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A month traveling around Europe. We choose spring as the perfect time to travel with Eurail Pass, to try one of the most traditional ways to explore Europe. After 17 train trips, we figured out some truths and understood why some people love traveling with Eurail Pass, and why others not that much. So we decided to put some information together to help you decided if it is worth or not to travel with Eurail Pass.
What is the Eurail Pass?
It’s a train pass for non-European citizens, that you can purchase online and use to travel across Europe for a few days or for up to 3 months. Usually, you can choose between consecutive traveling days or a number of traveling days that you can use within a period like 1 or 3 months for example.
There are many options for Eurail Passes and we are going to talk about them later. First I want to point out that we traveled with a Eurail Global Pass 1st class. It means that we could take as many trains as we wanted in the whole of Europe [28 countries included], during a period of 30 days.
The first class wasn’t an essential thing for us, but as we are over 26 years [don’t tell this to anyone else, ok!] we can only get Eurail Pass 1st class. However, at the end of the trip, I was glad about this compulsory issue, it made the journey much more comfortable.
This was our first experience traveling with long-distance trains and Eurail Passes. After 17 train trips, we decide to put some questions on the table to help you understand the good and the bad of traveling with Eurail Pass.
7 Truths about traveling with Eurail Pass
– 1st » Traveling with Eurail Pass is easy
Yes, it is! Definitely one of the easiest ways of traveling around Europe!
The idea of only one ticket, many connections, and an overwhelming option of timetables is what I call an easy way of traveling.
We took 17 trains, we crossed 7 countries, an endless amount of cities, villages… and believe it or not, we had no problem. When we started our journey I wasn’t convinced by the label “easy way of traveling”, but turned out to be an extremely smooth experience.
Why? First of all, you don’t need to do the check-in, you can arrive at the station just 20 – 30 minutes in advance, you don’t need to pass by X-ray, passport control, either drop your luggage at the baggage drop [unless you are traveling from France to the UK]. You just arrive, find your train, your seat and relax.
Before the first trip, you will need to validate the pass at the train station ticket window, after that you don’t need to worry about anything else. The crew from the train will approach you during the journey just to check the pass and passport, no further questions, nothing. Even to cross countries’ borders was easy, only in Spain and Switzerland, the immigration officer questioned about our travels plans.
Another easy aspect is that most of the train stations are located in the city center and are well-connected with public transportation, which makes it super easy to get in and out of the places.
– 2nd » Traveling with Eurail Pass is flexible
Yes, especially if you have an open plan and will travel for a long period!
For us, the Eurail Pass was perfect. We knew beforehand the cities and countries we wanted to visit, and the average of days we would spend there. So we didn’t need to book anything in advance, we just search for the best route and the timetable to organize our departure and arrival. Also, if you miss a train [what happened with us after a long night partying in Paris] we just waited for the next one, no changing of bookings, no changing tickets, nothing.
One important fact about flexibility: local and regional trains run almost every hour, so it’s easy to catch the next one and keep moving. However, the high-speed trains and border connections are not so often. To make our travel planning easy, we downloaded the Eurail App on my mobile so we could search for connections, timetables, and types of trains with a simple click. The app works offline, which is great!
I would say that travel with Eurail Pass is far more flexible than travel by bus and flights. It takes more time as you are going to spend few hours traveling and looking at stunning landscapes, but it is hassle-free. After one month of traveling by train in Europe, it was difficult to go back to the low-cost airlines’ restrictions.
– 3rd » You can create your own itinerary with Eurail Pass
If you are going to travel just in one or 2 countries, it is easy, you can use the route planner on the Eurail website and you will find the timetables and best options for you. Although if you are going to travel long distances and reach many different countries, things get a little bit more complicated and tricky.
The Eurail Pass covers all Europe, from Portugal to Turkey, going up to Sweden and even Ireland is on the map, but not all the train services are included free on the passes. This is why many people say it is not worth traveling with Eurail Pass, because sometimes you may need to make reservations and even pay some extra fees. About the fees we are going to talk about in the next topic, first I want to focus on choosing the itinerary.
We traveled for over a month without doing any reservations and without paying any extra fees. How? We choose to travel only with local and regional trains. On the Eurail App, there is a function to search only those types of trains, excluding the ones that need a reservation. So you only need to show up at the station and get the train. Of course, the trips are longer and sometimes you will need to do several connections between points A and B, but this is the adventure of traveling.
