Frequently Asked Questions

Why choose a railselect.com holiday?

Peace of mind – railselect.com has been developed by Great Rail Journeys, Britain’s leading rail holiday specialist with 25 years’ experience in arranging exceptional escorted group holidays. Great Rail Journeys’ customers know that travelling by rail is so much more relaxing than driving or flying to your chosen holiday destination. Traffic jams and lengthy airport transfers are a distant memory, as you settle into your reserved, first class train seat and enjoy the scenery as your journey unfolds.

Railselect.com offers flexible holidays by train for the independent traveller. With our user-friendly web-site, you can choose between our selection of carefully designed suggested itineraries and the option to tailor-make your very own great rail journey. As an individual traveller, you will be free to travel across inspirational landscapes and explore some of the most fascinating places in Europe, secure in the knowledge that we have visited every destination and chosen a range of high-quality hotels for you to discover.

Booking

When do I need to book?

At least 21 days in advance of your planned date of travel.

How do I make a booking?

There are a number of ways to book a railselect.com holiday. Have a look at the Holiday Ideas section, containing our wide range of suggested holiday itineraries, giving you ideas and inspiration to create your perfect trip. You can either book the trip "off the peg", or tailor it to suit your own preferences.Either way, simply call our knowledgeable Operations Team on 01904 521921 for advice and assistance in booking, or email us on enquiries@railselect.com.

I am a single traveller – is a railselect.com holiday suitable for me?

Absolutely. Our customers are independent-minded, adventurous people and if you feel that you fit this description, we will be delighted to arrange your holiday. Please remember that these are unaccompanied holidays. If you are looking for a more group-based trip, visit www.greatrail.com.

I’ve made a booking and paid my deposit, what happens next?

You will receive an acknowledgement of your booking in the post in the next few days and then confirmation of your itinerary and balance once the main elements of your holiday have been confirmed.

Can I book through my local Travel Agent?

No. Our exclusive holidays are only available at www.railselect.com.

Can we combine our railselect.com holiday with a few days at our friends' house?

Absolutely – arrangements for our tailor-made holidays are very flexible. The time at your friends’ house need not necessarily be before or after your railselect.com holiday - you have the option of arranging your own accommodation at any point during your trip. All we ask is that you stay at least one night in accommodation booked by us.

Do we have to return to our point of departure?

Not at all – railselect.com tailor-made holidays are extremely flexible and you can create your own itinerary, starting and ending wherever you choose. For example, you can create your own itinerary starting from London St. Pancras but instead of returning via Eurostar to St. Pancras, you may choose to book your own flight, from your final holiday location to your preferred UK airport.

I live in Scotland / the North of England and don’t want to travel down to London to begin my holiday: what are my options?

You can book your own flights to your first chosen destination and we can organise your railselect.com holiday starting from there. (Don’t book your flights until we have confirmed your accommodation and itinerary first!) Alternatively, we will be happy to arrange rail travel to and from London and an overnight hotel stay in London, if you prefer. Also, don't forget that from 14 November, travelling to the continent from the north of the UK will get easier as Eurostar move their terminal to St. Pancras, making a really easy change for travellers arriving at King's Cross and Euston as well as St. Pancras itself.

General Information

Is it a holiday for rail enthusiasts?

We regard the rail journeys as part of the holiday, and rail enthusiasts and independent travellers alike will find much to interest them. You can tailor your railselect.com holiday to suit your own interests.

Will I be travelling First Class throughout my journey?

Yes. Our holidays include First Class rail travel throughout. If in exceptional circumstances, First Class travel is not available, our Operations Team will contact you to discuss alternative arrangements.

On occasions travel is on Sundays or public holidays – can I expect extended journey times and disruption as in the UK?

No. Other than in the UK, principal trains throughout the world run to the same schedules every day of the week. The infrastructure in place ensures that engineering works, including major renewals and upgrading, generally have little impact on train running.

Do you organise rail holidays in the UK?

No – we are experts in European rail travel.

Do I need to take out your travel insurance?

No – you are under no obligation to use the travel insurance that we can provide, however we consider adequate travel insurance to be essential. If you decide not to take our insurance, you must provide us with the details of your alternate insurer. Please see our Booking Conditions and Policy Document for more details.

Special Requirements

What does railselect.com do about special requests for meals, rooms or seats?

We ensure where possible that all seats are in non-smoking carriages (Eurostar and many European trains are entirely non-smoking in any case). Any specific dietary, seat or room requests must be given at the time of booking. We will pass on your requests to individual hoteliers and suppliers and do our best to ensure they are met. We cannot guarantee specific requirements.

What about other special requests?

