November 18, 2025 • 45 mins
Trains changed the way we see Europe—less stress, more story. We break down how a Eurail pass turns a tangled map of national railways into a flexible, budget-friendly way to hop countries, chase views, and make room for the unexpected. From last-minute detours to castle-lined rivers, we share the wins, the snags, and the simple habits that make the journey smoother and more fun.
We dig into the nuts and bolts: when you must reserve seats on high-speed routes, how the Eurail app flags requirements, and why asking at the station can sometimes erase fees the app shows. We talk first class vs second class with real comparisons—when the upgrade buys quiet cars, better Wi‑Fi, and space to work, and when second class is perfect for conversations and local flavor. You’ll get practical packing advice to handle stairs and tight connections, smart timing tips for seasonal sales, and the one rule you can’t forget: activate your travel day before boarding, especially in fine-happy places like Switzerland.
Night trains get their moment too. A couchette can replace a hotel and deliver you to a new city at sunrise; persistence with station staff and the platform conductor can turn a string of “no” into a last-minute “yes.” We also map the reality of reliability across countries—where schedules are rock solid, where delays are normal, and how to stay calm and adaptable when plans change. Add rider etiquette, onboard essentials like water and offline media, and a mindset that treats hiccups as part of the story, and you’re set to ride smarter.
If trains are on your horizon, this guide will help you save money, avoid rookie mistakes, and enjoy the views between the destinations. Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s planning Europe by rail, and drop your best train tip or wildest rail story in the comments—we want to learn from you too.
And HUGE thank yous to StandUp Audio! StandUp BE for not only rescuing us when the train had no alternatives for us, but also for giving us great sound in your studio in Belgium!!!! See you next year!
Please support our show by shopping through Eagle Creek: https://alnk.to/gVNDI6N and/or feel free to donate to:
http://paypal.me/TheROAMies
And it means the world to us when you subscribe, rate and share our podcast.
Alexa and Rory
The ROAMies
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_03 (00:00):
Hi, I'm Alexa.
And I'm Cory.
And together we are The Romies.
SPEAKER_04 (00:05):
We are married to each other.
Alright.
We are a touring musical duo.
SPEAKER_00 (00:11):
And our music has taken us to all kinds of places
all around the world and keepsus always on the go.
SPEAKER_04 (00:16):
So we hope you enjoy our stories and adventures while
running around working to keepall your plates spinning.
SPEAKER_00 (00:22):
And we hope to facilitate your busy lifestyle
and feed your inner travel bug.
SPEAKER_04 (00:30):
Welcome back.
SPEAKER_00 (00:32):
Welcome back.
SPEAKER_04 (00:33):
The Romies Podcast.
Because we're the Romies, ourpodcast.
So I'm saying welcome backbecause I'm sure you've watched
and listened to all of the otherepisodes.
All 250 plus all 250 plusepisodes.
So welcome.
SPEAKER_00 (00:48):
Because we know that you are a big fan.
SPEAKER_04 (00:50):
Big fan.
SPEAKER_00 (00:51):
We know it.
We just know it.
SPEAKER_04 (00:53):
Yep.
Yep.
We know it.
So since you're a big fan, todaywe're going to dive into one of
our favorite ways to travelacross through inside Europe.
And that is not backpacking.
Not on bicycles.
No, no, no.
Not on motorcycles.
Because we don't really.
(01:14):
I mean, I can ride a motorcycle,drive it, but she no.
So uh not by boat, not byairplane, not by car.
Guess.
What's left over?
Scooters.
Scooters across Europe.
Carriage.
Carriage and scooters.
No, by train.
Yay! Yes, Europe by train andnot just any train.
Today we're going to discussyour rail passes.
SPEAKER_00 (01:36):
So if you are American, this is going to apply
more to you.
If you live in the EU, Urailoffers a package to you.
SPEAKER_04 (01:50):
If you live in the EU.
SPEAKER_00 (01:54):
Hey, I didn't make up the initials.
Okay, but if you are European,because we know we have European
listeners as well, it's going tothey have a package for you, but
it's cushier for Americans.
We get better rates through yourrail.
(02:14):
We get cooler stuff through yourrail.
As locals get other benefits andthings that us foreigners don't
do that.
SPEAKER_04 (02:22):
Yeah, come on.
SPEAKER_00 (02:23):
So it's, you know, it's worth checking the pricing
for several, you know, thedifferent options.
But it is cushier and it reallyis, at least with your rail, it
is geared towards Americansbeing able to visit so many
countries around the EuropeanUnion, but also like the
(02:44):
countries that aren't liketechnically doing the EU, like
Switzerland and England, andwell, yeah, because they're on
the pound.
And so Scotland, Denmark, youcan still go to all of those
countries.
It's a super amazing way thatthey have coordinated the
different rail systems, systemsfrom each country to cooperate
(03:05):
with each other and to kind ofjoin together in this your rail
experience.
So it's it's really cool, it'svery helpful.
And so we just want to give youmaybe some practical stories and
practical tips to kind of helpyou navigate your your rail
experience.
And even if you have experiencedyour rail several times, we
(03:27):
still might say something thatis helpful to you.
So hopefully we can might remindyou of something here or there.
And you guys can always send uscomments of things we left out
and we can add them on oursocials or something or add them
in the show show notes.
SPEAKER_04 (03:39):
Here, there, everywhere.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, we loveyou.
SPEAKER_00 (03:42):
So you want to kick off, Rory?
Like, what was our first do youremember our first time that we
took your rail?
SPEAKER_04 (03:48):
Uh yes, I do.
Okay.
It was a year after we gotmarried.
And we were sojourning withbackpacks across the land of
Europe for one month, I think itwas.
SPEAKER_00 (03:59):
Mm-hmm.
SPEAKER_04 (04:00):
Yep.
SPEAKER_00 (04:00):
Which was a long time for us at the time.
SPEAKER_04 (04:02):
Yeah, it it was a long time at the time.
Yes.
Okay.
Yeah.
But it was a good time.
Yep.
And so we got backpacks, and ayear after we got married, we
hit Europe, bought URL passes tolike 14 countries.
We didn't hit that manycountries, but we wanted to be
covered.
You can buy different type Urailpasses.
SPEAKER_00 (04:19):
Yes.
So yes, and you can buy what wedid most recently um last year
was we bought the global pass.
So we had the options to do allof them.
SPEAKER_03 (04:32):
All of them.
SPEAKER_00 (04:34):
All of them.
And so, but when we did this onethat you are talking about, this
first trip, yeah.
It was we only chose certainones and it saved us money.
Yeah.
And then we also did the Swisspass.
Oh, and so that same year, thatsame trip.
That was extra smart of us andreally awesome.
And we got to experience so muchmore of Switzerland than we
(04:56):
really have.
SPEAKER_04 (04:57):
And we spent a lot of time in Switzerland.
So not only were the trainsfree, the buses were free, the
boat steamers were free, butalso we got discounts on the
gondolas and stuff.
SPEAKER_00 (05:05):
So you go up which aren't covered on a little hike
down.
SPEAKER_04 (05:07):
You see how she tries to block my face?
That like because you you you goup the mountains.
You go up the mountains.
Then you come down.
Yeah.
See how that yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (05:15):
Mm-hmm.
You'll just have if you're justlistening, you have to wait for
the videos to come up.
SPEAKER_04 (05:19):
You'll have to wait.
Yeah.
Sure.
And we're so much more fun onvideo, I'm sure.
SPEAKER_00 (05:23):
I'm sure.
unknown (05:24):
Yeah.
Okay.
SPEAKER_04 (05:26):
So a year after we got married, we we hit the road
on your rail.
It was awesome.
The ride across Europe is notjust for transportation.
The scenery is ridiculous,sometimes better than a guided
tour.
It's so cool.
We la, for example, last year wediscovered the is it the Rome
Valley?
No, what's the ball?
SPEAKER_00 (05:45):
We discovered for us.
SPEAKER_04 (05:46):
I mean, obviously, we were not I mean, other people
have been there before.
It's not like we discoveredsomething that's never been
seen.
SPEAKER_00 (05:52):
Right.
But it was new to us.
Yeah, new for us.
That kind of discovery.
SPEAKER_04 (05:56):
Yeah.
It's it's where all theriverboat cruises go in.
Germany, there's a valley fullof castles and stuff, and we've
talked about it on one of theother episodes that you hear
about.
But we discovered that becausewe were taking the train.
SPEAKER_00 (06:07):
And we were like, we drive through Germany all the
time because we are doingconcert tours, and like all of
the countries that we visit arelike border Germany.
And so, and it's so large, it'sa large country.
And so we find ourselves justdriving through Germany so many
times, but we're like, how didwe miss this?
(06:28):
Well, we weren't on this.
And so we, yes, we are hoping todo a future episode on this
area.
So we're we're hoping that thatwill happen.
Castles and the beautiful riversand just like super, super fun.
So and gorgeous.
But we learned about that fromthe train.
Yeah, from riding the train.
(06:49):
And I think, you know, when wefirst took the train, that was
really fun too because we hadthe URL pass and we could kind
of just go where it's soflexible, whatever.
SPEAKER_04 (06:59):
Yeah, it's great.
It's flexible on and off, on andoff, as many times as you want
within your boundaries of yourticket.
So it's not like you can onlyride it once a day and then it's
done.
We would we would come to a cityuh and say, Oh, what the heck is
that?
Let's get off, hurry, get off,let's let's look at that.
Then we'll get back on the nexttrain or whatever.
Yeah, we could totes do that.
SPEAKER_00 (07:18):
And one with the Swiss pass that we got, we it
was buses as well.
And we had like a free day thatwe were just like, because we're
just there exploring.
We just I think twice we justgot on the bus just to see where
it would go.
SPEAKER_03 (07:32):
See where it would go.
SPEAKER_00 (07:33):
I don't remember where it went, but it was with a
lot of cows.
SPEAKER_04 (07:36):
We got far enough outside town that we're like, I
guess we should go back.
SPEAKER_00 (07:39):
Well, it's okay, let's go back.
But it was just like we had thefreedom to just do that because
we had the past.
SPEAKER_03 (07:46):
We had the past.
SPEAKER_00 (07:47):
We had the past.
So that was really fun.
So there's there's theflexibility of it to me is
probably the biggest well a yousave money.
SPEAKER_03 (07:56):
Yep.
SPEAKER_00 (07:57):
But two, cause uh that's really what you're always
saving money when you're astarting musician, 26, 25, 28,
20.
SPEAKER_04 (08:06):
26, 38, hike, hike, okay.
SPEAKER_00 (08:09):
So you're my brain is getting lost now.
So the pass is flexible, and sothat gives you freedom.
And so if you need to or want tochange your plans, they don't
care.
You just, you know, because youhave the pass.
So you can if you want todecide, you know what, let's not
go to Italy today, instead,let's go to Portugal.
(08:32):
You totally can.
SPEAKER_04 (08:33):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (08:34):
And and no one's gonna like penalize you for
that.
SPEAKER_04 (08:37):
Here's something to know.
There are some trains that youdo have to make reservations on
in advance.
For example, if you want to ridethe TGV or some other high-speed
train, oftentimes you can't justshow up with your rail your rail
pass and say, Hey, let's go.
I'm getting on the train.
They're gonna say, No, do you doyou have a reserve reservation?
Now, it's probably free becauseit's only it's covered in your
URL pass often, but you have tomake a reservation to ride those
(09:01):
trains.
SPEAKER_00 (09:02):
Yes.
So with the reservations, someof them cost an additional fee
just for the reservation.
