Inter-rail - frequently asked questions

Fancy going off the rails on the rails this summer? What if we told you that you could go berserk in Antwerp, roast in Turkey, soak up Greece and satisfy your Hungary - as well as visiting numerous other European countries that we find more difficult to pun - all on one rail ticket? Got some supplementary questions about that?

We put the most commonly posed queries to inter-rail experts Alison and Jennifer from Rail Europe...

Q - I am planning to go Inter-railing this summer and I was wondering how much the prices fluctuate. Is it worth booking now or will prices go down?

A - Prices normally change once a year and current prices are valid from 1st April and are not expected to change until 31st December at the earliest. A one month all zone pass is currently £285 for the under 26 age bracket.

Q - I fancy inter-railing - the prices look good - but I have heard you have to pay extra on some trains - how does this work?

A - Some rail services, notably high-speed services will incur a supplement or reservation fee which is not included in the pass price.

Q - What sort of percentage of trains make you pay a supplement? I am quite worried about sticking within my budget...

A - Supplements apply to most high-speed services but you will normally find alternative trains running on the same route for which you will not be charged a supplement.

Q - You have to buy different tickets for different zones don't you? Can you not mix and match passes?

A - Countries are divided into eight zones, but you have the option to choose the global pass, which covers them all - with the exception of your country of residence. The global pass is valid for a month.

Q - I've never inter-railed before, do you have to spend all your time in your allocated cabin such as the women only one or can you move about and socialise?

A - You can obviously move about on the train if you so wish. They can be great places to meet other travellers.

Q - I want to go to Morocco on my inter-rail pass, but I don't really know how that works on a train! I assume I need a ferry or something - is it extra?

A - I am afraid the ferry between Spain and Morocco is not included in the Inter-Rail offer, but Inter-railers do qualify for discounts of up to 30% on some ferry services operating between the two countries...

Q - Are there any places or routes you reckon are musts?

A - Why not travel to Eastern Europe? Over the past few years the countries of this region have become more and more popular with Inter-railers, as improvements to the transport system have made it much easier to get around by train. With an Inter-rail pass covering Zone D, you can visit Croatia, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. All great places...

Q - Can I stay in a country as long as I want on my pass?

A - The beauty of Inter-rail is that it offers great flexibility. You can stay in a country as long as you like and travel around that country as much as you like within the validity period of the pass. However, if there is one country or region which interests you in particular then you might opt for the one zone pass which is valid for 16 days.

Q - Do you have to book a train ticket in advance or can you just turn up on the train and show them your pass?

A - You can still just hop on to some trains with your Inter-rail pass, but be careful because nowadays reservations are compulsory on certain rail services notably prestige, cross-border and overnight trains. If you intend to travel on trains on peak dates and times, it is always advisable to make reservations in advance, even if they are not compulsory, just to be sure that you get a seat or a sleeping berth. Reservations can be made on the day of departure but the later you leave it, the higher the risk that you may not get a place.

Q - What are prestige trains?

A - Prestige trains include Thalys which operates between France and Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands and Elipsos which runs between Paris, Milan and Zurich and Madrid and Barcelona.

Q - I've no idea where to start with planning my route, any tips?

A - The most popular route is to travel out via Belgium, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria to Greece and then take the ferry from Patras to Bari and then train up through Italy and France and back to the UK. It all depends what you're looking to do though...

Q - I'm considering travelling Europe and might well be going alone, will I see many other backpackers on the trains that I could perhaps strike up a conversation with?

Q - What's the average age of an inter-railer? Is it all students?

A - Average age is probably between 18 and 22, although we've had reports of Inter-railers in their 80's backpacking their way around Europe!

Q - Do they tend to speak English on trains throughout Europe or will I need lots of phrasebooks?

A - Generally speaking, in the Northern European countries such as Scandinavia, Holland and Germany you will find rail staff fairly conversant in English. You are less likely to hear English spoken in the southern European countries, although this is improving. Lots of sign language can help - it's all part of the fun!

Q - Are there any hostels that you can recommend to me - I've never done it before and am worried about bumping into a weirdo...

A - Half the fun of Inter-railing is meeting up with like-minded fellow travellers. You are sure to come across American and Australian travellers making the most of their Eurail passes to get around. You will find more information on hostels on our website.

Q - Any other tips for planning my trip?

A - The important thing to do before you leave is to study a map of Europe and note down the key countries, regions and cities that you really want to visit. Then decide how much time you have got to spare and you can work out a better plan of where you can go and how much you can see when you are there.

If you only have a couple of weeks, don't try to cover all 29 countries at once. Not only will you be exhausted by the end of it and require another holiday to recover, but you'll only get half a day in each country which won't even give you enough time to order a beer, let alone drink it.

