perfectlyadequate
Traveller
4 comments
Posted 13 years ago
Hello, I hope I am posting this in the correct section.
I've been thinking of going on a tour of European football for a while and Interrailing seems the most sensible way to go about it.
I have read a few bits on this forum and some other websites but to be honest, I still find it all a bit confusing.
In a nutshell, I'd like to travel around Europe for a month or so, unrestricted. Will a 1 Month Global Pass allow me to do this?
With regards to route, is it best to have some sort of itinerary before you set off or work it out as you go along?
At the moment, the only vague plan I have is to get the Eurostar over to Paris (I'm in the UK) and start there. Is this a good idea or would I be better off flying to say, Italy and working my way back towards the UK from there?
Sorry about all the questions, I'm sure I have a few more to ask yet if you'll let me!
Thanks for any advice in advance.
Stu.
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Hi!
With a one month InterRail pass you can travel a full month (ie 17th Jan - 16th Feb) on the trains of the participating railways in the 30 InterRail countries.
However, on some trains you will have to get an additional reservation, this usually applies for high speed and night train. For a list of such trains, have a look here: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-train-reservation[/u]
It makes sense to have some places where you definitely want to go - in that case you can already make advance reservations for hostels. In between you can decide spontaeously on where to go next, just as you like. :)
If you dont want to fly to/from the UK, you have these alternatives:
- [u]https://rail.cc/en/london-paris-eurostar-train/f1805[/u]
- [u]https://rail.cc/blog/from-london-to-amsterdam-with-the-dutchflyer/[/u]
- [u]https://rail.cc/en/ferry-london-paris-england-france/f1222[/u]
Eurostar is the fastest way, but tickets are rather expensive - try to get a good advance fare. Whether you want to fly back from somewhere or travel in a big circle and then return again via ferry or Eurostar is your choice - everything's possible but I would recommend to plan with 2 or three spare days so that you have no troubles getting back before your ticket isnt valid anymore.
Just let us know if you need more detailed help for planning. And have a look here: [u]https://rail.cc/en/first-interrail-tour/f3303[/u]
Flo 8)
perfectlyadequate
Traveller
4 comments
Thanks for the reply.
I will read that thread and draw up a rough itinerary.
Would you mind taking a look and letting me know if it's plausible when I'm done?
Thanks!
perfectlyadequate
Traveller
4 comments
Hello.
I am literally on the brink of booking my ticket but I am looking for a quick las minute answer if possible.
I turn 26 on the 11th of March which is a week tomorrow and I gather I will be ok on a Youth ticket as long as my first day of travel is before then.
I have found a reasonably cheap flight to Brussels on the 10th which I would like to get. I was wondering whether I could use the train from the airport to the city centre as my first journey?
Thank you.
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Yup, you can purchase a Youth InterRail pass as long as you are under 26 on the first day of validity.
You can use the train from the Airport to Bruxelles on the first day of validity. I have heard that the train from the Airport requires a supplement of ~2€ but I'm not sure...maybe you can check that locally and then report here? :)
Flo 8)
perfectlyadequate
Traveller
4 comments
Thanks for the reply!
I have booked a 22 Day continuous pass and I fly to Brussels on Thursdays where I plan to stay for two nights.
Then up to Bruges for the Club Brugge - Kortrijk game on Saturday evening followed by an overnight stay in Bruges.
Then off to Rotterdam on the Sunday morning in time for the Feyenoord - Breda game in the afternoon.
Does this seem like an achievable route for the first few days?
Also, does anyone know how easy it is to get football tickets in Europe? I am presuming that it should be ok to get them at the stadium on match day as long as it's not a big game?
Thanks
Stu
perfectlyadequate
Traveller
4 comments
Ok, I leave tomorrow for a month or so in Europe by myself and I am pretty nervous about it all!
I have left all my organisation to the last minute so I'm fretting that I'm forgetting something important.
I have my Interrail ticket, passport, travel insurance, hostel rooms booked for the first three nights in Brussels and Bruges, a debit card with money in the bank and a bag of clothes and bits and bobs.
Can anyone tell me if I'm missing anything vital? I am finding it all a bit daunting!
Thanks
Stu
Vlbger
Traveller
6 comments
[quote]Thanks for the reply!
I have booked a 22 Day continuous pass and I fly to Brussels on Thursdays where I plan to stay for two nights.
Then up to Bruges for the Club Brugge - Kortrijk game on Saturday evening followed by an overnight stay in Bruges.
Then off to Rotterdam on the Sunday morning in time for the Feyenoord - Breda game in the afternoon.
Does this seem like an achievable route for the first few days?
Also, does anyone know how easy it is to get football tickets in Europe? I am presuming that it should be ok to get them at the stadium on match day as long as it's not a big game?
Thanks
Stu[/quote]
Club Brugge - Kortrijk shouldn't be a problem to get a ticket. I've been in December there to watch the game between Club Brugge and Sporting Charleroi and just bought my ticket at the stadium for 20euro.
Feyenoord vs. Breda will be a bit more difficult, because for the most games in the Netherlands you need a clubcard to buy tickets - and also for this one -> look here www.feyenoord.nl/pages/feyenoordcontent/S2/10010000000002-10010000000131/thuiswedstrijden.aspx#NAC . So first try to get a ticket by showing your foreign passport, but if this doesn't work, than you have to ask people (who own a clubcard) in front of the stadium to buy a ticket for you.
Where are you going beside Belgium and the Netherlands?
Some infos to other countries:
Germany: For normal games it's no problem to buy tickets at the stadium, but derbys and games between the top clubs are normally sold out. First league clubs where you normally can't buy tickets in front of the stadium: FC Bayern Munich, Schalke 04
Poland: Normally it's possible to buy tickets at the stadium, but often you have to show at least your passport, because of the hooligan problem there. Derbys and top games sold out.
Czech Republic: No problem to buy tickets (excluding the Prague Derby between Slavia and Sparta)
Switzerland: No problem to buy tickets, but expensive.
Austria: The only games that are sold out, are: Rapid Vienna - Austria Vienna (normally very quick), Austria Vienna - Rapid Vienna (much easier to get tickets than if the derby is played in the stadium of Rapid), Rapid - Sturm Graz, Sturm Graz - Rapid and SV Ried - LASK Linz (because of the little stadium). Also sometimes sold out are Rapid Vienna away games (for example in Ried).
Italy: You'll definitely need your passport to buy tickets and some clubs even don't sell tickets on the matchday or it's only possible if you are from a certain region. And the atmosphere is also not any more, what it was some years ago.
France: Normally games are not sold out, sometimes even not top games (because of the high ticket prices). I'd recommend you to watch a game of AS St. Etienne (because of their supporters).
Have fun!