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JamesKearns
Traveller
7 comments

Posted 16 years ago

Hi Guys, im organising my Travel plans for my group; we are 5 guys going travelling for the first time on July 6th for one month on the Global Pass. I've got quite a few questions, so i was hoping you'd be able to help; any input would be much appreciated!

(1) The Route: London – Paris – Milan – Venice – Ljubljana [Slovenia] – Zagreb [Croatia] – Budapest [Hungary] – Bratislava [Slovenia] – Vienna [Austria] – Prague [Czech Republic] – Dresden [Germany] – Berlin – Rostock [Germany] – Copenhagen [Denmark] – Stockholm [Sweden]

We're planning on taking the Eurostar to Paris. I was thinking that maybe this route looks a bit too ambitious? Although, we are only planning to stay in most places one or two nights each...thoughts?

(2) Is it ok to make the reservations for High Speed Trains and Night Trains pretty much on the day you travel? Basically, i've heard that some people are planning their entire trip beforehand, reserving their high speed trains, etc. Except, we haven't done this, and are planning to use the high speed trains, happy to pay the additional fee. So, will we be ok to book these trains last minute??

(3) Does anyone know if their are any festivals/carnivals/parties or anything like that going on in Europe throughout July?? Just thought it would be nice to drop in if there was!

Thanks for all your help, James

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niks
Traveller
24 comments

replied 16 years ago

hey james!

well im going interrailing for the first time in june for a month and me and my mate got like 11 places lol....and too be honest with ya im gonna be shattered with all that and not really enjoy the whole experience.

why dont u see if u cant cut it down abit more. and like stay longer in places?

but yeah were getting the eurostar too. its like £80 return, and to be honest with ya, thats like the only train reservation were doing.

cause on the fast trains or just normal ones, even if u do need to reserve seats u can, as i know, reserve them say the day u get to that place. u get me.

so yeah dont worry too much about it lol. cause at the end of the day, ull probably end of staying in a place longer so u dont really want the whole trip concreted do ya!?!?

niks

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JamesKearns
Traveller
7 comments

replied 16 years ago

Hiya Niks,

Yeah i know what ya mean, we probably will cut the route down quite a bit cos, like you say, i don't wanna spend the whole trip on a train!!

Good stuff that you can book the highspeed trains on the day, that was the thing i was most worried about to be honest - cos we're so unorganised, definietly couldn't see us booking everything in advance!

Anyway, have a wicked one Niks...

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admin
Traveller
203 comments

replied 16 years ago

Hi James, your itinery DOES sound a bit ambitious but with a plan, such as you have, you'll be less likely to find yourselves wasting time here and there, and you won't need to do so much negotiating with your travelling pals as it's already been done.

If you find your schedule a bit too hectic then you can cut out a place or two. Likewise, you'll probably find somewhere that's really enjoyable and stay there longer and reschedule the rest of the trip. You might also find some places not too good and want to move on. But I think you have definitely done the right thing by planning and considering.

On the reservations and getting to the Continent: I wouldn't waste time and an Interrail pass day with Euostar if a cheap flight was available. I expect you'll get a flight for less and you'll be on the continent really quickly.

Reservations for high speed trains can be done in the station wherever you are, and, on the day of travel. Booking fees are generally small. On my last trip: perhaps 3 to 5 euros per journey. You might feel more relaxed if you book a day or two ahead, e.g., when you arrive in Prague; make the reservations for the next leg of your trip.

For planning, I always take Thomas Cook's European Rail Timetable. It's about twleve quid and has maps and the timetables for regional, national, and international trains and ferries in Europe. If you have it, you can plan without spending time in stations trying to get information.

I hope this is helpful.

Have an excellent trip.

iaink

[quote]Hi Guys, im organising my Travel plans for my group; we are 5 guys going travelling for the first time on July 6th for one month on the Global Pass. I've got quite a few questions, so i was hoping you'd be able to help; any input would be much appreciated!

(1) The Route: London – Paris – Milan – Venice – Ljubljana [Slovenia] – Zagreb [Croatia] – Budapest [Hungary] – Bratislava [Slovenia] – Vienna [Austria] – Prague [Czech Republic] – Dresden [Germany] – Berlin – Rostock [Germany] – Copenhagen [Denmark] – Stockholm [Sweden]

We're planning on taking the Eurostar to Paris. I was thinking that maybe this route looks a bit too ambitious? Although, we are only planning to stay in most places one or two nights each...thoughts?

(2) Is it ok to make the reservations for High Speed Trains and Night Trains pretty much on the day you travel? Basically, i've heard that some people are planning their entire trip beforehand, reserving their high speed trains, etc. Except, we haven't done this, and are planning to use the high speed trains, happy to pay the additional fee. So, will we be ok to book these trains last minute??

(3) Does anyone know if their are any festivals/carnivals/parties or anything like that going on in Europe throughout July?? Just thought it would be nice to drop in if there was!

