Interrail

Wasn't sure where else to post but interrail currently have a 20% sale on most passes which is about as big a sale as they do apparently:
https://www.interrail.eu/en/interrail-passes/global-pass?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-ai0BhDPARIsAB6hmP5RejGkorgLDPQtkQfcpduEIIBjj761ZM_tIYmF7NShHhWGXJycOi0aAjNlEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Passes are valid from September 1st until 11 months from when you bought it, so could be used up until July 2025

Just back from using a 5 day pass over two weeks and had a great time, so will probably be buying another. Didn't have a bike with me though, so didn't have to deal with the issues of booking bike on eurostar and other intercity trains

Saw this a couple o f days ago. How did your five-day pass work? Was it a pain to get booked onto the trains you wanted or fairly easy? Am I right in thinking it's only high-speed trains you can't use it with? Last time I went interrailing there was no Eurostar/channel tunnel, so have no idea how it works these days.

Worked well, you can use any train but depending on country you can have to pay a supplement for high speed trains, France, Spain and Italy being the worst. Eurostar is an £30 each way, France you are looking at 10 euro per TGV. It meant if you are going a short distance it's better to use local trains with no supplements. I didn't mind paying 10 euros for 6.5 hours for Paris to Barcelona as doing it not using the TGV would take ages. Also had a couple of travel days where I bought tickets rather than waste a days pass on a short journey.

When the cheap reservations run out, you can get on but pay more. I think in Northern and central Europe the reservations are less of an issue. I think it you want to travel on the fly it's not so great but it you are a bit organised, at least with your outbound and inbound leg then it works. For me being in the Midlands, just the travel to London being included in the pass made a big saving.

I think if you want to do one of the sleeper trains then you need to book further in advance as they seem very popular.

Cool. Seriously looking into this for an early summer break next year. Sounds perfectly doable.