Making the Most of Interrail

You’ve got three months to kill, and a plane ticket to Europe in your hand - what next? To make the most of what Europe has to offer, why not let the train take the strain?

Young Europeans have been taking advantage of the Interrail pass for decades: travelling around, hooking up, falling in love and moving on to another country the next day. If you’re based outside Europe you can get your own slice of the action with the Eurail pass (www.eurail.com) from just $49 for a single country pass to $495 for unlimited train travel across 21 countries over three months. The Eurail pass also gives you access to other benefits like free ferry services, discounts on hotels and discounts or free entry to various attractions.

The 21 countries served by Eurail stretch all the way from Ireland in the west to Bulgaria in the east, and from Finland in the North to Greece, Italy and Spain in the south. With this much choice, where would you go?

To help you decide, we’ve pulled together some suggestions for itineraries that will guarantee your trip to Europe is the trip of a lifetime.

Heading South:
If you’re looking for sun, sand and sexy accents, then head to the south of Europe for a summer you’ll never forget. Kicking off in Madrid, you can explore the heart of Spain before speeding on to Barcelona to hit the beach, hit the bars and (if you want a break from partying) check out the famous Sagrada Familia–Gaudi’s unique, awe-inspiring, and still unfinished church.

When you’ve had enough of Barcelona’s hedonism, why not head over the Pyrenees to explore the south of France? Following the Mediterranean coast will lead you to the likes of Nice and St Tropez, where you can check out how billionaires like to spend their time (and money). From the Cote d’Azur, you’re just a short train journey from all that Italy has to offer. If you’re not interested in the cultural delights of Florence, Sienna and Rome, Italy has two coasts of dazzling beaches where the locals will help you come to grips with the Italian tongue.

From Italy, Slovenia, Croatia and Montenegro await. As relatively unexplored countries, you’ll find there are far fewer tourists, prices are much lower, and locals will be happy to show you around and make sure you get the most from your trip.

Finally, why not head to Greece, the cradle of civilization? Your Eurail pass gives you free or discounted travel on most ferries in Greece (including free travel by ferry from Italy to Greece if you want to skip the countries on the Adriatic coast), so make the most of it to explore the vast range of islands Greece has to offer and get your culture hit before heading home to dazzle your friends with your stories of debauchery and sophistication.

The heart of Europe:
If you’re looking to experience as many of the gems of the heart of Europe as possible, this is the route for you. Paris is rightly famous for its beautiful architecture, beautiful food and beautiful women, but it can also feel like it’s home to several million tourists, all trying to get into the Louvre or up the Eiffel Tower simultaneously. The trick to making the most of Paris is to avoid the big attractions except at times when most tourists will be asleep or eating.

Berlin is one of the most fashionable destinations in Europe at the moment. Its mix of history, low prices and cutting edge culture makes getting to know this amazing city a must for any holiday in this part of the world. Be sure to include a trip to East Berlin in any itinerary to see the city at its vibrant best, and make sure you try the Currywurst at least once. You never knew you’d want to try sausage in curry sauce, did you? But the locals swear by it, and when in Rome…

From Berlin, make your way to the Czech Republic and Prague, where, thanks to the global economic meltdown, you’ll find visitor numbers are down but the beer’s just as good as always.

Finally, cross through Austria and Southern Germany, stopping in to visit the classic mittel-European glories of Vienna and Munich, before travelling up through Switzerland’s heady mix of mountains and money and back into France.

This classic tour will give you enough memories to last a lifetime, and enough stories to see you through to your 40s!

Head East:
Want to see places your friends and relatives will never visit? Head east to explore the delights of the former communist states.

Kicking off in Poland, check out the blend of brutalist communist-era architecture and UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Warsaw and Krakow, two cities that are rapidly developing a reputation for mixing low prices with good times.

Leaving Poland, head west into the Czech Republic, where you’ll want to spend some time exploring Prague and then on through Austria to Slovenia–a tiny country with a huge heart. Slovenia’s a great place to take a break, head to the lakes and relax with the locals.

If you’ve had enough of potato-based cuisine, then it’s just a short trip from Slovenia into northern Italy, but if you’ve caught the bug, then move on to Hungary, Croatia and Montenegro (both of which have stunning coastlines on the Adriatic) and the curious delights of Bulgaria.

As with all of Eastern Europe, much of the fun isn’t to be found in visiting the sights; but if it’s travelling off the beaten track and having an adventure that you’re looking for, head East–you never know what you’ll find…

Going North to South:
Finally, consider a journey from north to south through the heart of Europe, stopping in cities that barely need introduction: picturesque Brussels and Brugge, hip and edgy Amsterdam, glorious Paris, and down through Milan, Venice and Rome in Italy. Perhaps the most obvious route, it’s no less extraordinary for that, and allows you to check off dozens of attractions from your lifetime must-see list.

Travel tips:
You’ve got the ticket, you’ve got your passport and guidebook and you’ve got your rucksack–what else should you consider?

• Talk to your physician about how to transport your factor. Temperatures in summer in Europe often top 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 Celsius), so if you’re traveling at that time of year you may want to bring a small portable fridge or ice to keep your factor cool on train journeys.
• Prophylaxis is key on long train journeys, where sleeping on trains or even in train stations can be at best uncomfortable, at worst the source of back and neck problems.
• Always carry a letter from your physician with your treatment–you don’t want customs getting the wrong idea! And make sure you keep your factor in your hand luggage so you always know where it is.
• Packing. Make sure you have a comfortable pack, and bear in mind that you’ll have to carry it everywhere with you, so pack light. If you can, get a bag with wheels to make your life as easy as possible. Most guidebooks will give you plenty of advice on packing light, you’ll soon find it’s an obsession with many of your fellow travelers.
• Health. Looking after yourself is about more than just taking your factor. You also need to make sure you steer clear of blisters, avoid sunburn and keep an eye on what you eat and drink.
• Most people experience some kind of stomach problems while they’re travelling, but it is particularly important that people with hemophilia try to avoid it. Some stomach problems could potentially lead to GI bleeds, so make sure you stick to bottled water, wash your hands frequently and avoid ice as much as possible.
• Insurance. Finally, make sure your insurance covers you fully. Many policies will have exclusions if you do certain sports or activities. Make sure you think about what sort of things you’re likely to be doing on your trip, then read the small print to make sure you’re fully covered.
• Before you travel, get contact details for local hemophilia treatment centers (HTCs) along your route from the World Federation of Hemophilia’s Passport directory at www.wfh.org.