mkchris
Traveller
20 comments
Posted 12 years ago
Hi,
Planning an Interrail trip for 4 weeks in August. I think my must do's are Paris, French Riviera, Swiss/Austrian Alps, Rome, Prague, Rhine Valley, Amsterdam, Berlin, and then the long journey through Scandinavia up to Bergen where I would fly home.
I'd like to fit Croatia in somehow but not sure how to do this as the train links are not great and there doesn't seem to be any free/cheap ferries. Maybe another trip? Same goes with Barcelona - much better links but probably a bit too far off the main route.
Would appreciate any advice on the following:
a) How easy it is for a solo traveller to meet people (apart from chatting on the train and then going separate ways)
b) Any hidden gems - I think I may get bored of the big cities and might substitute some for more scenic options
c) Pros and cons of Interrail vs Coach Tour. I've found a couple of good tours with Topdeck, but at 39 would I be better off doing my own thing as the majority will be much younger. Anyone in their late 30s done anything similar?
d) Is there much hassle getting accommodation and sorting out reservations for night trains on the day - especially the time of year I am going. Do you have to book much in advance?
Anyway, any help will be much appreciated.
Cheers,
Chris.
mkchris
Traveller
20 comments
Shameless bump!
My time off now amounts to 32 days - pity that my pass will only be for 31. Looks like I have the solution - get an outbound Eurostar to 'Belgium any station'. Looks like this will let me go to Brussels, stop a couple of hours and then jump on a connecting train to Bruges where I would spend night 1. Interrail pass would then commence as of day 2.
How would Brussels/Bruges fare as a starting point? Looks good in that you can then go on to either Paris/Amsterdam/Cologne quite easily. Only trouble is that these are all Thalys which have hefty supplements and the alternative trains are slow.
Either way, if I do this I'll probably leave the Bergen flight home for now as I never know where I will end up. Maybe book it a week or so before - and pay more of course!
Flo
Traveller
10723 comments
[quote]Shameless bump!
[/quote]
:D
Sorry for answering late, we are busy updating our new railcc website so sometimes overlook posts on the forum ... :os
But anyhow here we go...a short answer late a night, with some more details following tomorrow. ;)
A good idea to get to Belgium with a (hopefully) cheap pre booked Eurostar ticket. Bruxelles and Brugge are well connected so you can leave whenever you feel to.
If I have a look at your planned itinerary I'd recommend to go to Paris first. The Thalys indeed is overpriced, but you from Brugge you have quite good alternatives: Go to Lille first (via Kortrijk or Gent - Kortrijk), then Lille - Paris with a TGV train (6€ reservation).
If you find a cheap offer for the flight home from Bergen - go for it! But then plan ~1 week to get up there from Central Europe. Just to have enough time to really get there... ;) But back to Paris.
If you invest a little time (not too much, it is not that far away) you can easily go to Barcelona. I'd recommend to include the Petit Train Jaune - you will find two nice route examples here (Yellow Train) :arr: [u]https://rail.cc/en/train/paris-to-barcelona[/u]
And some pictures :arr: [u]https://rail.cc/en/train/villefranche-de-conflent-to-latour-de-carol[/u] :arr: [u]https://rail.cc/en/train/latour-de-carol-to-villefranche-de-conflent[/u]
From Barcelona you can travel along the French coast free of supplements within a day until Nice :arr: [u]https://rail.cc/en/train/barcelona-to-nice[/u]
Spend some days around Nice - Antibes, Grasse, Monaco, Villefranche,... all well connected by train :)
Then on to Milano (if you have enough time, you could think about a short trip to Firenze as well) and on to the Swiss Alps! :)
I recommend the Berninabahn (my favourite line in Europe probably) :arr: [u]https://rail.cc/en/train/tirano-to-st-moritz[/u]
Then through Austria via the Arlbergbahn, Innsbruck and Salzburg to Wien. And then on to Praha. During the day all without paying extra for reservations. :)
Depending on your time you then have two options:
a) Praha - Amsterdam (night train); Amsterdam - Köln and through the Rhine valley to Frankfurt (on to Berlin if you are willing to sit the whole day in the train); from Berlin with night train to Malmö
b) Praha - Berlin (day train); Berlin - Frankfurt - (rhine valley) - Köln - Amsterdam (again a whole day in the train); Amsterdam - Kobenhavn (night train)
Finally you are in Scandinavia. Go to Stockholm if possible, it's fantastic! If time permits, you could go north via Inlandsbana, then to Narvik and back via Trondheim - Oslo to Bergen.
