Interrailing questions

PearlLedbetter

Hi, My friend and I are planning on going on our first interrailing trip this summer and I have a few questions that I hope I could get help with.

First of all, we are planning on spending a large portion of our trip in eastern Europe, i.e. Slovenia, Croatia, Montonegro, etc, and I was wondering what we should do about changing currency for these countries? Should we have some of their currency before we leave or can we easily get their currency in their country?

Secondly, I was wondering if many people have slept in dorms before? They seem the obvious choice as they are cheap and it gives an opportunity to meet people but are they safe? Also, what precautions should we take if we do end up staying in dorms?

Finally, if anyone has any other tips or places/things we cant miss on our trip i'd love to hear them.

Thanks

Rineanna

PearlLedbetter wrote: »

First of all, we are planning on spending a large portion of our trip in eastern Europe, i.e. Slovenia, Croatia, Montonegro, etc, and I was wondering what we should do about changing currency for these countries? Should we have some of their currency before we leave or can we easily get their currency in their country?

When I was in Croatia, I got local currency out of ATMs with my laser/Maestro card. Make sure the card has cirrus on it. The same should apply to other countries, but I'd advise maybe taking a small amount of local currency with you to cover one night's accom/food, just in case there's a mass ATM outage or something when you arrive! Unlikely, but you'll have peace of mind going if you know you already have some cash.

Secondly, I was wondering if many people have slept in dorms before? They seem the obvious choice as they are cheap and it gives an opportunity to meet people but are they safe? Also, what precautions should we take if we do end up staying in dorms?

Most hostels have lockers where you can put valuables/baggage overnight or while you're away from the hostel. Most will have safes at reception for passports as well if you wish. Bring a padlock, but some places might supply them. To be honest, as long as you've stored valuables in a locker, there shouldn't be anything to bother you in a dorm bar snoring or intoxicated travellers coming in at 4am!

Finally, if anyone has any other tips or places/things we cant miss on our trip i'd love to hear them.

I can only speak for Croatia. Zagreb is pleasant but not a whole lot to do/ A night should be enough there. Take a bus from Zagreb to Plitvice National Park . It's a great park, worth a couple of hours wandering around and admiring the sights. Fabulous scenery. We stayed at a campsite just down the road which had log cabins to rent at cheap enough rates. The cabins are basic, but they're clean and safe.

Zadar is a nice city by the sea. We took a day boat cruise around the archipelago of islands just off the coast, which is also a national park, and it was well worth it. The boat leaves from just outside the hostel in Zadar.

zolons

Check out this thread... http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055568534

I skipped Croatia because I heard Zagreb wasnt great and you could spent a month down on the coast nd island hopping. Ljubliana the capital of Slovenia isnt great, poor nightlife and nothing to see really. Lake Bled about half an hour on the train form Ljubliana is an absolute must for at least two nights and more if uve got money to burn.

PearlLedbetter

Thanks very much for the info. I'll definitly check Lake Bled out..i've heard from a few places now that it is very nice. Just out of curiousity is it just the scenery around the place that makes it so good or is the nightlife there good as well?? Is there any things you recommend i do or see there??

zolons

Scenary is amazing and its a great place for adventure sports. As for nightlife theres a couple of decent pubs, nothing special. Thing to do is meet people in your hostel or wherever and go drinkin down by the lake til the early hours, even have a late night swim!

milkado

we were in a club in Bled that you paid €10 in and got 10 drink tokens for whatever drinks you like so pretty good value.. so there's at least one club in Bled aswell as all the bars!