Looking for 17 days Europe trip advice

M
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Hi,

I hope to get advise from the community on our 14 days Europe trip planned. 

We are family of 4 members and we

 start our bakjet Europe  journey  from

1.21/7-London  to paris by  eurostar ( we not intend to  stay because not confident of the safety of city)

2. 21/7 Paris to basel ( Switzerland) 

3. Basel to Andermatt l(ocal train )

4. Andermatt to St. moritz ( glacier express).

5. St. Moritz to tirano. (Bernina  express)

6. Tirano to Milan ( I couldn't find proper train, I hope someone can advice). 

7.milan to Florence (pisa)- train 

8. Florence  to rome.-train

9. Rome to Venice -train

10. Venice to Brussels (Belgium) -train 

11. Brussels  to amsterdam (train)

12. 14/8/23-Amsterdam back to Newcastle uk( ferry booked )

-I need information station name in each city.

- anyone can suggest me nice place to visit! 

It looks too packed and rush, can some one propose and advice  how to re- schedule  my journey,  tq

 

35 replies

M
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Thanks for everything 

T
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You could also leave Milan earlier with one less connection :

- EC Milano Centrale - Basel SBB 08:10 - 12:56 11€ reservation fee though

The last 2 options are definitely much better in case of delays. Basel - Köln - Bruxelles should be bought on bahn.de for 4,50€, there is even a seating map.

(I wasn't able to post everything in one post)

T
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Here is a much better connection :

- RE Milano Centrale - Lugano 08:43 - 09:58

- EC Lugano - Basel SBB 10:02 - 12:56

- ICE Basel SBB - Köln Hbf 13:13 - 17:04

- ICE Köln Hbf - Bruxelles-Midi 17:41 - 19:35

T
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I believe you've looked at these trains :

- RE Milano Centrale - Lugano 09:43 - 10:58

- IC2 Lugano - Arth-Goldau 11:02 - 12:11

- IR26 Arth-Goldau - Basel SBB 12:15 - 13:56

- ICE Basel SBB - Mannheim Hbf 14:13 - 16:24

- ICE Mannheim Hbf - Köln Hbf 16:36 - 18:04

- Thalys Köln Hbf - Bruxelles-Midi 18:43 - 20:35
It's not the best connection as Thalys have expensive seat reservation fees (27€ per person for that short leg if I'm correct) that can sell out weeks in advance.

T
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Reservations are optional in Germany so you do not need to book online. On the other hand it is quite recommended for ICE trains to Belgium as they are always busy + it ensures that you'll sit together.

- 3€ per train on tickets.oebb.at (add Eurail as a discount and select one-way tickets)

- 4,50€ no matter how many trains on bahn.de

Sometimes trains wait a few minutes for incoming delayed passengers but not always. A booking does not guarantee that the connecting train will wait. Trains are very often delayed in Germany, you'll always be able to take the next one, don't worry, but as seat reservations are tied to a specific train, you do not have the guarantee to sit together. For that you'll need to make last-minute seat reservations on bahn.de.

R
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You can enter connecting trains without any formalities. In Germany, use the DB Navigator app to check the platform where you arrive and where the next train departs.

Booking seat reservations is possible but that does not do anything to make a connecting train wait.

Please ask questions in the community and not via a private message. That's the quickest way to get a response. I don't work for Eurail/Interrail.
M
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Hi sorry I still not really  get your meaning of my no 2 question above,  we should no problem  to catch up the next train transit in few minutes with the itenially above? We only need to show our pass and enter the next train? Or we need to do some booking online to make sure the train will wait for us? 

Tq

 

R
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  1. There is a direct Milan to Mannheim (EC54) but punctuality is so bad that you probably won't make the connection in Mannheim. I believe that's why German railways don't offer it anymore.
  2. The changes look fine.
  3. There are over 30 stations in Brussels. The ICE from Frankfurt stops at Brussel-Noord / Bruxelles-Nord and Brussel-Zuid / Bruxelles-Midi (stations have a Dutch and a French name). Which one is the best depends on what you're looking for: close to the city centre, close to the departure station on the next day or something else?
Please ask questions in the community and not via a private message. That's the quickest way to get a response. I don't work for Eurail/Interrail.
M
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Hi thanks for the information about tirano/milan bus. I still  have some doubt about  the train connections and information  provided by eurail planner.  

1. Earlier  I saw a route from milano to brusells have a direct from milan to Mannheim, so we sbout want to confirm  this itenially,  but now I check again it changed and need to transit ? (picture attached ). 