SPEAKER_04 (09:08):
It's a special high-speed train kind of a deal.
SPEAKER_00 (09:12):
Or it's just requires a reservation and you
have to pay for it.
Sometimes you your reservationyou might get it and like if you
get your reservation online, forexample, you might be paying for
that reservation.
However, we were also there acouple times where we were in
(09:34):
the train station itself priorto getting on and needing the
reservation.
We stood in the line at theticket counter of that train
station and they gave us thereservation for free.
SPEAKER_04 (09:47):
Yeah.
When the app was saying it was acharge like ten or twenty
dollars.
SPEAKER_00 (09:52):
So and if if you're doing that every day or you need
the reservations or you want thereservations, even if it's just
an extra ten or twenty, thatadds up.
Yeah, so if you're a family ofall, you know, big family
people, right?
SPEAKER_04 (10:05):
So for us it paid off just to go to the train
office.
And the guy was like, No, thatthat's free.
SPEAKER_00 (10:10):
We said So we we but we didn't learn that till like
halfway through our trip ortowards the end.
Because I think it was inEngland we finally learned, oh,
we don't have to pay for everyreservation.
But here's the thing we have toget the reservation, but you
don't always have to pay forthem.
SPEAKER_04 (10:23):
Yeah, and it sounds complicated.
Oh, what I do I need areservation for this, not for
that, but the app, the URL app.
Yeah, you you sketch you setyour trip up.
What trip do you want to take?
You go, you explore, and youdecide the trip, and it tells
you everything you need to know.
It's not, it's really notcomplicated.
Right.
The app is a wonderful thingthat they've that they're doing
now.
SPEAKER_00 (10:43):
And we ran into, and you might run into that certain
trains are not even covered byyour pass.
SPEAKER_01 (10:50):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (10:51):
Or certain routes are not covered by the pass.
And so you're like, yeah, but Ihave this URL pass, and I should
be able to just get from thiscountry to this country because,
you know, or I should be able toget from this city to this city
because of the URL pass.
And there are a few times wherewe could not go in on specific
(11:12):
routes.
So we either had to, instead ofgoing through Germany to get
there, we had to go through orgoing through Holland to get
there.
We had to go to Germany to getthere, something like that, for
example.
So we could still get there.
So sometimes you may have to paylike an additional just ticket
if you want the route you want.
Um like that's the right.
SPEAKER_04 (11:33):
I think one of the things they said it was a
private train, whateveroperation.
SPEAKER_00 (11:37):
Yes, we did run into that.
So one time we were in Englandand we had, I think we were just
trying to get to the airport andwe didn't have far to go or
something like that.
But because it was a privatelyowned train, it was not a part
of the URL system.
So you could still do it, butyou had to pay, we had to pay
like for that specific ticket toget from this city to this city,
(12:01):
and then we could continue onthe URL.
SPEAKER_04 (12:03):
It just happened to be that that particular
privately owned train companywas not partnering with URL for
some reason.
Right.
So but that was that was reallyno big deal.
Like I said, the the app showsyou how it reroutes you around.
Right.
Well, I wanted to go I wanted toride the train through this.
Well, you can't.
SPEAKER_00 (12:19):
Oh, you can buy a ticket.
But you can buy a ticket.
And and there is a station thatyou can get to.
So that's cool.
SPEAKER_04 (12:26):
Speaking of tickets, one lesson we learned.
SPEAKER_00 (12:30):
We learned lessons.
That's why we're sharing themwith you here.
SPEAKER_04 (12:33):
Yeah.
We got fussed at prettythoroughly by a train conductor
person.
Conductor person.
Yeah.
That walks around and checkstickets.
Better name for them.
Yeah.
Because we had our tickets allscheduled on our app and
everything.
We were already on the train andthe train had not long before
left the station, but he camethrough to check our tickets and
we hadn't yet activated ourtickets.
SPEAKER_00 (12:55):
So you have to activate your before you get on
the train.
SPEAKER_04 (12:58):
You have to activate that day's ticket.
Because he was like, Well,anyone could ride the train, and
if I never check it, they don'thave to activate it.
And they never use that day.
So they still have that day touse later on.
Because your real comes with youcan buy a limited number of days
as well within a month, youknow, how many days you can ride
as much as you want in that day.
So boy, he let us have it.
But he was really nice.
(13:19):
He said, I'm not gonna, youknow, charge you anything.
You just must have your ticketactivated before you step on the
train.
So that's important to know.
SPEAKER_00 (13:29):
You set up your trip in the app and just gonna
activate it like as we weregoing.
Yeah, as we were going, yeah.
You know, no.
Okay, well let's hop on and thenwe know where we're going.
Okay.
SPEAKER_04 (13:37):
Yeah, we weren't trying to do anything bad, but
apparently a lot of people doget on and try and ride without
paying.
So you have to activate activateyour ticket before you get on
the train.
Right.
SPEAKER_00 (13:47):
Um, so you have you have to you still have
flexibility and you can changewhat you do, but you need to
pick unitinerary for the day andactivate it before you start.
SPEAKER_04 (13:56):
Unitinerary and itinerary.
SPEAKER_00 (13:58):
And in Switzerland specifically, if the conductor
comes by and your ticket has notbeen activated, there is a fee
and you are charged a fee.
Yeah, so he did not charge aminimum of I think it was at
least 50.
SPEAKER_04 (14:13):
Yeah, something something that would be a really
lame, stupid fee.
Like, you know, because we werestupid.
SPEAKER_00 (14:20):
So don't be dumb.
SPEAKER_04 (14:20):
Yeah, don't be dumb.
Don't pay.
Just activate.
Don't pay the dumbness fee.
Stupidity fee.
SPEAKER_00 (14:26):
Another way to not be stupid is to plan.
And so sometimes that's hard forpeople like us who are
musicians.
But planning is a good happything.
And sometimes no, it's a good,happy thing.
Sometimes it's a good happything.
And so there if you join thenewsletter from your rail, the I
(14:48):
went ahead and joined it.
And because our friend told us,hey, your rail's having a sale.
You need to know about it.
So if you join their mailinglist, their newsletter, you will
learn that there is a sale.
And because I have been on thisnewsletter for two years now, I
(15:09):
have noticed that aroundMarchish, there's about, you
know, the spring sale.
Marchish.
And you will get a percentageoff your tickets.
So if you can make your plans toplan in that time frame for
whatever time you're gonna go toEurope, that's a good time to
get your tickets because 15% offhundreds of dollars is kind of a
(15:32):
nice chunk.
SPEAKER_04 (15:33):
See what I'm saying?
And as we were saying, the URLapp also comes in handy when
you're standing on track andtrying to figure out my next
train's coming in five minutes.
Which track do I go to?
It's in the app.
So that's really helpful too.
So I mean, if you do URL,definitely download the app and
make it your friend.
SPEAKER_00 (15:53):
And a lot of trains do have Wi-Fi, uh free Wi-Fi
available.
And so, Roy, let's let's kind ofdive into that just real quick.
So, Rory, let's dive into firstclass versus second class.
Sometimes your free Wi-Fi comeswith a first class ticket.
SPEAKER_01 (16:09):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (16:10):
And sometimes if you have a second class ticket, you
may or may not get the freeWi-Fi.
So every every train, yeah,first class, second class is
different.
And not every train has classchoices.
Yeah.
So it might all be second class.
SPEAKER_04 (16:26):
Computer train, it's all just one class oftentimes.
Often, not always, butoftentimes.
The city to city or within thecity kind of trains, it's all
just one thing.
SPEAKER_00 (16:36):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (16:36):
Well, I say city to city within a small area.
Also, your classes vary fromcountry to country.
And in past episodes, you mayhave heard us mention this.
In Switzerland, second class isgreat.
First class is awesome.
Either one's great.
Right.
Really, either one's great.
You will not go wrong inSwitzerland with second class.
Now, if you're if you are incountries that are maybe not as
(16:59):
affluent.
Yes.
Then their trains might not be.
We bought first class last yearand traveling through certain
countries, we were so glad wedid because the second class
cars had such a strong smell tothem.
SPEAKER_00 (17:13):
I'm very sensitive to smell.
SPEAKER_04 (17:15):
Man, strong smells.
So we were really pleased thatwe had purchased first class
tickets.
SPEAKER_00 (17:21):
And there's no guarantee that there won't be
smells in first class, dependingon who you sit by.
SPEAKER_04 (17:26):
But but some of the smells also were families
bringing their meals on, likevery culturally authentic meals.
Uh so very strong smells.
Really strong smells, and thatfills the entire number of cars.
SPEAKER_00 (17:38):
Because second class is less expensive, you have a
lot more people in second class.
So if you really kind of likelike your space, you're gonna
have a better chance in firstclass.
SPEAKER_04 (17:48):
And if you've got work to do, like we often do
from place to place, we try anddo some work on the train.
First class for us is definitelythe way to go.
Just recently in Finland, wetook a train and I bought us
first class tickets upstairs inthe extra quiet lounge with free
high-speed Wi-Fi, free coffee,free hot chocolate, free butt,
you know, blah, blah, blah.
SPEAKER_03 (18:07):
Free.
Yeah.
Right?
SPEAKER_04 (18:08):
We only had about a four-hour trip, but we had a lot
of stuff we needed to get doneduring that four-hour trip, and
it was really worth having it.
So that's something to thinkabout too.
What kind of trick?
SPEAKER_00 (18:16):
And we had a nice view while we were working
because of how it was like theseats were positioned.
SPEAKER_04 (18:21):
It was if you're backpacking and you're like, I
want to be around as many peopleas as I can and meet all the
interesting, most interestingpeople, man, second class all
the way.
Yeah, you'll meet some reallyinteresting people.
So you meet interesting peoplein first class too, but it's
it's just totally differentvibe.
So depending on how you want totravel, and you have to buy
that, you have to choose firstor second class in advance
(18:41):
buying your URL ticket.
You can't just change from trainto train.
It's a first class URL pass or asecond class your rail pass.
SPEAKER_00 (18:48):
You'll buy that from the get-go when you buy your
ticket.
And now I remember, I don't I'mthinking I don't remember what
country we were in, but we had afirst class ticket for one of
our one of the trains we were onlast year.
And it didn't matter because thetrain was so jam-packed, you
could not move from one thing tothe other to even get to first
(19:10):
class.
Like we hopped on the train tonot miss it.
Yep.
And I mean, we were likesardines forever, and there was
no way we could move.
And so at one stop, I think Igot off and um and I ran to the
front.
But Rory, um, you I think youdecided you were comfortable
where you were.
So you were just like, I'm juststaying because you actually
(19:32):
found a seat.
Um but I got out and ran off uhand I found another cabin and it
had a little more space, but Ihad to wait till there was like
a stop.
But it was crazy.
So sometimes even if you havefirst class, you might not, you
know, depending on if you're ata busy time.
We were in the summer.
Traveling is just gonna be morecrowded in the summer.
SPEAKER_04 (19:53):
That's one of things about traveling by train as
well, is the craziness and theexperience and the fun.
It's it's an adventure, youknow, and you need to be ready
for an adventure.
SPEAKER_01 (20:00):
Right.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (20:01):
I mean, you're carrying your luggage with you
for one thing.
There are some trains where youcan check luggage for like
overnight or long trips, andthey actually have a luggage
car, but most of the time youtake your luggage on, they have
racks you can put it on uh insecond class.
Uh, they have some racks aswell, and also a big wide open
area, but uh you don't want toleave your luggage necessarily
and go to the other end of thetrain and then come back to pick
(20:21):
it up when it's time to get offjust because you found an open
rack somewhere.
