Eurorailing

The first step before you go is to choose one of the European schemes available. After that, there are a few tips to bear in mind before you leave. Budgeting always causes headaches and it’s worth finding out which are the ‘expensive’ and the ‘cheap’ countries. It’s sensible to take some cash, but you should take most of your money in traveller’s cheques. Choose a well-known brand and buy small denominations.

Your most important piece of equipment is your backpack, and it’s worth choosing one that’s comfortable and light, sits just above your hips and is ‘high’ rather than ‘wide’ when full. A daypack is useful for sightseeing. And a pair of comfortable walking shoes is vital, along with dark, hard-wearing clothes. As a general rule, put out everything you want to take – then halve it. Some things, however, should not be left behind. An alarm clock (so you don’t miss those early trains); a scarf to cover your shoulders or legs for visits to churches or mosques; photocopies of all your important documents – best packed separately or given to a travelling companion; toilet paper, soap and a universal plug, a Swiss army penknife, numerous plastic bags, a water bottle and a small first aid kit.

The fun really starts once you’re OUT there, of course – hunting for a hotel at 10 p.m., being ripped off by a taxi driver who claims there are no buses to your campsite or being turned away from a famous tourist attraction for wearing shorts. There are compensations for these frustrations (which make the best stories afterwards, anyway!), but many problems can be avoided if you’re aware of the potential pitfalls before you leave.

The golden rule is not to try to cram too much into the time available. Trying to see the whole of Europe in a month, by spending every night on a train and an afternoon in each capital city will result in an unsatisfactory blur of shadow impressions. It is also a recipe for disaster, as you will be tired, grumpy and unreceptive for most of your trip. Instead, try to vary your route, mixing visits to cities with relaxing spells on the beach or in the countryside.

Each year a few unlucky travellers have their valuables stolen. The best way to prevent this is to carry them with you at all times, preferably in a money belt or a neck pouch. This is especially important on night trains, where most thefts occur. Another sensible precaution is not to sleep rough – you’re just asking for trouble. Watch out for conmen at stations: they’ll try to persuade you to accept a room, tempting you with glamorous pictures of a hotel which turns out to be awful and whose price will have doubled by the time you reach it. Far better to go and see accommodation yourself before accepting it. And, if you’re on a tight budget, it’s always worth asking if they’ve got anything cheaper.

These ideas are really just common sense, but it’s amazing how often they’re overlooked. But the most important tip of all is – have fun!

1. When packing for a rail holiday, the writer advises students to

a) take everything they want.

b) take more than they think they’ll need.

c) take half of what they really want to take.

d) leave behind nothing they think they’ll need.

2. According to the writer, the best thing about bad experiences on holiday is that

a) you usually forget about them later.

b) you often receive compensation later.

c) you usually find them funny at first.

d) you can tell people about them later.

3. When planning a route, the writer advises students

a) to see as much as possible in the time they have.

b) to visit places but also rest from time to time.

c) to go sightseeing in the afternoons and travel by night.

d) to see everything in a month.

4. What should travellers do to prevent their valuables from being stolen?

a) They should keep them with them all the time.

b) They should not travel on trains at night.

c) They should not fall asleep on trains.

d) They should be especially careful at stations.

<== попередня сторінка	\|	наступна сторінка ==>
A) Read this advice from a travel book and complete the sentences.	\|	WRITING

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