In my earlier work, dear Parishioners, I dealt with everything concerning the paper resources (maps, books etc.) that are handy, if not necessary for planning a good journey. I explained that is a good idea to use a mixture of paper and online resourcesSo this section, we will be looking at some of the various online resources:
Online travel resources
As you no doubt guess, I love maps and books and, most especially a good timetable! These are indispensable tools both for planning and while ‘on the road’ – and online resources cannot easily replace them. However, there is a place for apps and websites and other such things – as you will see:
There are very few words to describe the excellence of this resource. The ‘Man in Seat 61’ is actually a man called Mark Smith, a former railway manager who is probably the world’s most famous rail travel blogger and campaigner.The website is engaging, informative, well-illustrated, and above all, accurate (or at least as accurate as possible).
There are sections for pretty much every country in the world that has a rail network, with descriptions of how to get around, buy tickets, and what to expect the train and journey to be like. Most country sections include full details of how to get there by rail from the UK, which is to be expected for much of Europe – but comes as a rather more of a surprise when it comes to reaching Indonesia or Tibet!
I have listed this website first, because it is the first and most inspiring online resource to visit. Visit the ‘Russia’ section as a good first introduction!
The ‘Man in Seat 61’ also has a Twitter account and Facebook page, both of which are worth following.I am not going to list links to rail operator websites – as the ‘Man in Seat 61’ can do a much better job of it than me! http://www.seat61.com
Deutsche Bahn (German Railways)
German Railways is probably the largest and busiest railway in Europe, its tentacles extending even to the UK, where it has owned several rail companies and a freight business. However within Germany its reputation is, how shall I say, not so strong.People often say that German trains are ‘always on time’, but in my experience they are always late, the train is in reverse formation, the air-con doesn’t work, and the buffet is not selling hot food, cold drinks, or both. However on the rare occasions that the planets align properly, you can enjoy a pleasant and fast journey, on a sleek and comfortable train, whilst eating spare ribs washed down with a draught Bitburger.
But it is their online resources that interest me here.
The www.bahn.de website is a great if sometimes quirky resource for booking travel to, from, or through Germany – and some of the good-value fares warrant a whole chapter of their own. However, it is the timetable planning function that is most useful – as you can plan a journey from Staines to pretty much any station in Europe and any address in Germany.
Additionally the ‘DB Navigator’ app is good for planning, booking and getting informed about a journey while en route.
There are plenty of hotel booking websites around, but I’ve found this one to be the easiest to use. It needs little explanation, other than to say that, while it is easy to be seduced by cheap non-flexible room rates, it’s usually a better and safer idea to go for a more flexible option. Remember what I said about not hard-wiring your itinerary…
Why would I be recommending a flight search website? Simply because there are some places it is not so easy to get to without squeezing on a place, such as America. Also, while it is arguably better to avoid flying altogether on journeys around Europe, the reality is that Heathrow is our major employer here in Staines, so we might want to keep it going…
It is worth playing with dates, airports, and via points to get the best fares – and then the site will direct you to a ticket provider. Beware, however, the app is largely an annoying waste of time – use the desktop version of the website for the best experience.
Google Maps
Google maps ‘is what it is’. It eats your data and battery power, but it invaluable for navigating unfamiliar places. Public transport information varies from region to region. In some places it is accurate, while in others it is patchy, incomplete or unrealistic in its journey suggestions, and in some cities such information is non-existent. It is also not uncommon for hotel or other attraction to be in a completely different location. So just double-check.
CG Transit
CG Transit is a smartphone app that you pay an annual subscription to use. Once downloaded, and updated from time to time, it works off-line, i.e. without an internet connection. The app includes rail schedules for most of Europe, bus schedules for Czech and Slovakia, and features handy little maps and easy to understand journey plans. Use this in conjunction with the European Rail Timetable and you’ll be able fly around Europe like a shark.
Vagonweb
A rather more ‘niche’ resource is the excellent www.vagonweb.cz The fact this is a Czech website is no coincidence, because in my opinion, the Czech railway network is probably the best in Europe, and what Czechs don’t know about railways is nobody’s business. The stylish dining cars with delicious food cooked by an onboard chef, the comfy passenger facilities, and the bargain fares make for a country that is as close to heaven as is possible this side of the grave. Whatever it was that German railways somehow lost in the last twenty years – well, it seems to have ended up in Czech.
Anyway, you wanted to know about Vagonweb… This website tells you everything you need to know about the most important part of the train, the vehicle you will actually be sitting in – and, crucially, whether or not there might be a buffet car. Simply select your country and train number, and in a series of pretty pictures, all will be revealed.
Enough for now
So, that enough online resources for now – and enough focus on planning. In my next installment we’ll look at another important aspect of travel – where exactly you might actually want to travel to.
Notes from the Buffet Car 