So generally I don’t accept Blog Trips, but InterRail gave me complete freedom on my route, my program, and my articles. And since I receive a lot of questions on the subject and on the cheapest way to travel in Europe, I thought it would be an opportunity to test their services.
What is the InterRail pass?
So kid, it’s simple, the InterRail pass is a train ticket that allows you to travel in Europe (30 countries) unlimited in 2nd class (or 1st class…) for a given period.
This is a pass that has existed since 1972! And yeah that’s not new.
You are free to go where you want, when you want, within the limits of the rail network of course! It is a unique experience for people who like to travel and go on an adventure with the bare minimum.
IS IT ECONOMICAL?
Well not really, there are situations where you will have to pay on top of your pass, so understanding how the pass works is key to reducing your transport budget. I give tips further down in the article.
During my train journey, I realized that the advantage of the InterRail pass was first in the experience, and only second in the savings.
THE DIFFERENT INTERRAIL PASSES
There are two InterRail passes:
- The InterRail Global Pass which allows travel in all participating countries for a given period (maximum 1 month). This is the one I traveled with
- The InterRail One Country Pass which allows you to travel in the country of your choice for three, four, six, or eight days spread over a total period of validity of one month.
An Interrail Pass can only be used by European citizens and official residents.
Non-EU citizens, on the other hand, can use a Eurail pass, available at eurail.com.
If you are not a European citizen but live in Europe, you can use an Interrail Pass.
In this article, I will only talk about the InterRail Pass, but the advice is valid for the Eurail Pass.
The advantages of the InterRail pass
The greatest advantage of the InterRail pass is that you become a real adventurer! No need to bother to book a train ticket days in advance, you choose your destination once on the platform. Traveling by train is also a great experience in addition to being comfortable in most cases:
- The seats leave plenty of room to stretch your legs and it is always possible to walk in the corridors when the train is on the way.
- Most trains have a restaurant and sometimes even a bar.
- By traveling at night, it is possible to save one night in a hostel.
- Trains usually depart and arrive in the city center which saves money on buses and taxis.
- No need to arrive two hours in advance, unlike the plane.
- The pass allows you to benefit from discounts on certain boats and ferries in Europe (see here for the list)!
If used correctly, the InterRail pass will cost you much less than individual tickets purchased at the last minute.
THE INTERRAIL MOBILE APP TO PLAN YOUR JOURNEY
InterRail also has a really useful iPhone and Android mobile app for planning your route.
It works offline and provides quick access to train departure and arrival times in Europe. The app allows you to plan your trip, but it also comes in handy when you’re stuck in a crowded train station and desperately trying to find a connection.
The disadvantages of the InterRail Pass
As I said earlier, the InterRail pass can end up being more expensive than traveling by bus or plane and this is a major disadvantage.
Of course, the bus is cheaper, but it is also slower and less comfortable…
Europe has a whole network of low-cost airlines ( Ryan Air, EasyJet, Germanwings, you can take a look at this article where I talk about the different companies). So finding plane tickets for less than 40€ is quite possible if you do it in advance.
Some trains require a seat reservation in advance (sleeper and express trains), so it is not always possible to arrive at the station and take any train.
One last thing, the rules of railway companies vary according to the country, and it is not always easy to navigate.
Alternatives to the InterRail pass
To find the cheapest way to travel, do not set aside any mode of transport.
For example, if you want to do Berlin – Barcelona, ​​compare the prices of trains, buses, planes, and even carpools!
- For buses, you can check ticket prices on Eurolines.com, a bus company that covers most of Europe.
- For carpooling in Europe there is BlaBlaCar or CarPooling.
- Sites like Momondo or Skyscanner will also give you an idea of ​​the price of plane tickets.
Each country also has its own train and bus network, the best thing is to compare prices online.
Comparing prices everywhere takes a lot longer than buying a train pass, but it’s the best way to go if you want to travel on the cheap. If you don’t want to bother with that and don’t have time to waste, then buy the InterRail pass.
How to make the most of your InterRial Pass
If you decide to buy the InterRail Pass, here are some tips to get the most out of it.
- The TGV and the most popular routes require a reservation and a supplement to be paid. This supplement is generally around €7 but can reach €15-25 in some cases.
If you’re willing to take a little longer to get around, slower trains don’t charge extra. - Do not use the Rail Europe or InterRail online seat reservation system. It is certainly more convenient, but it is sometimes more expensive than going to the station yourself to book. If you want to make reservations in advance, try to do so on each train company’s website (depending on the country).
- Not all sites allow booking, but the German site Bahn.com, for example, offers a whole bunch of great features.
- You can use the InterRail Map to plan your journeys, or even better, the mobile app I mentioned earlier in the article.
- Look at the price of a standard train ticket on the website of the railway company. In some cases, it is cheaper to take an individual ticket than to use the pass. For example, in Spain, you can buy a train ticket for 4 hours for only 15€. Since the average value of each ticket with my pass is 50€, it is more beneficial to buy a ticket alone.
- Take the night trains that leave after 7 p.m. These sleeper trains allow you to save one night in a hotel. In addition, the journey passes much faster when you sleep. With a Flexi pass (unlike an unlimited pass), this trip counts as one day of travel, not two, as long as the train arrives after 4 am the following day.
For more advice, watch The Man in Seat 61. His blog (in English) is devoted to train travel and a whole section is dedicated to the InterRail pass.
My final opinion on the InterRail Pass
If you’re looking for fun, enjoyable, and comfortable transportation and don’t want to spend hours comparing prices to save money, then buy this pass and don’t feel guilty.
If your priority is to travel on the cheap, then this pass is not for you. Instead, research the best means of transportation for each trip by comparing prices for planes, buses, trains, rideshares, and rental cars.
These alternatives allow you to be more flexible and allow yourself some last-minute program changes. But remember one thing, choosing the cheapest means of transport is often more tedious and can waste a lot of time.