Your luggage may still be there.
We've never had a problem, but Iknow that there are problems.
So anyway, you do carry yourluggage around on a train.
It is an adventure.
So if you got a good backpack,that's a great way to go.
SPEAKER_00 (20:36):
Well, and that's why you take Brooks course and and
pack lights that we've talkedabout before.
SPEAKER_04 (20:42):
And the Romies, we say travel light.
Right.
Travel light.
SPEAKER_00 (20:45):
So travel light because it just makes your life
so much easier and it allows youto run from track to track, or
you know, a lot of times you'rehauling your luggage up these
flights of stairs to get to thetrain platform.
SPEAKER_03 (20:58):
Platform.
SPEAKER_00 (20:59):
So sometimes you gotta do crazy stairs just to
get up to the platform.
And so if you've got like thesecrazy heavy bags, you're
carrying those up those stairs.
SPEAKER_04 (21:07):
Yeah, if you're hauling as if you're hauling as
much luggage as you can carry,see what I did there, then it's
uh yeah, it could be a seriousproblem.
SPEAKER_00 (21:16):
Yeah.
Now another little luggage tipis you want to actually remember
that you have the luggage andthat you don't leave it on the
train.
SPEAKER_04 (21:26):
Yeah, just once the train pulls off.
SPEAKER_00 (21:28):
So if you leave your ukulele or your ukulele, if you
have to be proper about it,which ukulele.
If you leave that in the topupper shelf over your seat, and
then you exit the train and yourwonderful husband doesn't rescue
it for you before the traintakes off, you might not have
(21:51):
your ukulele.
But if he does, then you'll haveit.
But if you have a wonderfulhusband with you, and he does
it, then easy peasy.
SPEAKER_04 (21:58):
So yeah, by the way, that reminds me, so there is
overhead storage, like you, youknow, the idea you would have on
a bus.
It's not big, but there's overyou could throw your backpack.
Sometimes it's big enough foryour smaller luggage pieces.
Uh so there is that.
So if you're traveling light,oftentimes you can just throw it
overhead or under their seat.
Yes.
Under the seat in front of youor your own seat.
I forget which one.
(22:18):
But anyway, there are spaces.
SPEAKER_00 (22:20):
Now we talked about like how the different classes
are with different countries,just in general, also, trains
are different across differentcountries as far as or in
regards to the amount of careand love and priority that a
country has in regards to theirtrains.
(22:40):
So for example, Switzerland isvery structured and like they
are not going, they are notgoing to have a late train.
Right.
Like that will not happen.
Right.
However, like it's rare.
In Germany, we missed ourconcert last year because we
decided let's let's take thetrain.
And we found many delayed,delayed, delayed trains, and
(23:05):
lots of canceled trains.
So we would get to a station andthat then there would be we were
at the station, but there was notrain going because they just
canceled the route.
And it was that's fine for themto just cancel.
SPEAKER_04 (23:19):
And then after the fact, we found out that there's
a reputation for the railways inGermany to be that way.
SPEAKER_00 (23:26):
Uh and then, like, we recently traveled in Finland.
So in Finland, it seems likeeverything was on track on time.
Really nice train that they, youknow, care about their trains.
And even in this little smalltown where we caught a train,
they had a bus waiting, likethey had a a backup bus at the
(23:48):
in this small town.
Um, it was cool that they hadplans for if the train breaks
down, we're still gonna get yousomewhere.
Because I could see that therewas a bus waiting.
Um, now one time in England theyhad their trains down, but they
put us on these really nicebuses and they had buses waiting
for people.
And so even if the train was notfunctioning, the the town, the
(24:09):
city, the country cared enoughabout the importance of their
public transportation that theymade arrangements if something
was canceled or if something wasbroken, there were
accommodations for that.
SPEAKER_04 (24:23):
But I will also say it pays to have friends as well.
SPEAKER_00 (24:26):
It does pay to have friends, but I'm just saying you
might not only be recording thisspecific podcast in their home
at the moment, or in theirstudio, even at the moment.
But these friends might alsohouse you, feed you, they might
do that too.
SPEAKER_04 (24:42):
But when it comes to trains, they might rescue you
sometimes when you're stuck in acity, but you need to get to a
different city, and the railsystem has said we're not gonna
take you there for some reason,whatever that might be.
Yeah, some really dumb, dumbreason.
And um well, it was dumb to us.
SPEAKER_00 (25:03):
I'm sure someone had a reasonable thing.
SPEAKER_04 (25:05):
It was dumb to everyone, everyone, except the
guy who made the decisionproperly, or whoever it was.
But it pays to have friends whowill come pick you up and take
you to your destination for yourown.
SPEAKER_00 (25:15):
So thank you, Pascal.
We love you.
SPEAKER_04 (25:17):
Yes, merci, Pascal.
SPEAKER_00 (25:18):
Shout out to you, yes, stand up audio.
Stand up audio, thank you.
Woo-hoo.
SPEAKER_01 (25:24):
Yep.
SPEAKER_00 (25:24):
With that experience that we had last year, that was
a uh train out of theNetherlands, and we we were
stuck at this one stop.
We we were literally one stopaway from getting to the stop we
needed to do to get to our likefinal destination.
We were literally one stop away.
(25:44):
Um the train came to a stop, andit was stopped for I think it
feels like it was stoppedliterally for like four hours,
four or five hours.
SPEAKER_04 (25:56):
It was a long time.
SPEAKER_00 (25:57):
We were traveling during the day, and it was
starting to get into theevening, and we were like, this
is not going to work anymore.
We can't continue to wake forthe house.
SPEAKER_04 (26:06):
They kept saying, We'll get going, we'll get
going, we'll get going.
SPEAKER_00 (26:16):
We just made we were just one stop away.
SPEAKER_04 (26:18):
It happens.
SPEAKER_00 (26:19):
The adventure couldn't get an Uber, we
couldn't do, you know, like itwas just yeah, uh yeah, didn't
work.
Depending on the country,they're gonna have different
accommodations forinconvenience, and sometimes
you'll just be inconvenience,and sometimes you're gonna have
no inconvenience at all, andit's gonna be right on time, and
everything's perfect andwonderful.
SPEAKER_04 (26:37):
Here's the thing you learn, you gotta be flexible,
you gotta flow with it.
You'll get upset sometimes, butyou just gotta learn to flow.
When we got stuck for thoseseveral hours, there were some
kids from a school band orsomething.
SPEAKER_03 (26:48):
Yeah, and they got off the train.
SPEAKER_04 (26:50):
They got off the train and straight up playing
instruments.
They pulled their instrumentsout and put up put on a little
concert outside the train.
It was hilarious.
And some people were dancing,and one guy was doing some kind
of like circus looking thing.
What are I mean, you know,making the best of it, roll them
with it.
Yeah, you gotta be flexible.
Who was it uh Jim Mills likes tosay?
SPEAKER_00 (27:08):
Okay.
Oh, yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (27:09):
Yes, blessed are the flexible, or they shall not be
bent out of shape.
Yes.
Yes.
So thank you, Jim Mills.
Stay flexible.
SPEAKER_00 (27:17):
Um, if you're gonna be stuck on a train or on a
train just for fun, what are arethere some kind of things you
want to have on hand just kindof in case?
SPEAKER_04 (27:25):
The first one, water.
SPEAKER_00 (27:27):
Have water with you.
SPEAKER_04 (27:28):
Last year when the train was stopped, uh there was
no water unless you had it withyou.
SPEAKER_00 (27:32):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (27:32):
Like there was no potable water.
SPEAKER_00 (27:34):
Some trains do have restaurant service, especially
if there's like a first classtrain.
If you're if you're in a smallertown with a smaller train, it
might not accommodate and havethe restaurant option.
SPEAKER_04 (27:44):
Right.
And so I this particular trainfor some reason there was
nothing to drink.
There was a restaurant car, butapparently they were out of
water or something.
And so everybody was like, Hey,you got any water?
Can I have some?
Like, do you have anything toeat?
Oh, you've got a snack.
Can I have some of thosecrackers?
I haven't eaten in hours.
I mean because it was a longyeah, you know, everybody
everybody was kind of flowingtogether and trying to help each
other.
(28:04):
Water.
That was a big deal on that one.
SPEAKER_00 (28:07):
And most all trains have toilets.
Not every so often, some will beout of order or whatever.
But even the sinks for those inthose trains, the water is
non-potable.
SPEAKER_04 (28:18):
No, you can't drink.
SPEAKER_00 (28:19):
So you don't want to drink that.
SPEAKER_04 (28:20):
So yeah, when you're stuck for hours like that, some
of the old school trains youcan't use the toilet because the
toilet empties onto the track.
So they're like, you cannot usethe toilet in station.
The toilet.
Toilet.
Do you like that?
Toilet.
SPEAKER_00 (28:32):
I did like that.
SPEAKER_04 (28:32):
That was good.
Boy, my like Texas is reallyinfluencing my accent.
The toilet cannot be used instation sometimes.
I'm just saying.
Okay.
Here's a fun thing that wetalked about in some episodes
past, but since this is thetrain one, we'll talk about it
again.
You can get a sleeping train.
And uh when you're traveling,like when we were traveling
(28:55):
Europe for the month, it was sonice.
We would finish with the cityand think, well, I guess we'll
get a hotel or a hostel, staythe night, and take the train
where we want to go to the nextday, but we're gonna lose half a
day.
Instead, we jump on the train,take a night train.
We get a couchette, it's gotbeds, we sleep on the way over.
Now you pay extra for that, butit was your rail pass, so we got
a good deal.
Uh, you sleep through the night,you wake up, you're at the city
(29:17):
the next day.
And in Scotland this last year,on the Caledonian railways, it
was awesome.
You wake up to a knock on yourdoor, and they brought your
breakfast to you.
Yeah, it was so great.
SPEAKER_00 (29:32):
But I do want to just share the story of how we
got on that train.
SPEAKER_04 (29:36):
Caledonian.
SPEAKER_00 (29:38):
We were trying so hard to get reservations.
So we mentioned reservationsearlier.
We were trying so hard to getreservations for this specific
night on this specific train.
And everybody that we talked toand asked would not let us get
on.
They would not give us areservation.
And so we later learned thatbecause you have a rail pass
(30:01):
technically they have to likelet you on yeah but you still
have to have a reservation so umit's strange so it was difficult
to understand and all that okaybut here's the deal so we asked
everybody we went uh to anotherticket counter we ended up
talking to somebody they couldnot help us and they said but
(30:22):
while you're waiting you cantake this train and you can have
these options and we have a freelounge for you and so while
you're waiting you can go tothis lounge.
SPEAKER_04 (30:34):
Yeah so we didn't know about this lounge so we
went to the lounge in the trainstation and so we were able to
enjoy uh the some refreshmentright like all of that stuff is
it was like when you're in anairport and you go to a nice air
airport lounge you gotta be amember to go she let us go to
this lounge because we just hadentry to it I guess by having
(30:58):
New Year Well pass.
SPEAKER_00 (30:59):
I don't know I don't remember we were maybe we were
just cool but she let us shesaid yeah you have there go free
lounge so we got to wait in thefree lounge because you know we
weren't gonna be able to get onthis train or whatever.
While we were there we'rechecking into the lounge and
we're saying she told us wecould come she's like yeah she's
(31:20):
checking us in we kind of justshared our story we really
wanted to go on this night trainand it's so important to us that
we get there and we want thisnight train and blah blah blah
blah blah and she said I have aninsider tip for you and we were
like and so she was so supercool and so she shared with us
(31:41):
okay these people get here atthis time you need to go there
and you need to go talk to themand maybe you can maybe they
will get you on totally oh mygod we love you forever so not
only did um so we went we werestuck for a while waiting for
(32:01):
this all to happen and so wewent down at the designated time
they're on the on the on theplatform on the platform waiting
for the the conductor to come byhe could make the decision right
there on the spot when nobodyelse would do it.
