ardeeay
Traveller
99 comments
Posted 12 years ago
Hi
I have followed the most interesting posts on the 1900h rule, thanks.
Is the 1900h rule is also valid with the European East Pass 6 days in 1 month, and the Balkan Flexipass 10 days in 1 month?
Also can these passes be validated before arrival in the countries covered by them so that they could be used under the 1900 rule on the day of arrival for overnight travel on that night/next morning? (For example can both be validated on 20 June in Vienna to be valid for one month from 20 June.) I plan to use these together to allow for 16 days travel in the same month, so the period of validity is not of great concern (as long as it covers the day of arrival and the day of departure) but preserving the maximum number of travel days is.
Are these two passes available from the railcc Shop?
Great website!
Cheers
Richard
:D
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Hej Richard,
the 1900h rule is valid for both EEP and BFP. :)
You can purchase both passes via our partner, however in case of the BFP it will be cheaper to purchase it locally and online you can only purchase 1st class passes. However, there is a rule with the BFP which says that you are only allowed to use the BFP to travel to/from the border in the country that you purchase the pass. There is some debate whether this rule is carried out or not, I cannot give you personal advice on that. What is your route?
When purchasing online, you can choose the first day of validity. However, take in mind that you wont be able to buy the BFP at the station in Vienna!
Flo 8)
Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
Hi.
I just split the topic and made a new one - thought it could be interesting for other travellers using the European East Pass and Balkan Flexipass.
Peter :)
ardeeay
Traveller
99 comments
Hi Flo and Peter
This is the same reply I recently posted on the initial topic.
My draft Itinerary is:
Wednesday 20 June Arr 08:34 Day in Vienna Using last day of Eurail Global Pass 15 days consecutive (15) - Validate European East Pass?
Dep 22:24 D406 to Warsaw
European East Pass 6 days in 1 month
Thursday 21 June (1) Arr 07:10 Day in Warsaw
Dep 21:10 D 407 to Bratislava
Friday 22 June (2) Arr 05:38 Day in Bratislava
Dep 23:02 EN 476 to Decin then on R 777 to Prague
Saturday 23 June (3) Arr 09:08 Day in Prague
Dep 00:05 (24 June) EN 477 to Budapest
Sunday 24 June (4) Arr 08:35 Day in Budapest
Dep 20:05 EN 476 to Warsaw
Monday 25 June (5) Arr 07:10 Day in Warsaw
Dep 21:10 D 407/477 to Budapest
Tuesday 26 June (6) Arr 08:35 Day in Budapest
Dep 19:10 EN 473 to Bucharest
Balkan Flexipass 10 days in 1 month - needs to be valid for 26 June for 19:00 rule
Wednesday 27 June (1) Arr 11:00 Day in Bucharest
Dep 20:45 INT 360/D 360 to Belgrade
Thursday 28 June (2) Arr 08:45 Day in Belgrade
Dep 21:10 D 1343 to Podgorica
Friday 29 June (3) Arr 07:40 Day in Podgorica
Dep 21:00 D 1342 to Belgrade
Saturday 30 June (4) Arr 07:47 Day in Belgrade
Dep 21:48 D 335 to Skopje
Sunday 1 July (5) Arr 07:22 Day in Skopje
Dep 21:10 D 334 to Belgrade
Monday 2 July (6) Arr 05:43 Day in Belgrade
Dep 15:55
Tuesday 3 July (7) Arr 06:12 Day in Bucharest
Dep 20:45 INT 360 to Belgrade
Wednesday 4 July (8) Arr 08:45 Day in Belgrade
Dep 21:50 D 293 to Sofia
Thursday 5 July (9) Arr 08:04 Day in Sofia
Dep 19:15 D 491/D 81031 to Istanbul
Friday 6 July (10) Arr 07:50 Day in Istanbul
I hope this makes sense. Is the D 491/D 81031 Sofia to Istanbul currently operating?
Thanks for your observations.
Cheers
Richard :D
ardeeay
Traveller
99 comments
Hello again
Re cost of Balkan Flexipass - I looked it up on the railcc Shop website and enquired locally in Australia about a Seniors First Class pass, and the prices are approximately the same (within a few AU$/Euro). As I intend to travel on First Class Eurail Global and European East passes as well, and travel by night train with the sleeper supplements, it makes sense to me to buy a Seniors First Class Balkan Flexipass too (and continue to travel in the manner to which I would have become accustomed). It will not be the cheapest way to travel but at 68 years of age, I am willing to bear to costs in the hope of an increased level of comfort.
What level of comfort can I expect in the 1st Class Sleeper accommodation (when available) on the Balkan night trains?
Cheers
Richard
:D
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Hej Richard,
I will answer regarding your route in detail later, for now some basic information regarding night trains:
With a 1st class ticket you have the possibility of using Single accomodation on all night trains which means that you will have the whole cabin on your own if you want to - this is the most expensive category, supplements are ranging from ~100€ in Western Europe to ~35-45€ in Eastern Europe.
Sleeper cabins usually have three berths, depending on which category you book, one, two or three of them are used, the others remain folded to the wall. You will have at least a wash basin, mirror, often a plug in the room, on some routes you can also book Deluxe category with ensuite bathroom with WC and shower.
In Eastern Europe, most services convey regular sleepers without WC/shower which usually are in rather good condition, however, especially on services to/from Serbia and Bulgaria there have been reports that the sleepers are not very well maintained. Anyway, I have travelled to Serbia last December with a sleeper and all was fine. On many services in Romania, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary you will even find brand new coaches with shower/WC.
You can browse through the different night trains here :arr: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-night-train[/u]
Flo 8)
ardeeay
Traveller
99 comments
Hi Flo
Thanks for the info. I am still working on the Itinerary, so there is still time to make changes.
I am intending to pre-book all the night trains reservation/supplements for the whole 30 days of the journey, and presume that I will have to pay for all the reservations up-front. If something goes wrong and I have to change plans along the way, will I be able to obtain a refund for unusable bookings and/or transfer the bookings to a later date (for example one day later)?
If the journey starts on 6 June how soon should I make the reservations (what is the latest that Sleeper bookings are likely to be available)?
Cheers
Richard
:D
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Hej,
you can only return reservations at the company where you bought them. If you'd for instance buy a reservation for Budapest - Beograd night train in Austria, you can only refunde/exchange it in Austria, not in Hungary!
Thus I'd not recommend booking your whole trip in advance, it will be fine if you do it step by step while you are travelling. Bookings are usually available up to the departure of the train at its originating station, this can vary a bit from country to country, however, you can always get couchette/sleeper supplements directly on the train as well - as long as there are free beds.
Flo 8)