Toshiya
Traveller
19 comments
Posted 12 years ago
Hello all!
Me and my friends are planning on travelling round Europe in July next year and I was wondering when the best time to buy my pass is?
I don't really understand how the dates work - do I fill it in/get it stamped on the first day of travel and then it's valid 22 days from then (I'm going for 10 days within 22 days), or do I have to enter the dates I will be travelling between on the website before I order it?
Also, do I need to have my pass to hand before I book supplements online? I know we'll be catching a few night trains we want to book before we go so that we don't miss out on seats and get stuck somewhere.
This is going to be my first holiday with friends AND my first time using InterRail so I'm a little nervous. I've also been put in charge of booking everything since I'm the only one that's currently 18 years old!
Thanks,
Charlotte
Peter
Traveller
9332 comments
Hi Charlotte.
You select the starting date of your Interrail pass at the moment you buy it. You have to fill it your first day of use in at the shopping system. Of course you can start interrailing later, but then you will loose travel days.
Exactly... from this date on, your Interrail pass is valid for 22 days (or 10 or 1 month, ...).
If you travel with an 10 travel days in 22 days Interrail Global Pass ( [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-global-pass[/u] ), you fill in manually your travel days, when ever you need one. Only the starting date is set. So you stay flexible and free - NO need to fix these 10 travel days at the purchase. :)
You are able to book reservations before you have your Interrail pass - at least via Internet. As sometimes at some station they ask for your Interrail pass if you want an Interrail reservation. Some staff simply doesn't know the rules.
Concerning get stuck somewhere... there are always slower solutions avoiding these trains with reservation fees. We list them here: [u]https://rail.cc/en/search-interrail-route[/u]
And if you need a special solution, just ask us here at the forum . :)
I recommend to order your Interrail pass 2-3 weeks in advance, so you can select standard shipping - then the delivery is FREE.
Please support our railcc project and purchase it in our online shop - the price is the same like everywhere:
[ux]https://rail.shop/interrail[/ux]
Don't hesitate to ask if you have some more questions! :)
And relax... at the beginning it might look difficult - all these trains, reservation fees, etc... but it is easy. After some days of travel you will relax and enjoy the freedom of Interrail. :)
Peter :)
Toshiya
Traveller
19 comments
Thank you!
As for the supplements and things - there are a few places where a night train is much easier to catch than a train in the daytime, though every single one of these requires a supplement, yes?
Our route is:
Paris - Berlin - Munich - Milan - Nice - Barcelona.
I'm from the UK so will be flying to Paris and from Barcelona at the beginning and end of the trip.
We're also going for the 10 days within 22 days in case we decide we want to stop off somewhere on the way - and we won't get round everywhere in 10 days. I wish they did a pass in between! A 7 day within 15 days would be perfect for us.
Thank you for your help though!
Charlotte
Peter
Traveller
9332 comments
Hi.
That's true: nearly every night train requires a reservation, like for a hostel. :)
Some offer free 2nd class seats.
[b]Paris - Berlin[/b]: the best by night train. You can book it in advance here on railcc.
[u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/paris-to-berlin[/u]
[b]Berlin - Munich[/b]: either by night train - or by free day train.
[u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/berlin-to-munich[/u]
I would prefer an other city in Italy. Milan is a bit boring in my eyes. Maybe Rome?! :)
[b]Munich - Rome[/b]: the night train is recommended. Also available here on railcc.
[u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/munich-to-rome[/u]
[b]Rome - Nice[/b]: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/rome-to-nice9[/u]
[b]Nice - Barcelona[/b]: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/nice-to-barcelona[/u]
You can easily add some more cities if you like. Fro example [b]Prague[/b] (Berlin - Prague - Munich). Good night live there and cheap hostels.
Or [b]Vienna[/b] (Munich/Prague - Vienna - Rome). Vienna is also very close to [b]Budapest[/b] - good night live and cheap hostels.
Just to get some ideas. :)
Peter :)
Toshiya
Traveller
19 comments
Thanks, I'll bear all this in mind when we start booking supplements!
We just don't want to spend many daytimes travelling - night trains are handy because we don't have to waste our daytimes on a train!
Also, we might change Milan, I'm not sure. The trouble with Italy is that the hotels are very expensive. We've tried to look at getting cheap hotels instead of hostels everywhere because one of us will still be under 18 when we go. 2 of us will be 18 and one of us will be 17 - nearly 18 - and I don't want to be refused a room at a hostel because of her age.
I can't seem to find cheap hotels in Italy though.
Thanks for the info so far!
Peter
Traveller
9332 comments
Hi.
That's correct. Italy might become expensive especially during peak season. The same for Paris.
Concerning the hostels: as long as one person is aged 18 or older, this person can be the responsible person for the whole group. Just have a short notice letter of the minors parents with you, then you won't have problems in a hostel.
Hostels: [ux]https://rail.shop/hostelworld[/ux]
Peter :)