Yeah and they told us if there'sroom but there'll be room so
they're like if there's room onthe train but there will be room
(32:24):
you know that kind of a thing soand he he's the one who said
well you you we have to let youon the train because you have a
Euro he's the one who told usthat you have a Euro pass you
can have at least a seat.
And I was like great even if wecan't sleep and have a couchette
we will at least get on thistrain.
So I was happy with that.
(32:44):
And then um but he and and thenice girl at the counter right
you got to get that nice personat the counter who's willing to
help you um and they were ableto get us a couch.
And um so the of course you hadto pay for the couchette.
It's an additional cost.
SPEAKER_01 (33:03):
Yep.
SPEAKER_00 (33:03):
So um we would have been able to just ride with our
URL pass on a chair through thenight and just be on a chair the
whole night.
SPEAKER_02 (33:11):
Instead.
SPEAKER_00 (33:12):
The couchette was I want to say it was like for the
both of us total about 150 sokind of what you would pay for a
hotel or what we would pay orlet you know we try to pay less
than that.
SPEAKER_04 (33:24):
But you're gonna pay more for hotel and
transportation.
Right.
And this was like both all inone plus breakfast.
SPEAKER_00 (33:31):
I'm just saying I think I I don't know did we pay
for breakfast on top?
I think the food was on top.
Anyway um and that's where wediscovered some of the best mac
and cheese you've ever had inyour life was on that train on
that night.
Caledonian railways get the macand cheese but anyway so they
gave us the green light andthey're like okay you just need
to come back but even when youcome back you still have to talk
(33:53):
to this person.
And then this person might letyou on.
So we still had we still had onemore hurdle.
So we went back to the loungewhile we're waiting for the next
hurdle and the next step and thelike the I met the girl that I
talked with the girl who hadhelped us and like we had so
much in common and like I got anew friend from the whole thing.
(34:13):
Like it was super fun just totalk to her and just be
refreshed in that lounge andjust so there were so many
wonderful things that came outof that.
We did get on we went back wefollowed the steps we did get on
the train.
We had a wonderful experienceagain that mac and cheese um and
then you know I think we haveshared pictures of us on the
(34:34):
train but we'll share some moreum of our little couchette that
we had it was really cute.
SPEAKER_04 (34:39):
So very clean that was a really fun story um and
just a fun experience but so youknow there there are times
hopefully that story teaches yousomething new if you are a
because we got no no no no'slike on uh several times walking
to different train stations evenin London trying to get a yes
and we had to talk to the actualbecause she gave us the tip we
(35:01):
had to talk to the actualconductor to get the yes we
needed so the our our lessonthere was like well you just
keep asking be persistentbecause I was ready I was like
they said we can't let it gookay ten no's before that yep so
it but it was definitely worthgetting on that train.
SPEAKER_00 (35:20):
And we were able to keep the schedule that we had
wanted to keep and and do allthose things.
So that was that was reallygood.
Really great um so if you areriding on a train Rory like what
are some good things just tokind of like be aware that there
are other people on the trainwhat are some courtesy things
that we could keep in mind whilewe're traveling well on a train.
SPEAKER_04 (35:40):
If in fact you're in first class they expect a little
more decorum than second class.
They don't want you screamingand going crazy and getting
drunk and especially when you'rein the quiet zone.
Yeah stay in second class ifthat's what you want to do.
And if you have a first classticket you can ride in second
class if that's what you want todo but don't do it in first
class.
It's not cool.
And they will call the conductorwe've not experienced that
(36:03):
personally because we're goodfirst riders but I'm just saying
you try and keep things on thelow down a little quieter.
You know don't put your feet onthe seats woo when we uh took
our first URL pass we were inSwitzerland and we had been had
a long day and we put our feetup on a wooden bench seat and
the conductor made it very clearto us that you do not put your
(36:27):
feet on the seat and I'll it'swood it's a wooden bench no way
you don't do that keep your feetoff the seats also when people
are getting off the train ifyou're gonna board let the
people get off first and thenyou get on.
That's the way it works.
Let the people get off they'lllet you get off first when it's
your turn and then you can boardthe train.
SPEAKER_00 (36:46):
Right.
And try to be quick with yourexiting you know don't be taking
your time lugging your big oldluggage like just try to like
try and be a fly on and on andoff.
SPEAKER_04 (36:56):
Yeah.
Yeah one thing you mightconsider too is the kind of food
you decide to bring on the trainlike we talked about the smells
that it can create I've mean Ibrought some Asian food on the
trains before and I was likeeverybody's smelling this man
whether it was I don't rememberif it was Indian or Chinese or
Thai or whatever but it was astrong smell sort of like when
you're on a plane and somebodybrings a meal like that and the
(37:16):
whole plane's like oh man comeon anyway that's something I
mean you may or may not careabout that but it's something to
think about anyway.
SPEAKER_00 (37:24):
Yeah be aware of it.
SPEAKER_04 (37:25):
Yeah yeah and try not to eat a can full of beans
before you get into first class.
I'm just saying you know thingsto think about yeah that
probably is a good thing tothink about because I don't
appreciate it when other peopledo up in there.
So maybe doing to others as youwould have to roll the window
down on the train or that's justto throw the person out who's
(37:48):
doing that foul foul thing.
I'm just saying Okay.
SPEAKER_00 (37:54):
Alright so other tips is maybe if you like for me
because I can e get easilydistracted or whatever I it's I
usually can set a timer and I'lllook and see when the train is
supposed to be stopping.
So let's say I'm en route Imight set a timer for like 10
minutes before the arrival timeso that if if I've got workout I
(38:17):
know I need to start packing upand um or if I'm wanting to
sleep I've got my alarm so thatI can wake up in time to not
miss my stop.
So it's it's kind of a good ideato just kind of keep a timer so
that you know when the train isgoing to be stopping.
And then you can you're not thenyou're not having to keep
looking at the clock.
You can just like enjoy thescenery that you're seeing or
(38:40):
that reminded me of a book youwant to read or whatever.
SPEAKER_04 (38:42):
Yeah remind me of something too bring headphones
if you if you need to listen tosomething or if you want to
watch something nobody elsewants to watch and listen to
whatever you're watching andlistening to I mean unless they
want to but I don't think theywant to.
No people don't want to hearyour airplane when a kid or
somebody's playing music andplaying a game and you're like
can you please just mute it orput headphones on.
(39:03):
So be courteous bring yourheadphones.
SPEAKER_00 (39:06):
And if you do want to be watching a movie or
listening to music on your onyour headphones or whatever you
can download them in advance umbecause the Wi Fi probably works
but it's just better if you ifyou can have it pre-downloaded
that's a good little tip.
SPEAKER_04 (39:22):
Yeah some of the Wi-Fi on the trains works but
it's not great for streaming.
SPEAKER_00 (39:25):
And we should have checked into this last year.
We've learned with luggage whichwe are going to be talking about
luggage if EU law mightcompensate if your train is like
extremely delayed and causesissues for you.
So you can always just put thatin the back of your noggin in
case that might apply to you.
SPEAKER_04 (39:44):
Yeah and sometimes if you need to cancel cancel a
reservation or a seat go and seethem in person.
Because oftentimes it's freewhen you do that.
If you do it on the app it mightcharge you sometimes so it's
good to go talk to the peopleabout things like that.
Right.
Get it taken care of in person.
SPEAKER_00 (40:03):
So just to kind of wrap up this session some
takeaways or to book your seatreservations early for some
routes the reservation isoptional and sometimes we went
ahead and made the reservationsbecause we knew we wanted uh to
for sure have a seat.
SPEAKER_03 (40:19):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (40:20):
And that's one thing that the reservations do for
you.
They're sure so that you'resigned you a seat right and so
that way if you don't want tostand uh for the whole thing or
you just want to know hey I amguaranteed a seat and you just
want to have that peace of mind,the seat reservations can be
good for that as well.
So um try to book those early onthe ones where you know it's
(40:41):
super important that you havethat get your ticket validated
before you get on or activatedin the case with your rail
before you get on the train.
Also keep in mind like recentlyRory booked this finished flight
for us and I think Rory that youwent you didn't go through your
rail you just did like thenormal hey I'm in Finland I'm
(41:01):
gonna go to the train stationand buy a train ticket.
SPEAKER_04 (41:04):
But keep in mind the flight or the train ticket you
said flight.
I'm sorry the train you boughtthe train ticket while I used I
used their local app okay theirlocal train app for Finland.
I didn't use the URL wholething.
SPEAKER_00 (41:17):
Right.
So as Americans keep in mindeven if you didn't buy the URail
pass it might save you money togo to your rail and buy your
ticket because you'll get thatAmerican price.
SPEAKER_04 (41:28):
Yeah it's possible versus what you might buy just
as a local and so um so just youknow like your brain was like
I'm in Finland I'm going to goto the finished train station
right of course yeah so butremember as Americans you have
that URL option um so dependingsometimes things have to be in
advance but it's worth justchecking okay um and then uh be
(41:51):
ready for surprise for surprisesyeah packs art and light yeah
it's what we said earlier it'staking the train is not only
about getting from one place tothe next place it's about the
whole journey uh the scenery thepeople that you meet on the ride
over in Finland going to theairport we had a four hour ride
and there was a man sitting nextto her that uh struck up a
(42:11):
conversation with her and it wasreally cool in the end the way
it all happened and not we goton there and kind of wanted to
be quiet and do our own thing.
But in the end it was aprovidential meeting and it was
really cool.
So it's about all of that.
Sometimes you have hiccups alongthe way things happen but you'll
find oftentimes when you'retalking about it afterwards,
(42:33):
especially telling people aboutthe trip, those are the things
you remember.
SPEAKER_00 (42:36):
They're memorable you're making a memory you're
having an adventure and we Ithink when we when we think
about the trains and being ableto take the train in Europe it's
always good fuzzy feelings thatwe have.
SPEAKER_04 (42:49):
Fuzzy like yeah warm fuzzies.
SPEAKER_00 (42:52):
They're just it's so nice it Rory traveling with Rory
is wonderful because he does allthe driving and so I get to
either or just enjoy enjoy theconductor no um but yeah so like
for me it's great excuse me butfor Rory like he's having to pay
(43:15):
attention to the driving and sofor me I love having when Rory
can take the train because Ifeel like hey now you can just
like enjoy the scenery or justtake a break and not have to be
behind the wheel and you canenjoy this journey or have some
work time or have some you timeor whatever you need this to be
(43:35):
the train just kind of providesthat because they're doing all
the driving they're doing allthe thinking they're not
thinking about where you have togo next you just hop on the
train and they are doing all ofthat for you.
And so that's kind of one thingespecially as Americans we are a
car society we don't live weRory and I don't live in New
York City and we don't live inDC so we are not on public
(43:57):
transportation all the time orSeattle or Atlanta.
You know we're not like in thosecities um where all the time so
it's just like we're we'repeople we're a car um society
and that's what we're so used toso I feel so kind of pampered
when I'm on a train.
And I really I really enjoy it.
SPEAKER_04 (44:19):
So when you when you're on a train you feel like
you're wearing diapers that'sreally strange.
Pampered I mean that's what itwould mean.
