Interrailing/Sun Holiday

biohaiid

I am really stuck about what to do this Summer.

Some of my friends from home are going to Salou for 10 days this summer. A few of them went last year too, and it sounds like a but of fun but I'm not sure (by what they've told me) if I would completely enjoy it. It seems to me as if it's the same thing everyday - beach, drink, beach, drink ... I think I'd grow sick of that pretty soon. BUT, I dont want to feel like I'm missing out if I'm the only one out of my friends not to go.

Another option I was considering was Interrailing. A few friends from college were thinking of it. It seems really interesting, a bit costly but I think it would be worth it. I know most people spend a month or 2 at it but we were thinking 2-3 weeks max, with as many different places as possible. I think I would enjoy it but I'm afraid I would burn out half way through.

Any advice? Anyone done either or both of this that could give me their recommendation?

Meathlass

If you're having reservations about the sun/drink holiday than it's probably not for you even though I'm sure there's plenty of places near Salou that you could take day trips to but sounds like some of your friends mightn't be interested in joining you.

Interrailing sounds like great fun. Why do you think you would burn out? You could go at your own pace and not try and cram too much into too little time.

biohaiid

Meathlass wrote: »

If you're having reservations about the sun/drink holiday than it's probably not for you even though I'm sure there's plenty of places near Salou that you could take day trips to but sounds like some of your friends mightn't be interested in joining you.

Interrailing sounds like great fun. Why do you think you would burn out? You could go at your own pace and not try and cram too much into too little time.

Yeah, if I knew that we would be sightseeing and what not in Salou then I'd consider it a bit more seriously, but from what my friends told me of last year that didn't happen at all.

I think I would find interrailing interesting but stressful. Walking around all day, checking train timetables, etc.
To get value for money we were saying we'd have to try and see as much as possible.
We were thinking of maybe going to Crete or Malta or somewhere at the end for a few days to just relax, so maybe then we could have the best of both worlds.

CelticRambler

2-3weeks is not long enough to get any real benefit from inter-railing. Long ago (in the good ol' days when one ticket let you go anywhere) I did a grand tour over 10 weeks and found it was barely long enough. Changing plans and checking timetables on the run is all part of the fun, so if you're already worried about burning out and getting stressed over timetables, it's probably not for you.

You'd be better off picking a few Ryanair city destinations (real ones, like Pisa, not miles-away terminals like "Paris" or "Frankfurt") and spending 3-5days in each one. When you're based in Ireland, it's easy to think of RA only flying to/from Dublin or Stansted, but there's a great network that you can use. If you wait long enough, you could even let the special offers dictate your itinerary.

biohaiid

CelticRambler wrote: »

2-3weeks is not long enough to get any real benefit from inter-railing. Long ago (in the good ol' days when one ticket let you go anywhere) I did a grand tour over 10 weeks and found it was barely long enough. Changing plans and checking timetables on the run is all part of the fun, so if you're already worried about burning out and getting stressed over timetables, it's probably not for you.

You'd be better off picking a few Ryanair city destinations (real ones, like Pisa, not miles-away terminals like "Paris" or "Frankfurt") and spending 3-5days in each one. When you're based in Ireland, it's easy to think of RA only flying to/from Dublin or Stansted, but there's a great network that you can use. If you wait long enough, you could even let the special offers dictate your itinerary.

I was afraid of that.
I may make a list of a few places I'd like to visit, and compare the prices of travelling in them to the interrailing pass and see if it's worth it. Thanks.

two wheels good

Hopping around Europe on a budget airline sounds like torture compared to the relaxed pleasures of train travel on the continent. Don't underestimate the hassle of the two hour airline check-in , paying for your rucksack, traipsing out to the airport, waiting at baggage reclaim, cramped seating etc. Not to mention missing the view of the countryside rolling by and meeting the locals.

Three weeks might not be too short for inter-rail. I was surprised how wide the range of ticket options is nowadays e.g. single country pass, two country pass, "10 days travel within 22 days". See http://www.interrail.eu/

You don't mention the destinations you have in mind but personally I'd be day-dreaming about flying to northern Spain and returning (most of the way) by train via some of the following, Barcelona, Madrid, Bilbao, Santander, Carcassone, Arles, Lyon, Dordogne, Rennes,Paris. Not to mention all the interesting towns and beaches along the way that aren't easy to reach using air travel.

TGV, Ave, eurostar to London probably charge a supplement but even these premium services can be great value booked in advance - and much more appealing than cattle class in a budget airline.
PS www.seat61.com may be useful for research too.

biohaiid

two wheels good wrote: »

Hopping around Europe on a budget airline sounds like torture compared to the relaxed pleasures of train travel on the continent. Don't underestimate the hassle of the two hour airline check-in , paying for your rucksack, traipsing out to the airport, waiting at baggage reclaim, cramped seating etc. Not to mention missing the view of the countryside rolling by and meeting the locals.