Just some suggestions for now... ;)
a) Depends...in Barcelona, Amsterdam, Praha, maybe Berlin I think it is more likely to meet other travellers that may join you for a bit
b) Hidden gems...definitely the Petit Train Jaune and the Berninabahn if we are talking about train rides. In France, I like Le Puy en Velay a lot
c) I do not like coach tours as you cant decide spontaneous what to do next - or can you? I'm not so familiar with that.
d) You are travelling in peak season, but as a single traveller chances are usually quite good to get a place to sleep/on a train. But be aware that some trains, especially at weekends can be fully booked! Eg Praha - Berlin - Amsterdam and Amsterdam - Kobenhavn; the Berlin - Malmö night train usually is quite flexible and gets extra coaches when there is increased demand; the Lunéa trains from Paris to the south should be fine except on weekends. You probably wont need more night trains...
Flo 8)
mkchris
Traveller
20 comments
Thanks for the reply. It's really informative.
Never heard of the little yellow train until now! Had a look at some of the pictures and it looks fantastic so I may just try and fit it in - and I'd get to see Barcelona too.
Haven't booked the Eurostar yet as I would have to leave home at 5am. Might go for the option of paying a bit more and leaving a bit later but directly to Paris. Once I get to Gare du Nord I can't see me needing my pass until the following day so the same applies as before. Either way, I'd better not leave it too late as the Eurostar prices only seem to go up!
Really like the connections section on here. Also, the night trains section is good too as there is very little information on the internet which has all of the night trains in one place.
As a thought, what's your views on including Croatia? It's somewhere I'd love to go to but the rail connections really are not good at all. The only way I can see me being able to do Croatia is by sticking to the Istrian peninsula. Is there anything to see there? Pula or Rijeka perhaps? Either way, I have found out that the best way into Slovenia from Italy is via bus from Trieste rather than the long way round by train.
Anyway, thanks for your reply.
Cheers,
Chris.
Flo
Traveller
10723 comments
[quote]
Really like the connections section on here. Also, the night trains section is good too as there is very little information on the internet which has all of the night trains in one place.
[/quote]
Thanks! :) We continue to update these sections... Recommend us to other travellers as well! ;)
Italy - Slovenia: [u]https://rail.cc/en/venice-ljubljana-train/f3664[/u]
Croatia...humm, well Istria is not very well connected by train :arr: [u]https://rail.cc/en/search-train-route[/u] but Pula is quite nice I think. Or think about going all the way down towards Split or Zadar?
Rijeka could be an option too, especially since there is a direct overnight couchette car to München in the summer.
Flo 8)
mkchris
Traveller
20 comments
Hi,
Here's a first attempt at putting together an itinerary.
1 Bruges (already booked)
2/3 Luxembourg/Cologne- via Ardennes, Mosel Valley and Northern Rhine (Q - am I missing the best bit if I don't do the Southern Rhine?)
4/5 Amsterdam
6 Hamburg
7/8 Copenhagen/Malmo - night train to Berlin
9/10 Berlin
11/12 Prague
13/14 Vienna/Bratislava
15/16 Budapest/Lake Balaton
17/18 Zagreb/Ljubljana
19 Austrian Tyrol - Innsbruck?
20/21 Swiss Alps - Interlaken?
22 Venice
23/24 Florence/Pisa (was originally going to do Rome but I think this may be too far out)
25 Italian Riviera - Cinque Terre?
26 French Riviera or Aix (which is a bit nearer to next destination)
27/28 Barcelona (was going to miss this but the yellow train has persuaded me!!)
29 Yellow train over the Pyrennees, stop somewhere like Toulousse
30/31 Paris
May go the other way - eg end Amsterdam but the basic idea is the same.
Where I have listed two cities over two days (eg Vienna/Bratislava), this depends how much I like being on the train each day. If I prefer a longer stop I will probably drop one of the two.
Looks like I'm going to drop going into Scandinavia, too much warm stuff to pack and not enough space in my rucksack. Maybe another trip?
Anyway, ambitious itenerary I know and I will probably end up doing something completely different but it's a start....
Chris.
Flo
Traveller
10723 comments
Hej Chris! ;)
Hope it is not too late to answer... ;)
- the Ardennes - Mosel - Northern Rhine route is quite nice. You will miss out the nicest part of the Rhine route though, which would be between Mainz and Koblenz. But the Mosel route is a good compromise! ;)
However, if you want to invest an additional ~1h30 or so you can head south from Koblenz via Mainz to FFM Airport and change there to a fast ICE via the high speed line to Köln - including the souther Rhine route as well as an up to 300 km/h train ride :)
- no particularities until Malmö; then with the night train to Berlin :arr: [u]https://rail.cc/en/night-train/malmoe-berlin-en-301/57[/u]
- The rest is easy again; if you go to Bratislava think of it as a day trip from Wien maybe. Lake Balaton is very full in high season but rather empty the rest of the year...dont know what suits you ;) Maybe you prefer a visit in one of the thermal spas of Budapest?
