5 Tips for Interrailing through Europe

Who hasn’t ever dreamed of packing their photo camera, some maps, a pair of sunglasses, a pair of sneakers, a couple of t-shirts, sunscreen and resolving to hang their backpack on their shoulders to go travel the world? Traveling around 30 different countries with a single train ticket? Don’t call it madness, call it Interrail! A Eurail pass is a personal train ticket that allows European residents to board a number of trains to visit numerous cities.

The perfect excuse to live endless adventures and possibly one of those trips that you’ll remember for life. When planning your trip, it’s important to take some precautions into account, that’s why we are giving you these 5 tips below for interrailing through Europe.

1.Don’t Carry Too Much Baggage

It’s strictly forbidden to abide by the rule of: “I’ll take this sweater/pair of pants/swimming suit just in case…” When thinking of traveling for a few weeks at a time we tend to load up on clothing and all sorts of other items like there’s no tomorrow. We know and understand that it’s crucial to make the right decisions as to what to carry and what to leave behind, but we’d advise you to always take as little as possible with you: travel light. You’ll be grateful you did when you have to carry a backpack at all hours of the day. Thus, don’t be afraid to do without things that can be bought anywhere, like personal hygiene products, or to distribute them between several backpacks among your fellow travelers.

2.Always Book Your Accommodation in Advance

Two days of sightseeing may prove to be an insufficient amount of time in many cities, hence the importance of pre-booking your accommodation in each city, to make the most of your time there and avoid any potential problems and setbacks. With that in mind, planning is good but always in moderation. Missing a train by a mere couple of minutes, making a mistake and ending up at the wrong place, or even changing your route at the very last minute is all part of the essence of Interrail. We advise you book your accommodation from one day to the next, for instance. There are endless apps where you can book directly from your mobile or tablet.

3.Get It in Your Head: You’ll Be Traveling Long Distances

Europe is a magical continent, and despite being one of the smallest in size, you’ll still have to spend long hours on trains. Sometimes the scenery will leave you so in awe that you’ll just spend hours gazing out of the window, but there will also be times when you’ll welcome any distraction. Don’t forget to take a book to kill some time, and it may be a good idea to exchange your reading material with your fellow travelers, take a deck of cards, or anything else to entertain yourselves with. Just make sure it doesn’t take up too much space.

4.Travel at Night

One of the best ways to Interrail is to take night trains, and especially so when covering long distances between cities. It’s a great option for making the most of your time and saving money on accommodation. It’s preferable to collect your train tickets when you first arrive at each destination, that way you’ll ensure there’s room for you on the next train, hopefully in your very own cabin.

5.Choose Wisely Who You Share this Adventure with

If you are not traveling alone, making the right decision about whom to share this experience with is key. Let’s be realistic: if you hardly ever agree on where to go for dinner or for a drink, you’ll also have trouble when it comes to planning your route, booking your accommodation, etc. In fact, the fewer you are, the easier it will be when it comes to booking, and you’ll also be more open to meeting other travelers.

 

With all these tips in mind there’s nothing left to stop you from embarking on your trip and getting knee-deep into this adventure. Are you ready?