I guess that's where we get thatexpression I feel so pampered
like I don't have to get up andgo to the bathroom I can just do
it right here in my seat.
SPEAKER_00 (44:33):
I mean it's really convenient it's not I think this
is a good time to end thisepisode.
We look forward to seeing y'allon the next one.
SPEAKER_04 (44:40):
Speaking of pampering in your seat uh do you
have a crazy train story likeyou travel a lot have you
traveled a lot on trains in theUS or internationally it'd be
super fun to hear your crazytrain stories a crazy train get
on the crazy train with us chatwith us on our socials when we
post about this one let us hearyour crazy stories alright share
(45:03):
it your paper going I'm tellingyou we hope we've inspired you
this episode don't join us nexttime please subscribe to rate
and share our podcast with yourfriends or whoever and please
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(45:26):
on X and on all social platformswe are at OR A M I D S and our
main hub is our website atwww.thermies.com right that's D
A D R O A M I D S dot com we'llbe there until next time thanks
(45:46):
for listening bye
Hi, I'm Alexa.
And I'm Cory.
And together we are The Romies.
SPEAKER_04 (00:05):
We are married to each other.
Alright.
We are a touring musical duo.
SPEAKER_00 (00:11):
And our music has taken us to all kinds of places
all around the world and keepsus always on the go.
SPEAKER_04 (00:16):
So we hope you enjoy our stories and adventures while
running around working to keepall your plates spinning.
SPEAKER_00 (00:22):
And we hope to facilitate your busy lifestyle
and feed your inner travel bug.
SPEAKER_04 (00:30):
Welcome back.
SPEAKER_00 (00:32):
Welcome back.
SPEAKER_04 (00:33):
The Romies Podcast.
Because we're the Romies, ourpodcast.
So I'm saying welcome backbecause I'm sure you've watched
and listened to all of the otherepisodes.
All 250 plus all 250 plusepisodes.
So welcome.
SPEAKER_00 (00:48):
Because we know that you are a big fan.
SPEAKER_04 (00:50):
Big fan.
SPEAKER_00 (00:51):
We know it.
We just know it.
SPEAKER_04 (00:53):
Yep.
Yep.
We know it.
So since you're a big fan, todaywe're going to dive into one of
our favorite ways to travelacross through inside Europe.
And that is not backpacking.
Not on bicycles.
No, no, no.
Not on motorcycles.
Because we don't really.
(01:14):
I mean, I can ride a motorcycle,drive it, but she no.
So uh not by boat, not byairplane, not by car.
Guess.
What's left over?
Scooters.
Scooters across Europe.
Carriage.
Carriage and scooters.
No, by train.
Yay! Yes, Europe by train andnot just any train.
Today we're going to discussyour rail passes.
SPEAKER_00 (01:36):
So if you are American, this is going to apply
more to you.
If you live in the EU, Urailoffers a package to you.
SPEAKER_04 (01:50):
If you live in the EU.
SPEAKER_00 (01:54):
Hey, I didn't make up the initials.
Okay, but if you are European,because we know we have European
listeners as well, it's going tothey have a package for you, but
it's cushier for Americans.
We get better rates through yourrail.
(02:14):
We get cooler stuff through yourrail.
As locals get other benefits andthings that us foreigners don't
do that.
SPEAKER_04 (02:22):
Yeah, come on.
SPEAKER_00 (02:23):
So it's, you know, it's worth checking the pricing
for several, you know, thedifferent options.
But it is cushier and it reallyis, at least with your rail, it
is geared towards Americansbeing able to visit so many
countries around the EuropeanUnion, but also like the
(02:44):
countries that aren't liketechnically doing the EU, like
Switzerland and England, andwell, yeah, because they're on
the pound.
And so Scotland, Denmark, youcan still go to all of those
countries.
It's a super amazing way thatthey have coordinated the
different rail systems, systemsfrom each country to cooperate
(03:05):
with each other and to kind ofjoin together in this your rail
experience.
So it's it's really cool, it'svery helpful.
And so we just want to give youmaybe some practical stories and
practical tips to kind of helpyou navigate your your rail
experience.
And even if you have experiencedyour rail several times, we
(03:27):
still might say something thatis helpful to you.
So hopefully we can might remindyou of something here or there.
And you guys can always send uscomments of things we left out
and we can add them on oursocials or something or add them
in the show show notes.
SPEAKER_04 (03:39):
Here, there, everywhere.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, we loveyou.
SPEAKER_00 (03:42):
So you want to kick off, Rory?
Like, what was our first do youremember our first time that we
took your rail?
SPEAKER_04 (03:48):
Uh yes, I do.
Okay.
It was a year after we gotmarried.
And we were sojourning withbackpacks across the land of
Europe for one month, I think itwas.
SPEAKER_00 (03:59):
Mm-hmm.
SPEAKER_04 (04:00):
Yep.
SPEAKER_00 (04:00):
Which was a long time for us at the time.
SPEAKER_04 (04:02):
Yeah, it it was a long time at the time.
Yes.
Okay.
Yeah.
But it was a good time.
Yep.
And so we got backpacks, and ayear after we got married, we
hit Europe, bought URL passes tolike 14 countries.
We didn't hit that manycountries, but we wanted to be
covered.
You can buy different type Urailpasses.
SPEAKER_00 (04:19):
Yes.
So yes, and you can buy what wedid most recently um last year
was we bought the global pass.
So we had the options to do allof them.
SPEAKER_03 (04:32):
All of them.
SPEAKER_00 (04:34):
All of them.
And so, but when we did this onethat you are talking about, this
first trip, yeah.
It was we only chose certainones and it saved us money.
Yeah.
And then we also did the Swisspass.
Oh, and so that same year, thatsame trip.
That was extra smart of us andreally awesome.
And we got to experience so muchmore of Switzerland than we
(04:56):
really have.
SPEAKER_04 (04:57):
And we spent a lot of time in Switzerland.
So not only were the trainsfree, the buses were free, the
boat steamers were free, butalso we got discounts on the
gondolas and stuff.
SPEAKER_00 (05:05):
So you go up which aren't covered on a little hike
down.
SPEAKER_04 (05:07):
You see how she tries to block my face?
That like because you you you goup the mountains.
You go up the mountains.
Then you come down.
Yeah.
See how that yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (05:15):
Mm-hmm.
You'll just have if you're justlistening, you have to wait for
the videos to come up.
SPEAKER_04 (05:19):
You'll have to wait.
Yeah.
Sure.
And we're so much more fun onvideo, I'm sure.
SPEAKER_00 (05:23):
I'm sure.
unknown (05:24):
Yeah.
Okay.
SPEAKER_04 (05:26):
So a year after we got married, we we hit the road
on your rail.
It was awesome.
The ride across Europe is notjust for transportation.
The scenery is ridiculous,sometimes better than a guided
tour.
It's so cool.
We la, for example, last year wediscovered the is it the Rome
Valley?
No, what's the ball?
SPEAKER_00 (05:45):
We discovered for us.
SPEAKER_04 (05:46):
I mean, obviously, we were not I mean, other people
have been there before.
It's not like we discoveredsomething that's never been
seen.
SPEAKER_00 (05:52):
Right.
But it was new to us.
Yeah, new for us.
That kind of discovery.
SPEAKER_04 (05:56):
Yeah.
It's it's where all theriverboat cruises go in.
Germany, there's a valley fullof castles and stuff, and we've
talked about it on one of theother episodes that you hear
about.
But we discovered that becausewe were taking the train.
SPEAKER_00 (06:07):
And we were like, we drive through Germany all the
time because we are doingconcert tours, and like all of
the countries that we visit arelike border Germany.
And so, and it's so large, it'sa large country.
And so we find ourselves justdriving through Germany so many
times, but we're like, how didwe miss this?
(06:28):
Well, we weren't on this.
And so we, yes, we are hoping todo a future episode on this
area.
So we're we're hoping that thatwill happen.
Castles and the beautiful riversand just like super, super fun.
So and gorgeous.
But we learned about that fromthe train.
Yeah, from riding the train.
(06:49):
And I think, you know, when wefirst took the train, that was
really fun too because we hadthe URL pass and we could kind
of just go where it's soflexible, whatever.
SPEAKER_04 (06:59):
Yeah, it's great.
It's flexible on and off, on andoff, as many times as you want
within your boundaries of yourticket.
So it's not like you can onlyride it once a day and then it's
done.
We would we would come to a cityuh and say, Oh, what the heck is
that?
Let's get off, hurry, get off,let's let's look at that.
Then we'll get back on the nexttrain or whatever.
Yeah, we could totes do that.
SPEAKER_00 (07:18):
And one with the Swiss pass that we got, we it
was buses as well.
And we had like a free day thatwe were just like, because we're
just there exploring.
We just I think twice we justgot on the bus just to see where
it would go.
SPEAKER_03 (07:32):
See where it would go.
SPEAKER_00 (07:33):
I don't remember where it went, but it was with a
lot of cows.
SPEAKER_04 (07:36):
We got far enough outside town that we're like, I
guess we should go back.
SPEAKER_00 (07:39):
Well, it's okay, let's go back.
But it was just like we had thefreedom to just do that because
we had the past.
SPEAKER_03 (07:46):
We had the past.
SPEAKER_00 (07:47):
We had the past.
So that was really fun.
So there's there's theflexibility of it to me is
probably the biggest well a yousave money.
SPEAKER_03 (07:56):
Yep.
SPEAKER_00 (07:57):
But two, cause uh that's really what you're always
saving money when you're astarting musician, 26, 25, 28,
20.
SPEAKER_04 (08:06):
26, 38, hike, hike, okay.
SPEAKER_00 (08:09):
So you're my brain is getting lost now.
So the pass is flexible, and sothat gives you freedom.
And so if you need to or want tochange your plans, they don't
care.
You just, you know, because youhave the pass.
So you can if you want todecide, you know what, let's not
go to Italy today, instead,let's go to Portugal.
(08:32):
You totally can.
SPEAKER_04 (08:33):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (08:34):
And and no one's gonna like penalize you for
that.
SPEAKER_04 (08:37):
Here's something to know.
There are some trains that youdo have to make reservations on
in advance.
For example, if you want to ridethe TGV or some other high-speed
train, oftentimes you can't justshow up with your rail your rail
pass and say, Hey, let's go.
I'm getting on the train.
They're gonna say, No, do you doyou have a reserve reservation?
Now, it's probably free becauseit's only it's covered in your
URL pass often, but you have tomake a reservation to ride those
(09:01):
trains.
SPEAKER_00 (09:02):
Yes.
So with the reservations, someof them cost an additional fee
just for the reservation.
SPEAKER_04 (09:08):
It's a special high-speed train kind of a deal.
SPEAKER_00 (09:12):
Or it's just requires a reservation and you
have to pay for it.
Sometimes you your reservationyou might get it and like if you
get your reservation online, forexample, you might be paying for
that reservation.
However, we were also there acouple times where we were in
(09:34):
the train station itself priorto getting on and needing the
reservation.
We stood in the line at theticket counter of that train
station and they gave us thereservation for free.
SPEAKER_04 (09:47):
Yeah.
When the app was saying it was acharge like ten or twenty
dollars.
SPEAKER_00 (09:52):
So and if if you're doing that every day or you need
the reservations or you want thereservations, even if it's just
an extra ten or twenty, thatadds up.
Yeah, so if you're a family ofall, you know, big family
people, right?
SPEAKER_04 (10:05):
So for us it paid off just to go to the train
office.
And the guy was like, No, thatthat's free.
SPEAKER_00 (10:10):
We said So we we but we didn't learn that till like
halfway through our trip ortowards the end.