- Ljubljana - Austria...humm, it is certainly worth going during the day to get some nice views of the Alps. Personally I think I prefer Salzburg over Innsbruck but well both are quite nice for a day (direct connections from Ljubljana to Salzburg, to Innsbruck you have to change, but then the onward trip to Switzerland will be shorter).
- Switzerland: Well Interlaken itself has not that much to offer. The Jungfrau area railways are nice but not covered by InterRail and they are >expensive<.
My personal favourite (as I probably have written too often already) :D is the RhB Rhätische Bahn and especially the Berninabahn :arr: [u]https://rail.cc/en/train/st-moritz-to-tirano[/u]
But there are many nice scenic railways so you can not really do somethin wrong ;)
- Italy: Remember that the fastest trains (AV, ES and ES City) have compulsory reservation of 10€ - but they are really fast so a visit to Roma wouldnt be a problem: Milano - Roma with AV train is only ~3h with the fastest connections :)
- Aix or Nice area...well not that much difference regarding onward travel to Barcelona. :arr: [u]https://rail.cc/en/train/nice-to-barcelona[/u]
From Aix you would have to go first to Marseille with free TER train (~40 minutes)
I like the route, it is quite a trip including many places and thus many train rides - just the way I like it. ;)
Flo 8)
mkchris
Traveller
20 comments
Hi,
As usual, thanks for the feedback 8)
Glad you think my route is do-able. Everyone I've spoken to reckons there's no way I will get round it all in a month!
Mainz - I had considered this as it seems the southern Rhine is the best bit. I'll probably see how I feel on the day and then decide. Just wanted to avoid doubling back on myself.
Still not sure on the Salzburg/Innsbruck dilemna...
Switzerland - if not Interlaken, is there anywhere you would recommend? Bern looks the best out of the cities but I would rather go for somewhere more rural in Switzerland.
Italy - see your point about Rome. It looks like it's either Rome or Florence for me. Still not sure if it's worth the extra trek down to Rome, but as I'm not that much of an art buff it may be best to do Rome instead of Florence??
Not long now, I leave in two weeks. A mixture of excitement and nervousness.... :D
Chris.
Flo
Traveller
10723 comments
Well, it is certainly quite an ambitious route, but it consists of InterRail friendly routes mostly - with good connections and not too many compulsory reservations. And in case you cant keep up with the schedule you could alter it a little bit while travelling. :)
- Southern Rhine. Yup, as there are excellent connections in all directions you can spontaneously decide on the day. Just hop on/off IC/ICE etc as you like - remember that the fastest way back to Köln will be with a fast ICE via Frankfurt Flughafen
- Salzburg/Innsbruck...well currently I'd recommend Salzburg, but this is probably because I have just been there. ;)
- Bern is certainly a nice city. However, if you are looking for a more rural part, I'd definitely recommend to go to Graubünden and use the network of RhB. :)
Coming from Salzburg or Innsbruck, leave the Railjet train in Sargans and head to Chur. From Chur continue to the Engadin - Samedan, Pontresina or St Moritz should offer affordable youth hostels.
You can get to those cities via two other routes as well with RhB, leaving the train already at Landquart instead of Chur and either going via Klosters - Davos - Filisur or via Klosters - Sagliains. All routes provide stunning scenery - but only when going via Chur you will ride over Landwasserviadukt
[img:112z0vtx]http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6003/5963231755_06419d421a_b.jpg[/img:112z0vtx]
[img:112z0vtx]http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6141/5965335143_201e869fbe_b.jpg[/img:112z0vtx]
From the Engadin you can then head via the Berninabahn :arr: [u]https://rail.cc/en/train/st-moritz-to-tirano[/u] down to Tirano and then Milano - from Milano to Venezia finally. :)
Sorry this all may sound a little cofusing but I am totally fond of this region so I try to convince everybody of going there! ;)
- Italy. Well Roma is fantastic. You'd only have to invest the 10€ for the AV train to go there quickly. Then back up to Nice is again quite a trip but there are nice connections available - and the line is quite scenic at the Mediterranean Sea for several parts. :arr: [u]https://rail.cc/en/train/rome-to-nice[/u]
Flo 8)
mkchris
Traveller
20 comments
Hi,
Quick update - not long on the internet!
