Nov 12-15).[/*:m:1tebi8gw]
[*:1tebi8gw]On Nov 16th, travel to Gothenburg by train. Haven't looked up train schedules yet...[/*:m:1tebi8gw]
[*:1tebi8gw]Gothenburg stay and sightseeing (Nov 16-17).[/*:m:1tebi8gw]
[*:1tebi8gw]On Nov 18th, travel to Stockholm by train. Haven't looked up train schedules yet...[/*:m:1tebi8gw]
[*:1tebi8gw]Stockholm (Nov 18-21).[/*:m:1tebi8gw]
[*:1tebi8gw]On Nov 21st, take an evening ferry from Stockholm to Turku. Had a look at Tallinn Silja and Viking Lines, I'm leaning towards the latter.[/*:m:1tebi8gw]
[*:1tebi8gw]On Nov 22nd, arrive in Turku and sightsee for 1 day, maybe 2 days? (Turku Castle and Turku Cathedral at a minimum). This is the only undecided part of my Scandinavia leg - I want to catchup with an acquaintance who lives in Rauma which is a bit out of the way from the direction of Turku towards Helsinki... not yet heard back from her whether to meet up in Rauma (which might be nice to visit??) or she meets me in Turku...[/*:m:1tebi8gw]
[*:1tebi8gw]On Nov 24th evening or 25th morning, travel to Helsinki by train.[/*:m:1tebi8gw]
[*:1tebi8gw]Helsinki stay and sightseeing, including Suomenlinna Fortress on Saturday 27th, maybe squeeze in a visit to Espoo/Porvoo? (til Nov 27th).[/*:m:1tebi8gw]
[*:1tebi8gw]On Nov 27th evening or 28th morning, take ferry from Helsinki to Tallinn. Had a look at Tallinn Silja and Viking Lines, I'm leaning towards the latter.[/*:m:1tebi8gw][/list:u:1tebi8gw]
[b]My question(s):[/b] Originally, I thought I was going to just have 3 train journeys (Copenhagen->Gothenburg, Gothenburg->Stockholm, Turku->Finland) - it doesn't seem to justify the cost of buying a 5 out of 10 day flexi pass, if I'm only travelling 3 of those days. It was only yesterday I got the idea of going to Rauma from Turku, so now I'm seriously considering getting the 5 out of 10 day flexi pass - the train and/or bus from Turku to Rauma, and then back again to Turku, to then get on the train to Helsinki - this would surely maximise the use of the 5 out of 10 day flexi pass??
[b]BALTIC STATES LEG[/b] - I want to visit Tallinn, Riga, Vilnius (and Trakai Castle). I have just become aware that InterRail passes do NOT cover Baltic States - so I'm resigned to not using one here. Travel Route envisioned:
[list:1tebi8gw]
[*:1tebi8gw]Arrival into Tallinn on Dec 28th - stay and sightseeing Old Town and other attractions (Nov 28-30).[/*:m:1tebi8gw]
[*:1tebi8gw]On Dec 1st, travel to Riga by train/bus. Haven't looked up schedules yet...[/*:m:1tebi8gw]
[*:1tebi8gw]Arival into Riga on Dec 1st - stay and sightseeing (Dec 1-Dec 3).[/*:m:1tebi8gw]
[*:1tebi8gw]On Dec 4th, travel to Vilnius by train/bus. Haven't looked up schedules yet...[/*:m:1tebi8gw]
[*:1tebi8gw]Arrival into Vilnius on Dec 4th or 5th - stay and sightseeing, including a trip to Trakai Castle (Dec 4-Dec 6)[/*:m:1tebi8gw]
[*:1tebi8gw]On Dec 6th evening or 7th morning, make my way over the border to Poland[/*:m:1tebi8gw][/list:u:1tebi8gw]
[b]My question(s):[/b] Have I allowed for ample time to see the must-see attractions of each Baltic State capital?
[b]INTERRAIL PASS QUESTION![/b] I'm leaning towards buying multiple Global Passes, using the 10 out of 22 flexi type. I'm trying to see as many must-see places in my 4 month long backpacking tour of Europe, so whilst I don't want to rush each city, 2 days each on average, 3-4 days if its a particularly large city or capital. I'm a complete beginner, but 30 days continuous seems to encourage lots of train travel nearly every consecutive day - which defeats the purpose of me trying to enjoy each place for at least 1 or more days?
*** Travel Routes still up in the air for me, when it comes to Poland, Germany and beyond - would love to get some travel route suggestions please!!!