We started our trip in Milan and our first destination was Paris. But before arriving in the French capital we passed by Bellinzona [IT], Basel [CH], Mulhouse [FR], Belfort [FR], and then Paris. A journey of 12 hours with amazing views from the north of Italy, Swiss Alps, French countryside. A few stops for coffee, snacks, and some running between platforms to catch the next train. If we did the same trip with a TGV high-speed and direct train it would take 7 hours, a faster option, but with some extra costs.
Choosing the route between Milan and Paris was easy. Most of the regional trains were empty, comfy and the French train stations have good WiFi. Perfect for bloggers! 🙂
When we moved from Paris to Amsterdam [and lost the first train because of my hangover] we choose local and regional trains again. Nine hours trip, 3 stops between cities, and another great journey [as Rob told me because I slept the whole trip]. Here is a good example of flexibility, because we missed the first train that was in our travel plan we had to do different connections, all then sorted out with the Eurail app.
Summing up, the itinerary is easy to organize, there are plenty of options if you don’t mind the long hours on the train and some waiting time at the stations. Although, if you prefer a straightforward trip at high speed, you might have to deal with online reservations, previous booking, and some additional fees.
Traveling to Denamark, Finland, Norway or Sweeden? Click here and read our guide to travel in Scandinavia with Eurail Pass!
– 4th » Eurail Pass extra fees and fares you have to be aware of
There are some fares and fees that are not included in the price of the Eurail Pass and you must have to consider them before buying the passes. All these fares are explained on the Eurail website and that’s why you have to read the contract carefully and ask for some extra help in case you are in doubt.
What are these fares and fees about?
They are reservation fees and high-speed train fares. If you want to travel on an overnight train or make a reservation to secure your first-class seat, you will need to pay for it. How much? It all depends on which country you are traveling to and the train company. Sometimes the extra cost of an overnight train might be cheaper than a night in a hotel, you will need to do the math if saving money is an important issue for you. [for us it is! ]
The high-speed train fare is not the same for all the countries either. In France and Italy [the most complicated countries for traveling with Eurail Pass on high-speed trains] you can only travel with TGV and Freccia with a previous booking, and that will cost you some Euros. For example, from Italy to France [by TGV] your extra fee will be from €48 – 80€ for 1st class or from €33 to €60 for 2nd class. Ouchh!!! You can check the list of Eurail extra fees here.
However, in countries like Germany, Netherlands and Switzerland you can travel with high-speed without reservation. The only problem is if the first class is fully booked you might have to grab a seat on the 2nd class car. The German trains and service are amazing, first-class with good WiFi, nice restaurants and even free candies!
We traveled from Amsterdam to Berlin on the exact day the German train workers went on a strike, even though we had no problem with our Eurail Pass. We just follow the instructions and the new timetable.
During our month traveling with Eurail Pass, we didn’t pay any extra fee or fare because we choose our itinerary based on local, regional trains. We save some bucks while spending a few more hours on the trains. A deal that was positive for us, but maybe not for everybody.
– 5th » So, is the Eurail Pass worth the money?
This is the trickiest question ever, and our answer is: Yes and No!
It is worth the money if you have time enough to search for the best connection, to enjoy the long-distance rides, and if the train journey itself is part of your travel experience.
Here we’ll be comparing the costs of 1 month Global Pass, so let’s go to the magic numbers!
Our figures and costs with Eurail Pass
Eurail Global Pass 30 days – € 917 [per person]
Fees & Fares booking or high-speed trains – € 0
If we bought single train trips
Trains tickets – € 715 [per person, average price using a high-speed train. Not considering overnight trains]
Fees & Fares booking or high-speed trains – € 0
If we did the same trip by flight
Flight tickets – € 390 [average internet price for low-cost airlines per person, luggage not included]
PS: We can’t calculate exactly the cost of a flight or a single train ticket because the price changes a lot. Sometimes you can get a great deal when booking in advance, or a last-minute purchase can save you a couple of bucks. You never know. We should also consider the expenses with transportation to/from the airports, plus the cost of the checked luggage. Here we did a simple calculation to help you think and decide if it is worth or not to invest and travel with Eurail Pass. If you want to get the real figures you might need to research deeper.
