Retirement holidays.....

Albermarle

for Paris, I highly recommend Le Train Bleu 

and I recommend ordering the Steak Tartare ( as long as you do not mind eating raw mincemeat !) 

newretiree

Thanks for that. I'm happy with apps but my wife is not so maybe not practical for us. 

Looks like you're still okay with a paper pass!

https://www.eurail.com/en/eurail-passes/ordering-info/shipping-and-delivery


Activating your Pass

Please note that you need to activate your Eurail paper Pass in a train station before you can start using it. It must be activated within 11 months of the issuing date. Once you have arrived in Europe, you can activate your Pass at the ticket office of most large train stations for free. We can also pre-activate your Eurail Pass for you. To do this, simply choose the "activate my Pass" option at the Eurail.com checkout when you place your order.

westv

newretiree said:

Thanks for that. I'm happy with apps but my wife is not so maybe not practical for us. 

Looks like you're still okay with a paper pass!

https://www.eurail.com/en/eurail-passes/ordering-info/shipping-and-delivery


Activating your Pass

Please note that you need to activate your Eurail paper Pass in a train station before you can start using it. It must be activated within 11 months of the issuing date. Once you have arrived in Europe, you can activate your Pass at the ticket office of most large train stations for free. We can also pre-activate your Eurail Pass for you. To do this, simply choose the "activate my Pass" option at the Eurail.com checkout when you place your order.

But it says on the sale page
"For Paper Passes, please ensure your first date of travel is correct when entering in at the time of booking, this can be any time within the next 11 months"

Simes122

hugheskevi said:

Simes122 said:

That interrail option has got my mind running!  3 months first class rail for an adult for £505!  That’s amazing - even if you didn’t hardcore travel and had some sensible stops en route, it’s still huge value.  A brilliant first retirement trip while young enough to do it.  Tickets are valid for first travel within 11 months, which covers me for when I retire next year, so am seriously tempted.  Three months accommodation for 2 is going to cost £9k-£10k I’d think averaged out, and for adults needing creature comforts, spending money would be of similar order I’d think.  What an amazing way to start retirement though!  

A budget of £20K for 3 months, or £80K annualised, would be generous. 

You could travel very well for that budget, using AirBnbs and modestly priced hotels I'd expect travel in Europe for 2 people to cost around £50,000 on an annualised basis (including everything, especially as travel costs would be low due to use of ticket), and £60,000 should be plenty. 

Personally I'd prefer to spend longer trips in more exotic places such as Central or South America or Africa, which also tend to be far cheaper than Europe but perhaps a bit harder to travel around.

I was just budgeting in my head for an average £100 a night for two accommodation, and £100 for meals and incidental spending - ish.  I’m no backpacker so would look at that as being adequate  I’ve no doubt that’s generous in some places and inadequate in others but probably would allow for a comfortable - not too backpacky trip.  However I’m also thinking repositioning and long duration cruises as a benchmark and those can also be of surprisingly good value.  😂

cfw1994

Albermarle said:

for Paris, I highly recommend Le Train Bleu 

and I recommend ordering the Steak Tartare ( as long as you do not mind eating raw mincemeat !) 

Not for me: I once chose "Steak American", many years ago, in a small French town....figured it must have been a burger (in the days before my food education was more fully formed, & no mobile phones or internet to help 🤣) - also raw...ended up in the plant by my leg 👀

On the other hand....do order the rum baba - they leave the bottle for you to add as much as you want (same at the Bouillion Chartier!) 😍

2 month ticket booked 💪
That's £800 we hadn't planned on spending today😱 
2 months are only about £30 more than one month - no idea if we will manage to use it all, but gives a random something to plan for (elderly care duties permitting.....🤞)
 
Now then....how many pals do I have all across Europe......couch surfing is the way to keep those accommodation costs down & rekindle friendships, IMHO: years ago our son did a 'gap year' (8 months) from HK to Oz to NZ to Hawaii then right across the US, & managed to spend a huge amount of time with our friends (& relatives)!

zagfles

Great idea, but not 3 months, one month was enough for me even back in the day when I was 17!

zagfles

hugheskevi said:

Simes122 said:

That interrail option has got my mind running!  3 months first class rail for an adult for £505!  That’s amazing - even if you didn’t hardcore travel and had some sensible stops en route, it’s still huge value.  A brilliant first retirement trip while young enough to do it.  Tickets are valid for first travel within 11 months, which covers me for when I retire next year, so am seriously tempted.  Three months accommodation for 2 is going to cost £9k-£10k I’d think averaged out, and for adults needing creature comforts, spending money would be of similar order I’d think.  What an amazing way to start retirement though!  

