Travelling Europe by train the preparation

Image by annca from Pixabay

Well as you all know I love travelling and I have been pondering this for quite a while.  Well its finally happening I have gave my notice to my employers and I will be leaving for London in early January.  I will then be heading around Europe for about ten weeks.  I will be coming home mid March as I have made a commitment to JB to walk the West Highland Way with him early June and need to get in some training but we can talk about that later.  Then im off again to I’m not sure where yet

The Planning

Well I have discovered that my Geography is really bad as i had all the cities in Germany around the wrong way which has held up the planning a bit if im honest.  However I have now Got my hotel in London booked.  I am once again staying in aTravelodge.  The Farrington travel lodge near kingscross st pancreas about a 15 minute walk from there.

While in London I have booked tickets for shows I am going to See Harry Potter and the cursed child and Mary Poppins.  These are birthday treats as its my birthday on the Monday.  I also have tickets for the Churchill war rooms Im really only in London for three days so I havent planned anything else just a relaxing couple of days in the British capital. 

I am travelling down by yes thats right you guessed the train. However the railway just announced more strikes for the day before and after i travel. so not sure what thats going to mean for me yet as there will also be some issues on the day im travelling anyway 6 week yesterday I will be in London to see harry potter and the cursed child. Then on 9th January (my Birthday) I will be in Amsterdam.

Well two weeks and two days before I’m due to travel and they cancelled my train. I managed to get one leaving from Edinburgh but was less than impressed. I hadn’t realised how much planning actually goes into a trip like this but it will be worth it see parts of Europe Ive only dreamed of seeing before lets hope I dont get on the wrong train.

Itinerary

Well the planning was well underway for January and beginning of Februaryso here it is.

• LONDON
• Amsterdam
• Brussels
• Luxembourg city
• Strasbourg
• Frankfurt
• Berlin
• Hamburg
• szczecin

Currency

I ordered and picked up my currency my sister thinks I should just use my card but I think its better to have some currency just in case so I did that.

Hotels, Hostels and the fabulous places to stay

Ive been researching and researching Ive booked a boutique hotel in Amsterdam, A hostel for Brussels, hotels in Luxembourg, Strassbourg and hostels for Berlin and Hamburg. So now I feel a bit better as I feel like everything is coming together.

Things to do

As I said earlier I have all my things planned and booked for London it was now time to book some more tickets for some of the other places I have visited.

I have booked to go to Anne Franks house, Van Gogh Museum, canal cruise and Rijk museum in Amsterdam and booked a hop on hop off bus

The Final Checklist

Right I have my interrail pass, my eurostar ticket, my passport, credit cards, currency, my phone charger and power bank. These are my essential items everything else I can pick up along the way if I forget anything.

The night before

Its the night before my trip Im leaving early the next morning its 9pm and Im about to have a meltdown a toddler would be proud of. Despite me testing it twice before and everything I wanted and needed fitting in my bag I now cant get everything in my backpack. I eventually get all in but honestly there was lots of cussing and tears along the way but it is in and no one but no one better even ask me to open that bag going through security or I will be very upset I mutter as I get ready for bed.

The morning I leave

Well this is it I am off to hear about how I got on my trip have a read of my blog posts about my trip Listed below and check back as I will be adding to them as I go along

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