travellingtom
Traveller
2 comments
Posted 11 years ago
Hi,
I think it might be better to direct my query here.
So I am currently planning a two month trip later this year (all a little daunting). The route I am planning is:
Paris - Brugges - Amsterdam - Hamburg - Berlin - Prague - Vienna - Budapest - Zagreb - Milan
I am having some difficulty with some of the legs of this journey using the interrail pass:
-From Paris to Brugges I know that going to lille flanders avoids extra expenses.
-From Brugges to Amsterdam I don't know the best way to do this without avoiding extra costs?
-From Amsterdam to Hamburg is it best to go to Osnabrück and change there? This route appears to be about 4 hours and avoids extra costs.
-Hamburg to Berlin is obviously easy and short.
-Berlin to Prague seems to be a four and a half hour straight train with no changes? Is this the best route?
-Prague to Vienna is again about five hours and is a straight train?
-Vienna to Budapest is about a three hour straight train with no extra costs?
-Budapest to Zagreb appears to have only one train leaving about 1320 and arriving late at night? I assume there is no way around this or is there a faster connection if you pay extra?
The next issue I have is what pass to get. I could realistically plan when I would be leaving most places so it could work out better to book the 10 days in 22. What information do we have to put for this? Is it just the day?
Would be really grateful for any help!!
Thanks guys!
Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
Hi.
The 10 in 22 Interrail Global pass is fine. You could even add some extra stops.
For example travel ... Paris - Brugges - Amsterdam - Hamburg - Berlin - Prague - Krakow - Budapest - Vienna - Zagreb ...
Just fill in the day you travel whenever you need one.
Here is the rule for night trains: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-night-train[/u]
All connections you need are listed here. I could do now copy and paste, but I think you will find it by your own. ;)
[u]https://rail.cc/en/search-interrail-route[/u]
Examples:
Paris - Brugges: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/paris-to-bruges[/u]
Brugges - Amsterdam: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/bruges-to-amsterdam[/u]
Amsterdam - Hamburg: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/amsterdam-to-hamburg[/u]
...
Vienna - Zagreb: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/vienna-to-zagreb[/u]
[b]Please support railcc:[/b]
- buy your rail passes and tickets here on the recommended website: [ux]https://rail.shop/interrail[/ux]
- add locations of your home-town (bars, nice places, ...)
Thank you! :)
Peter :)
travellingtom
Traveller
2 comments
That's great. Thanks for all that information.
In terms of the 10 in 22 pass, do I need to specify which train I am travelling on (as in could I change my mind and choose to pay extra for a faster train on the same day?)
With trains that incur extra costs, how does this work? Do we just pay them on the day or before we get on the train?For instance for Vienna to Zagreb it says 3,50 euro for second class. I assume that we can still decide on which train we are going to get on the day?
How long will it take for the pass to arrive once we have ordered it with you guys?
Thanks,
Tom
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Hej Tom,
all Global passes come with a Travel Report in which you have to fill in date, departure time and departure and arrival station of each train you use. This has to be done prior to boarding but unless you come across a very picky conductor you can usually to this after you found your seat on the train as well, no worries.
If you have a Flexi pass, you also have to fill in each travel day (day/month) directly on your IR ticket. This also has to be done prior to boarding the first train on each travel day; and unlike the Travel Report I always fill in the travel day before I enter the first train each day.
So if you are going to use a 10in22 IR pass, you have to fill in both each travel day on your ticket plus the travel report.
No big deal. ;)
You then can use as many trains as you want on each travel day - you just need to fill in the travel report. And with a Flexi pass you can also make use of the 1900-rule for night trains :arr: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-night-train[/u]
Reservations are usually bought at stations (ticket counter, sometimes it is also possible at ticket machines). For some countries/trains it is also possible to get reservations online, but it is not the common way (and as you usually have to print out the reservation it is not much easier than going to a station).
Usually it is not neccessary to get reservations where reservation is not compulsory (as for the Vienna - Zagreb train), just hop on the train and look for free seats, no worries).
Save your money and only get a reservation if this is needed (so, basically for high speed trains and night trains).
You wont need much reservations anyway:
# Paris - Lille by TGV (6€); you can also go to Lille by regular trains without reservation but this will take longer (~1h vs ~3h)
# Bruges - Amsterdam: Avoid the Thalys high speed trains, much to high reservation fee. The standard alternative would be the Fyra trains Bruxelles - Amsterdam (4€ reservation), however these currently do not run due to technical problems. This means you can go Bruges - Antwerpen - Rotterdam - Amsterdam without any extra reservations and this will also be possible after the Fyra trains run again. Just ask before you travel if you need any help on this.
# Everything else to Zagreb needs no extra reservations; Peter already posted to link to our railcc connections where you should find all of these routes.
Flo 8)
For your route a 10in22 pass would be perfect, and if you really are going to travel you could think about using two of them in a row - depending on your route.
In general, InterRail passes are best value if you do not spend too much time at one place; in general everything between one and three days is ok (if you want to get the most out of your ticket, that is).
travellingtom
Traveller
2 comments
Yes I am thinking that two 10in22 passes may actually work out better. I didn't realise we only had to fill in the travel day on the day we wanted to travel. That's great news!
I just have a few more questions before I go ahead with booking everything this week. Say for instance we would look at doing an overnight train from Zagreb to Split. Would be be able to book a sleeping coach on the day from the Zagreb? I will be travelling between April and June so hopefully not when it is really busy. I just know on railcc website that it provides links to go through and pay reservation costs.
Also the 1900 rule is slightly confusing as it said something about it only working with a one country pass?
I imagine night trains are sensible for longer journeys though.
Thanks again, the help on here is fantastic. Will reccommend it to everyone I know looking to do the same thing!