Thanks for all your help, James[/quote]

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niks
Traveller
24 comments

replied 16 years ago

yeah how comes i keep hearing that for us brits its apparently cheaper to just fly their???? cause to be honest with ya ive looked on easyjet, like one of the cheapest flights avaiable and like thats just short of £70

and ive gotta get a train down to london which is £30 return so that and the eurostar were looking at about £110....

But like even getting the cheapest flight at £70 theirs still your travels to and from the airport at this end...so really too me it just seems the sam price wise

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admin
Traveller
203 comments

replied 16 years ago

Booking ahead is definitely the way to get a flight that makes it a better option. I'm in the north of Scotland and I can get to Luton, with Easy, for 30 quid if I book 3 weeks in advance. Then from Luton to Amsterdam is less than 30 quid.

Loads of companies are competing in the cheap flight market these days. Have a look at ebookers to see if there's a good oneway deal for you.

The cost of taking a train from here to London, or straight through to France is astronomical. And the bus, around 45 pounds to France, takes more than 14 hours.

I'll probably take a flight, that I found on ebookers, directly from Aberdeen to Amsterdam, for less than 85 quid. It takes 2 hours and I won't be knackered when I get there. It also means that I won't use any railpass travel days as the pass will start after I've arrived in Holland.

Best of luck.

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niks
Traveller
24 comments

replied 16 years ago

ill have to check that out

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Peter
Traveller
9330 comments

replied 16 years ago

even Germans use cheap flights to get out of the country... ;)
fly to a place, stay there for 2 days and then start with interrail. so you save 2 days of travel on your interrail ticket - at least that's the way I do it very often. ;)
and for train connections, you can use this website... play with the option Whole journey - means of transport ...
[u]https://rail.cc/en/search-interrail-route[/u]

you can avoid trains with supplements ... but on some long distances, 3-5 EUR are worth paying a supplement, as it can become very boring, sitting in a slow train for more than 12 hours... ;)
a lot of fun !! Pete :)

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JamesKearns
Traveller
7 comments

replied 16 years ago

Thanks for the advice...

Flying in sounds like a decent idea, i do like the thought of gettin an extra two days or so :)

I also found some info on European festivals in the london paper, which i could post if anyone was interested!

Thanks again....cannot wait!

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niks
Traveller
24 comments

replied 16 years ago

oh yeah could u post em for us please j! :) london paper u say???? wasnt lasts night one was it?

I know what u mean about the whole flying thing, be great to get their and have like 2 days extra lol...always after a bargin me lol :P

im guess ur from london then james, were abouts?

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JamesKearns
Traveller
7 comments

replied 16 years ago

Hiya, i'm at work at the min and have the paper at home, so i'll post the festival details soon!

I live in North London, Chingford way! How about u niks? When u off?

Just found flights from Stockholm to London for 20 quid, result!

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niks
Traveller
24 comments

replied 16 years ago

ah i live south side, the lovely place of elephant and castle.... :o at uni here so i havnt really got much choice lol

im off in like mid july for a month, were on earth are u finding flights that cheap, cause i can find em for like £20 but then on the next page is soon goes up with the taxes & charges.....

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JamesKearns
Traveller
7 comments

replied 16 years ago

I just found them on ryanair, was really lucky i think! Hopefully i'll get my mates to book em this weekend, though we're buying our interrail tickets this weekend too....

What uni du go to?! I go to Queen Mary in Mile End! Well, i've actually just finished!

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niks
Traveller
24 comments

replied 16 years ago

ah right, yeah ill have to check that out then.

thing is, is cause im going back to yorkshire for the summer ive got like 3 airports, doncaster, leeds bradford and east midlands. but like not all of em go to paris which is abit odd :|

im at south bank uni, not too bad, just finished my 1st year last friday. so gonna have to pop up2 kings x in abit to pick me lil brother up, coming down for the weekend :) fingers crossed the weather stays as it is!

so what u study then at uni?....basically are u putting your degree to use lol :P

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JamesKearns
Traveller
7 comments

replied 16 years ago

Study history, and no, i don't intend to put it to use in anyway at all! lol Any urself??

Grrr roll on 6th July!! Need to start buyin equipment and stuff now too!! How much cash du think i'll need? Bearing in mind we like drinking! :)

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JamesKearns
Traveller
7 comments

replied 16 years ago

Change of plan; decided to take the flying option! We booked 5 flights to Milan for 40 quid each :P

Buying my interrail ticket this weekend: am i right in thinking the online rail shop is the place to buy yeah?

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Peter
Traveller
9330 comments

replied 16 years ago

good option .... :)
I will do it like you as well in two weeks and start by plane to Sweden and then continue by rail... ;)

best way to buy the interrail ticket (as it is fast and save): [ux]https://rail.shop/interrail[/ux]

have a lot of fun,
Peter
:D

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JamesKearns
Traveller
7 comments

replied 16 years ago

Bought my interrail ticket on the net last night; came to 303 pound, including the refund add-on, plus the delivery cost.

Planning on booking hostels and a return flight while we are travelling.

Definitely travelling from Milan to Venice, and then down the Adriatic coast. For the rest of the trip we shall just go with the flow....

Cannot Wait :P