Because I think it was inEngland we finally learned, oh,
we don't have to pay for everyreservation.
But here's the thing we have toget the reservation, but you
don't always have to pay forthem.
SPEAKER_04 (10:23):
Yeah, and it sounds complicated.
Oh, what I do I need areservation for this, not for
that, but the app, the URL app.
Yeah, you you sketch you setyour trip up.
What trip do you want to take?
You go, you explore, and youdecide the trip, and it tells
you everything you need to know.
It's not, it's really notcomplicated.
Right.
The app is a wonderful thingthat they've that they're doing
now.
SPEAKER_00 (10:43):
And we ran into, and you might run into that certain
trains are not even covered byyour pass.
SPEAKER_01 (10:50):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (10:51):
Or certain routes are not covered by the pass.
And so you're like, yeah, but Ihave this URL pass, and I should
be able to just get from thiscountry to this country because,
you know, or I should be able toget from this city to this city
because of the URL pass.
And there are a few times wherewe could not go in on specific
(11:12):
routes.
So we either had to, instead ofgoing through Germany to get
there, we had to go through orgoing through Holland to get
there.
We had to go to Germany to getthere, something like that, for
example.
So we could still get there.
So sometimes you may have to paylike an additional just ticket
if you want the route you want.
Um like that's the right.
SPEAKER_04 (11:33):
I think one of the things they said it was a
private train, whateveroperation.
SPEAKER_00 (11:37):
Yes, we did run into that.
So one time we were in Englandand we had, I think we were just
trying to get to the airport andwe didn't have far to go or
something like that.
But because it was a privatelyowned train, it was not a part
of the URL system.
So you could still do it, butyou had to pay, we had to pay
like for that specific ticket toget from this city to this city,
(12:01):
and then we could continue onthe URL.
SPEAKER_04 (12:03):
It just happened to be that that particular
privately owned train companywas not partnering with URL for
some reason.
Right.
So but that was that was reallyno big deal.
Like I said, the the app showsyou how it reroutes you around.
Right.
Well, I wanted to go I wanted toride the train through this.
Well, you can't.
SPEAKER_00 (12:19):
Oh, you can buy a ticket.
But you can buy a ticket.
And and there is a station thatyou can get to.
So that's cool.
SPEAKER_04 (12:26):
Speaking of tickets, one lesson we learned.
SPEAKER_00 (12:30):
We learned lessons.
That's why we're sharing themwith you here.
SPEAKER_04 (12:33):
Yeah.
We got fussed at prettythoroughly by a train conductor
person.
Conductor person.
Yeah.
That walks around and checkstickets.
Better name for them.
Yeah.
Because we had our tickets allscheduled on our app and
everything.
We were already on the train andthe train had not long before
left the station, but he camethrough to check our tickets and
we hadn't yet activated ourtickets.
SPEAKER_00 (12:55):
So you have to activate your before you get on
the train.
SPEAKER_04 (12:58):
You have to activate that day's ticket.
Because he was like, Well,anyone could ride the train, and
if I never check it, they don'thave to activate it.
And they never use that day.
So they still have that day touse later on.
Because your real comes with youcan buy a limited number of days
as well within a month, youknow, how many days you can ride
as much as you want in that day.
So boy, he let us have it.
But he was really nice.
(13:19):
He said, I'm not gonna, youknow, charge you anything.
You just must have your ticketactivated before you step on the
train.
So that's important to know.
SPEAKER_00 (13:29):
You set up your trip in the app and just gonna
activate it like as we weregoing.
Yeah, as we were going, yeah.
You know, no.
Okay, well let's hop on and thenwe know where we're going.
Okay.
SPEAKER_04 (13:37):
Yeah, we weren't trying to do anything bad, but
apparently a lot of people doget on and try and ride without
paying.
So you have to activate activateyour ticket before you get on
the train.
Right.
SPEAKER_00 (13:47):
Um, so you have you have to you still have
flexibility and you can changewhat you do, but you need to
pick unitinerary for the day andactivate it before you start.
SPEAKER_04 (13:56):
Unitinerary and itinerary.
SPEAKER_00 (13:58):
And in Switzerland specifically, if the conductor
comes by and your ticket has notbeen activated, there is a fee
and you are charged a fee.
Yeah, so he did not charge aminimum of I think it was at
least 50.
SPEAKER_04 (14:13):
Yeah, something something that would be a really
lame, stupid fee.
Like, you know, because we werestupid.
SPEAKER_00 (14:20):
So don't be dumb.
SPEAKER_04 (14:20):
Yeah, don't be dumb.
Don't pay.
Just activate.
Don't pay the dumbness fee.
Stupidity fee.
SPEAKER_00 (14:26):
Another way to not be stupid is to plan.
And so sometimes that's hard forpeople like us who are
musicians.
But planning is a good happything.
And sometimes no, it's a good,happy thing.
Sometimes it's a good happything.
And so there if you join thenewsletter from your rail, the I
(14:48):
went ahead and joined it.
And because our friend told us,hey, your rail's having a sale.
You need to know about it.
So if you join their mailinglist, their newsletter, you will
learn that there is a sale.
And because I have been on thisnewsletter for two years now, I
(15:09):
have noticed that aroundMarchish, there's about, you
know, the spring sale.
Marchish.
And you will get a percentageoff your tickets.
So if you can make your plans toplan in that time frame for
whatever time you're gonna go toEurope, that's a good time to
get your tickets because 15% offhundreds of dollars is kind of a
(15:32):
nice chunk.
SPEAKER_04 (15:33):
See what I'm saying?
And as we were saying, the URLapp also comes in handy when
you're standing on track andtrying to figure out my next
train's coming in five minutes.
Which track do I go to?
It's in the app.
So that's really helpful too.
So I mean, if you do URL,definitely download the app and
make it your friend.
SPEAKER_00 (15:53):
And a lot of trains do have Wi-Fi, uh free Wi-Fi
available.
And so, Roy, let's let's kind ofdive into that just real quick.
So, Rory, let's dive into firstclass versus second class.
Sometimes your free Wi-Fi comeswith a first class ticket.
SPEAKER_01 (16:09):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (16:10):
And sometimes if you have a second class ticket, you
may or may not get the freeWi-Fi.
So every every train, yeah,first class, second class is
different.
And not every train has classchoices.
Yeah.
So it might all be second class.
SPEAKER_04 (16:26):
Computer train, it's all just one class oftentimes.
Often, not always, butoftentimes.
The city to city or within thecity kind of trains, it's all
just one thing.
SPEAKER_00 (16:36):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (16:36):
Well, I say city to city within a small area.
Also, your classes vary fromcountry to country.
And in past episodes, you mayhave heard us mention this.
In Switzerland, second class isgreat.
First class is awesome.
Either one's great.
Right.
Really, either one's great.
You will not go wrong inSwitzerland with second class.
Now, if you're if you are incountries that are maybe not as
(16:59):
affluent.
Yes.
Then their trains might not be.
We bought first class last yearand traveling through certain
countries, we were so glad wedid because the second class
cars had such a strong smell tothem.
SPEAKER_00 (17:13):
I'm very sensitive to smell.
SPEAKER_04 (17:15):
Man, strong smells.
So we were really pleased thatwe had purchased first class
tickets.
SPEAKER_00 (17:21):
And there's no guarantee that there won't be
smells in first class, dependingon who you sit by.
SPEAKER_04 (17:26):
But but some of the smells also were families
bringing their meals on, likevery culturally authentic meals.
Uh so very strong smells.
Really strong smells, and thatfills the entire number of cars.
SPEAKER_00 (17:38):
Because second class is less expensive, you have a
lot more people in second class.
So if you really kind of likelike your space, you're gonna
have a better chance in firstclass.
SPEAKER_04 (17:48):
And if you've got work to do, like we often do
from place to place, we try anddo some work on the train.
First class for us is definitelythe way to go.
Just recently in Finland, wetook a train and I bought us
first class tickets upstairs inthe extra quiet lounge with free
high-speed Wi-Fi, free coffee,free hot chocolate, free butt,
you know, blah, blah, blah.
SPEAKER_03 (18:07):
Free.
Yeah.
Right?
SPEAKER_04 (18:08):
We only had about a four-hour trip, but we had a lot
of stuff we needed to get doneduring that four-hour trip, and
it was really worth having it.
So that's something to thinkabout too.
What kind of trick?
SPEAKER_00 (18:16):
And we had a nice view while we were working
because of how it was like theseats were positioned.
SPEAKER_04 (18:21):
It was if you're backpacking and you're like, I
want to be around as many peopleas as I can and meet all the
interesting, most interestingpeople, man, second class all
the way.
Yeah, you'll meet some reallyinteresting people.
So you meet interesting peoplein first class too, but it's
it's just totally differentvibe.
So depending on how you want totravel, and you have to buy
that, you have to choose firstor second class in advance
(18:41):
buying your URL ticket.
You can't just change from trainto train.
It's a first class URL pass or asecond class your rail pass.
SPEAKER_00 (18:48):
You'll buy that from the get-go when you buy your
ticket.
And now I remember, I don't I'mthinking I don't remember what
country we were in, but we had afirst class ticket for one of
our one of the trains we were onlast year.
And it didn't matter because thetrain was so jam-packed, you
could not move from one thing tothe other to even get to first
(19:10):
class.
Like we hopped on the train tonot miss it.
Yep.
And I mean, we were likesardines forever, and there was
no way we could move.
And so at one stop, I think Igot off and um and I ran to the
front.
But Rory, um, you I think youdecided you were comfortable
where you were.
So you were just like, I'm juststaying because you actually
(19:32):
found a seat.
Um but I got out and ran off uhand I found another cabin and it
had a little more space, but Ihad to wait till there was like
a stop.
But it was crazy.
So sometimes even if you havefirst class, you might not, you
know, depending on if you're ata busy time.
We were in the summer.
Traveling is just gonna be morecrowded in the summer.
SPEAKER_04 (19:53):
That's one of things about traveling by train as
well, is the craziness and theexperience and the fun.
It's it's an adventure, youknow, and you need to be ready
for an adventure.
SPEAKER_01 (20:00):
Right.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (20:01):
I mean, you're carrying your luggage with you
for one thing.
There are some trains where youcan check luggage for like
overnight or long trips, andthey actually have a luggage
car, but most of the time youtake your luggage on, they have
racks you can put it on uh insecond class.
Uh, they have some racks aswell, and also a big wide open
area, but uh you don't want toleave your luggage necessarily
and go to the other end of thetrain and then come back to pick
(20:21):
it up when it's time to get offjust because you found an open
rack somewhere.
Your luggage may still be there.
We've never had a problem, but Iknow that there are problems.
So anyway, you do carry yourluggage around on a train.
It is an adventure.
So if you got a good backpack,that's a great way to go.
SPEAKER_00 (20:36):
Well, and that's why you take Brooks course and and
pack lights that we've talkedabout before.
SPEAKER_04 (20:42):
And the Romies, we say travel light.
Right.
Travel light.
SPEAKER_00 (20:45):
So travel light because it just makes your life
so much easier and it allows youto run from track to track, or
you know, a lot of times you'rehauling your luggage up these
flights of stairs to get to thetrain platform.
SPEAKER_03 (20:58):
Platform.
SPEAKER_00 (20:59):
So sometimes you gotta do crazy stairs just to
get up to the platform.
And so if you've got like thesecrazy heavy bags, you're
carrying those up those stairs.
SPEAKER_04 (21:07):
Yeah, if you're hauling as if you're hauling as
much luggage as you can carry,see what I did there, then it's
uh yeah, it could be a seriousproblem.