Bottom line, if you look only at the figures, it is not cheap to travel with Eurail Pass. But if you think wisely it makes sense to buy the Global Pass if you are going for a long trip around Europe with no fixed plan.
If you think of the costs of canceling and remarking a flight ticket or change dates and destinations at the last minute, then for sure you will spend much more than the price of the Eurail Pass. That’s why you have to think clearly about what type of experience you want to have on your Eurotrip!
– 6th » Traveling with Eurail Pass is a worthy experience
Oh yeah, baby!!
No doubt about it! There is no better way to see and experience Europe than traveling by train. Especially with Eurail Pass that gives you the flexibility to enjoy as much time as you want in each destination.
I would say that travel with Eurail Pass is not about saving money, it is about the experience. Is about feeling like a local while changing trains and eating local food at the stations. It’s about meeting people on the seat next to you and learn different cultures, maybe even change your next destination because of this.
The train trip was part of the whole travel experience. We were not focused on arriving in different places, but on the journey there. Travel with Eurail Pass worked perfectly, especially because we were prepared and we knew all the rules. We could never do the same trip with low-cost flights or last-minute trains. The Eurail Pass may be more expensive than other types of transportation but we think it’s a worthy experience.
Our itinerary with Eurail Global Pass was: Italy » Switzerland » France » Belgium » Netherlands » Germany » Switzerland » France » Spain.
– 7th » Different Eurail Passes for different travelers
Now that you already know all the information about how to travel with Eurail Pass, the next step is to go to the Eurail website to find a pass that suits your travel plan. You can choose by the number of countries you want to visit, duration of the trip, student pass, family package…
Their bestsellers are:
- Global Pass for 28 countries – you can buy for a short trip or up to 3 months, this last option is a pretty good deal. Check out the price and book your Eurail Global Pass here.
- 4 / 2 or 1 Country Pass – you can choose the countries and how many days you want to spend traveling. There are special passes or prices for bordering countries. You find all the options and book your Eurail Pass here.
All the passes have different prices with good reductions for students and families.
The delivery of the paper passes by post is free, or you can choose to buy the mobile passes that have more advantages like buy now and travel up to 11 months later.
Compare all the passes, read the rules, and buy the tickets directly from their website. I would also recommend you to follow them on Facebook for good deals and sales, there is always something going on there!
Hope our 7 reasons why you should [or not] travel with Eurail Pass have helped you to plan your next train trip in Europe. Go to our Destination Page and be inspired to where to go and what to do in Europe, then read our Accommodation Guide to discover the best places to stay and how to book the perfect hotel or hostel for you.
If you are a European citizen, our friends Ivana & Gianni from Nomad is Beautiful wrote a very useful guide on how to use Interrail.
And you, would you travel by train around Europe? Did you travel with Eurail Pass? Share your experiences!
Love this Eurail Pass Guide?! Pin it for later!!
PS 2: Our Global Passes were a courtesy from Eurail. However, doesn’t matter who paid the bill you always receive our true opinion.
I’ve been looking into train travel in Europe and was very intrigued by it, but a little overwhelmed by all of the options. It was good to find this post so I can weigh my options easier and see what works best. Although getting a pass sounds like a great option for me. Thanks for all the info!
You are welcome Brooke!!
If you are going to travel for a long time and visit different countries I would tell you to go by Eurail. Travelling with the pass is easy and you can travel on you own pace!
All the best,
Nat
One of the best things I have done in my travels is having a Eurail pass exploring Europe at my leisure. I’d love to do it again someday especially now that more countries are included. Back when I did it there were very few included in the pass which made it a little difficult at times but still worth it. I’d love to explore more of Eastern Europe next time.
Our next Eurail adventure probably will be on Eastern European countries too. Or maybe we go up to Scandinavia, not sure yet!!
Thanks for stopping by!
😀
Nat
I would love to go on a Eurorail trip. The main problem I have with that is that I live in Sardinia, and NO MATTER WHAT, I would have to fly to mainland Europe to catch the first train that takes me anywhere, blowing whatever budget I may have.
Hey Claudia,
Have a look at the Eurail website because they have some partnership with Ferry Companies on the Mediterranean, and If I´m not wrong Sardinia is included in the route 😉
All the best,
Nat
Excellent summary…I want to travel by Eurail!
