Difficult to plan Interrail - Foolproof list how to start

NatureOne
Traveller
273 comments

hi,
you can either plan your whole trip, which I recommend, if you are going with in group (maybe more than 2) or plan spontaneously.
spontaneous:
- Decide some place you want to go
- Prebook the first 2-3 Hostels / Train reservations (and maybe the last (as you can't use your IR-Ticket in your own country - only a discount))
- Decide how look you want to stay or if others (people you meet in train oder hostel) recommend some cities
- Prebook the new hostels in the Hostel (maybe 2 days in advance)
(maybe) Prebook the next trains, when you arrive at a cities train stations
- Keep in mind of the European Rail Timetable of Thomas Cook

My planing:
- Meet up with friends and decide in which direction you want to go (as I see you decided Western Europe) and how long your trip should be
- So next up, look for some cities in that area. Therefore a map is helpful. Get some information on the Internet (google pictures) - search on google some like top ten place to visit in ... - depends on you if you want to go in big cities or more countryside places.
- After you have chosen the cities have a look at this page: [u]https://rail.cc/en/search-interrail-route[/u]
There you'll find the most routes, with additional information, e.g. reservation fee or train changing. For more connections have a look at [ux]https://rail.shop/bahn[/ux] or the local railway companies. The websites are provided by railcc: country -> railway companies
- Check for some accommodations in the cities you want to go ( [ux]https://rail.shop/hostelworld[/ux] ) and find the one you want to go
- So your trains are chosen and you know if you need to pay a fee or not. So buy your reservations in advance, online (support railcc) or at a local service center of your railway company. Do not forget to buy the ticket home country - foreign country and back
- Book the hostels, after you have your reservations, because some trains are limited for interrailers, but there are different options to get reservations (e.g. France - [ux]https://rail.shop/sncf/reservation[/ux])
- Buy your interrail ticket [ux]https://rail.shop/interrail[/ux]

So I think you have a good basis for your trip. :)
What's expensive and inexpensive. I think night trains are a good alternative for expensive cities, neither dorms in a hostel are, or look for camping areas. Otherwise you have the option of Couchsurfing, but it's difficult to get place for a small group and couchsurfing is more than a cheap way of traveling :)
Or you can stay in suburb or small cities in surroundings, which might be cheaper.
Maybe keep in mind of Dresden or Heidelberg.

Peter
Traveller
9339 comments

Hi.
NatureOne already explained everything - but if you still need more to read have a look at the first timer guide:
[u]https://rail.cc/en/first-time-interrail[/u]
Peter ;)