The one zone pass is valid for 16 days, and this will allow you enough time to really explore a few countries in depth. If you have an extra week, the two zone pass will let you venture that bit further and gives you 22 whole days to discover up to 10 countries in one go. And for the lucky ones, with nothing better to do for a month than travel, the all zone (Global) pass is the perfect choice. It’s still an enormous challenge to attempt to visit every country covered by this pass in one month, but the great thing is, if you want to you can!

Flexibility is what all three pass types share and once you have your pass in your hand you really can just decide from day to day where you’ll head next. The entire European rail network becomes accessible to you from day one and whether you’re seeking city sophistication or somewhere slightly more off the beaten track, it’s possible with Inter-rail.

Q - I am a 17-year old female travelling solo and I plan to inter-rail throughout the summer months. I am bit confused as to what type of zone ticket would be best for me - I’d like a good taste or Europe but am concerned with keeping to the safer, more touristy type areas. It’s the first time I’ve done this and so any advice would be appreciated

A - My advice here would be to decide first where youd like to go and then to check on the FCO website in case they are advising people to avoid certain countries or areas. Bigger cities are probably a better idea than places more off the beaten track. It also might be better to concentrate on a smaller number of countries so that she gets used to travelling alone by exploring a smaller area first.

Q - I am aged 32 and planning to spend the summer break inter-railing - someone told me that your passes are only for those under 25 - is that true?

A - Not at all! Although the majority of inter-railers tend to be aged under 26 years, passes are available for those over 26 years too.

Q - I saw on your website that I can get a discount on the Eurostar with an Inter-rail pass - is this true? If so, how much is it and do I need to by a certain pass to be eligible or will the 16 day one be ok?

A - It is true, with your Inter-rail pass you can purchase a passholder fare for travel on Eurostar for only £50 to Paris (single journey), regardless of your inter-rail pass type. To qualify for the discount however, travel on Eurostar must take place during the validity period of your pass. For those aged under 26 years, youth discounts are available on Eurostar and may work out to be cheaper than the passholder fare.

Q - I have never been Inter-railing before - and I am trying to convince my friend to come along with me. Any tips on how to convince her that Inter-railing is great?

A - An Inter-rail trip is a must for anyone with a sense of adventure who is looking for a holiday with a difference. The key feature of the Inter-rail pass is its flexibility because you really can go wherever you want in Europe, whenever you want, within the duration of the passes validity. If it’s raining in Amsterdam, hop on a train and in a few hours you could be sunning yourself on the Mediterranean coast. Too hot in Rome? Head north, to the fjords and mountains of Scandinavia. Foreign travel today is easier and more popular than ever before, and Inter-rail is by far the best and most affordable way to see the real Europe.

Q - I’ve heard that you can sleep on the trains to cut costs - I’ll be travelling on a very strict budget so this sounds a good idea to me. Is it safe though and so many people do it?

A - This is one of the great advantages of inter-rail and overnight travel among inter-railers is certainly very popular. You don’t have to waste a single minute of the day travelling if you don’t want to, because often you can get from one destination to another by travelling overnight. You might have to pay a small supplement if you want a couchette, or a bit more if you want your own compartment, but you are avoiding hostel or hotel costs and you’ll wake up each day in a new and exciting place.

On some overnight trains, women can specifically request to travel in ‘Women only’ compartments and a train manager should be present to assist with any issues / queries on board all overnight services.

Q - I am torn between getting an inter-rail ticket and a Busabout bus one - why do you think the train around Europe would be better?

A - The European rail network is vast and Inter-rail allows you to travel across this network in up to 29 countries. From city to beach, from suburb to mountain range, Inter-rail allows you the flexibility to go where you want, when you want... No restrictive schedules or itineraries, no limit to the number of destinations available and no need to waste valuable time travelling when you can take an overnight train and spend your days having fun!

Also trains on the continent are punctual, reliable and incredibly fast. When did you last see a bus travelling at 186 mph? Many of the trains operating in Europe today are modern, sleek, and extremely comfortable. There's no need to suffer cramp when you can get up and walk around, grab a snack in the buffet car and then sit back, relax and plan your next adventure.

Q - What’s the one thing that you think every Inter-railer should take in their backpack?

A - Passport with a camera and plenty of film. Toilet roll.

Q - Can I take my bike on trains in Europe?

A - If your bike folds up and fits into a bike bag, then yes, it can be taken on board trains as hand luggage and stored in one of the luggage storing spaces on the train. If your bike does not fold up, it is definitely not as easy to transport it by train. Some off-peak services do accept bikes in their fully assembled state, but the number of bikes is limited per train so there is no guarantee you’ll be able to catch the train that you want and you won’t know until the day of travel. Don’t forget, bikes can be hired almost everywhere nowadays, so this might be the most hassle-free option.

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About The Author
Barry Sheppard writes, as a hobby, for http://www.traintraveller.com an online site informing readers how to travel throughout the world by train.
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