Started 5th Aug
D1 - Bruges
D2 - Boppard, Rhine Valley
D3 - Amsterdam
D4 - Hamburg
D5 - Copenhagen
D6 - n/t Malmo to Berlin
D7 - Berlin
D8 (now) - Prague
D9 (tmrw) - Cesky Krumlov
D10 - either Vienna/Munich
Am I the only person who likes moving on each day? I quite like the travelling am, sightseeing pm, going out for a couple of drinks in the evening. Also gives my feet a rest while on the train...
Best places so far - Prague, Bruges, Copenhagen.
Anyway, better be off before I run out of money!
Cheers,
Chris.
Peter
Traveller
9331 comments
Hi Chris.
You are not the only one. I love as well moving around being on the train every day... :)
Have fun... Peter :)
mkchris
Traveller
20 comments
I'm glad I am not the only one. Whenever I tell people I am moving on after one night they look at me as if I am strange. Most people tend to stay around 3 nights per place, but I like it like this. I see more...
Flo
Traveller
10723 comments
I like it as well. Last year we did 15196km within a month... :)
mkchris
Traveller
20 comments
Okay so I last updated at Cesky Krumlov (day 9)
D10 - Vienna
D11 - Bratislava (it rained)
D12 - Budapest
D13 (today) - Balatonlelle, Lake Balaton
D14 (tomorrow) - Zagreb
Vienna was good, met lots of great people and nearly stayed on another day. Budapest was a bit of a disappointment as I treated myself to a single hotel room - but it was a business hotel so not much chance of meeting anyone. Think I will stick with hostels....
The remaining 17 days of my trip will probably be...
Slovenia/Croatia (2 more)
Swiss/Austrian Alps plus Bavaria (4 or 5)
Italy (4)
France (4)
North Spain (2 or 3)
(edit to say that I may drop Spain if I feel I need to stop a few days somewhere)
Question - apart from Rijeka (is it worth seeing) is there anywhere for a second day in Croatia? Somewhere by the sea but not so far down (eg Split/Zadar) that it will take ages to get back up again. The alternative may be to only do one day in Croatia (Zagreb) and then two in Slovenia (Ljub/Bled).
Free internet in this hostel, which is good. In fact this hostel is good all round - and the owner is really friendly....
Chris.
Peter
Traveller
9331 comments
Hi Chris. :)
Budapest is good to stay in a hostel and meet other travellers. I (Flow as well) did the Ruin tour - club crawling last year - was cool and a lot of beer and fun! Definitely a very interesting city with a very good night life.
If you go to Rijeka, don't stay in this city, try to get to the island of Krk. Shouldn't be a problem. Do you have a tent with you as there are a lot of camp sites - as well apartments are available - but I don't have details about them.
Peter :)
Flo
Traveller
10723 comments
Hej..
You will meet a lot of travellers in Ljubljana, I've been there last week only for a day but there was a nice vibe with many tourists, artists on the streets etc...I've also seen several hostels just down from the main station towards the city.
Lake Bled is of course also very nice. From Ljubljana/Lake Bled I'd recommend to get the direct night train to Zürich :arr: [u]https://rail.cc/en/night-train/belgrade-zurich-en-414/159[/u]
I travelled with the sleeper last week which is quite comfortable but the couchettes are fine as well. Again, I can not recommend going to Graubünden with its RhB network enough. :)
Some pictures from last week
[img:4r5eu8ks]http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6196/6052438600_ba36b45bab_b.jpg[/img:4r5eu8ks]
[img:4r5eu8ks]http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6146/6043168711_ef828e06b7_b.jpg[/img:4r5eu8ks]
[img:4r5eu8ks]http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6192/6037392647_225e8e9c3e_b.jpg[/img:4r5eu8ks]
[img:4r5eu8ks]http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6073/6053685845_9e099406a1_b.jpg[/img:4r5eu8ks]
[img:4r5eu8ks]http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6187/6054236196_a249f17f37_b.jpg[/img:4r5eu8ks]
If you decide to go there leave the night train at Sargans and then head to Chur. You have nice hostels (reasonable priced for Switzerland, around 35-40€) for instance in Chur, Pontresina and St Moritz. If you are fancy you could also stay at Ospizio Bernina at 2300m (where the first picture was taken) for 43€ per night.
Flo 8)
mkchris
Traveller
20 comments
Update from day 14 Zagreb...
D15 - Split
D16 - night train back to Zagreb
D17 - Ljubljana
D18 - Salzburg
D19 - Munich
D20 and D21 - Interlaken
D22 - Lugano
D23 - Venice
D24 - Florence
D25 - Cinque Terre
D26 (today) - Nice
D27 (tmrw) - Nimes
Beginning to regret leaving Rome out....
Will update the rest when I finish in a few days.
Chris.