To the adventurous spirit that cannot get enough of travelling, there is hardly any other way that compares to the unadulterated freedom of an Interrail across Europe. And now picture that adventure of becoming, alone – an orchestra of personal self-exploration, cross cultural exposure and sheer freedom. Interrail travel is not only an outstanding piece of vacation, but it is also a rite of passage, it is a process of creating your own narrative a train track at a time. This final handbook is your guide and will help you to set your way through all phases of your single European adventure, starting with a thorough preparation to improvised trip addicted. Nowadays companionship is often held in high esteem and when someone chooses to travel on their own then the reaction can be both admiring and fearful. But the value of going alone Interrail cannot be measured. You are in charge of your itinerary, and you can spend as long as you want in one city because you have fallen in love with it or take up a spontaneous detour to one of the hidden gems that a fellow traveler recommended to you. We make no concessions of the destinations, no arguments about which museum to visit, and there is no one to hold you back when you want to see that sunrise on the top of the hill. This is your chance to get to talk to yourself better, to establish unbreakable self-confidence and to encounter various characters that the world has to offer in the hostels, at the train platform or local hidden cafes. It is not about the feeling of solitude that a single trip to Interrail will mean to you; it is the moment when you are ready to explore the world and all the things it has in store.
The opening level of your great journey is selecting the most suitable Interrail Pass. It is not a ready-made rule, the best pass is influenced by the duration of your travel and the level of you style of traveling. The most popular variant is the Interrail Global Pass (which allows extensive traveling in 33 countries of participation in Europe). It has several forms of validity such as a few days of travel in a month and unlimited travel of up to three months. In the Global Pass, a Flexi Pass like a 7 travel days in 1 month-long Flexi Pass is the best option in case you, as the traveller, want to spend a number of days in one location touring around, and then head to another destination. It is a pass that lets you pick the days of travel at any given time frame of a specified duration by offering a nice balance of flexibility and planning. By contrast, a Continuous Pass such as a 15-consecutive days estimate would suit the tornado tourist who will spend close to every day on the go, travelling from one to another at a very short interval. In case you are the one who would like to explore just one country, whether it is the romantic countryside of Italy or the historic cities of Germany, than the Interrail One Country Pass is more your focussed and economical choice. The youth discount is a huge saving to travellers aged below 27, and this is another important feature to travellers who are on a tighter budget. Besides, you might want to buy your pass on promotion, which is usually in spring or autumn, to get an additional value.
Now, having your Interrail Pass in hand, the thrilling experience of drawing a route starts. Europe spaces out in sheer beauty of different landscapes, customs and history. In order not to get overwhelmed, the best plan of action is to roughly outline it but a portion of spontaneity should also be considered. The Highlights of Central Europe is a typical loop that many people first-time Interrailers take and it normally has visits to Amsterdam with its beautiful canals, Berlin with its history and nightlife, the fairytale looking Old Town Square in Prague, the imperial buildings of the Austrian capital Vienna, and also the thermal baths in Budapest. High-speed trains connect along this route and high-quality hostels are scattered along it. A trip along the coast of the Mediterranean is a must to sun-seekers and culture lovers. You may begin with the eternal Rome and then proceed to North towards Florence which is the artistic center. And then, explore the beautiful cliff villages of the Cinque Terre, cross to the South of France and see what glamor Nice can offer, and finishing in architectural wonders of Barcelona. Scandinavia may be your thing and to be admiring the dramatic fjords and minimalism architecture, you may want to find out Copenhagen, Stockholm, and Oslo. Instead, an Eastern European journey has absurd value and an opportunity to visit the underrated Krakow, Bratislava, and Dubrovnik. You do not want to overcrowd yourself: the secret is not to pack too much in as the fun about Interrailing is in the travel. In big cities, you should provide at least two-three nights to enjoy the environment.
You do not need to become bankrupt on a solo Interrail trip. It is possible to travel around Europe even on a moderate budget with a shrewd planning. Another great idea is hostels, which is the favorite of a solo traveler not only because of their low prices ($25-50 per night to get a space in a dorm) but also due to the terrific social atmosphere provided by the hostels where one can meet other adventurers. Seek hostels that have communal kitchens to save a lot of money on food. Hostelworld and Booking.com s are websites that can be of infinite value in finding what fits. To ensure you do not spend a lot of money in food, use that hostel kitchen. Take time to eat a relaxed breakfast and take packed lunches with you to eat whilst you are exploring. When out to eat, visit local markets to find quality food and any regional flavors or go with lunch menus instead of dinner, they tend to be cheaper. The financial situation is possible to calculate about €30- 50 per day on food. Great attractions in Europe are by no means limited to paid experiences as people can freely roam in historical city quarters and parks. Museums and galleries will also offer student discounts or free entrance days so make sure you check. A city walking tour tends to be offered on a pay-what-you- want option and is good to get to know your way in a new city. Activities should hardly cost more than 15-30 euro per day. The total daily budget on average that will leave you a bit comfortable per day as a solo Interrailer seeing that you already have the pass and not the flights, is normally within the range of between 70 to 100 euros. This is something you can fine tune depending on your style of travel and what region you want to visit as Eastern Europe is far more up-to-date than Scandinavia or Switzerland in terms of value.