2. Some itenially  need to go for few transit and every transit  time is very short like few minutes,  is it work? We can catch up the following  train? (Picture attached)

3. One of my destination is Brussels,  but the app planer offer us few stations for Brussels,  which one should  book? Because we also need to tally our hotel location. 

Tq

 

T
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It doesn't take 9 hours. There will be engineering works between June and September so part of the journey is on a bus (pass valid). Timetable hasn't been published yet. It won't take more than 3h, don't worry

- Tirano - Sondrio bus

- Sondrio - Milano train

M
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Ok, thanks for the information,  anyone can tell me any bus/train from tirano to milan shown in eurail planner take about  9 hours travel?? Tq for information 

T
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I'd say stay in Lucerne or Arth-Goldau for the first night and then 2 nights at least in Chur. You could add one in the Engadin Valley (anywhere else other than St. Moritz, Zernez is a good spot) or along the Bernina railway (Pontresina, Poschiavo).

Andermatt is extremely expensive yes and there's not many railways available. I wouldn't advise to stay there.

Lucerne to Chur is entirely doable in a day (hourly connection) :

- Lucerne/Arth-Goldau - Göschenen 1h30

- Göschenen - Andermatt 10 min

- visit Andermatt for 1-2 hours

- Andermatt - Disentis/Mustér 1h10

- Disentis/Mustér - Chur 1h20

In Chur : you can take the Arosa line or go to Liechtenstein (12 CHF bus from Sargans) for example

M
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Hi depart from basel and decided to stay 3-4 night  in Switzerland for visit andematt ,chur, tirano,  and St.moritz ofterthat to milano,  anyone can advice  how is the sequence I go for this itenially to suit the sbb rail and the cheaper cost in accommodation. I been advised to stay  in chur as my base to go surrounding places, but I found tht it far away from andermatt. I hope get advise the below 

1. Base in chur 4 night and visit andermatt,  St moritz and tirano?

Or

2. andermatt (2night , hostel  expensive)to chur (2night) 

Or

3.Station next to andermatt 2 night), to chur(1) and tirano 1 night,  and from here go milano is nearer and convenient  as both city is Italy?

tq

 

M
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Tqvm for Yr information!

T
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Yes they're included and please do not pay extra for the panorama coaches (19 CHF per person). There are nice hourly regional trains (not taking longer) :)

You could stop in Alp Grüm for an hour on the way. It's a really beautiful location !

R
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I try to clarify that the internal train/ tram / train between tirano and St moritz  are include in eurail?

Those are trains and they're included.

Please ask questions in the community and not via a private message. That's the quickest way to get a response. I don't work for Eurail/Interrail.
M
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Hi

I try to clarify that the internal train/ tram / train between tirano and St moritz  are include in eurail? Which mean we not need to buy additional ticket?

Tq

T
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Yes you need to book accomodation in advance.

For local passes it depends. If you want to take a bus or a tram in Basel, then buy a single ticket or a day pass on the SBB app. Do not buy them in advance, prices are set and tickets can’t sell out. Often hotels will give you a free transport card for the city.

Andermatt and Chur are pretty small towns so you can walk.

  • Strasbourg - Göschenen : there is an earlier train at 12:54 in Göschenen. It’s a guaranteed connection but Eurail thinks it is too short. Simply add the train in a second step.

Trains in Switzerland do not require seat reservations, simply add the journey to app (it’ll give you a QR-code) and board the train. On the other hand, reservations are mandatory between London and Paris (Eurostar), Paris and Strasbourg (TGV) + high-speed trains in Italy. It’s very recommended too for the train between Verona and Innsbruck.

St. Moritz - Milan isn’t entirely a bus journey :

  • St. Moritz - Tirano train (symbol AW on the SBB app means that there are open-air coaches)
  • Tirano - Sondrio rail replacement bus (Eurail pass valid)
  • Sondrio - Milano train

Don’t worry, there will be lots of people guiding you to the bus. A lot of people will do the same connection.

There are no direct night trains between Innsbruck and Brussels. There is one between Innsbruck - Amsterdam which stops in Cologne but you’ll need to use 2 travel days :

  • Innsbruck Hbf - Köln Hbf 20:12 - 06:55 175€ for a 4-people couchette
  • Köln Hbf - Bruxelles-Midi 07:42 - 09:35 (or a later train if you want to visit Cologne for a bit)
M
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Hi

Our itinerary reschedule as attached,  we stay paris for 1 day only and cancelled Venice so we have more time in each places. I still have few doubts,

1.do I need to book accommodation Switzerland in 3 places. Do I need to buy local train pass like London (I bought oyster pass). Any recommendations?

