Maxomatosis
Traveller
0 comments
Posted 12 years ago
Hello,
I'm a bit confused as to everything so I thought I'd ask on here. I'm traveling to Bilbao to go to Bilbao BBK Festival, and from there I was planning on going to Paris, Antwerp, Amsterdam, Berlin and then from Berlin maybe on to Vienna or Stockholm.
My question is, what's the best way to ensure I reserve when I have to, and what's the best way not to. From getting to Bilbao to Paris, it seems the best thing to do is to take a bus to Irun, then get to Hendaye somehow, and the get a train to Paris (or Bordeaux as I might stop there). But all the seat reservations I find on rail europe.com are quite expensive, is that normal? I know you can look up on DBahn, but they never give prices online and the info isn't too great. I'm trying to save as much money since I spent alot on the rail pass, but it seems there is no cheap way of getting from Bilbao to Paris?
Also, from Paris to the other places, is the only way to get out of paying an expensive reservation to take the regional trains that take twice as long with many stops? I don't mind, I'm just wondering. I was going to try for Bilbao to Paris, but it seems to take too long for that. When I searched for example, Paris to Antwerp and Antwerp to Amsterdam reservations were £20 for each, which seems a lot! So is the answer to just take local trains?
Is it necessary to book all this in advance online as well, or can you do it at rail stations?
Sorry for all of the questions, it's just difficult and I'm trying to sort it out so I don't spend money I don't have to! Any help appreciated!
Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
Hi.
I suppose you are travelling with an Interrail Pass?
[b]Bilbao - Henday[/b] (Spanish-French border): use an Euskotren - it is not included in Rail Passes, but very cheap and frequent. Bilbao via San Sebastian to Hendaye ist EUR 5,10.
[b]Henday - Bordeaux[/b]: by free regional train.
Or if you want to rush trough to [b]Paris[/b] either by direct TGV train or as well regional train to Barcelona, then change into TGV.
There is as well an inexpensive French night train: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-night-train/hendaye-paris-icn4052-4/113[/u]
Seat is EUR 6, Couchette is EUR 20. You can book online, just see the link.
TGV booking as well possible online, for example here on railcc: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-train-reservation/tgv-sncf/42[/u]
Have a look at the forum link of TGV, there is a non-official solution explained for reservations due to the seat limitations for Rail Pass travellers.
If you stop in Bordeaux, have a look on Arcachon: [u]https://rail.cc/en/arcachon/c[/u]
[b]Paris - Antwerpes[/b]: you can travel for free avoiding the THALYS trains in Benelux.
Examples to Brussels are here: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/paris-to-brussels[/u]
Simply change in Kortrijk to a free IC train to Antwerpes. Okay, it might be a bit slower - but you save a lot of money!
[b]Antwerpes - Amsterdam[/b]: again, simply do not use THALYS, then the connection is free of reservations by direct IC train.
[b]Amsterdam - Berlin[/b]: free of extra fees - [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/amsterdam-to-berlin[/u]
And now it depends on where you want to continue. It is as well free to travel to Vienna ( [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/berlin-to-vienna[/u] ). But think about stopping in Prague.
To Stockholm, use the inexpensive night train from Berlin to Malmlö (only EUR 19 and you save the hostel): [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-night-train/berlin-malmoe-en-300/58[/u]
From Malmö it is only a short step to Copenhagen (frequent and free trains).
Then up to Stockholm have a look here: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/copenhagen-to-stockholm[/u]
Also possible by free day trains from Berlin to Copenhagen: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/berlin-to-copenhagen[/u]
You see: you can travel nearly everything for free with your rail pass! Except Bordeaux to Paris where it makes sense to either use the night train or the TGV.
That's why we run railcc since now more than 16 years, to help travellers to find the cheapest way! We have real information made by real travellers - and we are not a simple train ticket outlet like a lot of these big companies are.
And if you like railcc with all the information and want to support us, buy your Interrail pass here: [ux]https://rail.shop/interrail[/ux]
Thank you! :)
Peter :)