Sounds like you had a great experience,
Go for it Will!!
I´m sure you will have a great time exploring Europe by train!
😀
Cheers,
Nat
Travelling by train is such a relaxed and enjoyable way to travel long distance. Despite the crazy speed at times it’s so easy to watch and enjoy the amazing scenery outside your window while sitting in comfortable seats with good leg room and it’s so easy to move around and stretch your legs whenever you want. I’ve used the Japan passes many times although so far I’ve not used distances trains in Europe outside the UK I would definitely get a pass when we get to Europe for a longer trip.
You are so right Toni, more space for the legs, bigger toilets and the possibility of a little walk during the trip, are some of the good advantages of train trip!
😀
All the best,
Nat
I’m a big fan of travelling by trains! as you mentioned, train stations are usually in the city center, very easy to reach and no need to be there hours in advance! I’ve always wanted to enjoy an ‘interrail’ experience through Europe, but I’ve never had. This pass sounds very convenient, thank you for sharing!
I´m glad you would consider travel with one of the Eurail passes, as you said it´s easier than flights. Especially if you have time enough to enjoy the long scenic trip!
Cheers,
Nat
WOw, I was not aware of Eurail Pass. It seems great deal to travel around Europe, even though it is really expensive. Thanks for the useful information.
You are welcome!!
Travel by train in Europe is really a unique experience
Cheers,
😀
Nat
Train is our favorite form of travel!
So much great info here, thanks!
We can’t wait to hit europe. We’ve been meaning to go for the last 9 months but smething new comes up in Asia that keeps us here a bit longer.
Anyways, the photos you guys took are unbelievably beautiful! We cant wait to see!
Thanks for sharing.
I´m so glad you liked the post!
I totally understand you, there is something in Asia that is addictive you don’t realize but keep staying and staying… Or like us, that after 5 months far is already planning to come back to there 😉
All the best
Nat
The Eurail Pass trips would be perfect for my kids who have an amazing obsession with trains. I´ve always wanted to do them too. Great post! Your articles are always so wonderfully detailed.
Hi Valeria!
Give a try to a good and scenic train trip, I´m sure you will enjoy. The high-speed trains are not so much fun, as they go way too fast and you can´t enjoy much the view. But the traditional ones are really nice!
Cheers,
Nat
Thanks Orana!
I’m glad that you found the tips useful!!!
And enjoy a train trip with your kids, I´m sure it will be a great experience!
All the best,
😀
Nat
This is awesome! however, I will be going on a Contiki tour next month so maybe the next time I`m in Europe, I`ll try the Eurorail 🙂
Have fun and enjoy your tour Justine!!!
The trains will be there waiting for you on your next Eurotrip!
Safe journey!!
😀
Nat
Thank you for sharing this information. I would definitely travel by train, as you get to experience more and see more.
That ´s definitely true Trudi, trains are all about the experience!
Thanks for stopping by!
😀
Nat
As you know, I LOVE train travel!
I was very interested to read your post on this, but sadly it really doesn’t seem all that cheap does it… it is the same problem on trains in many developed countries.
It is now so much cheaper to fly!
Definitely the Eurail Pass is not the cheapest option for travelling, but I would say it’s worth the investment. Especially for a one month trip.
I couldn’t imagine myself flying with low-cost companies every 5 – 6 days. Too much hassle, no space for Rob’s legs and all the annoying thing about checked luggage, hand luggage, pay for this, pay for that… pay for breath…lololol
Hope you are having a good time in South America,
cheers
Nat
Wow I live in Europe and never heard of this.. Is it uniquely for non-European citizens? Very interesting though 😀
Hi Julia!!
The Eurail Pass is for non-European citizens.
For Europeans you can buy the Interrail Pass, that works almost the same!;-)
All the best,
Nat
I love overland travel and I find trains in Europe really easy, cheap and fast. I haven’t bought a Eurail pass before but I would definitely consider this now. Great post with a very detailed information
Thanks Kate!
I´m glad you liked the post. The Eurail Pass can be a great way of travelling, especially if you like to be over land and enjoy scenic routes 😀
Cheers,
Nat
I have been to Europe a few times, but have always been scared off by the train prices. However, I think I will use a Eurail pass the next time I go and I have your guide to help me plan!
