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Replies posted by Ilkka Virjo

23 Replies

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Ilkka VirjoFull steam ahead

asked in Train connections & reservations

A train connection is both "included" and "reservation needed". What?

Thanks for your replies, so for trains that are not Snabbtåg, Night train or Snälltåg I can rely on my pass only… It’s very confusing, because as far as I know, the other trains there (that are not “included” and have red colour) are included in the Global pass anyway. But it looks like these in fact are night trains, HST/snabbtåg - so I guess the colour tells me if the reservation is mandatory or not.

1 year ago

Ilkka VirjoFull steam ahead

asked in Train connections & reservations

A train connection is both "included" and "reservation needed". What?

Thank you, kiitos, tusen tack! Even though the Snälltåget is not included, it says on the interrail site that you can use discount code INTERRAIL. With that code, a night train from Stockholm to Berlin would cost around 500 SEK in a couchette or 250 SEK with a seat reservation. So I would say it’s kind of included, that can’t be the normal price? However, that particular train seems to be extremely fully booked… I am looking for the best / fastest way to get to mainland Europe from Finland, without spending too much time in Sweden or Denmark (sorry!). Night train straight to Berlin would be ideal - the other way to go seems to be to Malmö and then Copenhagen and onwards.

1 year ago

Ilkka VirjoFull steam ahead

asked in Train connections & reservations

A train connection is both "included" and "reservation needed". What?

1 year ago

Ilkka VirjoFull steam ahead

asked in Train connections & reservations

A train connection is both "included" and "reservation needed". What?

By the way, the “discounted” ferry is a joke. When you enter the code “interrail” on the ferry company site, you get a higher price (Tallink-Silja). Also compared to Viking club members (free membership) it’s a lot more expensive with this “discount”. The discount applies for the Standardfares and not the cheap advance fares of the ferry companies. Another example is the Nightjets (Nighttrains of austrian rail) sometimes a Saver Fare called “ SparSchiene” is cheaper as a Travelday value of your Interrailpass/Eurailpass + the reservation. Yes… BUT I think it’s still a bit off, when 15 euros are added to the price when you enter the discount code. I understand that from some prices, you don’t get a discount. But having to pay more than literally anyone else is a bit disturbing.

1 year ago

Ilkka VirjoFull steam ahead

asked in Train connections & reservations

Night train availability / reservations, e.g. Munich-Rijeka

But it seems you could book a seat. Is it possible that every couchette and sleeper spot for the whole summer have already been reserved?

1 year ago

Ilkka VirjoFull steam ahead

asked in Train connections & reservations

Night train availability / reservations, e.g. Munich-Rijeka

Thanks for the link and your info. I’ll be on the lookout for some couchettes or sleepers later.

1 year ago

Ilkka VirjoFull steam ahead

asked in Routes & destinations

Suggestions for places to visit between Madrid and Bucharest?

Thanks for great insights so far, everyone!

1 year ago

jodiechristieNew aboard

posted in Eurail & Interrail Passes

First class or Second class pass?

I too am struggling with this. Last Summer we had 1st class passes and in some cases it was great, in others we ended up in second class anyway (like in night trains and some reservations). Hard to decide. One thing to consider is that in some countries with obligatory reservation, reserving a first class seat will cost you more than a second class seat. (You can check this in the app for where you want to travel - you don’t always need a reservation and in some countries it costs the same regardless of class). So the price difference can be larger than just the initial cost, or you might end up in second class because of this. On the other hand, having a 1st class pass might save your day if that’s the only seat available… In Germany, Austria, Switzerland at least, the first class is worth the money.

1 year ago

Ilkka VirjoFull steam ahead

asked in Routes & destinations

Suggestions for places to visit between Madrid and Bucharest?

For Romania, I think the two possibilities for a stop before Bucharest would be Brasov or Cluj-Napoca… Is Brasov more interesting? Cluj would offer a possibility to take night train in (from Vienna) and out (to Bucharest).

1 year ago

Anonymous

posted in Travelling by train

Travelling alone. Is it safe?

Hi, I did two weeks on my own and two weeks with a 9-year-old last Summer. I did not feel unsafe at any point. Also, my experience is that trains often wait for connecting trains on the popular interrail routes. So even if it looks like you’d be missing your connection, there’s a good chance you won’t. (Especially if it’s the last train of the day). Of course, I imagine there can be scary neighbourhoods in Europe’s large cities. But in general, no need to worry, when you yourself act in a sensible way. (I think many if not most incidents happen because the person they happen to is way too drunk). Also, there’s usually security at the larger train stations, it might be worse outside of them. I’d encourage you not to worry!

1 year ago

Ilkka VirjoFull steam ahead

asked in Routes & destinations

Route ideas starting from UK

Scenic routes sound great! Right now sitting on a train is my favourite thing ;). So will be doing a lot of that.

1 year ago

Ilkka VirjoFull steam ahead

asked in Routes & destinations

Route ideas starting from UK

Which one of the endpoints of a scenic route in Scotland is best for spending the evening + night before heading back…?

