snpr520
Full Travel Member
Posts: 27
|
Post by snpr520 on Apr 8, 2007 13:22:59 GMT -5
I plan on purchasing the 15 day flexi saver for 2 months. I have been planing my itenerary for some time now trying to use as many night trains as possible.
On the Rail saver sight when you click on night train it says that sometimes you may need a day connection. Im really confused.
Do only certian cities have overnight trains?
Does it count as two days of travel if you have a day connection to a overnight?
Im trying to have as many long trips as possible to avoid expensive hotels and Hostels. Im on a budget!! lol
1.Paris----Rome (have freinds in Local town)
2.Rome---Prauge
3.Prauge---Amsterdam
4.Amsterdam---Venice
5.Venice---Naples
6.Naples---Zurich
7.Zurich---Bilbae
8.Bilbae---Florence
9.Florence---Corsica
10.Corsica---Marseille ( Have Friends in Local town)
11.Marseille---Lisbon
12.Lisbon---Barcelona
13.Barcelona---Madrid
14.Madrid---Pamplona
15.Pamplona---Paris (fly home)
I would love any opinions and commets on my trip.. None of this is solid. just starting to prep.
|
|
|
|
Post by me on Apr 8, 2007 15:27:03 GMT -5
your plan is a bit confusing. you're going from Rome to Prague, to Amsterdam. then back to Italy (Venice), Naples to Zürich, etc. back to Italy - Florence & Corse. it'd make more sense to me if you stuck with one region before moving on. [even with a rail pass, you must pay for reservations and a supplement for a couchette. certainly more than a hostel bed]
why are you zig-zagging across Europe?
- d
|
|
|
|
Post by Eagle on Apr 8, 2007 15:35:28 GMT -5
snpr520, I'm not a big fan of night trains, for a number of reasons which I will describe below. However, I'll try to offer a few comments on your Itinerary.
Check the Eurail website (or other Posts on the Boards here) regarding the "7:00 PM rule". In some cases, if you commence a journey after 7:00 PM (19:00) it only uses one day on your rail pass if the trip extends beyond midnight. I believe there are a few exclusions though (I'd have to confirm that).
Most Hostels are not too expensive, and if you were planning on reserving a Couchette for your night trips, I doubt that you would save much money. Of course, if you were just planning on sleeping in your seat that doesn't cost extra. However, it's NOT the most comfortable travel method nor does it provide a good night's sleep. Also, if you're travelling "solo" you could find your Pack missing when you wake up in the morning!
Another factor that has to be considered in using night trains, is that some routes require multiple changes, often in the "wee hours" of the morning. This is also NOT conducive to a good night's sleep! Having to wake up several times, haul the Pack off the train, find the next platform, board the correct train and get settled again, all while still half asleep is NOT my preferred travel method! The only case where I would even consider a night train would be a direct journey (no changes) of at least 6 hours or more.
Could you clarify whether you intend to visit the cities in your Itinerary in the order shown. It seems a bit convoluted and not too cost efficient. You might find that some of the routes would be better travelled via budget air flights, thus eliminating the issue of taking night trains.
Good luck with your planning!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by me on Apr 8, 2007 22:02:06 GMT -5
btw, where (or what) is Bilbae?
|
|
snpr520
Full Travel Member
Posts: 27
|
Post by snpr520 on Apr 8, 2007 22:51:32 GMT -5
Okay, So i guess I have been misinformed. My plan on zig zagging across Europe was to pay 10$ for a overnight bunk instead of the 25$ Hostel, 8 to 10 nights out of the 60, I plan on staying. This sounds to be way too confusing and a pain in the rear. So I guess the best way see all these places is in order of distance and just work on a circle.
I dont want to sleep sitting up in my chair. I will have my GF with me but I would be more scared of her being snatch up before my Backpack. LOL
YEah I misspelled a few... But Its Bilbao (Spain)
I appreciate the help from all of you.
|
|
snpr520
Full Travel Member
Posts: 27
|
Post by snpr520 on Apr 8, 2007 23:00:25 GMT -5
So I guess a more sensable rout would be:
Paris---Amsterdam---Prague---Zurich---venice---Naples---Rome---Florence---Ajaccio---Marseille---Barcellona---Madrid---Libson---Biblao---Pamplona---Paris
|
|
|
|
Post by me on Apr 9, 2007 9:45:22 GMT -5
some of these are much more than overnight trips; just looked at Lisbon -> Bilbao. per bahn.de, the minimum is 14½ hours! you may wish to fly it.
|
|
|
|
Post by madamtrashheap on Apr 9, 2007 22:32:50 GMT -5
I know this is in the Transportation thread, but I'd like to recommend skipping Zurich in favour of somewhere else in Switzerland. If you're planning on flying there then I understand, but there are prettier places (no doubt you've read about them on these boards) that are only a short train ride from Zurich. In fact, I'd suggest a little switcheroo such as PAR-AMS-fly to Prague (check Sky Europe) - fly to Basel or Geneva (look at EasyJet) then train to Luzern/Gimmelwald/Giron,etc and then train from Switzerland to Venice - Naples - Rome - Florence - Ajaccio - Marseille - Barcelona...etc. And note that you could also fly from Marseille to Madrid if that suits. Remember that you can fly to Paris from Spain if that saves time (and money, depending on your pass).
|
|
