Travel Matts Guide To Interailing

This is the glory that is Inter-railing. Every year, hundreds of thousands of students from all over Europe don their backpacks, wave goodbye to the creature comforts of home, and set out on an adventure of epic proportions that they will be able to thrill their grandchildren with in years to come. It's a chance to see a bit of the world and because you're a student, everything is ridiculous cheap. So it's time to get planning.

Before you go

Europe (contrary to American belief) is a rather big place, and no matter how much you cram in, you aren't going to be able to see it all. You've probably got some idea of the main places you would like to go to and it's worth sticking to some guidelines, especially as it can save you money.

As far as Inter-railing is concerned, Europe is divided into zones (see below). With the under-26 ticket (things cost a little more if you're older), you can travel in any one zone for 22 days for £159, any two zones for a month for £209, any three zones for a month for £229, or all zones for a month for £259. Obviously there's no point getting a full pass if you're going to spend your entire trip in Scandinavia say, so use your noggin.

Zones:
A. Rep. Of Ireland, Great Britain & Northern Ireland (Free travel isn't available to UK or Eire residents)
B. Norway, Sweden, Finland
C. Germany, Austria, Denmark, Switzerland
D. Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia
E. France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg
F. Spain, Portugal, Morocco
G. Italy, Greece, Slovenia, Turkey
H. Bulgaria, Romania, Yugoslavia, Macedonia

It's a good idea not to structure your trip too rigidly - bear in mind that while you're out there you're going to meet loads of other travellers with brilliant ideas of places to go. Saying no to a dwarf-throwing festival in Leon because it interferes with your planned detour to San Crapez can seriously limit your fun.

It's best to plan your trip around a couple of things you really want to do and let the rest be flexible. Read up on places and see if there are any festivals to go to (if you're travelling in late September, the Munich Oktoberfest cannot be missed), or try and arrange rendezvous times with any friends you have on the continent (this can also save you accommodation costs and the horrors of scabby hostels).

If you keep these dates in mind you won't lose your way completely and find yourself wasted in a barn in Hungary when your ticket expires.

One of the most important decisions you'll have to make is who to go with. While all your mates may cry "Abso-bloody-lutely!" at the first sniff of excitement, you have to sort out who is totally genuine about the idea. You may find that your team of would-be travellers eventually whittles down to you and one other, but bear in mind you're going to spend a month living out of each others pockets and maybe even sharing a bed. You don't want to end up with Randy Al who insists you hang about the Amsterdam peep-shows for two weeks then spends the rest of the trip holding your hand, so choose carefully.

Other things to sort out are your ISIC card (if you want anyone to take you seriously when you say you're a student) and a YHA card (because a bed made of concrete and insane room mates can feel like home sometimes). You may also have noticed that your ticket doesn't buy you travel in this country, but a Eurotrain ticket will get you from London to Calais for just £12.25. Finally, get yourself some insurance - waking up to find you've had everything nicked except a pair of edible undies can be embarrassing, but it doesn't have to be disastrous.

What to take

Before you do anything, go and buy Lonely Planet's Europe on a Shoestring. This is a veritable bible for any traveller a little short on dough, and details the best way of seeing everything for nothing. The other essential buy is the Thomas Cook European Train Timetable. Without this, you could be waiting days for your next connection as some European trains are few and far between.

Use some common sense when packing. You may be away from home for a month, but all your worldly goods are going to be hanging off your back so you can't take your entire wardrobe. The first thing you need is a decent size backpack - you can pick one up in any outdoor store for about £80.

Things like a pen knife and sewing kit are useful, as well as a torch, padlock, medical kit, wash bag, sunscreen, travel adapter, alarm clock, money belt and condoms. Toilet roll is also an idea - although generally available, you never know when you might get the squits!

If you don't know where you're kipping, take a lightweight sleeping bag and even a tent (campsites are far cheaper and often more comfortable than hostels). Additional extras are string (for a clothesline), cutlery, plastic bags (because, believe me, some of your clothes will reek) and a good book, because you're in for some seriously long train journeys.

As for clothes - think practical. You're going travelling, not clubbing, so pack your sandals, shorts and sunnies. While it's worth taking something to wear in the evening (in case, God forbid, you happen to get lucky), don't include your best Versace outfit, because there's a fair chance everything you take will end up at the bottom of a swamp. We don't want to sound discouraging, but this is an adventure. Be prepared to lose things.

Naturally you'll have to sort out things like money, E111 and a passport - no one's going to let you into their country without one of those. You shouldn't have to worry about visas if you're a resident of the UK, but it's worth checking.

And you're off!

You're ready, so get on a train, get out there and have some fun. It's important to read up on places before you get there (you'll have plenty of time while you're travelling), so you know where to stay, where to go etc. You may end up staying in some of the scummiest places you've ever seen, but when you're paying £5 a night you can hardly expect the Ritz.

Go to museums and galleries and get some culture down your throat - your parents will respect you for it and you never know, you may enjoy it. Make the most of cheap entry while you're a student, that way you'll know where to drag your kids to when you're old and boring.

When you're jumping on trains, be careful not to get stung by supplements. The super-fast TGVs, TALGOs and ICE trains etc may be glamorous, but they cost you extra and there is generally a cheaper alternative. Sleeping on trains is a smart idea - snoozing while you're travelling can save you time and money. Book a bunk if you can - they may cost more, but sleepers are as uncomfortable as hell and your backside will be thanking you in the morning.

Get boozing! You'll find plenty of travellers in hostels to share stories with so get some European lager down your throat. For the real beer connoisseur, Prague should not be missed - it sports some of the best breweries in the world. Of course, Amsterdam is a great location for all kinds of intoxication, but it may be worth saving until the end of your trip - otherwise you may never leave.

Try and vary your diet - McDonalds may seem like the easy option, but you'll kick yourself when you haven't had a shit in a week. In some countries (Spain, Czech Republic) you can eat very well for little money, while in others (namely France) it can cost an arm and a leg. As with most things, talk to other travellers about the best places to refuel.

All in all, the trip shouldn't cost you more than a grand if you're sensible with your cash. Be careful with exchange rates - they change so frequently it can be easy to miss a couple of zeros on the end of a bar bill and the money can quickly flutter away. Keep your cash and passport on you at all times and don't flash them about, after all there are some unsavoury characters around. Most of all, enjoy yourself and take a lot of photos - that way you'll remember at least some of what you did.

For more information about Inter-railing, drop into any of the Usit Campus branches around the country - they're the lovely people who can get you going and who'll make sure you have everything sorted before you leave.

If you've got any other advice for would-be interailers, then email us at The Editor - we'd love to hear about your European antics!