1 year ago

Ilkka VirjoFull steam ahead

asked in Routes & destinations

Route ideas starting from UK

I have purchased a pass and booked some trips ;) .Will do UK from Sunday afternoon until Friday, when I’ll be doing Eurostar and a night train to Prague. As it’s not going to be that long in Scotland, I thought maybe → Edinburgh on Sunday evening, then → Inverness the next day and a couple of nights there and back to south, spend one night on the way and one in London before heading east. Make sense? Is Inverness a place to spend two nights, or Edinburgh…? (One alternative is to take then night train to London, although that would mean sleeping in a normal seat, the sleeper fares for the Caledonian are bit steep for me.)

1 year ago

Ilkka VirjoFull steam ahead

asked in Routes & destinations

Route ideas starting from UK

Edinburgh is certainly worth your 2 night stop. On the LNER train make sure to book seats on the right side of the train (ie the coast side) between Durham and Edinburgh (left side on the way back south) as the view of Durham cathedral is beautiful and then the coast up to Edinburgh is stunning. Great point! I did already book a seat - I don’t know if GWR gives you the possibility to choose, I just got a random seat (coach: K Seat: 20)And how can I know if my seat is on the “right” side?

1 year ago

Ilkka VirjoFull steam ahead

asked in Routes & destinations

Route ideas starting from UK

I managed to check this out on LNER website, and it’s on the “right” side (right)! Also nice to know there will be complimentary food and alcohol! Easy to make reservation there, too, so next time will be doing it on LNER and not GWR.

1 year ago

Ilkka VirjoFull steam ahead

asked in Routes & destinations

Route ideas starting from UK

Thanks! What does it mean for long journeys that you get complimentary food and drink? Surely not ”all you can drink”…?

1 year ago

AlisamaryRight on track

asked in Eurail & Interrail Passes

6 day Global vs. separate bookings France Italy

Remember, you will need to ”buy” a pass for your child also! So even though they travel for free, they can’t travel without a pass. When buying, add a child to your offer and you’ll get a pass for them as well.

10 months ago

Sergio de MayaKeeps calm and carries on

asked in Train connections & reservations

Night trains compartments on train Mannheim to Prague

I took this train recently, there are no couchettes available. Just a thought, your kids could probably be comfortable sharing one bed. Why not book one seat and one three-person-compartment and then just go in all four.

11 months ago

LizzMattNew aboard

posted in Train connections & reservations

Can You book specific seats? and if you buy a 2nd class pass, can you buy one leg as 1st class?

London-Edinburgh, rarely is 1st class so worth the money as it’s there, you get compilmentary service (drinks, small meals, snacks). LNER lets you book and choose seats, enter 0 for “reference” when doing so. Elsewhere on your journey, it’s probably worth the money if your budget isn’t really tight. The price difference is small, in the end, I think, compared to what it is when buying separate tickets. Edinburg- Glasgow is such a short journey that it’s probably cheaper to get tickets instead of a travel day (unless you have one to spare).

11 months ago

Sergio de MayaKeeps calm and carries on

asked in Train connections & reservations

Night trains compartments on train Mannheim to Prague

Thank you for the idea. But it is possible? the train staff won't notice? I can’t of course make any guarantees… But rarely are train staff so picky. Everybody has paid tickets and resevations for the train. And you are only using the space that you have paid for. So what’s the harm to anybody. Of course one of you wouldn’t be getting breakfast from the staff. You could get the seat for one of the adults and go there at first and then after ticket inspection go to your compartment. The very unlikely absolute worst case scenario would be one adult forced to sleep on the seat - can’t go worse than that. If anyone has any experience doing this, that would help of course.

11 months ago

Sergio de MayaKeeps calm and carries on

asked in Train connections & reservations

Night trains compartments on train Mannheim to Prague

… I feel it’s the same as you had bought two separate seats for you and your child and then the child prefers to sit in your lap. Who would make a fuzz over that…?

11 months ago

OuwensGNew aboard

posted in Routes & destinations

Advice for scenic routes in UK, Scotland, maybe Wales

I was there just a couple of weeks ago, London-Edinburgh-Glasgow-Fort William - Glenfinnan and back to Glasgow. (Glenfinnan just to turn and see the viaduct). I don’t know how it compares to the other routes, but the route from Glasgow (especially after Crianlairch) to Glenfinnan (and probably on to Mallaig, but I didn’t go there) is exceptionally scenic and beautiful. Mountains, lakes, sheep, stunning spots… So I can definitely recommend that, but I imagine many of the other routes up there are also very beautiful. In Glenfinnan, you can walk to the viaduct and (if you are there in time for that) see the “Harry Potter train” cross it. A very nice walk, around 30-45 min there and a similar walk back.

9 months ago

yasssKeeps calm and carries on

asked in Eurail & Interrail Passes

First time in Europe and help please with my Trip :)

For your sim card, in general most EU sim cards can be used in other EU countries… So for example, I have an unlimited data card for Finland and this translates into I can use 15 GB per month in the EU while travelling with no extra cost. (My card currently costs me 19 euros per month). So for EU, that eurail card seems really overpriced, you should be paying like 1-2 euros per GigabyteProblem is though, you would need it in GB and SUI too which are not a part of the EU… I don’t really know how you could fix that.

9 months ago

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