jonadona18
Traveller
3 comments
Posted 12 years ago
Hi there me and my girlfriend are planning to go interailling this Spring, using one of the travel 10 days in 22 rail passes. The route we are taking is as follows.
Rome-Venice-Vienna-Budapest- Prague-Berlin-Amsterdam-Paris-Barcelona-Madrid -Lisbon
Firstly any thoughts on the route, I am using airmiles to fly both to Rome and back from Lisbon.
I have been studying the train routes suggested on the site and have planned accordingly. However I am now looking to book as much of the trains as i possibly can, especially the night trains. I was just wondering which sites can be used to do this and whether they allow you to do it more than 3 months in advance. Also which trains is it safe not to book in advance and just book on the day?
My planned route and train times are as follows: (note I don't mind paying reservation fees when it makes it alot more convenient.)
Depart Arrive
Rome 6.45 Venice 10.33
Venice 21.05 Vienna 8.22 (night train)
Vienna 17.54 Budapest 20.49
Budapest 11.25 Prague 18.19
Prague 10.31 Berlin 15.13
Berlin 8.37 Amsterdam 15.02
Amsterdam 8.16 Paris 11.35
Paris 21.53 Barcelona 11.35 (night train)
Barcelona 8.00 Madrid 11.18
Madrid 22.25 Lisbon 7.41 (night train)
So my overall question is, which of these trains can I book in advance and where?
Any help is much appreciated :)
Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
Hi.
The maximum of prebooking time is 3 months, sometimes 2 months. This is a general rule of the railway companies. It is not possible to book reservations longer than 3 months in advance.
Select the route you want to travel:
Click the type of train or the night train and scroll down. There you will find the details where to book if required. Sometimes it is not possible to book trains online, then you have to do it during your trip somewhere at a railway station.
On your route Budapest - Prague, you can include Krakow. Very nice old town with a lot of students, therefore a good night life. :)
[b]Rome Venice[/b]: Eurostar train - [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-train-reservation/frecciargento/49[/u]
Either Trenitalia or railcc Shop.
[b]Venice - Vienna[/b]: like for the Eurostar Italia train
[b]Vienna - Budapest[/b]: Railjet is free
[b]Budapest - Prague[/b]: free
[b]Prague - Berlin[/b]: free
[b]Berlin - Amsterdam[/b]: free
[b]Amsterdam - Paris[/b]: THALYS train - book via the railcc shop. No other system offers online booking for Rail pass travellers:
:arr: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-train-reservation[/u]
[b]Paris - Barcelona[/b]: you selected the option by inexpensive French night train. Good choice. :)
Reservation available here on railcc. More details here and scroll down:
[u]https://rail.cc/en/night-train/paris-portbou-icn-3731/78[/u]
If you have the time, I recommend to leave this night train already in Perpignan and do the amazing trip by the Little Yellow train trough the Pyrenees. It is FREE.
Check this connection:
[u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/paris-to-barcelona[/u]
More information and photos about the [b]Petit Train Jaune[/b] (=Little Yellow Train): [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/villefranche-de-conflent-to-latour-de-carol[/u]
[b]Barcelona - Madrid[/b]: reservation required = AVE train. Available at the railcc shop.
[b]Madrid - Lisbon[/b]: also available at the railcc shop
So you see, it is easy to do. And if you like the railcc project and all this information, support it and buy your official Interrail pass as well here on railcc. Thank you. :)
[ux]https://rail.shop/interrail[/ux]
Peter :)
jonadona18
Traveller
3 comments
Wow thanks for all your help! I have found the whole site really helpful so will definitely buy the railpass from the site.
One last silly question, with the free trains, is there any need to make a seat reservation or should they be ok just to turn up on the day?
Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
Hi.
The Vienna - Budapest Railjet is sometimes a little bit full. But depends on the day of travel (Friday, Sunday).
There you could buy a reservation.
All other should be fine! :)
Peter :)