Some pass types
- Global Pass - 5
or more countries
- Single Country
- 2, 3 or 4
Countries
- Global Pass for
5 or more countries
- Special passes
for specific defined countries
- Discounts may be
available for 2 people traveling
together
You will choose
the number of days you require and the
pass type. For example, based on
your itinerary you find you will need to
travel by train 5 days and will be in 2
different countries. The price of
the pass will depend on the countries
and number of travel days.
Some single
country passes will also allow you to
cross country boarders if the
destination is on the direct route.
For example, when traveling from Munch
Germany to Salzburg Austria, the single
country Germany pass would be valid as
Salzburg is allowed as a stop being
right across the border. The same
Germany pass may also be used when
leaving Salzburg and heading directly
back to Germany.
Overview of how a
rail pass works
- Select the pass
type that works best for you (pass
details can be found on the websites
listed below)
- Purchase your
rail pass from home well ahead of your
departure date to allow time to receive
your pass by mail
- These passes are
available to people living in the USA
and traveling abroad
- Before using
your pass the first time, go to the rail
ticket office where you will use your
pass and have it validated. Do
not board your first train before your
pass has been validated.
- On the first
train you take each each day, there will
be a slot on your pass to write in the
usage date
- On the train,
the conductor will stamp or punch your
ticket for the date you are using it
1st Class vs. 2nd
Class
The difference
between 1st and 2nd class rail travel is
the level of comfort and the facilities
provided and a 1st class Eurail Pass
will obviously be more expensive than a
2nd class Eurail Pass.
From the
Eurorail Website
Sure, 2nd class
passes are more affordable. Yet lately
even Agent 007 wouldn’t seem out of
place in a 2nd class car. Rail travel
has come a long way since the days it
was associated with hot, crowded trains
and rowdy backpackers smoking in the bar
car. (To be fair, nobody’s allowed to
smoke in the bar car these days —
probably not even James Bond.)
Yet there’s a reason that college-age
travelers often prefer 2nd class, and
it’s not just because of their limited
budgets. 2nd class offers more of a
community travel experience. Locals and
travelers might swap stories over the
aisles or head to the bar car for an
impromptu party. European trains are for
the most part fairly clean and
comfortable, regardless of class.
Therefore, many travelers feel that the
combination of budget plus sociability
mean that 2nd class offers the most
appealing option.
There is a lot
more to read on their website than can
be mentioned here - it's well worth the
read!
https://blog.eurail.com/essential-guide-first-class-vs-second-class-eurail-passes/
On a final note, we typically purchase a
2nd class rail pass. It's very
rare that we would purchase a 1st class
ticket. Our experience is that 2nd
class travel has been completely clean
and comfortable on most trains.
2+ Traveler
Discount
If you will be
traveling with others, always together
on every train, you will get a 15%
discount on the cost of your pass.
You must travel together as a group as
the train conductors will check that
everyone on the ticket is together.
If not, you could be fined.
Websites
Rail Europe:
https://www.raileurope.com
Eurail:
https://www.eurail.com/