European trip train journey tips and places to see question.

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by Poptop2, Jan 28, 2016.

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  1. Poptop2

    Poptop2 Administrator

    On the back of @jonspadge question on a European trip.

    Lou me and Will are thinking of buying a interrail global pass this summer and winging it first class across Europe by train. There are 30 countries in the interrail scheme and travel is pretty much unlimited in the period of time you buy the ticket for.

    Our idea and it is only a idea atm is to buy the pass and take a train to London where we can get the Eurostar ( not on interrail pass, but discounted to holders) to the gare de nord. Spend a night in Paris and then get a train to Milan to stay with family for a couple of days (Como has a good funicular railway I have been on, so that is on the cards) We wil the probably go to Germany and VW museum and Berlin, We then think maybe make our way to north Sweden and Norway before heading home. The wing it bit comes from the destination and where we decide to stay each night. We will probably get to our destination and pre booked hotel on the interernet on the train.

    My questions are - Has anyone done the interrail pass and what are the pitfalls if any ( we know about the fee for scheduled trains) What is there we should see as we make plans - Ie beauty spots, atttractions etc. and has anyone had experience of train travel in Scandinavia.

    We are open to all suggestions and will travel wherever the wind takes us if there is a good reason to have a decko.

    Cheers in advance. I will pop in occasionally tonight and have a decko, but unlikely to reply as I will be working.

    Not keen on concenration camps etc btw. M
     
    Poptop2, Jan 28, 2016
    #1
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  2. jivedubbin

    jivedubbin

    Bern in Switzerland
    Florence,Pisa and Capri
    Bordeaux and cognac
    are among my favourites
     
    jivedubbin, Jan 28, 2016
    #2
    Poptop2 likes this.
  3. snotty

    snotty

    Aren't you a bit old for an Interrail pass ;)?
     
    snotty, Jan 28, 2016
    #3
  4. Poptop2

    Poptop2 Administrator

    Another 5 years and I can get the senior pass:(
     
    Poptop2, Jan 28, 2016
    #4
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  5. Poptop2

    Poptop2 Administrator

    Poptop2, Jan 28, 2016
    #5
    jivedubbin and Merlin Cat like this.
  6. snotty

    snotty

    snotty, Jan 28, 2016
    #6
  7. stewart kombi

    stewart kombi

    Use the sleepers, wherever you can. They're a good laugh, meeting people. They cover plenty of distance, and are timed to pull into a city for breakfast, all rested with dreams of nighttime stops. Surprisingly restful kipping on a train bunk. May have to pay a supplement but not too much. My mate got laid on the the Paris to Marseille, I thought it was a bit creaky In The night.

    If I was doing it now, I'd take my Brompton bike. That way I can easy get around. Stick bag on back, and easy to take on any train.
     
    stewart kombi, Jan 28, 2016
    #7
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  8. volkswombat

    volkswombat

    My question is how long you going for?

    You seem to want tyo cover vast distances.....
     
    volkswombat, Jan 28, 2016
    #8
  9. Poptop2

    Poptop2 Administrator

    We might do four weeks if work are agreeable.
     
    Poptop2, Jan 28, 2016
    #9
  10. snotty

    snotty

    I remember on a sleeper trip as a lad being shunted into a siding somewhere in Austria for the night. The loco b*ggered off and did something else for a while, came back in the morning and took us on a scenic tour of the Alps. Great stuff :)

    PS The bike's a great idea.
     
    snotty, Jan 28, 2016
    #10
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  11. Poptop2

    Poptop2 Administrator

    We intend to do just that. We are looking for a good train map of Europe that we can scan over while we plan the trip. Cheers
     
    Poptop2, Jan 28, 2016
    #11
  12. Owen Snell

    Owen Snell

    I did it when I was 18, but not first class! We tried to sleep on the train as it was free (or just roughed it, which was also free). Didn't pay any accommodation for the duration. We went right up to Narvik in the Arctic Circle, which was a 24 hour train ride back then - nice to get there but a bit dull on the way. Would be good fun as an adult and not doing it on zero budget.
     
    Owen Snell, Jan 28, 2016
    #12
  13. sANDYbAY

    sANDYbAY On benefits-won't sponsor!

    Sounds like a promising idea for a holiday. How do the logistics work regarding luggage? Are you effectively backpacking with one light bag each or a full complement of suitcases?
    I only went on probably one train all the time I lived in Germany so I know loads of lovely places to visit but I really have no idea if it's feasible to get there without a car.
    I'm with @stewart kombi with the bike idea though. It'll be on the back of my van so I can bike around the cities like Berlin, Copenhagen and Gdańsk much more efficiently than trying to explore by car whilst simultaneously trying to navigate and not crash.
     
    sANDYbAY, Jan 28, 2016
    #13
  14. stewart kombi

    stewart kombi

    For all you petrol heads who might not have heard of it, this site is probably the best in the world for train information
    http://www.seat61.com
    ('The man in seat sixty one')
    Highly recommend it. gives the low down on pretty much all the train rides around.
     
    stewart kombi, Jan 28, 2016
    #14
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  15. Poptop2

    Poptop2 Administrator

    The short plan is backpacks and last minute hotel deals. I imagine we will be pretty weather beaten by the time we get home. Lou has been working out what clothes we can get away with not taking and what we can buy on the trip. I am proposing I take a decent size back holdall with wheels. Lou and Will take a small rucksack apiece for smalls and washing gear. I don't think we will have to carry it about too much unless on a unscheduled excursion on route to somewhere else.
     
    Poptop2, Jan 28, 2016
    #15
  16. Poptop2

    Poptop2 Administrator

    I have stumbled on that quite a bit while researching this trip.
     
    Poptop2, Jan 28, 2016
    #16
  17. Barneyrubble

    Barneyrubble

    Im with bob on the luggage situation for this on such a long and varied trip ,coupled with the logistics of where you might be staying etc etc . I wish you all good luck . Places to see hundereds .
     
    Barneyrubble, Jan 28, 2016
    #17
    Poptop2 likes this.
  18. stewart kombi

    stewart kombi

    Don't take much, wash your stuff in the sink. It will be dry in the morning in the heat. Take rucksacks, don't bother with suitcases,,hassle. get a good Osprey one. They have cabins on loads of campsites, these are good for cheapo stays in nice places. Take a sheet sleeping bag. God I could go on. I love training around Europe

    This summer I will go by sleeper boat to Amsterdam then train down to Zurich to catch up with the missus and kids. Then we go train to Naples, boat to Stromboli, then to Sicily train to Calabria where we staying for endless pizza. Don't know about the return trip. Might fly if times tight. Whatever. iPad, clothes and swimming stuff is all I'll take
     
    stewart kombi, Jan 28, 2016
    #18
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  19. lost-en-france

    lost-en-france

    That's a lot of diesel in the lt...:hattip:
     
    lost-en-france, Jan 28, 2016
    #19
    Lasty likes this.
  20. Poptop2

    Poptop2 Administrator

    We are considering a smaller trip in the LT as a second option, but asu I drive for a living Lou suggested a alternative idea.
     
    Last edited: Jan 31, 2016
    Poptop2, Jan 28, 2016
    #20
    lost-en-france likes this.
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