Taking a holiday by rail
Here at Tailor Made Rail, we believe that there is nothing better than travelling around by train on your holiday. But if you’re considering your first ever holiday by rail, you may be wondering what it will be like.
Here are some things to consider when planning your trip;
Pacing Yourself
The beauty of train travel is taking your time. Where possible, it is best to avoid very long days of travel and to add extra stops to break your journey. It is worthwhile leaving plenty of time to connect at stations between trains.
Please look carefully at your proposal from your TMR consultant and think about if the timetable will suit you. We do not take our itineraries from a brochure so there are almost always other options that we can tailor to you.
Luggage
Most customers will start their international journey on the Eurostar from London St Pancras. Eurostar allows passengers to bring two bags up to 85cm in length – with no weight restriction. So if you want to bring two 30kg suitcases, you are free to do so! However, you might want to consider that you will need to take your bags with you on and off trains, so it will be easier if they are not too heavy. Leave some hands free for tickets!
Your main luggage will probably be stored at the end of the carriage (unless it can fit in the rack above your seat) so it’s good to have a secure smaller bag with all the essentials you will want to have to hand during your journey.
Other useful things to bring are a power bank, electrical adapter, a good book (if you can drag yourself away from the view!) and some refreshments for the journey.
If you’d rather not travel with your luggage, then you have the option to add luggage transfers to your booking. Your luggage will be collected from your home before you leave and will be waiting for you at your hotel on arrival.
Finding your way
Our MD, Simon, always suggests ‘travelling with one eye open’. This means that journeys on public transport routes require an element of concentration when moving around stations and finding your trains and platforms.
Our detailed ticket packs will contain maps and directions but it is useful for you to be connected to the internet for maps and further information. Downloading travel apps (which we will recommend) is also beneficial.
Mobility
Train stations in Europe can be large and busy. Usually there are lifts and escalators but an independent rail holiday will require a reasonable level of mobility to get on and off trains and move between them at stations.
For less mobile passengers, or wheelchair users, in many places, assistance is available and our helpful team can book services such as private transfers to keep you comfortable.
Please do not hesitate to speak to our team about any mobility concerns and see here our FAQs: https://tailor-made-rail.onyx-sites.io/about-us/faqs/
Customer Support
Our helpful team are ready to assist with questions or concerns that may arise before, during or after your holiday. We will be in touch when you get back to debrief on your adventure.
We will keep you up to date with possible timetable changes before or during your holiday by phone or email. In your ticket pack we will provide advice with your tickets on what to do in the event of any delay or disruption and we provide support in this scenario.
We are always happy to help.
Tickets
If you elect for a digital ticket pack (also known as e-tickets), these will be sent 2-3 weeks prior to your departure by email so that you can access everything via a smart mobile phone. Please ask us for more information about this.
As an alternative, you can opt for a paper ticket pack which will be posted to you, usually by special delivery. These will contain your rail tickets, seat reservations, hotel vouchers and supporting information.
As a third option, you can arrange to collect your tickets from us at our London office.
Seating
Most high speed routes in Europe will require a seat reservation and our team will try and select the best seats available. Not all seating preferences can be guaranteed due to the different compositions of trains and carriages but we certainly always try our best.
Most regional and local trains as well as virtually all Swiss trains have unreserved seating.
Eating onboard
It’s likely that most trains you will be travelling on have some kind of catering facilities, ranging from a full sit-down restaurant car to a fridge full of snacks in the steward’s office, and many options in-between! You are also always welcome to bring your own supplies onboard for a picnic. It is always a good idea to travel with some water and back-up snacks just in case.
Sleeper Trains
Sleeper trains are sometimes the quickest way to get from A to B and often a great adventure.
For two people, we will book out a private two-berth compartment, usually with a small wash basin and bunk-style beds, with a ladder to climb up to the top bunk. On a handful of services there are cabins with a small ensuite toilet and shower. They are not spacious but very convenient – please ask for details.
There can be private cabins for three or four people depending on the party travelling. It is worth bringing smaller luggage and additional water and supplies along with a good book and some ear plugs!
Please bear in mind that, whilst extremely convenient, a night on a sleeper train is probably not as refreshing as a night in a hotel bed.
Luxury Trains
For a completely different experience, there are plenty of privately-run luxury trains running across continental Europe and beyond. These trains generally offer beautifully appointed cabins, fabulous service and fine dining. The most famous of these of course is the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, run by Belmond. Belmond also boasts a portfolio of luxury trains around the world, including the Eastern & Oriental Express, the Andean Explorer and the Royal Scotsman.
You can also cross South Africa aboard the iconic Blue Train or the Pride of Africa by Rovos Rail. We can offer any of these services, even those not featured on our website. Have a look at our luxury train holidays dedicated page.