You'll get the hang of traveling fast, so I don't think I need to elaborate on the subject too much. I was a little uneasy about traveling at first, but the anxiety cleared and I absolutely loved it. I even traveled from Munich, Germany to Vienna, Austria to Italy and back to the Castle alone for a week! So, if woman are cautious, traveling alone is safe enough. Take the advice of the staff, talk to other students about their travels, pay attention to your environment at all times, and use your common sense.

BUSES - number 89 between Nijmegen and Venlo, 39 to Venray

            The bus system is pretty efficient. There are several schedules around the Castle (please don't steal them and keep them in your room, there are only a few). Most students had a hard time reading them, as they're in Dutch and on the 24 hour clock. You'll get the hang of them. Website (in Dutch, but the schedule is on there)

            Most students use "strippenkaarts" for the buses because they're cheaper than paying per ride. The price between destinations is measured by zone, and one strip on the kaart is one zone. It costs about 8 strips to go to Nijmegen or Venlo, and 4 or 6 to Aarcen. The All Under One Roof store sells 15 strips for 6,20 euros, or 45 strips for 18,30 (best deal).

TRAINS

Ø      The most important thing to know is that taking trains is fun, and somewhat simple. Though it seems confusing at first, they're easy to understand after you ride a few. The key to taking trains is using schedules and a little planning.

Ø      There are several handy websites where you can find schedules:

                  http://www.ns.nl/- trains in the Netherlands

                  **http://www.alleuroperail.com (click on train schedules)   my favorite

                  http://www.raileurope.com/us/rail/index.htm - similar to the above

Ø      The trains, esp. in the Netherlands, can be somewhat unreliable. Always give yourself extra time and double check the schedules. It's also useful to note the train number (which can be found on reservations and certain websites) and look for it on the train to be sure you're getting on the right one.

Ø      Most of the conductors at the stations speak (at least a little) English, so don't be shy to ask them questions, such as, "is this train going to (Venlo)?" It's also useful to ask if the compartment goes where you want to get off, sometimes the train splits apart and goes to different places!

Ø      It's often worth the 3 euro (or so) charge to make reservations in advance. This can be done (usually) online, over the phone, or at the nearby stations (Nijmegen or Venlo). The trains fill up sometimes and if you don't reserve you "can't" get on (there are always exceptions) and you have to change your plans. This can be scary if you need to get back in time for class.

Ø      Check out the kind of train you're taking. Some of them have extra charges ontop of what the Eurail covers, and sometimes even more past the reservation fee.

Ø      It is possible to get on a train without a reservation, esp. going between cities in one country, but sometimes if you sit in a seat without a reservation, someone who has a reservation there might kick you out, and it becomes like a game of musical chairs trying to find a seat.