Maps

Spend a bit more on the best maps you can find and you won’t regret it. As I said earlier, tourist offices are a good start but they’re only a start. Any large bookstore will also have a map section. Don’t rely solely on the maps included in guidebooks, as they just can’t do the job properly in such a small space.The best planning map for rail travelers on the go is the Rail Map of Europe by Thomas Cook. Though it’s a bit too large for everyday use, this map shows every railroad from Moscow to Gibraltar, along with a wealth of other detail. It’s also handy to spot out-of-the-way places where trains don’t go.

There’s also the Eurail train map that comes free with a pass, but this tends to start falling apart after about a week, so get two or three of these if you can. If you can’t, reinforce the folds of the one you get with tape, and get a new one from a Eurail Aid office while on the move. These offices are found in many large train stations, and their locations are listed on the Eurail map. This map has some good information on its reverse side that is well worth reading - stuff like language tips, details on train station facilities, Eurail discounts, and so on.