The kind of accommodation you settle in as a solo traveler will play a major role with regards to your visit and hostels happen to be the best accommodation that you can consider settling in and this is due to a number of reasons. The social environment there is created in a way that stimulates interaction. It is very simple to meet people all around the world and even at different corners of the world because of common rooms, organized group activities and interesting pub crawls. No excuses needed, even a brief chat may bring a dinner invite or even a long-lasting friendship. In addition, hostel employees can prove a source of local knowledge. When planning their trip, they can share priceless information about excellent non-touristic restaurants, unknown local bars and upcoming events which are not mentioned in any guidebook. Safety is an important point to pay attention to as well, and well-reviewed hostels pay a lot of attention to safety with such features as separate lockers where you can leave your stuff, and 24-hour reception. There is also the informal security and comfort of other fellow travelers. To get a proper idea of what it will be like, read up other reviews by other solo travelers as they freshly enter the hostel you have in mind. The location is the main factor; you should choose a hostel either in the central place or be near the central train station to avoid wasting much of your time and money on transport locally. Lastly, seek some of the main facilities that could make your experience better, like a shared kitchen where you can affordably eat, stable free wifi to avoid the offline status, and an activity calendar with organized activities as you need to break the ice.
Although Europe in general is a quite safe continent to visit, it is always better to be on the safe side and be aware what is going on around you so you do not end up in a danger. This is essential in ensuring that you have your valuables under protection. As an initial step, it is a good idea to invest in a anti-theft bag of high quality or a money belt where you can keep your passport, phone, and cash. Do not leave your items unattended, particularly when using crowded trains or that of a pulsing cafe. You should also make some inquiries of the tourist scams common in the cities you intend to visit. The awareness of these tricks, including the friendship bracelet trick or the petition trick, may help you to not get in this situation. Be cautious of over friendly strangers that will approach you in the main tourist outlets with several shifty deals. An important precaution taken can be telling one of your friends or family back home about your itinerary and keeping them informed of where you are generally, as you journey. Above all trust your instincts. When something or someone feels wrong, then there is no harm in walking away out of it. Use your gut feeling as your stellar guard. Make sure you have emergency contact numbers on your phone in the event of an emergency as well as make sure you have the address and contact numbers of your countries embassy or consulate in all your destinations.
When packing up before any Interrail trip the golden rule really is to pack light. A heavy suitcase will be very soon your worst enemy as you will be the one to carry your luggage on and off trains, up and down stairs of hostels and through cobbled streets. The perfect size should be 40-50 liter of the backpack such that you are forced to be selective and efficient in the selection of your items to bring. As far as garments are concerned, bring expandable things that you can layer on. Consider basic colors which can be combined and matched effortlessly and can thus give many different combinations out of a few basic items. A comfortable and steady waterproof jacket will be a necessity, as European weather may be unstable. The most important piece of gear you will bring may be comfortable walking shoes, because you will be walking many long hours on your vacation. It is also prudent to pack one of smarter clothes that can be used when you are going out at nights or to a more formal occasion. Not only does shampoo bars, conditioner bars, and soap bars keep unexplained spaces, but they also do not leak in your bag and they are longer than regular bottles of conditioner or shampoo. Regarding the electronics section, a portable power bank is now a blessing to ensure your devices do not go out of power on a long train ride. Another must have is a universal travel adapter so you can guarantee you can plug in any where in Europe. Put together a small first-aid kit and take some basic items such as plasters, pain killers and antiseptic wipes and any individual prescriptions. It is always advisable to carry digital and physical forms of your passport, Interrail Pass and travel insurance document. A reusable water bottle will keep you hydrated and prevent waste of plastic bottles, whereas a solid padlock will be needed to keep your possessions locked in hostel lockers.
Your Interrail trip is a significant and special experience that can make you grow as a person. The optimal way of maximizing such a trip is to come along with the singular experience. Engage in communications in an open and friendly manner. Force yourself to place your phone away in shared places and engage in eye contact with those in your vicinity. The easiest way to get along may be a simple hello which can turn into a meal, a new adventure partner, a life long friend, or whatever you may want it to be. Knowing a little of the local tongue like the word please, thank you and hello does a long way of showing appreciation and of relating to the local culture. Spend time to keep a journal of what is happening. Write about what you experience and not only what you see; write about your thoughts, feelings and the people that you will happen to come across and be so inexpressibly wonderful. This will be developed as a valuable memory about your trip. Although a good plan can ensure a great trip, some of the best moments are in those times in which we lose the script. Be flexible–If you hear of some cool festival in the town next door, or a person you are traveling with tells you about some spectacular hike, go there and do it. Most significantly (or maybe, finally), treat yourself kindly. It might involve loneliness, cultural shock or a use of plain travel exhaustion. This is normal as it is. Give yourself permission to take a break and restore yourself when you feel the necessity to do so, without the self-inflicted feeling of guilt. Travelling alone in Interrail is not merely a good holiday, but it is also a kind of investment. It is an opportunity to test your boundaries, make your horizons broader, and leave a beautiful mosaic of memories you will keep throughout a lifetime. Big hand it is then: full up the bags, get that ticket, and get ready to hear the call of the rails. It is time to get on board with your European adventure.