A budget of £20K for 3 months, or £80K annualised, would be generous. 

You could travel very well for that budget, using AirBnbs and modestly priced hotels I'd expect travel in Europe for 2 people to cost around £50,000 on an annualised basis (including everything, especially as travel costs would be low due to use of ticket), and £60,000 should be plenty. 

Personally I'd prefer to spend longer trips in more exotic places such as Central or South America or Africa, which also tend to be far cheaper than Europe but perhaps a bit harder to travel around.

ISTR my first interrail trip we allowed £5 per day for everything, including accomodation (usually hostels). But that was early 80's. I think £100 per day for a couple should be easily enough, maybe a bit more in Western Europe and a bit less in Eastern. Private rooms in hostels are worth considering, it's not all dorms these days, some even en-suite with maid service!

MallyGirl

zagfles said:

Great idea, but not 3 months, one month was enough for me even back in the day when I was 17!

Very different with funds though. I remember a particular hard work train from Venice to Athens through Yugoslavia where I saw my first semi automatic gun in real life - it was pointed at me while they searched the bags of our fellow Slav travelers for contraband.

Lifematters

westv said:

newretiree said:

westv said:

Am I reading it correctly that you have to decide today which dates you will be travelling even if it's 11 months away?

On this page

https://www.eurail.com/en/eurail-passes/global-pass

 it says:

The most flexible way to travel in 33 countries

Explore Europe with ease and enjoy more freedom than ever with a mobile Pass, delivered to your phone.

 

• Buy now, travel up to 11 months later
  

• No need to choose a start date until you travel
• Free, instant delivery – add it straight to the app
• Free replacement Pass if you lose your phone

Thanks for that. I'm happy with apps but my wife is not so maybe not practical for us. 

You could download two mobile passes for you and OH to one phone? 

hugheskevi

zagfles said:

hugheskevi said:

Simes122 said:

That interrail option has got my mind running!  3 months first class rail for an adult for £505!  That’s amazing - even if you didn’t hardcore travel and had some sensible stops en route, it’s still huge value.  A brilliant first retirement trip while young enough to do it.  Tickets are valid for first travel within 11 months, which covers me for when I retire next year, so am seriously tempted.  Three months accommodation for 2 is going to cost £9k-£10k I’d think averaged out, and for adults needing creature comforts, spending money would be of similar order I’d think.  What an amazing way to start retirement though!  

A budget of £20K for 3 months, or £80K annualised, would be generous. 

You could travel very well for that budget, using AirBnbs and modestly priced hotels I'd expect travel in Europe for 2 people to cost around £50,000 on an annualised basis (including everything, especially as travel costs would be low due to use of ticket), and £60,000 should be plenty. 

Personally I'd prefer to spend longer trips in more exotic places such as Central or South America or Africa, which also tend to be far cheaper than Europe but perhaps a bit harder to travel around.

ISTR my first interrail trip we allowed £5 per day for everything, including accomodation (usually hostels). But that was early 80's. I think £100 per day for a couple should be easily enough, maybe a bit more in Western Europe and a bit less in Eastern. Private rooms in hostels are worth considering, it's not all dorms these days, some even en-suite with maid service!

I think £100 per day for a couple would be quite tight, and require careful budgeting and sacrifices.

I've kept detailed expenditure records of trips in recent years, and our holidays (2 adults, no kids) consistently come in at about £200 per day when taking into account everything, including flights. Those trips always involve activities and movement, we don't do beach holidays. Usually we cram a lot into trips, so the intensity would be a lot lower on a 3 month trip and that would reduce daily cost. However, we never stay anywhere particularly expensive so others may well spend more on accommodation. We also don't spend much on food and drink, often making our own meals.

Interestingly, the £200 per day has applied regardless of whether traveling to developed or developing world - the developed world has more expensive accommodation and food, but generally flights and activities are cheaper in the developed world. Internal travel is more complex - travel cost per hour is much lower in developing countries, but you can move a lot faster in developed countries so travel cost per mile is much closer.