Replies posted by ralderton

1142 Replies

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Alex1351Right on track
asked in Ask the community

What global pass cover?

Thank you @ralderton, for above plan/visit I count 12 to 13 travel days, so which Global pass should I get? 15 days in 2 months, or 2 months continuous? If you only travel on 13 days, the 15 days in 2 month pass is sufficient.  

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ralderton
Railmaster
15 days ago
A
Alex1351Right on track
asked in Ask the community

What global pass cover?

OK, I know a few of theseParis - you can still, just about, buy paper tickets, good for one trip on the metro. Buy singles, for €2.15, or a carnet of 10 for the price of 8. They’re going to double in price this summer for the Olympics.You can also buy a Navigo card for €2 from a metro ticket office, and load it with tickets instead. Tap on the barriers to enter. Top up at a machine. London - London Overground, Thameslink, Elizabeth Line trains, plus a few commuter lines in South London (not really useful for tourists) are included in the pass. Add to My Trip like any other train. Your pass won’t open the barriers, you have to show it to staff.For Tube, bus, tram, DLR, riverbus - just tap your credit or debit card at the gate (even if the gate is open) and the fare is automatically calculated and charged at the end of the day.  https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/how-to-pay-and-where-to-buy-tickets-and-oyster/pay-as-you-go/contactless-and-mobile-pay-as-you-go Germany/ Austria/ Switzerland - most S

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ralderton
Railmaster
15 days ago
J
jvw4Rail rookie
asked in Eurail & Interrail Passes

Italy Travel 4 Cities, 2 Weeks Honeymoon!

I’d echo @Hektor‘s advice to check the price of regular tickets as well as a pass. It may well be cheaper, if you can book in advance As an example for Rome to Venice (a 4 hour journey)I can book a train departing this afternoon for €105 on Trenitalia, but looking three months ahead, it’s as little as €30 for a non-refundable fare on Italo. Or just €40 in first class!If you’re able to lock-in your dates in advance, there’s no point in paying for a railpass + €13 reservation fee, when you could just buy a ticket for €30 instead.

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J
12 days ago
A
Alex1351Right on track
asked in Ask the community

What global pass cover?

In general, city transport isn’t included. You have to buy local tickets (or sometimes just use a contactless credit card, like in London).A few train lines in London are included, but not the tube. S-Bahn (commuter trains) in Germany, Austria, Switzerland are included, but not the U-Bahn (underground). There’s a useful service in Brussels, linking Brussels-Nord, Centraal, and Zuid stations.If you mention the cities you will visit, we can advise better.

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ralderton
Railmaster
15 days ago
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MeganLeighannNew aboard
asked in Travelling by train

Travelling to Italy from UK with 4 children!!

With 2 weeks, you could do a great trip flying one way (maybe to Palermo?) then working your way back up to the UK.The children get free rail passes, so you’d only need to pay for the adults. Plus any compulsory reservations along the way.I did this last year. I flew to Palermo and spent a few days on Sicily. You can then take day trains (7.5h) or a sleeper to Naples, have a few days there and in Rome. Then a couple of hours to Florence, and use it as a base to explore Tuscany, then a couple more to Milan.From Milan, you can reach Paris, London and onwards to your destination in the UK the same day. But you could take a few days over it if you like.Even if you decide to fly both ways, I’d suggest you fly into Palermo and out of Rome (of vv) and use the train between.Between Sicily and mainland Italy, the train goes onto the boat, which is quite an experience. The older kids will enjoy that

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A
Railly clever
15 days ago
J
jvw4Rail rookie
asked in Eurail & Interrail Passes

Italy Travel 4 Cities, 2 Weeks Honeymoon!

Also, the excellent Seat 61 website has a general guide to rail travel in Italy , which includes suggested routes, railpasses, how to buy tickets etc. Very useful!https://www.seat61.com/train-travel-in-italy.htm

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J
12 days ago
J
jvw4Rail rookie
asked in Eurail & Interrail Passes

Italy Travel 4 Cities, 2 Weeks Honeymoon!

Naples to Sorrento isn’t covered by the pass. You’ll need to buy a local ticket, €4.50 each way. https://www.seat61.com/Italy.htm#london-to-sorrento-and-capri-by-trainThe rest of your trips are covered by the pass, but in Italy passholders have to pay an extra €13 reservation fee to use each high speed train, €3 for an intercity. Nothing extra for a regional train.I’d echo @Hektor‘s advice to check the price of regular tickets as well as a pass. It may well be cheaper, if you can book in advanceA pass is more flexible though. You don’t need to make your reservations far in advance at all, you can do it 5 minutes before departure.As well as the Trenitalia website, you can search prices on https://www.italiarail.com which is a bit easier to use. They will refund their booking fee if you email them and quote ‘Seat 61’.You should also check the private train operator Italo, who compete with Trenitalia on many long distance routes. https://www.italotreno.it/en (Eurail pass isn't valid on It

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J
12 days ago
Nabil Islam
Keeps calm and carries on
Nabil IslamKeeps calm and carries on
asked in Ask the community

PRAGUE TO ZURICH 00:40 TO 13:20

I really appreciate your inputs guys. @ralderton @thibcabe @BrendanDB . I have some more questions about my itinerary. First time traveling with Eurail pass and this thing is all over the places.. Would any of you be kind enough to guide me on some specifics?  I think it’s better to post questions on here in the forum, so that others can benefit from it, but happy to give you a ring if it’s helpful and we can find a good time. I’m on London time. 

