Great Western Coffee Shop

At https://grahamellis.uk/blog2014.html (https://grahamellis.uk/blog2014.html) in answer to questions such as
What does it cost?
Is Interrail worth it?
Is first class worth the extra?
Is Interrail complicated?
Should I reserve seats if they are optional?
What travel is not included in the pass?
Does the pass include everything I need for my holiday?
Does the Interrail pass include travel all the way from my home station?
Can I get help / support from Eurail / Interrail?
Once I have added a series of trains to my trip, can I be sure they will run and connect?
What luggage am I allowed / what should I take?
I have limited mobility, senses or stamina - can I go?
Would you recommend I go Interrailing?

Comments / corrections / missing bits welcome.

I am departing for Istanbul next Monday on a 12 day intinerary using Interrail. I will fly back to Bristol on 25 July. I have visited Denmark and Sweden recently using the same ticket which was only glanced at by a conductor once in 4 different journeys.

This trip might be more challenging and "interesting" but my route is Portsmouth, Caen, Paris (on Bastille Day!), Stuttgart, Budapest, Arad, Bucharest, Sofia and Istanbul.  Bold = 1 or more nights stay. I will use 3 sleeper services, one in Romania is an open access "luxury" service!

Like Graham I have first class ticket which is required for some single occupancy sleepers. 1st value in Eastern Europe might be questionable and some routes are 2nd only. I have paid directly for three of the later legs including the long run in from Sofia to Istanbul because they are quite cheap and one cannot obtain a "reservation only" booking online. It seems clear that there is a limited allocation of Interrail ticket use on certain services (especially sleepers) whilst fully paid tickets are still available. I had to juggle dates to achieve a suitable itinerary but booked at relatively short notice. Seems sensible to the operators since they must receive relatively little monies from Interrail.

So I am looking forward to this but might need a long rest afterwards. Since it is Bastille Day SNCF are doing engineering works which means  limited services over a longer route, Caen to Paris. Only the first train will work for me at 08.46, some 2 hours after Brittany Ferries arrives. Let me hope there are no failures at the second hurdle - otherwise then a rapid rethink!

I will report on some highlights when I get back.   

I really look forward to your report - I am / have been planning a similar trip over several years but have been diverted to something else (heatwaves, medical constraints) several times.   Enjoy!