Three weeks might not be too short for inter-rail. I was surprised how wide the range of ticket options is nowadays e.g. single country pass, two country pass, "10 days travel within 22 days". See http://www.interrail.eu/

You don't mention the destinations you have in mind but personally I'd be day-dreaming about flying to northern Spain and returning (most of the way) by train via some of the following, Barcelona, Madrid, Bilbao, Santander, Carcassone, Arles, Lyon, Dordogne, Rennes,Paris. Not to mention all the interesting towns and beaches along the way that aren't easy to reach using air travel.

TGV, Ave, eurostar to London probably charge a supplement but even these premium services can be great value booked in advance - and much more appealing than cattle class in a budget airline.
PS www.seat61.com may be useful for research too.

Thanks for the info.
Maybe train is the way to go. I wonder is it worth it getting the pass though? It might be the same/cheaper to just buy train tickets as you go. I'll have to look into it.

As for destinations, we haven't all discussed it together yet, but I'm not really interested in France or Spain.
I'd love to see Germany, Netherlands, Italy, Greece, Poland (but I know it's a bit away from the rest, so prob wouldn't happen).
Definitely need to look into this a bit more.

two wheels good

biohaiid wrote: »

As for destinations, we haven't all discussed it together yet, but I'm not really interested in France or Spain.
I'd love to see Germany, Netherlands, Italy, Greece, Poland (but I know it's a bit away from the rest, so prob wouldn't happen).
Definitely need to look into this a bit more.

Okay. Then Salou isn't an ideal starting point for a return train trip looping through even a couple of those countries. ALthough an overnight train would probably get you from Toulouse to Genoa or Geneva or Strasboug.
You could start with a beach holiday elsewhere in the Med. Sell them the idea of a new experience\destination - sun, sea and beer still included.

hdowney

That seat61 website is fantastic for information. I am combing it myself at the moment cos I am looking to travel through Europe by train. I am looking into doing it myself rather than with an interrail ticket

biohaiid

two wheels good wrote: »

Okay. Then Salou isn't an ideal starting point for a return train trip looping through even a couple of those countries. ALthough an overnight train would probably get you from Toulouse to Genoa or Geneva or Strasboug.
You could start with a beach holiday elsewhere in the Med. Sell them the idea of a new experience\destination - sun, sea and beer still included.

The two holidays I was thinking of are with 2 completely different groups of friends. The ones going to Salou have no interest in interailing.
I think my hearts set on interrailing now though, whichever way I do it.
Maybe a weekend in Malta or Crete at the end or something.

two wheels good

hdowney wrote: »

That seat61 website is fantastic for information. I am combing it myself at the moment cos I am looking to travel through Europe by train. I am looking into doing it myself rather than with an interrail ticket

Isn't it! I fancy London to Vienna. Possible in a (long) day or overnight in a sleeper- with a complimentary breakfast!

"RailJet is Austria's new high-speed train, linking Munich, Salzburg, Linz & Vienna and now also Zurich, Innsbruck & Vienna. Designed to run at up to 230 km/h (143 mph) on sections of upgraded track, it currently reaches 200 km/h on part of the route, but in other parts snakes around beautiful Bavarian & Austrian scenery at a more sedate pace. Look out for great views of Salzburg citadel & castle on the right as you cross the river Salzach approaching Salzburg. "

Meathlass

biohaiid wrote: »

The two holidays I was thinking of are with 2 completely different groups of friends. The ones going to Salou have no interest in interailing.
I think my hearts set on interrailing now though, whichever way I do it.
Maybe a weekend in Malta or Crete at the end or something.

imho Malta and Crete being islands are well off the track, there's plenty of beaches on the European mainland that you can have a few days of rest on.

hdowney

two wheels good wrote: »

Isn't it! I fancy London to Vienna. Possible in a (long) day or overnight in a sleeper- with a complimentary breakfast!

"RailJet is Austria's new high-speed train, linking Munich, Salzburg, Linz & Vienna and now also Zurich, Innsbruck & Vienna. Designed to run at up to 230 km/h (143 mph) on sections of upgraded track, it currently reaches 200 km/h on part of the route, but in other parts snakes around beautiful Bavarian & Austrian scenery at a more sedate pace. Look out for great views of Salzburg citadel & castle on the right as you cross the river Salzach approaching Salzburg. "

It sounds fantastic doesn't it

biohaiid

Meathlass wrote: »

imho Malta and Crete being islands are well off the track, there's plenty of beaches on the European mainland that you can have a few days of rest on.

Really? I thought they would be easy to get to, if we were visiting Italy or Greece anyway.

rob w

I interrailed for around 3 weeks about two years ago, I found it was enough time for me and what I wanted to see, my route was Krakow-Budapest-Ljubljana-bled-zadar. Of course, it would have been great to do a few more weeks, you could spend forever travelling around, you just gotta work out what tour want and what you can fit in.