Happy to hear that Tracie!!
I’m a big enthusiast of trains, and I´m sure you will love to explore Europe by rails!
All the best,
Nat
What a fab way to travel! There is something about knowing you are crossing a country by land, taking in the culture and the scenery as you pass through landscapes that you would have otherwise just flown over.
I went on an interrailing trip a fair few years ago (about 9 actually, but shhh don’t tell anyone!) and it was absolutely fantastic. Loved it.
Just a shame it’s not the most affordable option. Great post with great photos :).
Gabby
I have to agree with you the feeling of arriving in a new place by land is completely different than by air!
Glad that you liked the post. As you said it´s not the most affordable, but it´s a unique experience!
All the best Gabby!
😀
Nat
That´s true, 3 months pass!!
Our next train adventure around Europe might be with it!
😀
Nat
We just did a ten day Global Pass with Eurail and found it very convenient for all the reasons you mentioned. I’m working on my blog post about it now, but I’m pretty sure that we ended up getting good value for money from it, based on the routes we took. We did get caught out a few times, especially in Italy, where we couldn’t get anyone at the station to give us tickets using the pass, or we couldn’t work out if we needed a reservation etc. But we just got on the trains and worked it out from there. Was very convenient!
I´m glad you had a good time with Eurail!
And you are right, Italy is one of the most annoying countries to travel with Eurail Pass.
Waiting to read your post and experience!!
All the best,
😀
Nat
I’ve always had the impression that continental trains in Europe are more expensive than flights (most times at least), so this was quite a refreshing article to read 🙂
Thanks,
Sanket
The fast and direct trains can be expensive, but you can find cheap routes and enjoy the journey around the old continent!
You are welcome! 😀
All the best,
Nat
One of my greatest travel dreams is to explore Europe through the Eurail– you know, just sitting there, enjoying the moment as I watch the amazing European scenery from my window. Looks like you had an amazing experience with the Eurail! I can only hope the same for myself. 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Hi Anne!!!
Explore Europe by train was one of my travel dreams too! 🙂
It´s a unique experience for sure!!!
Thanks for stopping by!
Nat
I have always had a mixed opinion of Eurail pass some say its worth and some say its way too expensive its better to book flights 🙂
Your post is quite useful in planning euro trip.. thanks for sharing.
You are welcome! What we liked the most is the freedom the pass gives to you.
🙂
Awesome post! So informative & good to know since we are trying to work out our options for a trip next year but with 2 small kids in tow.
Hey Holly!!
I´m glad you liked the post. Also, keep in mind that for kids the Eurail Pass is free and the parents are travelling with them! 😀
That´s can be a money saver option!
Great post! Love your photos 🙂
Thanks Adriana!! 😀
All the best
Nat
I love travelling by train, so this really sounds appealing to me. Also love the flexibility, although the app is clearly crucial too. And you can’t beat first class…..
I don´t want to be cheeky, but nothing compares with first class 😉
Especially if you are going to travel long journeys…
All the best,
Nat
I’m at a point right now (ie-poverty) where the cheapest option always wins out, but if money were no object I would spend all the time I could on the trains!
I know what you mean, after a few months in Europe we are in the same point as you: Broke! 😀
But it was worth it, Europe in summer is always good fun and I don’t regret travelled by train, was an amazing experience!
All the best,
Nat
I’m with Brooke, I’ve always felt overwhelmed by the options but now it seems much simplier. I’ll definitely look at getting a pass next summer.
Cool Amada!!
I’m happy that we gave you some useful tips! Go for a monthly (or 3 months) Eurail Pass, I´m sure you will enjoy the rides!
Cheers,
Nat
I enjoyed traveling via Eurail to all the European capitals first because I love train travel, going to beautiful stations and getting in and out of the central areas very quickly.
That is one of the greatest things about travelling by train, usually you arrive in the heart of the city. Easy and Practical!
🙂
All the best,
Nat
Trains are so much better than buses, but paying nearly a grand for 30 days?! That seems like a lot of money considering you can travel the whole Europe for free (in you hitch-hike 😉
You are right! But not everybody are willing to hitch-hike, so they need a way to get around, and trains are great fun, you need to agree with me! :- D
We are travelling as a couple and with lot of stuff, not easy to get a ride :-/
Cheers,
Nat
I’ve done eurailing/interrailing twice in Europe. The first time it was around Scandinavia for one month, and another around Benelux for a week. Totally loved it and would highly recommend it, especially if one has time to spend and would like to explore many places/cities in one go.