2. Train as shown in the Eurail planner need to confirm seat(attached)? Or just walk in train for journey?

3. On 31/7 Innsbruck to Brussels any night  train ?or suggestion. 

4. St Moritz to Milano- where is the bus terminal ? And which station terminal of Milano I should drop off.  I need buy local transport pass for my travel ?

I need to thanks to the community for given me so many good  suggestion and now my schedule almost done. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

T
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Eurail Pass only covers railways so it never covers buses, trams or subways in those cities. The only exceptions I could think of are the Elizabeth and Overground Line in London. But it'll always be better to buy city passes or daily cards, whatever they offer.

 

Is the plan still on doing London - Basel in a day or are you planning to stay a few nights in Paris ? Otherwise it might feel a little bit tight…

- Paris (3 nights)

- Basel (1 night)

- Chur (1 night) -> cheaper than St. Moritz and shortens the travel days

- Milan (2 nights)

- Venice (2 nights)

- Innsbruck (2 nights)

- Amsterdam (2-3 nights) : long travel day from Innsbruck but doable. There's a night train between Innsbruck and Amsterdam which would be perfect. You need to check if it's not full yet though. On 31.07 there's availability on the night train : 174.80€ for a 4-people couchette. Surely the best option as it avoids a 10h+ travel day

Let me know

M
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Hi thank for the information and suggestion given, 

We re- schedule my itenially,  we postponed  Venice/salzburg/freiburg to next trip! Now We have more time enjoying the holidays . BTW I hope someone  can share/tell me what are the trains and buses in the below cities are cover by eurail pass .

- London

- Paris

- basel/andermatt/St. Moritz 

-venice/milano 

- innsbruck. 

Tq

BrendanDB
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I agree with the people above, you’re stuffing way too much in a very short time and you’ll end up spending more time on trains, seeing more of the inside of the train than actually visiting stuff.

I would visit 3-4 places and go for a longer stay of 3-5 days in one place, possibly using it as a base for daytrips to other parts.

Before giving some tips to possibly reschedule: what do you like to do when on a holiday?

Are you looking for big cities, or small town charm or do you want to spend more time in nature? Looking for culture, art, architecture, history, gastronomy, or do you like more active, outdoor holidays?

 

Hi,

Thanks for remind me on WHAT is my intention on this trip,  I hope to delete 1 more City , I am bringing  my  daughters(20~) and wife to explore  Europe in their school  holidays. I will  be grateful if any good suggestion. 

If you ask for suggestions, you get 20 different answers. ;)

I would cut the Italian leg of your trip. Italy deserves a proper two week trip on it’s own.

And if you really want to do it,keep it to the north of Italy (Torino, Milan, Venice, and everything between but nothing too far  south of that line). If you decide to do Italy, make sure that it’s in the middle of the trip, going e.g. from Venice to Brussels takes time. It’s much easier from Switzerland. London-Switzerland-(maybe N-Italy)-again Switzerland/Somewhere Germany - BeNeLux countries - back to the UK. Basically like @thibcabe Has made you a nice suggestion.

If you’lld consider Germany, I really like Freiburg (im Breisgau), or a smaller place in the Black Forest. But I also enjoyed Munich.

Brussels is a good base to visit practically anything in Belgium, as it’s right in the middle. (Bruges, Ghent, Namur, Dinant,… all easily accessible.) 

Utrecht in the NL the same, very convenient to discover the Netherlands from there and is also a very nice city.

I wouldn’t look for accomodation in St. Moritz, it’s very posh. Finding accomodation in Celerina, Samedan, Pontresina (all next to St. Moritz and with equally good train connections) will probably save you some money will enable you to have a bit of a more relaxed atmosphere in the middle of your trip.

A
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I usually use booking.com to find accommodation. 

Please note that I don't work for Interrail/Eurail and that I don't reply to personal messages.
M
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Hi,

Any one can propose what are the famous link to look for accommodation  or histel pass ? Tq

M
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I agree with the people above, you’re stuffing way too much in a very short time and you’ll end up spending more time on trains, seeing more of the inside of the train than actually visiting stuff.

I would visit 3-4 places and go for a longer stay of 3-5 days in one place, possibly using it as a base for daytrips to other parts.

Before giving some tips to possibly reschedule: what do you like to do when on a holiday?

Are you looking for big cities, or small town charm or do you want to spend more time in nature? Looking for culture, art, architecture, history, gastronomy, or do you like more active, outdoor holidays?

 

Hi,

Thanks for remind me on WHAT is my intention on this trip,  I hope to delete 1 more City , I am bringing  my  daughters(20~) and wife to explore  Europe in their school  holidays. I will  be grateful if any good suggestion. 

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