Interrail Europe student discount

cj2011

I just found out that if you want to buy a European interrail pass, you get a 40% discount if you're under 26. I literally just turned 26 - does anyone know if there's anywhere that I can get a discounted rail pass despite my age?

I may be 26 but I'm a student so really can't afford to pay 40% extra for an adult pass. The world seems to assume that income is related to age. It is not. They should be offering student passes as well as youth passes since not all students are 25 or under...

Voyager2002

Have a good look at the web site for the Man in Seat 61.

I am pretty sure that the answer is no, so plan a different kind of holiday. The cheapest way to travel by train is to book in advance on specific trains. You don't have the flexibility of a pass, but it ends up costing a good deal less. So, rather than the chaotic and spontaneous ramble that is suitable for the young, use your maturity to engage in some detailed planning, and you will probably have a cheaper and more rewarding experience than that offered by Inter-rail.

cj2011

Voyager2002 wrote: »

Have a good look at the web site for the Man in Seat 61.

I am pretty sure that the answer is no, so plan a different kind of holiday. The cheapest way to travel by train is to book in advance on specific trains. You don't have the flexibility of a pass, but it ends up costing a good deal less. So, rather than the chaotic and spontaneous ramble that is suitable for the young, use your maturity to engage in some detailed planning, and you will probably have a cheaper and more rewarding experience than that offered by Inter-rail.

I'm 26 - not 86. Could sure do with an adventure! The more spontaneity, the better!

(It's funny how the world assumes you automatically reach some sort of maturity just because you reach a certain age. Maturity and age are two separate things.)

Voyager2002

cj2011 wrote: »

I'm 26 - not 86. Could sure do with an adventure! The more spontaneity, the better!

(It's funny how the world assumes you automatically reach some sort of maturity just because you reach a certain age. Maturity and age are two separate things.)

If you want adventure, do as I did over the summer and take off for Africa. I'm in my fifties, and I find that not planning generally means missing out on the best that the place I am visiting has to offer.

Anyway, if you really want spontaneity of course you can have it, but at a slightly higher price than if you were a little bit younger.

cj2011

Voyager2002 wrote: »

If you want adventure, do as I did over the summer and take off for Africa. I'm in my fifties, and I find that not planning generally means missing out on the best that the place I am visiting has to offer.

Anyway, if you really want spontaneity of course you can have it, but at a slightly higher price than if you were a little bit younger.

Africa! Yes, I'd love to! I will probably be your age by the time I've managed to save up for it though:(

The_One_Who

An Interrail pass really isn't that good value, especially when you consider that often you have to pay reservation supplements on top of the extortionate pass cost. I was in France over the summer and just bought point-to-point tickets, and that worked out quite cheap. So rather than going on a very expensive jaunt all over Europe, why not consider visiting fewer places and spending longer in them. That tends to work out cheaper too.

cj2011

The_One_Who wrote: »

An Interrail pass really isn't that good value, especially when you consider that often you have to pay reservation supplements on top of the extortionate pass cost. I was in France over the summer and just bought point-to-point tickets, and that worked out quite cheap. So rather than going on a very expensive jaunt all over Europe, why not consider visiting fewer places and spending longer in them. That tends to work out cheaper too.

True but interrailing has that 'once in a lifetime' ring to it. Train travel is ridiculously expensive in Germany though (last time I checked), other countries might be cheaper. (Do give me a shout if you know of a website that sells cheap train tickets for Germany)

Voyager2002

cj2011 wrote: »

True but interrailing has that 'once in a lifetime' ring to it. Train travel is ridiculously expensive in Germany though (last time I checked), other countries might be cheaper. (Do give me a shout if you know of a website that sells cheap train tickets for Germany)

Advance booking (no flexibility) makes train travel in Germany very affordable indeed. Check out the main site for Die Bahn, German railways. They quote fares for journeys involving Germany and one other country as well.

Similar remarks apply to France, but you only see the affordable tickets on the French-language version of the voyages-sncf site.

Parts of Africa are extremely affordable. Earlier today I visited the Gambia Experience site, and while they were mainly selling hotel packages they offered a return flight for less than 300 pounds (I paid more than that for a one-way back from Togo). Outside the main tourist areas, basic food and accommodation are dirt-cheap in Gambia, while the border with Senegal is only 30 km away.

I was 24 when I first went to Africa, but that was to work rather than on holiday.

The_One_Who

The Voyages-SNCF site is quite easy to navigate, even if it is all in French. However, there is also the TGV-Europe site, which offers the same prices but is in English. Just don't use Rail Europe whatever you do!

The discounts on the continent are nothing to do with student-status, they just offer 'youth' fares.

Voyager2002

The_One_Who wrote: »

The Voyages-SNCF site is quite easy to navigate, even if it is all in French. However, there is also the TGV-Europe site, which offers the same prices but is in English. Just don't use Rail Europe whatever you do!

The discounts on the continent are nothing to do with student-status, they just offer 'youth' fares.

Last time I checked (which was a long time ago) the voyages-sncf site offered special fares (some were called 'Prems') that were not available on the TGV-Europe site.

You are so right about Rail Europe: one time I found that for a journey in England that cost ten pounds, they wanted more like ninety pounds!

The_One_Who

Rail Europe are ridiculous, but they are a lot more advertised than TGV-Europe. Maybe the name of TGV-Europe puts people off because they don't know that they sell normal tickets as well? I'm not sure. I never used the Prems tickets, I just bought point-to-point either on the day or a couple of days in advance with my Carte 12-25, and it still worked out reasonably priced. No more expensive than over here anyway.