Me and couple of mates are one about go away around Europe yet next and do it using one of those Inter Rail passes. I just wondered if anyone on here had any experience of using it, and if so any pointers? I've had a look on the website and there's some good tips, but I just wondered if anyone had any first hand experience at this kind of thing? Any places worth visiting (apart from the obvious) etc?
We're looking to go for around 2/3 weeks, depending on how long we can get off work. After looking at the map and routes you can take, I reckon we'll start off in either Amsterdam or Berlin and head towards the Mediterranean from there - down through Paris then on to Barcelona - Marseille - Nice - back up into Milan and then go all the way along the spine of Italy and end up around Naples and get a flight home from there.
Try and head through Croatia too away from the usual haunts, me and my best pall are going travelling for our 40th, six months, starting where we was born, Hull, ferry over and make or way to far east. Chance of a lifetime.
Two of my pals are just back from doing this for a couple of weeks, think they done berlin-stuttgart-munich-aalen-munich-cologne-amsterdam-paris-donostia-bilbao. One of them talked about the inter rail passes being slightly deceiving i.e read the small print when booking, as you still may need to reserve a seat.
Think they took a flight inbetween as well with a budget airline.
I think Im clever but not clever enough to play with the proper lads, not got the brain span to run with decent folk but i keep trying and trying. shame my prospects are shit and I feel low about myself. I will find my own way one day.
Usually have to pay a supplement for Inter City trains if my memory serves me right.
Amsterdam gets absolutely rammed (ooer) in summer, started off there on similar jaunt 20 years ago and could not get a room un the city, ended up staying in the Hague.
My overall advice would be to head out to places a bit off the usual trail, you can and will go to Amsterdam/Berlin anytime. Thats not to say they're not great places, but they are very accessible. So I'd get a flight out to your furthest point eg Barcelona in this case and work your way across form there. I wouldnt bother with Marseille, its not as bad as some people would have you believe but not a great deal there and much nicer places along the coast such as Menton on the French side or San Remo across the border in Italy. Train travel in Italy is generally pretty good although the coast routes can be a bit slow. You could easily spend 2 or 3 weeks round Italy on its own with so many things to see and visit there. I'd look at getting across into Montenegro/Croatia/Slovenia etc experience something a bit different /exciting and a lot cheaper too. Try and use as much of the 'map' as possible as well ie stop off somewhere and when you decide to move on make it a worthwhile journey (if that makes sense)
Never done the inter rail (would like to) but have visited plenty of places in Central/Eastern Europe. My advice would be to try get off the beaten track a bit and not just pick the big European capitals. I find big cities very samey and often a bit dull after a while. But thats just me. If I could explore anywhere in Europe (with a relative budget) it would be along the Eastern Adriatic coast.
Didn't really like Amsterdam but as I say cities aren't my thing generally.
Cheers for all the tips and that so far. I thought of Croatia, as I'd love to go. It's all just a question of time though.
Hostels seem well priced and some look pretty good inside too! I'd like to go off the beaten track though, especially for food - it'll be both better and much cheaper!
Quote: OFFHand wrote in post #3Try and head through Croatia too away from the usual haunts, me and my best pall are going travelling for our 40th, six months, starting where we was born, Hull, ferry over and make or way to far east. Chance of a lifetime.
Do you mean your going in 6 months or going traveling for that long?
Some great places to see along the way
] I am the face, She has to know me, I'm dressed up better than anyone Within a mile.
OFF HAND
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Sun Aug 12, 2012 1:38 pm
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