I've bought a 1st Class 2 month Eurorail pass but don't know where to go

[AndrewNewens]

My partner loves a bargain, so when Interail were offering half price tickets to celebrate their birthday, she suggested we buy one. I didn't need to be asked twice, so now we have bought 1st class passes for 2 months (£738 for the two of us) but are spoilt for choice as to where to go. We also are struggling to get our heads round the App, but that's another story....... Any thoughts, suggestions ideas from hardened inter-railers out there? We have it in mind to head through France and into Spain, then maybe backtrack along the coast and down into Italy. However, all suggestions ideas would be welcome.

 

[Richard Scott]

My partner loves a bargain, so when Interail were offering half price tickets to celebrate their birthday, she suggested we buy one. I didn't need to be asked twice, so now we have bought 1st class passes for 2 months (£738 for the two of us) but are spoilt for choice as to where to go. We also are struggling to get our heads round the App, but that's another story....... Any thoughts, suggestions ideas from hardened inter-railers out there? We have it in mind to head through France and into Spain, then maybe backtrack along the coast and down into Italy. However, all suggestions ideas would be welcome.

Depends what you want to do/see. You have over 30 countries to choose from and loads of time. Countries like Hungary, Bulgaria have a lot to offer scenery wise with proper loco hauled trains. Switzerland always worth a visit as are the Scandinavian countries.

 

[peteb]

Beware of the reservation fees on high speed services in France and many services in Spain. That could really add up. Depends when you plan to go but I'd avoid the Med in July/August as trains packed (mostly with inter-railers!!) and heat related issues causing service disruption. Personally if it were early autumn I'd head via Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia to Croatia, then double back via Italy and France. If you plan to do a few out and back trips some Ryanair destinations can prove useful springboards good ones include Limoges, Reus, Porto. In fact Portugal in Autumn or Spring is my favourite place and reservations are cheap.

 

[jamesontheroad]

This is a good problem to have.

Remember that you don't have to use the pass continuously for it to be good value. If you can earmark a two-month window in your respective calendars, you could plan a series of shorter trips to explore different regions. You could also fly in and out to start your individual trips "deeper" in Europe, saving money on Eurostar reservation fees.

I also sprung for a 2-month pass (albeit in 2nd class) which I will probably use next spring. Everyone's motivation to travel is different, but I have a hunch that I would like to experience some countries that I haven't visited before. Therefore Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and perhaps some of the Baltic states are top of my list. I would also like to spend a but more time in Italy, which is a country criss-crossed by amazing railway lines.

The large PDF Interrail map is a good place to start daydreaming: https://www.interrail.eu/content/dam/pdfs/Interrail map 2022.pdf

 

[rg177]

In Spain, reservations are required for everything but the slowest Regional services (often very sparse) and Cercanias commuter services. Neither of these convey first class either.

At a push I'd say the best area of Spain to make use of an InterRail would be the area of Catalonia around Barcelona. Far more services around there are categorised as 'Rodalies' (their version of Regional/Commuter) and mean you can use them without needing to pre-book.

If you do wish to come in from France, you then also have the option to take the 'scenic' route via Portbou. It won't be the fastest, but again, no reservations needed.

By contrast, I believe the first class reservation fee for cross-border TGV services between France and Spain is really quite hefty.

 

[peteb]

In Spain, reservations are required for everything but the slowest Regional services (often very sparse) and Cercanias commuter services. Neither of these convey first class either.

At a push I'd say the best area of Spain to make use of an InterRail would be the area of Catalonia around Barcelona. Far more services around there are categorised as 'Rodalies' (their version of Regional/Commuter) and mean you can use them without needing to pre-book.

If you do wish to come in from France, you then also have the option to take the 'scenic' route via Portbou. It won't be the fastest, but again, no reservations needed.

By contrast, I believe the first class reservation fee for cross-border TGV services between France and Spain is really quite hefty.

When I last had an inter-rail first class pass it was actually sometimes cheaper to buy a 1st advance single on SNCF Intercités than pay the supplement! Particularly for short hops eg Arles to Beziers .Useful to consider if your journeys are planned ahead. But 1st nice to use in Switzerland and Germany where there are no still no supplements generally I believe, and useful to bag a seat on busy services.

 

[dutchflyer]

community.eurail.com has much more info-and search for the REServations page from seewulf.
AVOID FR/ESpana in main summer, it will be just hell. ITaly not that much less. IF wanted to go there and have time to spare; go from oct onward (their schools also have their hols till well in sept).
Rodalies in Catal have no 1st whatsoever.
Also-if you maybe expect all the luxuries that ex-BR treats its valued 1st cl customers to: forget it. NO free food, here and there (mostly Scandinavia) help yourself free cf/OJ. LOUnge acces: best and pretty good in Austria, NOT for you cheapskate passholders Germany! Otherwise here and there maybe if you can also prove you do indeed have some REServation for the next hr in a decent train.
Overnight trains-the few that still are-generally have no 1st cl seats-only 2nd, 1st is assumed to be able to use sleeper etc.
As others point out: Germany, Denmark, Austria, Swiss are the very best-hardly surcharges or need to REServe, lots to see, Germany is in fact very good value for money (eating out, hotels), venture out a little into CZech and POland. NOte however that on ICE-trains on DB all normal pax get a free REServ with their booking-and most seats will be claimed en -route. If you want to avoid that its 4€ (online, but maybe more for 1st).
Note that you are only allowed 1 trip OUT and back IN in GB-its quite possible to return home more as once, then its best to fly in/out-or combine: fly out, return on train-etc.

 

[realemil]

I’m finishing a 7 in 1-month interrail pass currently (where I get 7 travel days to use within 30 days).

I travelled to 10 different countries; Holland, Belgium, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Sweden, Denmark & Germany.

It really depends what you want to do.

I loved visiting Czech & Poland. While Slovakia & Hungary weren’t my cup of tea. I’m sure that Slovenia and the west would be nice too!

Holland is amazing - and definitely worth a visit while I personally feel like Belgium & Austria are overrated.

Sweden, Denmark & Germany are all expensive countries - especially Denmark! You can easily go over-budget from just a day of travel.

Night trains are what saved me lots on hotels and other bills, I definitely recommend some night trains.

Reservations were basically non-existent.

Only long-distance high-speed trains in Sweden, a few in Poland. Night trains too. Commuter trains (which are more common / better / faster!) are all unreserved seating.

ICE tends to have a lot of free seating available, without needing a reservation.

I did Copenhagen - Hamburg & I’d definitely book a seat.

Switzerland, Italy and those areas will be lovely too to visit - and close if you decide to start from Belgium / Netherlands.

Sometimes it’s cheaper to fly than get EuroStar reservations (it’s not cheap!), so keep that in mind too.

You can use your outbound and return “own country” journeys whenever - and they don’t need to be in order either (you can use return at the start of the month and outbound at the end).

You’re very flexible as you don’t need to worry about days running out, so you can hop from country to country if you don’t like anything.

 

[30907]

First, decide roughly how much of the 2 months you actually want to use and what sort of things you want to see! Then don't overdo the travelling, especially overnight trips (the price you quote outs you as seniors).

Diary constraints mean that my next trip has to be in the summer peak and, as others have said, I shall be avoiding the busiest holiday areas and the city-to-big city routes that AIUI are crowded with backpackers (possibly even in 1st!).

 

[rvdborgt]

Overnight trains-the few that still are-generally have no 1st cl seats-only 2nd, 1st is assumed to be able to use sleeper etc.

In most night trains you don't even need 1st class anymore to book a Single or DeLuxe, e.g. ÖBB.