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ralderton
Railmaster
15 days ago
Nabil Islam
Keeps calm and carries on
Nabil IslamKeeps calm and carries on
asked in Ask the community

PRAGUE TO ZURICH 00:40 TO 13:20

The Bernina Express is one of the most beautiful trips in Europe, and well worth doing. You can leave Zurich at 0707, and be in Milan by afternoon.Example timetable here, but this is just the main trains on the route - there are more trains if you want to leave a bit laterhttps://www.seat61.com/trains-and-routes/bernina-express.htm#Train_times,_fares_&_how_to_buy_ticketsNo reservation necessary, just turn up and go. (You can buy a reservation in the panorama cars, but I don’t think it’s worth it. Just sit in the unreserved cars at the back)

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ralderton
Railmaster
15 days ago
C
ChavenhamRight on track
asked in Ask the community

Help Freiburg - Bruxels

Ok great, I’ll do that! I’m not using the app, I have Ticket reservations with QR for all the rest of my trips because all of them required seat reservation. Desktop and App doesn’t sync, so I should create a different trip in the app just for this train in particular? It sounds like those are just seat reservations. They’re not the ticket.You still need to add all your trains to My Trip to generate a ticket for each day you travel.

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C
15 days ago
Nabil Islam
Keeps calm and carries on
Nabil IslamKeeps calm and carries on
asked in Ask the community

PRAGUE TO ZURICH 00:40 TO 13:20

Hi @ralderton, thanks!! Yes Train 1 is Euro city and train 2 is euro night.. I guess they are same train but different carriages? But I don’t understand, how the Train 1 ticket is free?? Is it because I have global pass? Then why it’s not the same case for Train 2?  The difference is on Train 2 you are paying for the sleeping accommodation. If you want to sit on seats, on Train 1, you don’t need to pay any extra. It’s what I used to do when I was in my 20s. Not so much in my 40s!In both cases, the ‘travel’ is covered by your pass.Yes, it’s effectively different carriages on the same train.

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ralderton
Railmaster
15 days ago
Nabil Islam
Keeps calm and carries on
Nabil IslamKeeps calm and carries on
asked in Ask the community

PRAGUE TO ZURICH 00:40 TO 13:20

It’s the same train. I think perhaps in the database twice, as two separate trains, to appeal to different markets.Train 1 is EC = Eurocity (only seats)Train 2 is EN = Euronight (sleeping accommodation)Reserve Train 2 unless you want to be in a seat all night!

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ralderton
Railmaster
15 days ago
C
ChavenhamRight on track
asked in Ask the community

Help Freiburg - Bruxels

There’s almost always seats available somewhere, even if you have to go and have a coffee in the restaurant car. But it’s certainly worthwhile considering for peace of mind.On the DB website, run your query but select ‘book seat only’. You should see a bunch of results priced at €4.90, including your 0955 departure.When I search, it suggests you change at Cologne/ Köln - which is a better idea than Frankfurt Airport anyway.(Ignore anything that involves a leg on TGV or EST.)Buy that, for €4.90, and you have your seat reservation.You also need to add the trains to My Trip (assuming you have a mobile pass?) - that’s what generates the QR code which is your ticket. (The seat reservations on their own aren’t good for travel.)

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C
15 days ago
Nabil Islam
Keeps calm and carries on
Nabil IslamKeeps calm and carries on
asked in Ask the community

PRAGUE TO ZURICH 00:40 TO 13:20

Yes, that price sounds correct for two places in 6-berth couchette. There are other sleeping options, for a slightly higher price.

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ralderton
Railmaster
15 days ago
C
ChavenhamRight on track
asked in Ask the community

Help Freiburg - Bruxels

Is this Freiburg im Bresigau?Reservations aren’t compulsory (at least not in May) unless you take the Eurostar from Cologne. Could you confirm which trains you’re hoping to take, and where you are reserving?If you stick to IC and ICE trains, you can get the (optional) reservation €3 per train from ÖBB. Or for €4.90 (no matter how many trains) from DB.

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C
15 days ago
Nabil Islam
Keeps calm and carries on
Nabil IslamKeeps calm and carries on
asked in Ask the community

PRAGUE TO ZURICH 00:40 TO 13:20

Go to https://shop.oebbtickets.at/en/ticketWhere it says ‘1 adult without discounts’, click Change to add the second passenger, and both your railpasses.Then search for ‘One Way tickets and day tickets’. You should see a single train journey with no changes, and then you can click through to see the sleeper options.EDIT: Don’t forget to select the correct date. I assume you want to leave on the evening to the 28th, not the very early morning of the 29th!