SPEAKER_00 (21:16):
Yeah.
Now another little luggage tipis you want to actually remember
that you have the luggage andthat you don't leave it on the
train.
SPEAKER_04 (21:26):
Yeah, just once the train pulls off.
SPEAKER_00 (21:28):
So if you leave your ukulele or your ukulele, if you
have to be proper about it,which ukulele.
If you leave that in the topupper shelf over your seat, and
then you exit the train and yourwonderful husband doesn't rescue
it for you before the traintakes off, you might not have
(21:51):
your ukulele.
But if he does, then you'll haveit.
But if you have a wonderfulhusband with you, and he does
it, then easy peasy.
SPEAKER_04 (21:58):
So yeah, by the way, that reminds me, so there is
overhead storage, like you, youknow, the idea you would have on
a bus.
It's not big, but there's overyou could throw your backpack.
Sometimes it's big enough foryour smaller luggage pieces.
Uh so there is that.
So if you're traveling light,oftentimes you can just throw it
overhead or under their seat.
Yes.
Under the seat in front of youor your own seat.
I forget which one.
(22:18):
But anyway, there are spaces.
SPEAKER_00 (22:20):
Now we talked about like how the different classes
are with different countries,just in general, also, trains
are different across differentcountries as far as or in
regards to the amount of careand love and priority that a
country has in regards to theirtrains.
(22:40):
So for example, Switzerland isvery structured and like they
are not going, they are notgoing to have a late train.
Right.
Like that will not happen.
Right.
However, like it's rare.
In Germany, we missed ourconcert last year because we
decided let's let's take thetrain.
And we found many delayed,delayed, delayed trains, and
(23:05):
lots of canceled trains.
So we would get to a station andthat then there would be we were
at the station, but there was notrain going because they just
canceled the route.
And it was that's fine for themto just cancel.
SPEAKER_04 (23:19):
And then after the fact, we found out that there's
a reputation for the railways inGermany to be that way.
SPEAKER_00 (23:26):
Uh and then, like, we recently traveled in Finland.
So in Finland, it seems likeeverything was on track on time.
Really nice train that they, youknow, care about their trains.
And even in this little smalltown where we caught a train,
they had a bus waiting, likethey had a a backup bus at the
(23:48):
in this small town.
Um, it was cool that they hadplans for if the train breaks
down, we're still gonna get yousomewhere.
Because I could see that therewas a bus waiting.
Um, now one time in England theyhad their trains down, but they
put us on these really nicebuses and they had buses waiting
for people.
And so even if the train was notfunctioning, the the town, the
(24:09):
city, the country cared enoughabout the importance of their
public transportation that theymade arrangements if something
was canceled or if something wasbroken, there were
accommodations for that.
SPEAKER_04 (24:23):
But I will also say it pays to have friends as well.
SPEAKER_00 (24:26):
It does pay to have friends, but I'm just saying you
might not only be recording thisspecific podcast in their home
at the moment, or in theirstudio, even at the moment.
But these friends might alsohouse you, feed you, they might
do that too.
SPEAKER_04 (24:42):
But when it comes to trains, they might rescue you
sometimes when you're stuck in acity, but you need to get to a
different city, and the railsystem has said we're not gonna
take you there for some reason,whatever that might be.
Yeah, some really dumb, dumbreason.
And um well, it was dumb to us.
SPEAKER_00 (25:03):
I'm sure someone had a reasonable thing.
SPEAKER_04 (25:05):
It was dumb to everyone, everyone, except the
guy who made the decisionproperly, or whoever it was.
But it pays to have friends whowill come pick you up and take
you to your destination for yourown.
SPEAKER_00 (25:15):
So thank you, Pascal.
We love you.
SPEAKER_04 (25:17):
Yes, merci, Pascal.
SPEAKER_00 (25:18):
Shout out to you, yes, stand up audio.
Stand up audio, thank you.
Woo-hoo.
SPEAKER_01 (25:24):
Yep.
SPEAKER_00 (25:24):
With that experience that we had last year, that was
a uh train out of theNetherlands, and we we were
stuck at this one stop.
We we were literally one stopaway from getting to the stop we
needed to do to get to our likefinal destination.
We were literally one stop away.
(25:44):
Um the train came to a stop, andit was stopped for I think it
feels like it was stoppedliterally for like four hours,
four or five hours.
SPEAKER_04 (25:56):
It was a long time.
SPEAKER_00 (25:57):
We were traveling during the day, and it was
starting to get into theevening, and we were like, this
is not going to work anymore.
We can't continue to wake forthe house.
SPEAKER_04 (26:06):
They kept saying, We'll get going, we'll get
going, we'll get going.
SPEAKER_00 (26:16):
We just made we were just one stop away.
SPEAKER_04 (26:18):
It happens.
SPEAKER_00 (26:19):
The adventure couldn't get an Uber, we
couldn't do, you know, like itwas just yeah, uh yeah, didn't
work.
Depending on the country,they're gonna have different
accommodations forinconvenience, and sometimes
you'll just be inconvenience,and sometimes you're gonna have
no inconvenience at all, andit's gonna be right on time, and
everything's perfect andwonderful.
SPEAKER_04 (26:37):
Here's the thing you learn, you gotta be flexible,
you gotta flow with it.
You'll get upset sometimes, butyou just gotta learn to flow.
When we got stuck for thoseseveral hours, there were some
kids from a school band orsomething.
SPEAKER_03 (26:48):
Yeah, and they got off the train.
SPEAKER_04 (26:50):
They got off the train and straight up playing
instruments.
They pulled their instrumentsout and put up put on a little
concert outside the train.
It was hilarious.
And some people were dancing,and one guy was doing some kind
of like circus looking thing.
What are I mean, you know,making the best of it, roll them
with it.
Yeah, you gotta be flexible.
Who was it uh Jim Mills likes tosay?
SPEAKER_00 (27:08):
Okay.
Oh, yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (27:09):
Yes, blessed are the flexible, or they shall not be
bent out of shape.
Yes.
Yes.
So thank you, Jim Mills.
Stay flexible.
SPEAKER_00 (27:17):
Um, if you're gonna be stuck on a train or on a
train just for fun, what are arethere some kind of things you
want to have on hand just kindof in case?
SPEAKER_04 (27:25):
The first one, water.
SPEAKER_00 (27:27):
Have water with you.
SPEAKER_04 (27:28):
Last year when the train was stopped, uh there was
no water unless you had it withyou.
SPEAKER_00 (27:32):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (27:32):
Like there was no potable water.
SPEAKER_00 (27:34):
Some trains do have restaurant service, especially
if there's like a first classtrain.
If you're if you're in a smallertown with a smaller train, it
might not accommodate and havethe restaurant option.
SPEAKER_04 (27:44):
Right.
And so I this particular trainfor some reason there was
nothing to drink.
There was a restaurant car, butapparently they were out of
water or something.
And so everybody was like, Hey,you got any water?
Can I have some?
Like, do you have anything toeat?
Oh, you've got a snack.
Can I have some of thosecrackers?
I haven't eaten in hours.
I mean because it was a longyeah, you know, everybody
everybody was kind of flowingtogether and trying to help each
other.
(28:04):
Water.
That was a big deal on that one.
SPEAKER_00 (28:07):
And most all trains have toilets.
Not every so often, some will beout of order or whatever.
But even the sinks for those inthose trains, the water is
non-potable.
SPEAKER_04 (28:18):
No, you can't drink.
SPEAKER_00 (28:19):
So you don't want to drink that.
SPEAKER_04 (28:20):
So yeah, when you're stuck for hours like that, some
of the old school trains youcan't use the toilet because the
toilet empties onto the track.
So they're like, you cannot usethe toilet in station.
The toilet.
Toilet.
Do you like that?
Toilet.
SPEAKER_00 (28:32):
I did like that.
SPEAKER_04 (28:32):
That was good.
Boy, my like Texas is reallyinfluencing my accent.
The toilet cannot be used instation sometimes.
I'm just saying.
Okay.
Here's a fun thing that wetalked about in some episodes
past, but since this is thetrain one, we'll talk about it
again.
You can get a sleeping train.
And uh when you're traveling,like when we were traveling
(28:55):
Europe for the month, it was sonice.
We would finish with the cityand think, well, I guess we'll
get a hotel or a hostel, staythe night, and take the train
where we want to go to the nextday, but we're gonna lose half a
day.
Instead, we jump on the train,take a night train.
We get a couchette, it's gotbeds, we sleep on the way over.
Now you pay extra for that, butit was your rail pass, so we got
a good deal.
Uh, you sleep through the night,you wake up, you're at the city
(29:17):
the next day.
And in Scotland this last year,on the Caledonian railways, it
was awesome.
You wake up to a knock on yourdoor, and they brought your
breakfast to you.
Yeah, it was so great.
SPEAKER_00 (29:32):
But I do want to just share the story of how we
got on that train.
SPEAKER_04 (29:36):
Caledonian.
SPEAKER_00 (29:38):
We were trying so hard to get reservations.
So we mentioned reservationsearlier.
We were trying so hard to getreservations for this specific
night on this specific train.
And everybody that we talked toand asked would not let us get
on.
They would not give us areservation.
And so we later learned thatbecause you have a rail pass
(30:01):
technically they have to likelet you on yeah but you still
have to have a reservation so umit's strange so it was difficult
to understand and all that okaybut here's the deal so we asked
everybody we went uh to anotherticket counter we ended up
talking to somebody they couldnot help us and they said but
(30:22):
while you're waiting you cantake this train and you can have
these options and we have a freelounge for you and so while
you're waiting you can go tothis lounge.
SPEAKER_04 (30:34):
Yeah so we didn't know about this lounge so we
went to the lounge in the trainstation and so we were able to
enjoy uh the some refreshmentright like all of that stuff is
it was like when you're in anairport and you go to a nice air
airport lounge you gotta be amember to go she let us go to
this lounge because we just hadentry to it I guess by having
(30:58):
New Year Well pass.
SPEAKER_00 (30:59):
I don't know I don't remember we were maybe we were
just cool but she let us shesaid yeah you have there go free
lounge so we got to wait in thefree lounge because you know we
weren't gonna be able to get onthis train or whatever.
While we were there we'rechecking into the lounge and
we're saying she told us wecould come she's like yeah she's
(31:20):
checking us in we kind of justshared our story we really
wanted to go on this night trainand it's so important to us that
we get there and we want thisnight train and blah blah blah
blah blah and she said I have aninsider tip for you and we were
like and so she was so supercool and so she shared with us
(31:41):
okay these people get here atthis time you need to go there
and you need to go talk to themand maybe you can maybe they
will get you on totally oh mygod we love you forever so not
only did um so we went we werestuck for a while waiting for
(32:01):
this all to happen and so wewent down at the designated time
they're on the on the on theplatform on the platform waiting
for the the conductor to come byhe could make the decision right
there on the spot when nobodyelse would do it.
Yeah and they told us if there'sroom but there'll be room so
they're like if there's room onthe train but there will be room
(32:24):
you know that kind of a thing soand he he's the one who said
well you you we have to let youon the train because you have a
Euro he's the one who told usthat you have a Euro pass you
can have at least a seat.
And I was like great even if wecan't sleep and have a couchette
we will at least get on thistrain.
So I was happy with that.
(32:44):
And then um but he and and thenice girl at the counter right
you got to get that nice personat the counter who's willing to
help you um and they were ableto get us a couch.
And um so the of course you hadto pay for the couchette.
It's an additional cost.
SPEAKER_01 (33:03):
Yep.
