adityav84

Hi all

New to the forum. As a post graduation trip, I am traveling to Europe with two of my friends. We are in Europe for two weeks, flying in and out of Frankfurt. I was wondering about a reasonable itinerary - our goal is to hit four cities in the two weeks, which gives us a reasonable (though by no means sufficient) amount of time in each. The wish list includes:

Paris
Berlin
Prague
Barcelona
Brussels
Amsterdam

If we are tied to entering/exiting from Frankfurt, is there a group of four that makes the most sense? My friends have already bought the unlimited Eurail pass, but it looks to me that flying to/from certain places might be necessary. Is there a way to feasibly use trains to go from Paris to Barcelona to Prague/Berlin?

Thanks

Aditya

HPatel

Hi Aditya,

When are you looking to go? It's definitely feasible to use train to get to all the destinations you'd like to see.

From Frankfurt, the 4 that make most sense to me are:

Berlin
Paris
Prague
Amsterdam

You can even arrange for a sleeper car for overnight trips - if you've purchased the Eurail unlimited pass (which I'm about to do this week), you will pay a few extra Euros for the sleeper but save on hotel costs.

I've taken a train (back in 2000) from Paris to Madrid and Venice to Paris. So definitely feasible to go from Paris to Barcelona. You may have to switch trains if you go from Barcelona to Prague.

Robert2533

With only two weeks (on the ground?), you should forget about Barcelona, keeping your travels in the north. I'd start with Prague for a couple of days, then on to Berlin before heading to Amasterdam. At that point, depending on how many days you plan on staying in Berlin and Amsterdam, you can head back to Frankfurt, or spend a day or so in Brussels.

Adding Paris may not be a good mix at this time. Paris needs at least 4 days just to start to get a feel for the place.

PalenQ

Is there a way to feasibly use trains to go from Paris to Barcelona to Prague/Berlin?>

Yes Berlin to Prague is just a 3-4 hours or so and rather scenic - think of getting off in Dresden for a few-hour stop - the Florence on the Elbe - put your bags in a station locker.

Barcelona to Paris is a longer slog - 6-7 hours though you can go to Perpignan France, just over the border by local train and catch an overnight train from there to Paris - night trains can be fun for a group of youngus - bring all the food and drink you like aboard.

consider overnight trains rather than flying, like Paris to Berlin too - I believe there is one.

For loads of great stuff on European trains and night trains check these IMO superb sources: www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.seat61.com. The Eurail Youthpass for folks under 26 is a good bargain - 2nd class but that is fine for younger backpackers - perfectly fine.

adityav84

Thanks everyone for the replies!

We land in Frankfurt May 29, and depart on June 13. I think it makes sense to focus on the Northern cities, just to minimize the time we spend on a train. From Frankfurt, would anyone have suggestions on where to start? The goal would be to hit Berlin, Prague, Paris, and Brussels in some order. One of those legs will be very long - I'm wondering if there's a particular route (like Berlin-Prague, mentioned above) that it makes sense to take because of attractive stops or convenience. Very interested in using the overnight trains - we were considering the 15 day continuous global pass.

Thanks again!

PalenQ

The goal would be to hit Berlin, Prague, Paris, and Brussels in some order. One of those legs will be very long -

How about Frankfurt - one day to rest up perhaps or from the get-go take the high-speed TGV - up to about 190 mph - to Paris

Paris to Brussels or Bruges (which many like a lot better)

Belgium to Amsterdam

Amsterdam to Berlin via overnight train - connecting from day trip to Dusseldorf, Germany for the direct night train to Berlin.

Berlin - Prague

Prague- look for a cheap flight back to Frankfurt or see if you can do an add-on ticket for your present flight or go via bus Prague to Munich - then spend a day in Munich (at beer halls!) and take the train back to Frankfurt.

PalenQ

Railpasses are valid on night trains but only for the actual train fare and not the optional or mandated sleeping accommodations of choice - from reclining seats for a few extra euros - to couchettes - up to 6 persons in a cmpartment - three tiered bunks on each side of an aisle and private singles, doubles and triples - these costing a fortune.

But a couchette is a great way to meet Europeans - lots of younger folk from all over the world taking night trains IME - pay about $25 for a berth in a couchette - most night trains no longer have regular seating so you have to pay some kind of sleeping supplement - less than a typical hostel however.

thursdaysd

There's no reason to pay for a 15 day continuous pass unless you actually plan to be on the train for all or most of those days. A multi-country pass for the actual number of days you are traveling would probably be cheaper. Fares in eastern Europe are cheap, it is probably a waste to use a pass to go to Prague.

Suggest you read this: http://www.seat61.com/Railpass-and-E...m#.VVGDt5MWJko and price out point-to-point tickets bought in advance. Since you are going to Paris, pay particularly attention to the downsides of using a pass for long distance travel in France.

Couchettes come in six-person and four-person varieties on most trains - four person couchettes are worth the extra cost for the additional space.

PalenQ

15-da y Global Youthpass = $415 or about 400 euros - that is less than 30 euros a day and would cover practically any train they want to take in Europe - maybe thursdysd did not know the pass was so cheap - and you can even use it on S-Bahns and cmmuter trains in many cities.

Flexipass thurs talks about are good for a one or two month period but per day of travel are much more expensive

the best bet could be a flexipass however - the Eurail Select Pass

That said yes if you are only doing 4 countries check on the Eurail Select Youth - same benefits as Global Pass but limited to 4 countries you chose.

Or spend hours tracking down discounted fares that have to be booked weeks/months in advance to get as they are sold in limited numbers and do sell out sometimes weeks in advance and then are set in stone - non-changeable non-refundable often - could be the3 cheapest but then you have to be on that train - no extending your stay in say Berlin because you met some cute chicks (or guys), etc.

A pass gives complete flexibility in most of those countries. And that can be priceless.

thursdaysd

It's only worth $30/day if you take a train costing more than $30 <b>every</b> day. If you only take a train four times, it's over $100/day.

Flexibility is not priceless as in free in this case, and may be unaffordable if you're on a budget.

adityav84

I was considering the Select Pass. The argument against it was that it might limit flexibility (jaunts to Amsterdam or Brussels if we feel like it) and when I priced it out, it came to about 60 euros less than the continuous pass. So it's something still in the talks.

As far as a schedule, we've decided to land and then immediately push to Paris, then from Paris go to Brussels or Amsterdam, then push to Berlin with a night in Cologne along the way. Berlin to Prague, and then Prague back to Frankfurt. It appears to be a lot of time spent on a train, but I'm hoping to utilize the night trains in a way that maximized touring time.

Thanks so much for the help - really gave me a clearer idea. Does this make sense as an itinerary?

PalenQ

Yes it makes sense to me - some will say too much in too little time but you're young - go for it. Colonge has night train to Berlin I think - Buses from Prague to Nurnberg or Berlin I believed are covered in full by a railpass -as they are DB or German Railways buses I believe.

PalenQ

Buses from Prague to Nurnberg or Berlin I believed are covered in full by a railpass>

My mistake not buses from Prague to Berlin - I meant to Munich - the fastest way now between Prague and Munich - trains are slow on that route.

PalenQ

If you get a Select Pass and take night trains be cognizant of the 7pm rule - if you board a train after 7pm - an overnight train that is - the next day will be your unlimited travel day - and even Global Eurailpasses now come in 5 flexible days to be used over a month or two-month time limit - price them as well with consecutive-day passes.

PalenQ

Oops - the 5-day Global Flexipass is valid for only a 10-day period - thought it were much longer so that won't fit your schedule at all!