Essential Tips for Rail Travel in Europe & the World
Traveling Europe and the world by train is an outstanding experience, providing a wide range of train types to select: from overnight and high-speed to luxury and double-deckers. With the world rail web so developed and broad, you can choose hundreds of routes. Nevertheless, making connections and being prepared for such rail adventures can often be tricky. But don't worry, Rail Ninja has got you covered here. Read our general tips on train travel in Europe and around the globe:
What to bring? Packing tips Check your travel documents Money and ATMs Get travel insurance Plan what to see & do
Ready to travel? Book Europe train tickets and rail tickets to other destinations around the globe with Rail Ninja - curated route planning & convenient online booking service.
What to bring? Packing tips Check your travel documents Money and ATMs Get travel insurance Plan what to see & do
Ready to travel? Book Europe train tickets and rail tickets to other destinations around the globe with Rail Ninja - curated route planning & convenient online booking service.
Here are some general recommendations on what to pack for your upcoming trip:
- Clothes Depending on the season you'll be traveling in, make sure to bring suitable clothing. Waterproof options in case of weather change are always a good idea. Plus, as a general tip, try to avoid overpacking and taking too much stuff you might not need - remember that you'll need to carry your luggage around with you (say, from train stations to your accommodation).
- Shoes Since you'll most likely do a lot of walking during your trip, make sure to pack at least one pair of comfortable walking shoes.
- Electricity Standard European outlets and plugs are for 220V. Therefore you might need outlet converters or adapters for your appliances. Having a portable power bank is also a handy solution to charge your phones, tablets, cameras etc. The same goes for South Korea. Those going to destinations like Canada will need devices or adaptors compatible for 110V.
- Medication Don't forget to take your medication with you. It is better to get reinsured that you have everything you need with you in the necessary amount instead of spending time looking for what you need in local drug stores, especially if your medicine is on prescription.
Here's a quick documents checklist to go through before your trip:
- Before going abroad, first and foremostly check that your passport is valid. The common international policy regarding passport validity is that its expiry date must be no less than 6 months before your departure date. If this is not your case, change your passport to a new one to avoid an unpleasant travel experience.
- It is possible that you may need a visa to the country you are planning to visit. Make sure to check if citizens of your country need a visa and find out about the visa requirements in advance. That said, for example, a visa might be issued upon arrival right on the spot (fees may apply) or may be required to be obtained in the official consulate or embassy long in advance.
- It is also highly advisable to make scans and photocopies of your passport, ID, and other important documents, to simplify the process of personal identification in case you lose your documents.
Depending on the place you're going to, keep in mind that the currency may be different. As such, the official currency in Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and most other EU countries is Euro. Rubles are used in Russia, Norwegian Krones in Norway, Swedish krona in Sweden, Danish krone in Denmark, Hungarian Forints in Hungary, Czech koruna in the Czech Republic and Polish zloty in Poland.
It is best to have your debit and credit cards with you during your trip as many places including restaurants and hotels accept them. Plus cash can be easily withdrawn in ATMs, but note that you may be charged a fee by the bank for currency conversion. We also advise having some cash with you so you for pocket expenses.
To safeguard your journey from unexpected unpleasant situations in a foreign country, it is a good idea to purchase travel insurance in advance. Here you can get more information about Travel Insurance companies we advise our clients.
To save your time during your trip it is best to have a plan of what you'd like to do, which places to see and visit, and in some cases to even purchase tickets in advance, say, to concerts or theater performances.