RSSGeneva to Innsbruck
Once on the train to Innsbruck, the train slows a bit as it passes through mountains. We’re going through a snowstorm!
It’s really wondrous to experience from inside the train, passing through these picturesque towns and villages covered in snow. I’d recommend a snowy train trip to anyone. This storm hardly slowed the train down. We were only 15 minutes late.
At the train transfer in Geneva, I experience customs control. I wearily approach them, the last night’s melatonin still in my body.
They put my bag through the x-ray machine, but quickly escort me aside for a more thorough inspection. Apparently the zip-lock bag of vitamins sets off their curiosity. I don’t like carrying big, bulky bottles of vitamins on week-long trips, so I so often just put a handful in a zip-lock bag. I didn’t realize I’d be crossing border security similar to an airport. The guard looks at the vitamins whimsically, I explain, yes we Americans take a lot of vitamins – we have ten for every ailment, or for every ailment we fear of getting. He laughs and lets me through.
Train Tip: International train transfers now often require a security check. While not nearly as thorough as at an airport, individualized inspections do occur. Be sure to keep medications in prescription bottles.
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9 comments to “Geneva to Innsbruck”
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About the Eurail Blog
I'm Benjamin Thomas from the USA and I've been accepted for a fellowship in Europe. During my stay I will use Eurail Passes to explore the continent. On this weblog I will share my (train) travel experiences. Intro
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Thanks for the medicine tip. I will travel with my mom, she is diabetic so we will have pills and other medicine with us.
Hi Jazmin
Yes, you’ll be fine. Just save yourself the hassle and keep medications in prescription bottles, like you would for airplanes. I actually haven’t encountered another security check like this since Geneva. But know that you may face them. Have fun!
Hey Benjamin,
Nice blog. I’m hearing stories of Americans being detained in European train stations and seriously searched in inordinate numbers. Have you run across anything like this?
K
Hi Kevin – No, I have not seen or heard of that. The only search I have had in 3 months now was this one I write about in Geneva, and it was nothing more than I would experience at the airport in the US.
Hi Benjamin,
My family and I travelled in August, 2007 via Eurail from Italy to Switzerland to Austria and back to Italy but never encountered a single security/inspection except for passport checks at borders. Is this new or we were just lucky?
Percy
Chicago
Hi Percy
I have had my bag screened in train stations in Geneva, and several times in Spain (see my Spanish blogs). But these have been quick inspections. I just put my bag into an x-ray machine, and it was screened. The whole process took less than 1 minute. I imagine that, especially in the case of Spain, this is for increased security reasons, but these are the only 2 places that I have experienced these screenings.
Benjamin.
Hi Benjamin,
We’re visiting Amsterdam in June, 2009 andplanning to stay in an Schipol Airport Hoel for 5 nights. Using that hotel as takeoff point , will our Eurail Global pass (21 days) be honored in trains going to Amsterdam Central Station? how ’bout to other cities like Den Haag or Rotterdam?
Thanks,
Percy
Hello Percy
Yes, your GlobalPass can be used to travel by train from the Airport to Amsterdam’s Central Station. But my advice would be not to waste a travel day on such a short distance! Buy that ticket separately at the train station…it should cost only a few Euro. And use your travel day to go a bit further. Yes, the Pass will cover you to Den Haag and Rotterdam.
Have fun!
Benjamin.
Thanks for the heads up.
Now we can plan accordingly.
Percy