SPEAKER_00 (33:03):
So um we would have been able to just ride with our
URL pass on a chair through thenight and just be on a chair the
whole night.
SPEAKER_02 (33:11):
Instead.
SPEAKER_00 (33:12):
The couchette was I want to say it was like for the
both of us total about 150 sokind of what you would pay for a
hotel or what we would pay orlet you know we try to pay less
than that.
SPEAKER_04 (33:24):
But you're gonna pay more for hotel and
transportation.
Right.
And this was like both all inone plus breakfast.
SPEAKER_00 (33:31):
I'm just saying I think I I don't know did we pay
for breakfast on top?
I think the food was on top.
Anyway um and that's where wediscovered some of the best mac
and cheese you've ever had inyour life was on that train on
that night.
Caledonian railways get the macand cheese but anyway so they
gave us the green light andthey're like okay you just need
to come back but even when youcome back you still have to talk
(33:53):
to this person.
And then this person might letyou on.
So we still had we still had onemore hurdle.
So we went back to the loungewhile we're waiting for the next
hurdle and the next step and thelike the I met the girl that I
talked with the girl who hadhelped us and like we had so
much in common and like I got anew friend from the whole thing.
(34:13):
Like it was super fun just totalk to her and just be
refreshed in that lounge andjust so there were so many
wonderful things that came outof that.
We did get on we went back wefollowed the steps we did get on
the train.
We had a wonderful experienceagain that mac and cheese um and
then you know I think we haveshared pictures of us on the
(34:34):
train but we'll share some moreum of our little couchette that
we had it was really cute.
SPEAKER_04 (34:39):
So very clean that was a really fun story um and
just a fun experience but so youknow there there are times
hopefully that story teaches yousomething new if you are a
because we got no no no no'slike on uh several times walking
to different train stations evenin London trying to get a yes
and we had to talk to the actualbecause she gave us the tip we
(35:01):
had to talk to the actualconductor to get the yes we
needed so the our our lessonthere was like well you just
keep asking be persistentbecause I was ready I was like
they said we can't let it gookay ten no's before that yep so
it but it was definitely worthgetting on that train.
SPEAKER_00 (35:20):
And we were able to keep the schedule that we had
wanted to keep and and do allthose things.
So that was that was reallygood.
Really great um so if you areriding on a train Rory like what
are some good things just tokind of like be aware that there
are other people on the trainwhat are some courtesy things
that we could keep in mind whilewe're traveling well on a train.
SPEAKER_04 (35:40):
If in fact you're in first class they expect a little
more decorum than second class.
They don't want you screamingand going crazy and getting
drunk and especially when you'rein the quiet zone.
Yeah stay in second class ifthat's what you want to do.
And if you have a first classticket you can ride in second
class if that's what you want todo but don't do it in first
class.
It's not cool.
And they will call the conductorwe've not experienced that
(36:03):
personally because we're goodfirst riders but I'm just saying
you try and keep things on thelow down a little quieter.
You know don't put your feet onthe seats woo when we uh took
our first URL pass we were inSwitzerland and we had been had
a long day and we put our feetup on a wooden bench seat and
the conductor made it very clearto us that you do not put your
(36:27):
feet on the seat and I'll it'swood it's a wooden bench no way
you don't do that keep your feetoff the seats also when people
are getting off the train ifyou're gonna board let the
people get off first and thenyou get on.
That's the way it works.
Let the people get off they'lllet you get off first when it's
your turn and then you can boardthe train.
SPEAKER_00 (36:46):
Right.
And try to be quick with yourexiting you know don't be taking
your time lugging your big oldluggage like just try to like
try and be a fly on and on andoff.
SPEAKER_04 (36:56):
Yeah.
Yeah one thing you mightconsider too is the kind of food
you decide to bring on the trainlike we talked about the smells
that it can create I've mean Ibrought some Asian food on the
trains before and I was likeeverybody's smelling this man
whether it was I don't rememberif it was Indian or Chinese or
Thai or whatever but it was astrong smell sort of like when
you're on a plane and somebodybrings a meal like that and the
(37:16):
whole plane's like oh man comeon anyway that's something I
mean you may or may not careabout that but it's something to
think about anyway.
SPEAKER_00 (37:24):
Yeah be aware of it.
SPEAKER_04 (37:25):
Yeah yeah and try not to eat a can full of beans
before you get into first class.
I'm just saying you know thingsto think about yeah that
probably is a good thing tothink about because I don't
appreciate it when other peopledo up in there.
So maybe doing to others as youwould have to roll the window
down on the train or that's justto throw the person out who's
(37:48):
doing that foul foul thing.
I'm just saying Okay.
SPEAKER_00 (37:54):
Alright so other tips is maybe if you like for me
because I can e get easilydistracted or whatever I it's I
usually can set a timer and I'lllook and see when the train is
supposed to be stopping.
So let's say I'm en route Imight set a timer for like 10
minutes before the arrival timeso that if if I've got workout I
(38:17):
know I need to start packing upand um or if I'm wanting to
sleep I've got my alarm so thatI can wake up in time to not
miss my stop.
So it's it's kind of a good ideato just kind of keep a timer so
that you know when the train isgoing to be stopping.
And then you can you're not thenyou're not having to keep
looking at the clock.
You can just like enjoy thescenery that you're seeing or
(38:40):
that reminded me of a book youwant to read or whatever.
SPEAKER_04 (38:42):
Yeah remind me of something too bring headphones
if you if you need to listen tosomething or if you want to
watch something nobody elsewants to watch and listen to
whatever you're watching andlistening to I mean unless they
want to but I don't think theywant to.
No people don't want to hearyour airplane when a kid or
somebody's playing music andplaying a game and you're like
can you please just mute it orput headphones on.
(39:03):
So be courteous bring yourheadphones.
SPEAKER_00 (39:06):
And if you do want to be watching a movie or
listening to music on your onyour headphones or whatever you
can download them in advance umbecause the Wi Fi probably works
but it's just better if you ifyou can have it pre-downloaded
that's a good little tip.
SPEAKER_04 (39:22):
Yeah some of the Wi-Fi on the trains works but
it's not great for streaming.
SPEAKER_00 (39:25):
And we should have checked into this last year.
We've learned with luggage whichwe are going to be talking about
luggage if EU law mightcompensate if your train is like
extremely delayed and causesissues for you.
So you can always just put thatin the back of your noggin in
case that might apply to you.
SPEAKER_04 (39:44):
Yeah and sometimes if you need to cancel cancel a
reservation or a seat go and seethem in person.
Because oftentimes it's freewhen you do that.
If you do it on the app it mightcharge you sometimes so it's
good to go talk to the peopleabout things like that.
Right.
Get it taken care of in person.
SPEAKER_00 (40:03):
So just to kind of wrap up this session some
takeaways or to book your seatreservations early for some
routes the reservation isoptional and sometimes we went
ahead and made the reservationsbecause we knew we wanted uh to
for sure have a seat.
SPEAKER_03 (40:19):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (40:20):
And that's one thing that the reservations do for
you.
They're sure so that you'resigned you a seat right and so
that way if you don't want tostand uh for the whole thing or
you just want to know hey I amguaranteed a seat and you just
want to have that peace of mind,the seat reservations can be
good for that as well.
So um try to book those early onthe ones where you know it's
(40:41):
super important that you havethat get your ticket validated
before you get on or activatedin the case with your rail
before you get on the train.
Also keep in mind like recentlyRory booked this finished flight
for us and I think Rory that youwent you didn't go through your
rail you just did like thenormal hey I'm in Finland I'm
(41:01):
gonna go to the train stationand buy a train ticket.
SPEAKER_04 (41:04):
But keep in mind the flight or the train ticket you
said flight.
I'm sorry the train you boughtthe train ticket while I used I
used their local app okay theirlocal train app for Finland.
I didn't use the URL wholething.
SPEAKER_00 (41:17):
Right.
So as Americans keep in mindeven if you didn't buy the URail
pass it might save you money togo to your rail and buy your
ticket because you'll get thatAmerican price.
SPEAKER_04 (41:28):
Yeah it's possible versus what you might buy just
as a local and so um so just youknow like your brain was like
I'm in Finland I'm going to goto the finished train station
right of course yeah so butremember as Americans you have
that URL option um so dependingsometimes things have to be in
advance but it's worth justchecking okay um and then uh be
(41:51):
ready for surprise for surprisesyeah packs art and light yeah
it's what we said earlier it'staking the train is not only
about getting from one place tothe next place it's about the
whole journey uh the scenery thepeople that you meet on the ride
over in Finland going to theairport we had a four hour ride
and there was a man sitting nextto her that uh struck up a
(42:11):
conversation with her and it wasreally cool in the end the way
it all happened and not we goton there and kind of wanted to
be quiet and do our own thing.
But in the end it was aprovidential meeting and it was
really cool.
So it's about all of that.
Sometimes you have hiccups alongthe way things happen but you'll
find oftentimes when you'retalking about it afterwards,
(42:33):
especially telling people aboutthe trip, those are the things
you remember.
SPEAKER_00 (42:36):
They're memorable you're making a memory you're
having an adventure and we Ithink when we when we think
about the trains and being ableto take the train in Europe it's
always good fuzzy feelings thatwe have.
SPEAKER_04 (42:49):
Fuzzy like yeah warm fuzzies.
SPEAKER_00 (42:52):
They're just it's so nice it Rory traveling with Rory
is wonderful because he does allthe driving and so I get to
either or just enjoy enjoy theconductor no um but yeah so like
for me it's great excuse me butfor Rory like he's having to pay
(43:15):
attention to the driving and sofor me I love having when Rory
can take the train because Ifeel like hey now you can just
like enjoy the scenery or justtake a break and not have to be
behind the wheel and you canenjoy this journey or have some
work time or have some you timeor whatever you need this to be
(43:35):
the train just kind of providesthat because they're doing all
the driving they're doing allthe thinking they're not
thinking about where you have togo next you just hop on the
train and they are doing all ofthat for you.
And so that's kind of one thingespecially as Americans we are a
car society we don't live weRory and I don't live in New
York City and we don't live inDC so we are not on public
(43:57):
transportation all the time orSeattle or Atlanta.
You know we're not like in thosecities um where all the time so
it's just like we're we'repeople we're a car um society
and that's what we're so used toso I feel so kind of pampered
when I'm on a train.
And I really I really enjoy it.
SPEAKER_04 (44:19):
So when you when you're on a train you feel like
you're wearing diapers that'sreally strange.
Pampered I mean that's what itwould mean.
I guess that's where we get thatexpression I feel so pampered
like I don't have to get up andgo to the bathroom I can just do
it right here in my seat.
SPEAKER_00 (44:33):
I mean it's really convenient it's not I think this
is a good time to end thisepisode.
We look forward to seeing y'allon the next one.
SPEAKER_04 (44:40):
Speaking of pampering in your seat uh do you
have a crazy train story likeyou travel a lot have you
traveled a lot on trains in theUS or internationally it'd be
super fun to hear your crazytrain stories a crazy train get
on the crazy train with us chatwith us on our socials when we
post about this one let us hearyour crazy stories alright share
(45:03):
it your paper going I'm tellingyou we hope we've inspired you
this episode don't join us nexttime please subscribe to rate
and share our podcast with yourfriends or whoever and please
like and follow us on InstagramYouTube and Facebook we're also
(45:26):
on X and on all social platformswe are at OR A M I D S and our
main hub is our website atwww.thermies.com right that's D
A D R O A M I D S dot com we'llbe there until next time thanks
(45:46):
for listening bye
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