We will do our utmost to make arrangements on your behalf and tailor-make your holiday to suit your individual needs. Please make a note when booking online of any special requirements you may have.

Can I make this a surprise holiday for someone?

We will be happy to send out your documents in plain envelopes, or to a different address – any requests of this nature should be made at the time of booking. Do make sure you give us a telephone number which is “safe” to call or an email address to which only you have access, and remember to let us know when the secret is out!

Mobility and Suitability

I’m not sure if this is the right holiday for me…

We are aware that our holidays are not suitable for everyone. When travelling by train low platforms and high steps can be challenging for those with mobility problems. If you are considering one of our holidays and have any mobility limitations, please call us to discuss your requirements before you book.

Will I have to carry my luggage far?

Taxi transfers between railway stations and hotels are included in your holiday wherever possible. Some hotels are within comfortable walking distance of the station and a taxi transfer is unnecessary. In these instances you may have to walk a short distance with your cases, although taxi ranks can often be found at the front of railway stations if you prefer.

Do you accept children on your holidays?

Of course – though we feel it only fair to make it known that our clientele is generally drawn from a more mature age group and children may not necessarily enjoy the long train journeys or the cultural aspects that we feel are the highlight of many of our destinations.

Is there an upper age limit?

What is important is not your age but your ability to manage the holiday. The advantage of a railselect.com holiday is that you can tailor it to suit your own capabilities and set your own pace. Our trips are particularly suited to independent, adventurous travellers and it is important that you feel confident finding your platform at a foreign railway station, navigating a foreign underground system or finding your way around a new city without a guide.

Does my hotel have a restaurant/hair-dryer/laundry service?

Our hotels and their facilities are carefully described in the Destinations section. If you have a specific question about a hotel which is not answered by this information, please email us at enquiries@railselect.com.

Please note that tea & coffee making facilities are not normally found in European hotels.

Money Matters

How do I pay my deposit?

The deposit for your holiday is 10% of your total balance. Please have your credit or debit card details ready when you book.

How do I pay my balance?

Your balance will be automatically taken from the credit or debit card used for the initial deposit payment. If you prefer to use an alternative card to pay your balance, please contact us when you receive your confirmation itinerary and invoice.

Which credit/debit cards do you accept?

Visa, MasterCard and Switch.

Is there a charge for using a credit card?

We do not charge for a single payment by credit/debit card. However if more than one transaction is required, for example if your card is declined for any reason, then a charge of £20 is made.
For more information, please read our Booking Conditions, section 3 “Payment”.

May I pay by installments?

We do not accept payment by installment.

Your Holiday Documents

What information will I get before I leave?

You will receive maps of the cities you are visiting, a full copy of your itinerary, your rail tickets and daily journey guides, vouchers for the hotels you have selected, for the transfers to your accommodation and for any sightseeing excursions you have pre-booked, along with a collection of useful information about your destination countries, contact details for your hotels and transfer providers and railselect.com luggage labels.

Before You Go

What currency will I need?

The Eurozone (€) countries we visit are France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium and Austria. Switzerland has the Swiss Franc and Denmark has the Danish Kroner, while Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic use the Zloty, the Forint and the Koruna, respectively.

What type of suitcase should I bring?

There may be occasions when relatively short connections mean carrying luggage quickly on and off trains and we suggest the following dimensions as ideal: 24”/60cm x 15”/40cm and weighing about 34lb/15kg. This suggestion is based on the size of suitcase which would fit into an average overhead rack. There are often larger storage areas at the end of most carriages, but these can fill quickly and it is harder to keep an eye on your belongings. Suitcases with wheels are extremely useful and if there are two of you travelling together, try taking a smaller suitcase each rather than a larger one between you. It is easier to carry and find space on a luggage rack for two small cases than one large one.

What about Visa and Passport requirements?

You will require a passport with at least six months validity to travel. Non-UK passport holders will need to check what their individual Visa requirements are.

What Happens If...?

What if I miss my train?

If you miss your train through no fault of your own (ie a strike or delayed connection) you need to speak to the station staff immediately, show them your tickets and find out the best course of action from them. If there are no staff on hand, get the first available train to your destination and speak to the onboard staff.

What if I lose my tickets/money/passport?

The priority is to contact the nearest police station and get an official report and incident number. You will need this to claim back any emergency money you need to spend or borrow on your insurance. It is a good idea to contact your insurers and find out exactly what emergency purchases you are covered for. The local British Consulate will be able to issue you with a temporary passport in an emergency and we will be able to re-issue any hotel or sightseeing vouchers. Rail tickets however cannot be re-issued once they have been sent to you, so you will need to purchase replacement tickets locally and claim the cost back from your insurers.