For those that aren’t familiar with the term ‘InterRail’, it is a railway ticket pass available to European residents that allows travel in and between all participating countries for a certain period of time. Inter railing around Europe can be a life-changing experience with an abundance of attractions, restaurants, tours, parks, museums and sights to explore. This method of travelling is becoming increasingly popular in students and graduates due to its inexpensive nature and unlimited freedom to roam the continent. Of course as with any method of travel, there are a lot of aspects to consider to make the journey and time all that more enjoyable and successful.
Be selective with your fellow globe-trotters
First and foremost, if you’re travelling with somebody else make sure you get on with them very well. Remember that you will be spending all of your time with this person (or people) for the entire trip. If you have an argument and things get awkward, make sure to sort it out asap!
Consider your budget realistically
Realistically you will probably spend more money than you had intended. Be economical with certain things such as souvenirs but avoid being frugal when you’re considering accommodation, food and drink. Shelter and nutrition are extremely important to keep you in a healthy state of mind and to provide you with the strength for travel.
Don’t go overboard with luggage, and souvenirs for that matter
Travel light and take as little as possible. Lay out everything you think you will need on the floor and then halve it. It seems drastic, but when you are lugging around that big, heavy backpack with you everywhere you go, you will wish you had brought less. At every opportunity, save on space. The lighter the better.
Book accommodation in advance. Always!
Don’t arrive in a city without knowing you have somewhere to sleep! Not only does it prevent you from worrying about where you will stay but it also speeds things up. The time you would use wandering around trying to find ‘room at the inn’ can be used to explore your surroundings for even longer. Bingo!
Don’t forget a compass, really.
Bringing a compass to a foreign country is absolutely essential. You will probably be orienteering with maps most of the time trying to find where you are, and where your destination is. Without a compass this can sometimes be extremely difficult if there are no obvious landmarks in sight.
Learn a few basic words of the native language
Try to learn a few very basic phrases and greetings in the local language. Most locals appreciate it when they see a foreigner in their country making the effort to thank them in their own language. If this is the case they are likely to be more patient when giving directions or explaining something to you.
Bring comfortable clothing
It’s important not to have a heavy backpack. Without bordering on the unacceptable, wear as little as possible. Items of clothing such as shorts, sandals and a simple t-shirt are ideal for trekking round in sizzling temperatures. If you are undertaking a lot of walking expeditions, comfortable walking shoes are absolutely essential!
Prepare yourself for long journeys
InterRailing involves train journeys, not to mention copious amounts of them. For these long journeys bring something to pass the time away such as a small book, a pack of cards, Travel Scrabble, or such items that won’t have too much of a negative impact on your baggage. However the last thing you want is to be bored in between stop-offs.
There are many more elements one should consider when planning an inter rail journey, but the above are some of the most basic and important. Should you want any more details on interRailing, visit interrail.eu who are a great resource of information.
Written by Sofia Kluge on Google+
