JCrocker
Traveller
5 comments
Posted 13 years ago
I'm from the UK. I'm interrailling from April this year, me and my friends (3 of us) have planned to have a month travel through north mainland Europe down through to Romania and Bulgaria, Turkey (Istanbul) and then down to Athens. Then 22 days with 10 days travelling back up through Italy, Switzerland, southern Germany back to France (Paris). I know it's a crazy crazy trip for first timers but we're all individual people now, we are definitely up for the challenge. We have a start date and have booked a few hostels for the start of the trip in cities that we know will be busy.
Anyway, I was wondering if there is any advice you can give for people on trips this long. Any simple tips to save money over all? Any must-see places? Etc. I still don't know if I will save enough to be sure I can feel comfortable in money all the way through the trip but we have planned on doing it as cheaply as possible with hostels and maybe camping.
Thank you for reading this.
Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
Hi.
Just some short tips:
You can save the most of your money by cooking with an own camping stove. Noddles and tomatoes are cheap everywhere in Europe. :)
For example: 3 persons in a fast-food restaurant = 3 x 6 EUR = Total: EUR 18 | compared to one pack of noddles+tomatoes+cheese = max. EUR 5
For hostels: try to sleep in dorms - but have a look that you get own lockers: [ux]https://rail.shop/hostelworld[/ux]
Important for your travels in Greece: [u]https://rail.cc/en/new-trains-from-thessaloniki-to-skopje-belgrade-and-sofia/f5508[/u]
Peter :)
JCrocker
Traveller
5 comments
Thank you very much for your advice, aren't lockers expensive? It's it better to sleep with your bags? Or are dorms too risky to just leave your bags under the bed? And about Greece, I'm hoping it will be alright when I go. Fingers crossed.
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Hi!
In many hostels lockers are included in the room rate - usually it is mentioned in the description of the hostel at [ux]https://rail.shop/hostelworld[/ux] I've never had something stolen in a hostel but I always find it nice to have a personal locker. If there arent any you can usually store valuables at the reception.
On night trains the situation is a little different. You can usually lock the compartments if you book a couchette or sleeper but when travelling in regular 2nd class you cant lock them (or it may even be an open saloon coach) you have to take a little more care. I always have the laces of my small rucksack with the valuables (camera etc...) around my arms or legs and I'm totally fine with that.
About Greece: Follow the thread Peter mentioned, we try to keep it as up-to-date as possible. Latest information is that international trains are still running. Services within Greece might be more sparse than usual but at least the main corridors should work. I think it is possible to work a way through the country although it might be a little bit more difficult now.
About saving money: Always take a bottle of water with you in the morning - if you buy it in the city it gets expensive quickly. If you decide to take a tent with you I would try to make as much use of it as possible...carrying it around for 4+ weeks without using it much can get annoying quickly.
Flo 8)
JCrocker
Traveller
5 comments
Thank you for the information about the lockers. I guess it'll depend on where we are and I'm sure I'll be comfortable with the valuables down by my feet or somewhere I know I will wake up if anyone tries to take anything.
About taking water with me? Is this from the hostels? I'm basically going to do anything to save money. What countries are good to camp in? I think we wanted to see more of eastern europe, outside the cities more, you know?
On the topic of hostels, do you think I should book more now or just wait until I'm a few days or a week away from it and book it then? My friend is probably taking a netbook or we'll have our phones.
Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
Hostels: book them during your trip - except for your departure and arrival destinations you can book in advance - otherwise you are too much fixed on your route.
Most hostels have internet access - so you can ask other travelers about their experiences and choose a hostel one or some days in advance.
You will have to find a good mix between still getting a cheap over night stay and keep your flexibility.
A nice solution is as well to have a simple bicycle locker with you and fix your backpack on a seat in a night train ... :)
Peter :)
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
[quote]
About taking water with me? Is this from the hostels? I'm basically going to do anything to save money. What countries are good to camp in? I think we wanted to see more of eastern europe, outside the cities more, you know?
[/quote]
Yeah, usually we fill up the bottles in the morning in the hostel. Nowadays it is almost everywhere safe to drink the tap water so troubles with that.
LucasJV
Traveller
25 comments
Except in Budapest. The drinking water in Budapest may be technically safe, but it's absolutely disgusting. I always bought bottled water in Budapest (which is cheap at sometimes 30 cents for a 1.5 litre bottle). However if you're visiting any city in Eastern Europe you have to go there.
Anyway just my 2 slightly off-topic cents.
I wish you best of luck and a lot of fun with your trip!
anonymous
Traveller
2469 comments
So jealous reading about your trip!
I would definitely second the advice about booking the hostels as you go ie. one city ahead, it gives you so much more flexilbilty to change your route as you go.
Also pack as light as possible, with a journey that long you'll be sick of lugging around a heavy rucksack!
Another thing I found when I was interrailing is that you can underestimate how tiring all that travelling can be when your constantly on the move. Maybe factor in a day here or there throughout your trip to just chill or catch up on rest cos it can be hard to really enjoy exploring a new city when you're running on empties, especially in the heat!
Apart from that, enjoy, it sounds great :D