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Is it stupid to plan a trip so last minute 

  • August 19, 2025
  • 3 replies
  • 85 views
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I won an interrail pass last year and it runs out in September. I am starting from England and I really want to travel and use it to it's full potential. I have also started buying the things I need for the trip but I haven't booked any hostels or tickets yet. Is this going to end up costing me an insane amount of money? Some hostels charge £40-£100 and I know that I need reservations for some trains. Is it possible to do this so last minute? (Leaving within the next couple of days). 

Any help and brutal honesty would be appreciated!

Thanks😊

Best answer by eurocity101

If you book your Eurostar asap and avoid Spain and France as much as possible, then that's perfectly fine.

It's a good idea to check out some smaller, less known towns where hostels often have free dorms even on the day of arrival.

3 replies

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Railly clever
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  • eurocity101
  • Railly clever
  • Answer
  • August 19, 2025

If you book your Eurostar asap and avoid Spain and France as much as possible, then that's perfectly fine.

It's a good idea to check out some smaller, less known towns where hostels often have free dorms even on the day of arrival.

I'm NOT working for Interrail/Eurail.
ralderton
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  • Allie
  • Author
  • Right on track
  • August 19, 2025

Okay thank you! Was planning to avoid France and I have a friend in Belgium and family in the Netherlands if needs be, although I know absolutely nothing about trains in places such as Slovenia and Austria. I'm less interested in big cities and more interested in lakes, mountains and small villages. Do you have any tips on cheaper routes/ how to get these kinds of trains? Your initial response was very helpful by the way😊

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Engin-ius
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  • zagmund
  • Engin-ius
  • August 19, 2025

Is it possible to do this last minute?  Absolutely.

You can get across Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Austria without paying for any reservations at all without any major effort.  There may be 1 or 2 trains (like DB from the Netherlands to Germany in peak season) that require them, but there are plenty of alternatives that don’t.

If budget is your concern then put in a bit of research.  For example, accommodation in Innsbruck may be expensive, but a town 15 minutes down the line may be cheap and you have an Interrail which gets you between the two for free.  But, as I said above, do the research.  You might find that the small town is more expensive.  Check out budget hotel chains, I got a double room for £29 in a large enough UK city on a Sunday night earlier this month.

Belgian and Swiss reservations either don’t exist or aren’t required.  German and Austrian reservations are cheap (a pint of beer prices) and are optional.  The only time I would recommend them are at peak times like a Friday evening in August going from a big city to a holiday location, or the reverse on a Sunday evening, and even then only if you will be traveling for a couple of hours.

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