In addition to your points above, I also love the fact that you can travel right into a city centre, step out of the station, and start exploring the city right away. The scenery whilst on the road (or rather, train) is a plus too especially if you travel along the scenic routes like Oslo-Bergen, something which you can’t enjoy if you fly. Also, overnight travel might cost slightly more but don’t forget that you would have already saved on accommodation too.
So yes, I love travelling by train in Europe and wouldn’t mind doing it over and over again! 🙂
Glad to know that you had a great experience travelling with Eurail! On our next adventure by train, we want to explore the Scandinavian region, the landscape is stunning there, perfect for long train journeys!
All the best and thanks for stopping by!
Nat
Oh I wish I could spend a month traveling around Europe with a Eurail pass…
Your easy-to-understand tips and explanations were very helpful, and perhaps someday, they will come in handy for me!
Glad that you found the tips useful! Europe by train is definitely a great experience..
All the best Tami,
😀
Nat
Craig and I heading home via Europe in 2016 so this pass would be ideal for us. I did a spot of inter-railing when I was 19 with friends around Eastern Europe, they sure did not have an app then! Handy post, I’ll bookmark to refer to.
Go for it Gemma!
Europe by train is a great experience, and if you have a flexible itinerary is perfect…
Happy travels,
Nat 😀
I did an interrail trip in 2002 and things were much cheaper back than and I was much younger – especially under 26. I was 20 back than so the tickets were cheaper. I went from Vienna via Köln to Ostende (bc the TGV through the Eurotunnel was already very expensive back than), took the ferry to Dover, train to London and later to Bristol, Swansea and the ferry to Ireland (Rosslare) and travelled through Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and England for, all in all, 4 weeks. It was amazing.
Did you stay in hostels? B&B or something else??
I am always looking for good recs
-Eva
Thanks for stopping by Eva!!
I´m sure you had an amazing time travelling around UK and Ireland (I love Ireland).
During our trip by train we stayed in hostels (Berlin, Barcelona and Amsterdam), in an apartment (we book through Airbnb) in Paris and hotel in Milan! 😀
All the best,
Nat
Hello,
Your blog on Eurail was very informative and the fact that we get free candies in German trains, just perfect! 🙂 We can’t wait to read more of your travel tales!
Team TraveLibro
twitter.com/travelibro
So happy that our post helped you to travel with Eurail!
Great! We loved our experience travelling with German trains.
All he best,
Nat
This information is just what I have been looking for! Thank you. I am planning a 1 month holiday to Europe and think the Global pass is the best option by far. With your accommodation did you pre book it before your holiday or just as you got to each destination?
Hi Elise!!
So happy to know that our article helped you organizing your trip! 🙂
Our trip with Eurail was smooth and easy. The only things you have to plan ahead are the night and fast trains. Otherwise is just get in the train and go!
About the accommodation, we booked everything in advance. In Europe you can get better prices and even some discounts booking before your arrival. For us, a couple, we found great deals using Airbnb to book a room or even a studio (cheaper and more comfortable than hotels, for example in Paris and Barcelona). On our homepage there is a banner where you can get 20 usd discount on your first booking. Click there and sign up so you can start your trip saving some bucks.
Also, we recommend you to look at Booking.com (here is the link http://tidd.ly/8004ba86 ) for us they have the best deals on hotels around Europe, also a reliable and safe company.
Have you already bought your Eurail Pass?
All the best.
Nat
Hey Nat! Thanks once again for all the usueful information. I havent booked anything yet as I am not looking at going until around August/September next year! Im just gathering info and doing some research to start off with!
Great Elise!
I´m happy to help! 😀
I´ll ask you favour so, when you decide to by your Eurail Tickets, please do it through the link in this post. The link will take you to the official website of Eurail and you are going to pay the same price, but we get a small commission over your purchase. 😉
So you will help us keep the blog running! Thanks, and if you need any more info just let me know!
All the best,
Nat
Nat
Natalie, thank you so much for this post it really helped me decide Eurail is the option for me.
