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Taken from www.railconnection.com.
It was written for the Americans but I recommend this to everyone.
Travel Tips
Keep in mind that the trains are
extremely punctual. Arrive at the station early and find your track.
When exiting a train, be at the door with your bags ready to
disembark. Trains do not wait for passengers entering or exiting.
Make sure you get on a train car
heading to your destination city. Some trains split during the trip;
half the train goes in one direction and the other half in another.
When you do not have a seat
reservation sit in a seat reserved from your destination city on. You
get an empty seat for your whole trip and are not kicked out of a seat
mid ride.
Board overnight trains after 7:00pm
to conserve money and valuable travel days. Only the day of your
arrival will be counted on your railpass, therefore you save a day of
travel. Additionally, sleeper and couchette supplements cost less than
a hotel room.
Overnight trains not only save you
money on accomodations, but get you to your destination early the next
day, giving you a full day of sight seeing.
For safety, keep all of your
important documents (passport, railpass, traveler's checks) in a
moneybelt worn underneath your clothing.
Xerox all important documents such as
your passport, identification cards, insurance cards, and railpass.
Keep the copies in a separate, safe place.
When sleeping on a train, use your
daypack as your pillow. This will prevent anyone from snatching it
while you sleep.
Stretch a Eurail Flexipass or
Europass by paying out of pocket for shorter train trips.
When traveling on a budget, bring
food on board the train. Don't forget an extra bottle of wine to share
with your cabin mates .
Bring handi wipes to quickly refresh
yourself.
Carry tissues or toilet paper on
board trains. Trains occassionally run out of paper.
Wear an eye shade for sleeping on
long train rides.
Use an inflatable neck pillow for
comfortable sleeping in the seats.
Miscellaneous Tips
If you have purchased a large guidebook,
xerox the pages for the areas you plan to cover and just bring the
sections you need.
Take time to research and plan ahead.
When planning your trip, decide what's important for you to
experience. If you have less time to travel, prioritize. Spend more
time in several choice spots, rather than spreading yourself thin.
Keep a journal. Even if it seems like
you're not saying much, you will treasure it later. It's also a great
place to keep names of noteworthy hostels, retaurants, parks, etc.
Photograph everything. When you get
home, a picture really does say a thousand words.
Talk to other travellers and
Europeans you come in contact with. Be friendly and open minded;
people will be more than happy to tell you their favorite spots you
may not already know about.
Dialog creates understanding. Don't
be standoffish, and don't make the mistake of hanging so closely with
your travel companions that you exclude the opportunity to meet
interesting new people, particularly locals.
Most Europeans are more than happy to
talk to friendly Americans. Share information about your home town and
they will be happy to reciprocate. Bring some pictures of your
"American" life to get conversation going.
Be sure to check out the local scene.
After all, no one knows more about Europe than the locals.
Be courteous and patient with all
Europeans, especially train personel, conductors, etc. Hostility
combined with a language barrier can be lethal. If you don't want
problems, don't hassel others.
Don't be branded a bad American.
Nothing is more aggravating to other travelers than a gang of folks
sitting around, loudly bad mouthing the local culture. Remember, you
are choosing to travel. Instead of complaining about the lack of
Oreos, remain openminded.
Respect other cultures and try to act
in an appropriate manner. Naturally it's a good idea to cut loose when
possible, but do not moon the nuns at the Vatican. Remember you are a
representative of your homeland and would want others to respect your
own culture.
While many of us have been raised
with English as our first language, it is crucial to realize English
is not the world's only tongue. Most Europeans have learned a great
deal of English and many are fluent. Whenever possible try your own
foreign language skills, brush up on Italian, German, Finnish, etc.
Do not panic. Travel requires
patience. If things don't flow exactly as planned, view the glitch as
an opportunity to explore other avenues. If you're panicked because
you feel lost or disoriented, take a deep breath. Impatience will not
help you when trying to gather directions from a non-english speaker.
Be alert. You will learn more, absorb
more, and minimize your risk of being robbed.
Watch out for groups of children or
adults creating a commotion meant to distract tourists for easy
pickpocketing.
Keep only a small amount of money in
an accessible pocket. Keep the rest hidden in your moneybelt
underneath your clothing.
Understand the currency exchange
rates. Know what you are paying in the local currency and how much
that item costs translated into American dollars.
A smile works in any language.
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