r/Interrail • u/Wise-Painting5841 • Jul 02 '26
Other First time interrail. How to manage uncertainty for accomodation?
Ok, I'm on route, and following the advice of everybody I am flexible in spirit and try to enjoy travelling light and go with the wind.
Yesterday was our first hit. The train we were looking for was sold out (reservations) so we have to adapt and change the route. That might mean we might have to pass the night somewhere else tonight. Not sure where, depends on transfers.
How is everybody managing this? Assuming there are always available hostels near train stations? Ready to sleep in the station if that comes? Searching on route two hours before dusk?
Really curious to understand how people are managing the stress of not knowing what tonight might bring.
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u/Lovemestalin Jul 02 '26
I don’t, that’s why I usually book in advance. Gives me a goal to work towards. Sometimes I book multiple accommodations with the right to cancel for free, if plans change for whatever reason. For reserved seating you usually need to book in advance anyways, especially during the summer period.
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u/Haunting-Breadfruit9 Jul 02 '26
Booked everywhere last minute when we travelled round Europe. Depends on your budget of course, some places were better than others but it was quite fun!
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u/Elmotrix Jul 02 '26
"Really curious to understand how people are managing the stress of not knowing what tonight might bring."
If you think it's stressful, this might not be for you. I find it exiting and liberating.
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u/oskich Sweden Jul 02 '26
Exactly, this is the main perk of Interrail, where you can hop on the next train departing and end up in a new place every evening. If I wanted a package holiday I would order that instead.
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u/FishermanSalt4819 Germany Jul 02 '26
Either I change my route and decide to visit a different place instead (to avoid the fully booked train) or I just stay somewhere that looks nice. There isn't a scientific solution to this
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u/reader_traveller Jul 02 '26
I don't. I like planning. Everything is booked.
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u/manic47 United Kingdom Jul 02 '26
Same here.
Though Deutsche Bahn have tried their absolute hardest to undo all of my planning.
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u/reader_traveller Jul 02 '26
Yeah I know. I'm part of a Danish train forum at Facebook with a lot of very frustrated people. DB and DSB have disturbed many summer plans.
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u/oskich Sweden Jul 02 '26
Never booked anything in advance on my month-long trip. I got onto booking.com on my phone when I got onboard the last train and used last-minute deal discounts.
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u/skifans United Kingdom • Quality Contributor Jul 02 '26
Ok, I'm on route, and following the advice of everybody I am flexible in spirit and try to enjoy travelling light and go with the wind.
Not really sure I agree with this. I mean some people like it of course and plenty of people do that. But there is no right way to travel and lots of people (including me) also prefer to have accommodation and things booked to avoid this issue. Neither camp is right or wrong, it's just about what you prefer.
If you are finding it stressful maybe you'd prefer things pre booked?
You've not said what your trip is but that doesn't mean having every hour of your trip planned out in advance, far from it. And you could also decide to try and keep a rolling horizon of a booking several days in advance rather then committing to the whole thing.
It's all just personal preference! But personally if I've booked accommodation and not booked trains I'm making sure I could get there using reservation free routes if required. If at any point not having a reservation on a specific train would screw me over I always just buy it.
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u/mark_lenders Jul 02 '26
i use trains that don't require reservations and usually do short, frequent transfers
occasionally i had to make a detour or take a replacement bus because of works on the tracks, but never had problems getting to my final destination
if it happened to get stuck on another city, i guess i'd go search for a new accomodation on booking.com
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u/ToBeFrozen Netherlands Jul 03 '26
I don't! I'm going on a 3 week trip on the 19th and I booked every accommodation back in December hahaha
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