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Advice needed!
Hey all,
Going to be buying an inter rail ticket for travelling around Europe in March. Going for the all zones pass for one month. Looking to fit in AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. Just would like any advice people can offer about anything you may think would be helpful. I do have some specific questions tho. Reasonably how many citys would I be able to fit in? We were planning on getting in 1 city every 3 days, obviously taking into consideration travel time. Do you need to book train tickets ahead of time? Or simply turn up? Would you suggest bringing travellers cheques or what? Its mostly euro countrys anyway, but I dont want to be carrying around cash (theft risk) and getting it changed all the time. Anything you would suggest I HAVE to see, preferably not touristy stuff. Would prefer off the beaten track and all that. You dont have to include Britain or Ireland as Im only going to the continent! Any help would be greatly appreciated! Cheers, Phil |
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Phil wrote:
[] Reasonably how many citys would I be able to fit in? We were planning on getting in 1 city every 3 days, obviously taking into consideration travel time. Not unreasonable in my opinion, but the pace would horrify some people. You may want to consider a circular route of some sort- perhaps aiming to limit your travel time on a 'travel day' to around 3 hours at most. The possibilities are endless. Go to http://www.bahn.de/pv/view/int_guest...l_guests.shtml to get an idea on travel times. It will depend a lot on what you enjoy doing. I'm a train fan, so the train journey is always an interesting part of the vacation for me. You may want to include a few overnight journeys as well, which will save time between further away destinations. Do you need to book train tickets ahead of time? Or simply turn up? It depends on the train service, and you may need to pay supplements on some services. Good planning is essential, or rather, having a good idea of your travel options- that still allows some flexibility. Would you suggest bringing travellers cheques or what? No, bring your ATM card. Its mostly euro countrys anyway, but I dont want to be carrying around cash (theft risk) and getting it changed all the time. Indeed. If you're in many Euro countries, then you won't need to worry about taking out too much money. With non-euro countries, try and limit your withdrawals as much as possible to what you think you'll spend there. I made similar trips pre-Euro, and it was a pain in the neck! Anything you would suggest I HAVE to see, preferably not touristy stuff. Too wide a question for me to answer. What are your interests? Would prefer off the beaten track and all that. There's a beautifully preserved aquaduct outside Tarragona, which is an hour south of Barcelona on the train- a bus goes nearby. Hardly anyone was there when we visited it in June just a few local kids. It was magnificent. That kind of thing? I'd suggest you first have a think about exactly what your expectations of the trip are. I know people who've travelled every day, and really enjoyed the experience. It doesn't appeal to other travellers though, so it's going to be very much based on what you want out if. Have a look at the bahn website, which is an excellent source of timetable information. This will give you some more ideas I think. David -- David Horne- www.davidhorne.net usenet (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk |
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Anything you would suggest I HAVE to see, preferably not touristy stuff.
If you HAVE to see it, it will be touristy stuff. |
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Don't knock the "touristy" stuff. It is touristy because it is good.. I
snobbed the "touristy" places in Paris my first few visits -- I finally "stooped" to going to them and discovered that they were the best sites in town. rjf "Phil" wrote in message om... Anything you would suggest I HAVE to see, preferably not touristy stuff. Would prefer off the beaten track and all that. You dont have to include Britain or Ireland as Im only going to the continent! Any help would be greatly appreciated! Cheers, Phil |
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Bob Fusillo wrote:
Don't knock the "touristy" stuff. It is touristy because it is good.. I snobbed the "touristy" places in Paris my first few visits -- I finally "stooped" to going to them and discovered that they were the best sites in town. rjf good point -- the well visited places made that list for a reason -- it is sort of like 'little known works' by Beethoven or Mozart or whomever -- given the fabulous stuff they composed -- if something is 'little known' there is probably a good reason for it to be so In Rome the Pantheon is on everyone's punch list --- but it is my favorite place nevertheless -- and the Colosseum is fascinating etc etc |
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Deep Frayed Morgues wrote:
(Phil) wrote in message . com... Hey all, Going to be buying an inter rail ticket for travelling around Europe in March. Going for the all zones pass for one month. Looking to fit in AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. Just would like any advice people can offer about anything you may think would be helpful. I do have some specific questions tho. Reasonably how many citys would I be able to fit in? We were planning on getting in 1 city every 3 days, obviously taking into consideration travel time. Do you need to book train tickets ahead of time? Or simply turn up? Would you suggest bringing travellers cheques or what? Its mostly euro countrys anyway, but I dont want to be carrying around cash (theft risk) and getting it changed all the time. Nowadys bring your ATM Card. Anything you would suggest I HAVE to see, preferably not touristy stuff. Would prefer off the beaten track and all that. See the tourist stuff!!!! you'll regret it if you didn't (at least 3 to 10 years later, when you realize a) I'll never can come back there b) on your next trip you can estimate what's worth revisiting for a "in depth" journey, you know what's worth and where (not) to go. Oh boy, here we go again!!! So you wanna do Europe in one month huh? Well, it is kinda possible, but you need to perform a balancing act between coverage, cost, and enjoyment. Moving every 3 days for a month is very tiring, and after a month, you will be on the verge of madness. Allow about 1 day in 5 as a rest day, so you can do your washing, put your feet up, and plan a bit. If you'r going Interrail, who's gonna ask about cleanliness (I've read right here about the american obsession about washing), you'r travel by train, and trains are dirty, even more in the south (_not_ the expensive, surplus, _fast_ trains). you're get to sleep in the trains, when I remember correctly either standing in some corner or in the spare room btween the carriages BTW youth hostels or railway stations give lots of opportunities to have a douche. Don't bother planning your schedule ahead too tightly, as you clearly are not certain as to exactly what you want to see yet, so plan to make it up a bit as you go. For one month, I would suggest sticking to the well trodden path, in countries such as Germany, France, Netherlands, Italy, Czech Rep, and Spain. Even that would be very ambititious to try to see the main cities in each. Recommend that, you get good tips at every youth hostel from your fellow mates. Come back here after that if you have some specific questions. _Do not_ take one of those huge backpacks with you! There are in _every_ train station only 10 to 20 large baggage holders, that will take your super duper backpack. When Possible, take over your baggage to an individual in a counter __ _do_ ask, for opening hours. _Do_ pack lightly, many underwear, socks, rest can be abandoned and bought cheaply. Be sure to have with you a (sort of) swiss knife/letherman, a really reliable duct tape and sewing necessities?? (spelling?). Ihave saved the trip for someone else years ago with these. Medication is up to you (ASS and tablets for "Montezumas REvenge") sigh have ranted too long on old memories (but the experiences (then) are nevertheless true) BTW, this type of travel is often scorned, and for good reasons. You wont really be able to soak up any European culture at that speed, and you will be exhausted at the end of it. Seriously consider doing less at a slower speed. --- DFM Now guessing... if the OP is in his early twenties, he can certainly do mainland europe by Interrail. Granted, he ca'nt soak up "culture", but he/she might be tempted to come back to explore sites, where not enough time was spent on the last trip. _That_, of course keeps me busy travelling round europe (my preferred places spotted on one of those "hard, fast tours". -- Nobody is perfect not even in failing |
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