Interrail Packing Tips

I know I already wrote a post about my Interrail experience, maybe you’ve already read it! Just as a little thing to add if you’re thinking of doing this yourself…here’s some of my top tips for Interrail travel! This is by no means exhaustive but a few things I picked up along the way, a lot of which can be applied to any type of travel.

Flexible / foldable waterbottles are amazing. They were a bit of a last minute purchase but one of the best – especially if you’re staying in an Airbnb or somewhere with access to a freezer they can usually be frozen which is a lifesaver on hot days. They are super lightweight and save so much space. Many also come with a carabiner clip to make carrying them around even easier!

A money belt or bum bag is so important, you’re carrying a lot of important documents - it’s your new best friend. Also very handy if you're only popping out somewhere quick and don't want to have to carry a bigger bag.

Packing cubes are soooo helpful! A lot of people will say only travel with a front opening backpack but if you’re like me and already had a normal one that just opens at the top these help so much to keep everything organised and easy to access.

I brought this waterproof phone pouch on the off chance I might use it, they're pretty inexpensive just make sure to check the reviews! A boat trip, a beach day and paddle boarding on Lake Bled were all incredible and I’ve got some amazing photos now because of this amazing little thing!

Travel towels!!! Whether you get towels in hotels and hostels isn't always clear and believe me you’ll appreciate the space these save and how quick they dry. Also, if you’re trying to be extra cheap and a hostel charges you for bedding you can use it as a blanket (tried and tested by me). I actually had two when I was travelling, a full size one for when I showered or went to the beach and a hand sized one I always had with me which came in useful at some of the most random times.

This may seem obvious now but you never know when you might need it! A small travel-sized hand sanitiser is key...if you're on and off a lot of public transport, eating on the go, out exploring, using public bathrooms or basically anything else - you should always have this just in case!

Sometimes hostels have lockers with them already on but most times they don’t. There's a whole range of different padlocks you could get - I personally prefer to choose a cable lock (for flexibility) that uses a combination, not a key that I could (and have in the past) misplaced. Don't forget to ensure that it's TSA approved!

A couple of other things:

• Flip flops – for in hostels especially if the bathrooms are communal or as normal footwear.

• A good bag and backpack - a good quality, comfortable day bag is just as important as a good quality backpack/suitcase.

• Folder(s) to keep all of your documents - as well as copies of all your documents

• Portable charger - and a charging cable for your portable charger!

• Travel / currency card e.g. Revolut – this also allows you to budget and keep track of what you spend your money on the go.

• Download the interrail app - some trains don't require advanced booking or if you're trying a more relaxed approach to your travels this is super helpful for knowing which trains you can and can't get on (and of course, what time they are)!

• Mini first aid kit – nothing too far fetched just the basics.

• Can you share clothes with friends? This is a great trick when you’re trying to save space but don’t want to be wearing the same clothes in all your photos!

• If you’re going somewhere rainy then it's a good idea to get a rain cover for your backpack just in case! As well as a pack a mac – they may not be the most stylish but they don’t take up a lot of space and you need to pack light (plus you'll appreciate it if the alternative is to get your clothes wet).

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING...My biggest most important piece of advice is to bring something or have some way of noting down the memories. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a physical journal – you might be like me and just never use stuff like that. If you’re arty or a writer then this can definitely be better for you but there are plenty of other alternatives. Instead of a physical journal you can: use your phone notes, take photos, video yourself or make voice notes. Some of the best keepsakes I have from my trip are the random videos I took of me and my friend or whoever we were with at the time just talking about what we’ve done with our day, what we’re eating or where we currently are. If you can think of songs you’ve heard a lot and then you’ll always be able to associate them with your memories. Spending a couple of minutes every day documenting your time will leave you with a fantastic travel log you can keep forever. There’s lots of different ways to document your time interrailing they don’t have to involve bulky or expensive souvenirs that might get lost or damaged along the way!

I hope this has been vaguely helpful or interesting to read. I hope that you get to experience Interrail for yourself one day! Let me know if you have any other tips :D