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   Velocipede Rider (ruari@velocipederider.com)'s status on Wednesday, 29-May-2024 05:09:05 JST Velocipede Rider

   So many train tickets. So, so many train tickets. 🚆

   I am booking our family holidays. Norway to the UK and a bunch of travelling around the UK.

   This is the third such holiday where the vast majority of travel has been on trains.

   • Embed this notice
     Velocipede Rider (ruari@velocipederider.com)'s status on Wednesday, 29-May-2024 05:08:51 JST Velocipede Rider

     in reply to

     • 42

     @42

     • Services like https://stasher.com are pretty good if you need to leave your bags somewhere for a while while you look around a city that you do not have accomodation in (or even if you do have accomodation and need to leave them early)

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     Velocipede Rider (ruari@velocipederider.com)'s status on Wednesday, 29-May-2024 05:08:52 JST Velocipede Rider

     in reply to

     • 42

     @42 Probably so many more but this is what you get for now.

     By the way, I sort of talk a lot about problem mitigation but actually I have only had very minor issues and could always work them out. So yeah, do not read too much into that! 😉

     Børge repeated this.
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     Velocipede Rider (ruari@velocipederider.com)'s status on Wednesday, 29-May-2024 05:08:54 JST Velocipede Rider

     in reply to

     • 42

     @42

     • If buying individual tickets, read up on discount schemes, e.g. in the UK a "Friends and Family Railcard" costs only £30 but you get third off most adult rail fares and 60% off kids for a year. You can often make your £30 back in a single trip!

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     Velocipede Rider (ruari@velocipederider.com)'s status on Wednesday, 29-May-2024 05:08:55 JST Velocipede Rider

     in reply to

     • 42

     @42

     • Install the app of the local public transit operator you are travelling with, even if you do have interrail because the official app for that operator is more likely to have accurate information
     • If you are not using actual Interrail I would still install the Interrail app anyway. It is rough around the edges but works as a nice route planner to give you and overview.

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     Velocipede Rider (ruari@velocipederider.com)'s status on Wednesday, 29-May-2024 05:08:56 JST Velocipede Rider

     in reply to

     • 42

     @42

     • Paying a little extra for flexibility might be worth it
     • Make sure you have travel insurance or failing that, at least book with a credit card that has some level of insurance/protection built in
     • If not using actual "Interrail" passes, try and book from fewer operators, e.g. I have used Deutsch Bahn for tickets from Denmark all the way to Belgium. Contacting a single company is easier in the event of problems

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     Velocipede Rider (ruari@velocipederider.com)'s status on Wednesday, 29-May-2024 05:08:57 JST Velocipede Rider

     in reply to

     • 42

     @42

     • If your kids like that sort of a thing, occasional card games can be fun and cards are small to carry
     • Good backpacks are normally easier for this kind of travel, since getting on and off and dealing with stairs and the like can be a hassle with a suitcase
     • Pack light. If you can go "really minimal" the "Micro-scooter Luggage" and similar are awesome and I would override my previous backpack suggestion for them. My youngest has used a young kids equivalent

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     Velocipede Rider (ruari@velocipederider.com)'s status on Wednesday, 29-May-2024 05:08:59 JST Velocipede Rider

     in reply to

     • 42

     @42

     • Sometimes fewer changes are better even if technically longer (less points of failure due to delays and less stress moving between trains)
     • Book seat reservations even if you are not required to, if you want to ensure you sit together (though they do lock you more to a given route)
     • When planning a route (that I intend to stick to) I always book the train first and then hotels (the other way around and you risk discovering a train is full or expensive and cannot be booked)

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     Velocipede Rider (ruari@velocipederider.com)'s status on Wednesday, 29-May-2024 05:09:00 JST Velocipede Rider

     in reply to

     • 42

     @42

     • Don't panic, delays/problems can usually be worked around (e.g. high speed rail operators often have agreements in place for delays).
     • Keep journeys just a few hours (unless night train) to avoid boredom (this depends on you and your kids of course)
     • Longer changes can be good allow you to refresh and maybe even see something of a town/city (even if only next to the station) and they are less stressful if there are delays or problems you need to fix

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     Velocipede Rider (ruari@velocipederider.com)'s status on Wednesday, 29-May-2024 05:09:02 JST Velocipede Rider

     in reply to

     • 42

     @42 I am not an expert but we are on to our third time doing this recently and actually, already there are so many little things I could probably say. I almost feel like I should write a blog post. Though no doubt others already have and done it better. I will rattle off a few things off the top of my head in no particular order

     Firstly, you most likely know about it but

     • Checkout https://www.seat61.com/ as it is awesome!

   • Embed this notice
     42 (42@snabelen.no)'s status on Wednesday, 29-May-2024 05:09:03 JST 42

     in reply to

     @ruari Trying something similar ourselves this year. For the first time (since our interrail trip in our early twenties). Any good tip to a family of four with two children? Both over 10.