[b]POLAND[/b]
OK, thanks to Peter's reply about my Estonia->Poland question, I've updated my shortlist of Poland cities to visit to also include Warsaw:
- Warsaw, Gdansk, Malbork, Torun, Krakow, and Wroclaw
I'm trying not to zigzag too much, but it seems unavoidable here?? Should I go from Sestokai to Warsaw, then go in a circular direction towards Krakow, Wroclaw, then up towards the north, hitting Torun, Gdansk/Malbork -- then somehow from there, find the fastest route to Berlin? Does that seem a reasonably good route? Or should i go another way? Sestokai->Warsaw->Gdansk & Malbork->
I have already visited Krakow and Auschwitz for my first time earlier in May this year, I am undecided whether to include it again for a re-visit or sacrifice it from the list for seeing something I've not yet seen, e.g. Zakopane
Also, if I visit Gdansk, Gdynia seems really close by - if I'm strapped for time (i.e. trying to get to Germany), should I skip it or is Gdynia still good to visit in wintertime? I hazard a guess that its renowned beaches aren't exactly at their nicest to walk around in that time of year...
[b]GERMANY[/b]
From Poland, come straight to Germany to see the following places: Berlin, Potsdam (Sansoucci?), Lubeck, Hamburg, Cologne, Heidelberg, Neuschwanstein Castle, Munich, Nuremburg (a circular anti-clockwise direction).
Or, I could go from Berlin down to Nuremburg/Munich and do the above list in a circular clockwise direction? Berlin, Potsdam, Nuremburg, Munich, Neuschwanstein Castle, Heidelberg, Cologne, Hamburg, Lubeck.
Again the rough plan is to spend 2-3 days per city (Neuschwanstein Castle probably just the 1 day?), before using train or coach to travel to the next city.
From Germany, where to...?
I know I'd like to visit Utrecht, and visit a friend in Leuven in Belgium. I also want to make sure I visit these countries and their places at some point in my journey (January - April):
[list:1tebi8gw][*:1tebi8gw]Austria - Salzburg, Innsbruck, Vienna[/*:m:1tebi8gw]
[*:1tebi8gw]Switzerland - Lucerne, Interlaken (Grindelwald/Gimmelwald), Rapperswil[/*:m:1tebi8gw]
[*:1tebi8gw]Czech Republic - Cesky Krumlov, Prague[/*:m:1tebi8gw]
[*:1tebi8gw]Slovenia - Ljubljana, Bled, Postojna Caves?[/*:m:1tebi8gw]
[*:1tebi8gw]Spain - Barcelona (must-see), Valencia, Sevilla, Granada[/*:m:1tebi8gw]
[*:1tebi8gw]Italy - Pisa, Cinque Terre, Florence, Siena, San Gimignano, Orvieto[/*:m:1tebi8gw]
[*:1tebi8gw]Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Athens, Istanbul[/*:m:1tebi8gw]
[*:1tebi8gw]Russia - St Petersburg, Moscow[/*:m:1tebi8gw][/list:u:1tebi8gw]
But given their geographic locations, and my desire to not do TOO much zigzagging and inefficient travel routing, I'm having a hard time figuring out a semblance of a reasonable travel route via trains/buses - its giving me a real headache!!! :'(
As much as I'd like to go straight from Germany over to Utrecht in the Netherlands, and Brussels/Leuven in Belgium, I hazard a guess that because I have to be in Budapest on Jan 7th, I think I'll be hard-pressed to train it from Germany/Netherlands to Budapest in time... :|
Any advice on the above would be greatly appreciated! Please post them or PM me, I feel I need to buy the Passes by TODAY or TOMORROW at the latest!! :os
Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
Hi.
Some short words ... as you already planed most of your trip in a perfect way. :)
Some city to city connections and ferry information is at the country topics (you will know it already):
[u]https://rail.cc/en/countries[/u]
[b]Scandinavia[/b]
Turku: one day is enough in my eyes
If you have the time and you love long train trips, think about traveling by train to Northern-Sweden, cross the border to Finland and go down again by train.
In deed - it will need a lot of travel time - and it gets dark early. But it is interesting and a lot of snow.
[u]https://rail.cc/en/finland-sweden-bus-kemi-tornio-haparanda-lulea/f1287[/u]
The ferry Stockholm-Turku is much more comfortable and it will be in total cheaper, as you get a cheap bed as well.
[b]Baltics[/b]
It is enough time for each city. If you love one, come back again some when in future. :)
I always loved the Baltics.
For your trip from the North to Vilnius, use buses, as trains might cross Russia and then you will need an extra visa. Buses are cheap - simply ask at the hostel or the big bus stations. You have frequent connections.
[b]Poland[/b]
I like Krakow - but visit Zakopane as well. It is short before high season in the middle of December.
You will find a lot of snow-tourists there, but at the same time it is easy to meet other persons there in night life.