I also didn't bother with an interail pass, found it much cheaper to pay as I went, think those countries are a bit cheaper than the more westerly ones though!

Op, I wouldn't worry about burning out, the good thing about interrailing is that tour can go at your own pace, stay an extra night here or there if tour want! Far more chance of burning yourself out on a boozy holiday to salou imo!

Meathlass

biohaiid wrote: »

Really? I thought they would be easy to get to, if we were visiting Italy or Greece anyway.

From memory (though entirely open to correction here) Crete is a 12 hour ferry ride from southern Greece. Malta is even further away from Italy.

I think you are unnecessarily spending time travelling to these destinations when there is the whole coast of Italy and northern Germany with great beach resorts. If you only have 3 weeks I would pick one or two countries and do them.

biohaiid

So, still confused.
The sun holiday is being booked by Friday the latest, and nearly all my friends from home are going. They're going to Magaluf.
As for the interrailing, I'd still love to go, but we now only have 2 definites for going.
More confused than ever as to what I should do.

Anyone have anymore info. about Magaluf?

CelticRambler

What does your gut instinct tell you? It seems clear from your original post that you really don't want to waste your time on a booze-and-beach "holiday" but you're worried about no longer being one of the crowd. It sounds like you're learning the best lesson that 3rd level teaches you: sometimes, being one of the crowd crushes your own ambition and you've got launch into an adventure on your own.

As one who's done a lot of solo travel in different forms of transport, I can guarantee you one thing: even if you set out alone, you won't be on your own for long, and the people you meet will probably be more "your kind" than the friends you're worried about. Think about it: you've already found yourself drifting away from them, otherwise you wouldn't have this dilemma.

I presume you'll all be coming back for another year in the autumn? Well, this is your opportunity to treat yourself to an adventure knowing that you've still got your place in the group, whatever anyone does during the summer. So take a deep breath and say "Sorry, guys. I want to see more of the continent while I'm young and free so enjoy yourselves and we'll swap stories when we get back together.

Once you've done that, then you can start thinking seriously about where you want to go, how to get there, how long to stay and what you need for the trip.

Meathlass

biohaiid wrote: »

So, still confused.
The sun holiday is being booked by Friday the latest, and nearly all my friends from home are going. They're going to Magaluf.
As for the interrailing, I'd still love to go, but we now only have 2 definites for going.
More confused than ever as to what I should do.

Anyone have anymore info. about Magaluf?

I was in Santa Ponsa about 5 years ago and Magaluf had a terrible reputation - all 18-30 beered up gangs of teenagers and early 20s who slept all day and drank all night. Maybe it's changed but doubt it.

biohaiid

CelticRambler wrote: »

What does your gut instinct tell you? It seems clear from your original post that you really don't want to waste your time on a booze-and-beach "holiday" but you're worried about no longer being one of the crowd. It sounds like you're learning the best lesson that 3rd level teaches you: sometimes, being one of the crowd crushes your own ambition and you've got launch into an adventure on your own.

As one who's done a lot of solo travel in different forms of transport, I can guarantee you one thing: even if you set out alone, you won't be on your own for long, and the people you meet will probably be more "your kind" than the friends you're worried about. Think about it: you've already found yourself drifting away from them, otherwise you wouldn't have this dilemma.

I presume you'll all be coming back for another year in the autumn? Well, this is your opportunity to treat yourself to an adventure knowing that you've still got your place in the group, whatever anyone does during the summer. So take a deep breath and say "Sorry, guys. I want to see more of the continent while I'm young and free so enjoy yourselves and we'll swap stories when we get back together.

Once you've done that, then you can start thinking seriously about where you want to go, how to get there, how long to stay and what you need for the trip.

Thanks for the great advice.
You're right, we already have drifted apart. I will be coming back for another year in autumn, but thing is I go to a different University, .. make that city ... PROVINCE even than any of my friends from home!ha.
But it's not bothering me anymore.
I'm set on interrailing, I know I'll regret it if I don't go.
Hopefully my housemate doesnt fall through, that's what I'm most afraid of, but I don't think she will, so looks like a plan.

biohaiid

Meathlass wrote: »

I was in Santa Ponsa about 5 years ago and Magaluf had a terrible reputation - all 18-30 beered up gangs of teenagers and early 20s who slept all day and drank all night. Maybe it's changed but doubt it.

I've heard quite a few bad things myself.
It seems like the embodiment of the boozy sun holidays that I don't like, so it really wouldn't make sense to go.

Meathlass

Sounds like you've made your decision.

Hopefully we'll see you back on here looking for info on interrailling schedules and the best cities to go to.

biohaiid

Meathlass wrote: »

Sounds like you've made your decision.

Hopefully we'll see you back on here looking for info on interrailling schedules and the best cities to go to.

Here's hoping