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ralderton
Railmaster
15 days ago
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Keeps calm and carries on
Eurotrippers2Keeps calm and carries on
asked in Ask the community

Parsi to Frankfurt DB Reservation Changes

I have also done the same method with Baden Baden - Basel. Came up with the same amount. No, that one’s fine. It’s just a regular seat reservation needed for Germany-Switzerland, so the one you have is fine.

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Railly clever
4 days ago
E
Keeps calm and carries on
Eurotrippers2Keeps calm and carries on
asked in Ask the community

Parsi to Frankfurt DB Reservation Changes

On the App, follow the country “Germany’ link -  I have a mobile pass - Book with DB. I could not see any link information on the DB website for passholder fares. Could you provide me with a weblink? I have also done the same method with Baden Baden - Basel. Came up with the same amount. Will I need to get a refund and rebook? If you search on the Trip Planner, it shows the reservation costs. (Eurail charge as extra €1 booking fee, t that’s why it’s €19) 

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A
Railly clever
4 days ago
E
Keeps calm and carries on
Eurotrippers2Keeps calm and carries on
asked in Ask the community

Parsi to Frankfurt DB Reservation Changes

I booked directly with DB, following the instructions for “Seat Only’ as per the rail pass instructions. Total payment was 9.80 euro for the two seats. The App would only take me to the website link and it was difficult to use so I booked on my computer.  I’m not sure which instructions these are?Seat Only is correct for DB trains within Germany, and also (I think) for the compulsory reservations that are in place between Germany and many of its border countries during this summer.But for France-Germany TGVs or ICEs, you need to pay the €18 passholder fare. -Go to www.raileurope.com (on desktop, not mobile), add your railpass in the search box and search for Paris to Karlsruhe. (You only need a passholder fare on the cross-border train.)You should see results for €18 per person 1352, in either class. (Only choose 1st class if you have a 1st class pass!)If you want a reservation on the second train, from Karlsruhe to Frankfurt, you can do that through DB for €4.90. Or slightly

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Railly clever
4 days ago
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JHON MEJIARail rookie
asked in Train connections & reservations

COMPRA DE TIQUETES EN RENFE CON PASE DE EURAIL

oh, thank you. It´s very kind of you. No problem. Feel free to ask more questions if you get stuck.

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Schelte
Full steam ahead
15 days ago
J
JHON MEJIARail rookie
asked in Train connections & reservations

COMPRA DE TIQUETES EN RENFE CON PASE DE EURAIL

Some RENFE reservations can be bought online, for others you need to do it at a station, unfortunately. There’s a good guide to the prices and how to book here: https://www.seat61.com/interrail-and-eurail-reservations.htm#SpainFor Madrid to Barcelona, it should be €10 in second class. You might be able to buy this online, via the Eurail website.For Barcelona to Paris, it’s €35 if you travel on the French TGV. You can buy this online. The best website to do this is raileurope.com.If you travel on the Spanish AVE, you have to buy at a Spanish ticket office (you can do it in Madrid).  It’s much cheaper.

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Schelte
Full steam ahead
15 days ago
ralderton
Railmaster
raldertonRailmaster
asked in Ask the community

Ploče to Mostar - any international trains?

Ah, thanks. I didn’t think to check the Sarajevo page! I thought I knew Seat61 pretty well.

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Railmaster
16 days ago
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Keeps calm and carries on
onlyseedaylightKeeps calm and carries on
asked in Ask the community

Looking for help for my trip

You will have your own travel advice, but I rely on the guidance from the British Foreign Office.https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/egyptThere are some ‘do not visit’ areas, but the popular tourist destinations are OK, with sensible precautions and an acceptance of risk.

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O
Keeps calm and carries on
15 days ago
E
Keeps calm and carries on
Eurotrippers2Keeps calm and carries on
asked in Ask the community

Parsi to Frankfurt DB Reservation Changes

Where did you make your seat reservation for the ICE? And how much did you pay?Your ticket (the railpass is your ticket) is valid on the new train, but you have to make the correct passholder reservation.It should be €18 for the passholder reservation, on either train. You can make the reservation at raileurope.comIf you have paid €4.90 for a seat reservation from DB, that wasn’t valid for use with a railpass. It is valid only for people who hold a normal ticket.

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Railly clever
4 days ago
F
flower101Right on track
asked in Train connections & reservations

Rail Europe or Strictly Train Operators

There’s no reason to avoid Rail Europe. Of course, wherever you make your reservations there’s a chance of problems, but that chance is very small.Often you can’t make passholder reservations direct with the operator, so you have no choice.ÖBB and Rail Europe are both very reliable agencies.Rail Europe is the best place for reservations London-Lille-Paris-Toulouse-Lyon.No need for reservations for Lyon-Geneva-Zurich.

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T
Full steam ahead
15 days ago
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