[b]Germany[/b]
It doesn't matters which direction you travel - you have a very good and high frequent rail network.
Even the high speed ICE trains are free of supplements for InterRail travelers! A little paradise for rail pass travelers here.
Let me know when you are in Heidelberg as I live close to it. If am at home, we can meet for a beer. :)
[b]...[/b]
For the rest of your trip: all locations are good and interesting. :)
From the Netherlands (Amsterdam) you can use a direct night train to Munich (it's cheap), from there by free Railjet directly to Budapest. You can do this trip within 24 hours.
If you travel for example to the South, you have as well a direct night train Venice to Budapest. Or from Moscow to Budapest.
Budapest is really well located.
[b]Total[/b]
As you always stop in the cities for some days, I recommend you to buy several 10 in 22 InterRail Global Passes.
The first one you can buy online via [ux]https://rail.shop/interrail[/ux] - then you support all our work and the big forum .
The following one directly at big stations in countries where you can travel by InterRail.
Have a lot of fun on your trip, Peter :)
da1jonty
Traveller
3 comments
my first question is for the Scandinavian leg, does buying a 5 in 10 flexi Global Pass become cost-effective? Especially if I can squeeze in a Turku->Rauma and Rauma->Turku journey in addition to the three main train journeys I've jotted in (Copenhagen->Gothenburg, Gothenburg->Stockholm, Turku->Helsinki)... ?
I can get a 5 in 10 flexi Global Pass before Nov 4th/5th.
And I latched onto what you said last - are you saying that I can purchase InterRail Global Passes *AFTER* I am already underway? I was under the impression I have to buy multiple Global Passes *BEFORE* I set out on my journey?? At major railway stations? Can you expound further, given my situation?
For example, if I buy the 5 in 10 flex Global Pass for my Scandinavian leg, the second Global Pass I want to get, should cover me on my Poland/German journeys (10 in 22 flexi pass) - where's the best place I could physically go and buy such a ticket (before Vilnius??). And are the prices the same or much more expensive than if I bought ALL of the Passes now over the Internet?
Another thing is that I just got an email from a friend in Poland, he said that InterRail Pass is NOT worth using in Poland for the cities being covered: Warsaw, Krakow, Zakopane, Wroclaw, Torun, Gdansk, Malbork, Poznan - he says its still cheaper to just use the individual tickets!
So if I instead bought my Global Pass such that it starts when I anticipate myself to reach Berlin and then travel to Potsdam, then is travelling through Germany (Berlin, Potsdam, Lubeck, Hamburg, Cologne, Heidelberg, Stuttgart, Neuschwanstein, Munich, Nuremburg) is definitely cost-effective with Global Pass? which type? 10 in 22 flexi? How does it compare to the 8 days in 1 month One Country Pass for Germany??
Thanks!!
Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
Hi.
It is usually possible to buy your InterRail pass as well at a big station. Sometimes the staff doesn't really know what is InterRail and you have to pay attention to get a correct ticket. Check it twice. Of course you can buy your ticket everywhere you want - but it depends on you if you want to support an anonymous big company, of if you want to support our work, the information and answers you got.
As if everyone is only supporting big companies, small and interesting web projects simply disappear.
[b]The fares at the ticket shop are the same if you use the currency of EURO - as you buy official Interrail passes here.[/b]
Differences in British Pound are because of different daily exchange rates.
Maybe it is now to late to order online.
I can not give you [b]details about single rail tickets[/b] - I am only specialist for rail pass travel. If you want to compare it to single tickets, check the websites of the[b] national railway companies[/b].
You could buy your ticket in [b]Helsinki for the trip Poland to Germany[/b].
Maybe your friend can tell you as well the fares as if he know it is cheaper, he should know them.
Have a sunny trip.
Peter :)
da1jonty
Traveller
3 comments
I got the ACPRail delivery of the 5 in 10 day InterRail Global Pass today - that was fairly quick!
I've got a new question regarding the use of prepaid SIM cards :- I've been reading a fair bit lately in order to get more knowledgeable on train travel in Europe, and I noted that several webpages recommended the use of a global prepaid SIM card product so as to cut costs down of using a phone whilst journeying in Europe across many countries (as opposed to the hassle of buying local SIM cards per country, which in my situation means too many!!!)
So, Go-SIM is the link provided - has anyone here used www.go-sim.com SIM cards on their travels throughout Europe? Any positive/negative experiences in ordering them online, using them, etc.?
Or do people here use a different global roaming prepaid SIM card product that is better than Go SIM's?
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Go SIM seems to be a reasonable offer - but I never used it, I dont use my mobile phone much so I'm fine with my Austrian prepaid SIM card which offers the standard EU rates for incoming/outgoing calls and sending texts.