KimB91

Hello,

My partner and I (both 24) are looking at going interrailing for 17/18/19 days this summer, and having never done it before would just like some insight into how do-able our current prospective itinerary is. Any advice much appreciated!

Day 1: Fly from London to Milan
Day 2: Milan - Verona
Day 3: Verona
Day 4: Verona - Trieste (Short stop in venice as we've been before)
Day 5: Trieste
Day 6: Trieste - Ljubljana (train from Villa Opicina)
Day 7: Ljubljana
Day 8: Ljubljana - Zagreb
Day 9: Zagreb
Day 10: Zagreb - Budapest
Day 11: Budapest
Day 12: Budapest
Day 13: Budapest - Vienna
Day 14: Vienna
Day 15: Vienna - Prague
Day 16: Prague
Day 17: Prague
Day 18: Fly from Prague to London

We may be able to add an additional day on if this looks all too rushed! Not sure yet though. Thanks in advance!

zorrosf

I suggest you need to do some more research. For example, what time does your initial flight arrive in Milan? Depending on the answer, you may have only 2 half-days (i.e., one day) in Milan. That may be enough for you, but you do NOT have 2 days in Milan. I suggest you add into your itinerary the travel time so you have a more realistic idea of your time:

Day 1: Fly to Milan. Arrive noon. Explore Milan.
Day 2: Explore Milan. noon train to Verona. Arrive Verona 3:00 p.m.; explore Verona.

Once this is complete, you can evaluate whether you need more/less time in each stop. Don't forget to include time required for (1) finding hotel, (2) checking into hotel, (3)checking out of hotel, (4) advance check-in at train station/airport.

A brief glance suggests that more time be allocated to Vienna and Prague, but that is a personal choice which each traveler must decide based on his/her own interests.

Southam

At your age you may save some money on a pass versus point-to-point tickets. For advice: www.seat61.com
The only way to work out possible savings on transport is to calculate the point-to-point costs for yourself, keeping in mind that some trains may be substantially cheaper if bought well in advance. Where reservations are mandatory, pass-holders pay extra for a reservation which is included in the point-to-point ticket.
What's the point of going to Milan for what could barely be a half day? The eastern European itinerary should be more rewarding than Italy, given that you will spend least a full day in each place.

KimB91

Thanks for the advice so far, i'll certainly check out that website.

We would be landing in Milan around 4PM so we definitely wouldn't have much time in Milan. If we can manage an extra day of the holiday I think it would be used to stay in Milan an extra night.

buzzcolin

My only change would be your 'short stop' in Venice. I have been to Venice 3 times and would go again. Either go and spend a couple of days or miss it out altogether. The hassle of getting from the station and then back to the station is not really worth it.
Why not add on a couple of extra days and spend some time maybe on Giudeccca Island over the canal from Venice but only 4 vaparetto stops from St Marks square. Lots of reasonable accommodation on the island. The view and the sunsets are amazing.
We also included Prague, Vienna and Budapest on our last trip. If you want some great cheap accommodation in Budapest try the Fortuna Botel on the Danube(Booking.com.) Amazing value for money.

PalenQ

for that wide-ranging itinerary an InterRail Pass would be a no-brainer, given your age that allows you to get the cheapest Inter-Rail Pass - hop on virtually any train in all those countries save Italy where fast trains have mandatory seat reservations - easy to get IME of using a Eurailpass with the same requirement. I would not waste any time researching discounted tickets, etc with that many trains (which is OK for that time frame).

For lots of neat stuff on European trains check not only www.seat61.com but www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

PalenQ

You could also take overnight trains on a few of your links - save daytime travel time even over flying and the cost of a night's accommodation. Railpass pays for basic train fare - sleeping options cost extra though some trains have regular seats you can sleep in for free (but uncomfortably so!)

bvlenci

From Milan to Verona, and from Verona to Trieste, changing in Venice, you can take regional trains all the way, and they don't take much longer than the fast trains on these routes. If you take the fast trains, you have to buy seat reservations at €10 per train.

However, the regional trains in Italy are so cheap that it's hardly worth using a rail pass for them. (For example, it's only €20 for the regional train trip from Verona to Trieste, changing trains at Venice Mestre.)

I don't see any problem with a stopover in Venice. It's only a little over an hour from Verona to Venice, and less than two hours from Venice to Trieste. That would give you plenty of time to see a bit of the city for old times' sake. You might want to drop your bags at the left-luggage facility in S. Lucia station.

It's an easy walk from the station to the Scuola di San Rocco and S. Maria dei Frari, if you haven't seen those yet.

bvlenci

Your trip sounds like a lot of fun!

PalenQ

However, the regional trains in Italy are so cheap that it's hardly worth using a rail pass for them>

depends on whether they have a flexipass or a consecutive-day pass - if the latter of course use it if the former then buy regional train tickets and save a day on the pass.