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Starting to plain 21 day Rail Trip- Safe as a single woman?

Starting to plain 21 day Rail Trip- Safe as a single woman?

Old Sep 15th, 2013, 03:27 PM
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Starting to plain 21 day Rail Trip- Safe as a single woman?

I am traveling to Karlsruhe, Germany in Early September of 2014, and planning to travel by rail for about 13 days ending in Munich, Germany for Oktoberfest. I am very early into the planning, but before getting too excited about my trip I wanted to be sure that rail and overnight travel is safe for a single woman. I'm not concerned about the occasional pickpocket- I have traveled enough to be aware of my belongings, but more for sleeping compartments and lengthy overnights.

My preliminary plans are flying into Karlsruhe, staying 5 days then starting my rail trip with Berlin-Prague-Budapest-Vienna-Munich(staying for 3-4 days depending on arrival), but I am open to suggestions. I would have liked to add Copenhagen, but it seems too far north to keep Budapest in my itinerary as well.

I guess my other question is will 2-4 days/city be sufficient? Mostly my sightseeing will be walking to take in the atmosphere/architecture, museums and good food/drink.

Thanks so much in advance, I appreciate all input as my trip is very flexible so long as I am leaving Karlsruhe Sept 7 and arriving in Munich Sept 20.

-amanda
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Old Sep 15th, 2013, 04:29 PM
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For loads of useful info on rail travel in Europe, see http://www.seat61.com

Provided you book a couchette or sleeper, you should have no security worries. I am a solo female traveler, and feel quite safe on night trains. The sleeping compartments on European trains are single sex (at least in the west) and lock. I even sleep with my money belt under my pillow, rather than round my waist. However, on many routes the trains are now so fast that night trains are no longer necessary.
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Old Sep 16th, 2013, 10:59 PM
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None of your destinations are far enough away from each other to need a night train. Plus, you miss the countryside if you travel at night. For me, traveling by train lets me see the smaller towns as we whiz past, the farms, the hills, and more.

Rail travel is very safe, and Germany itself is very safe. I wouldn't worry about that at all. Germany is also not known for being a country where you need to worry all the time about pick-pockets. It does happen occasionally, but I don't know anyone who has had this happen to them here.
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Old Sep 17th, 2013, 12:36 AM
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Night trains are not really the best way for your itinerary. The Berlin to Prague part is 12 hours at night with between 3 and 6 transfers. During the day it's 5 hours with no changes. Prague to Budapest is 8.5 hours at night; 7 hours during the day. Budapest to Vienna is 3 hours. Vienna to Munich is 6 hours.

>

If you're not concerned about having your belongings stolen then what is your concern? It's difficult to reassure you if you don't say what worries you.

You'll have just about enough time to visit these cities; no time to add anything additional. I would want more time in each location. To make a definitive determination review your sightseeing plans and then adjust your itinerary. You have lots of time before deciding to cut a location.
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Old Sep 17th, 2013, 03:26 AM
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As above..you do not need a night train and on some routes may not even find one.

You are not and never will be the only single woman traveling in Europe; EUROPEANS do it all the time.
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Old Sep 17th, 2013, 04:26 AM
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For lots of great stuff on planning a rail trip in those countries check out these IMO superb sites - www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.seat61.com.

You may want to check out the the Eurail Select Railpass that lets you just hop on any train anytime just about in the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary and Germany - it's a first-class pass if you're over 25 and there are huge benefits IME to first class - always can just pop on and find many empty seats - bigger seats - more room to easily stow luggage, etc.
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Old Sep 21st, 2013, 08:58 AM
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I wanted to be sure that rail and overnight travel is safe for a single woman.>

totally IME or at least as safe as for men - never totally 100% save. Night trains may have some petty theft problems but not any safety issues that I have ever heard of after taking zillions of them - I have witnessed thefts from compartments on occasion or heard about them but never heard or saw any physical attacks though I am sure there have been a few.
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Old Sep 21st, 2013, 12:50 PM
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I agree that except for Prague to Budapest night trains make no sense and actually between the others there is a lot of fine scenery that of course can only be seen in the daytime.
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Old Sep 21st, 2013, 12:56 PM
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Pal - she posted this 6 days ago. I doubt she's coming back for the answers.
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Old Sep 22nd, 2013, 02:34 PM
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Thank you all for the information. I'll try to check back in sooner after this post, but the internet is not available to me during work, so I can go weeks at a time before going online(which is why I'm starting to get information a year in advance for this trip).

I appreciate the input on night trains vs. travel during the day. I was thinking it would give me more time in each city to travel at night, but will re-think that after looking at some current schedules.

Am I right in thinking that most overnight trains don't have showers? I saw them mentioned on one website in regards to private compartments, but that was it.

When looking at the rail pass it seemed like reservations can be made fairly close to the time of travel, giving me an option to change my itinerary as I go. Would you suggest more time in Prague and Budapest then skipping Vienna altogether? I don't want to rush through a city just to say I've seen it- I would rather take my time to explore a bit.

Thank you in advance!
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Old Sep 23rd, 2013, 07:23 AM
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with a railpass you do not need reservations on any train you will be taking - just hop on - you can make optional seat reservations and this should always be possible up to the time of the train. Railpasses cover the cost of the night train - the train fare but not the optional extra sleeping accommodations, which run from reclining seats on some night trains and couchettes - multi-person unisex berths of 6 in a compartment sometimes 4 to private compartments that cost much much more.
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Old Sep 27th, 2013, 02:15 PM
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Thank you for the reply! I'll probably be back with more specific questions as the trip gets closer, but I'm glad to know that the RailPass is an easy way to travel.
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