I have a couple of questions though:
1) London is not covered by the Global Pass 🙁 do you know what would be the best way to get there? (And chesper way too) I read you didn’t go there but I was wondering if you heard someone having that issue.
2) I am concerned about booking the hostel, hotel, etc on time. I would like to have flexibility but I don’t know how cheap and accesible would be to book a room someone on the same day you arrive to the destination, or with a few days in advance. How did you guys managed that? I don’t want to have everything booked in advanced in case we decide to change plans aling the way. What would you recommend?
Thanks!
Evelyn
Hi Evelyn!
I’m glad to help! It’s a pleasure to share travel tips!
Here go the answers:
1º) Eurail Global Pass includes some ferry routes from France to Ireland. Depending on your itinerary you can have an Irish stopover, then cross to UK and head to London by bus or train. Not sure if it will be the cheapest option, but for sure it´ll be a great adventure (all the details here: http://tidd.ly/43b74d8b). Or the best option is to fly with low cost airlines. Ryanair, EasyJet, Webjet, most of them have daily flights to London. As soon as you book better are chances to get a good price. Search for the best deal at Skyscanner(http://www.dpbolvw.net/click-7716010-11839040-1435674706000 )
2º) Most of the hotels, hostels and apartments that we´ve stayed during our train trip were booked 1 or 2 days before the check in. When we arrive in a destination we discover what to do & see and kinda planned how many days we would need. One day before departing to the next place we´d book our rooms. We always use Booking (http://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?mid=5780&id=220241), they have many options and good last minute deals, so you won´t have problem to find a place. For hostels, Hostelword is the best (http://tidd.ly/22dd58a9). Depending on what type of room you choose these companies will allowed you to change dates without loosing money 😉 It´s a perfect option for an open plan travel!
Hope I answered your doubts!! Have you already bought the Eurail Pass?
Cheers,
Nat
Hey Nat, thank you so much! That clarifies a lot. 2 days ago I bought the ticket Costa Rica-London (It was the cheapest option and also the most convenient, now I just need to fly lowcost to Paris and activate the Eurail there :)) I have not bought the Eurail ticket yet, I am planning to buy the 21 days Global Pass but since our vacation starts in March I am still waiting to be closer to the date. Do you know if Eurail has discounts at some time of the year (beside the 15%off for traveling together) I need to save as much as possible 😛
Question: transportation during the stay in each city/country. I know most of our trip we will walk to one point to another but I also know some distances are crazy to go by foot. What is the best way to use transportation is the cities you visited? Buy as you go, cards that you pay and includes several options like bus, tram, train etc? Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Rome etc.
Just curious how you moved around in the cities 🙂
Again, thank you so much for all your help.
Evelyn
Good that I could help you a little bit more!
Once a while they announce sales for some types of passes, but we never know in advance. Would say to follow them on Facebook so you can see all the Promotional Updates.
Also I would like to ask you a favour, when you decide to by your Eurail Tickets please do it through the link in this post. The link will take you to the official website of Eurail and you are going to pay the same price, but we get a small commission over your purchase. That´s how we can earn some money and keep the blog running. 😀 Tks!!
About your question:
Most of the time we purchase public transportation pass. Not the tourist one that include museums and attractions. We buy the simple one for 2, 3 or 4 days, it all depends how long we are planning to stay in a place. For example, in Paris is worth to buy the booklet of 10 tickets for metro (cheaper and you can cross the whole city). The same happened in Amsterdam, as we knew we are going to explore the city (and the city is quite big) we search the best ticket option for public transportation on the city´s metro website. Most of the time, the best option is the multi pass that includes metro, tram and buses. We avoid taxis, they can be expensive, you can get scammed and will spend precious time on the traffic. Around Europe Google Maps for public transportation works pretty fine calculating the best routes and timetables.
Ahhh, depending on where you planning to go we have many articles about Portugal, Spain and Turkey, they might be helpful to you!
😉
Nat
Thank you so much for all your help! I will purchase the Eurail from the link 🙂
Thanks Evelyn!!
If you need any for info send me an email!
All the best!
😀
I used my first Eurail Pass back in 1974 – it was for 3 months. It was fantastic. Now I’ve retired, and next year will be the 4th consecutive year we’ve had a 3 week European holiday using the 15 day Global Continuous Pass. The extra days are where we start, and where we finish.
I don’t understand why you say it’s expensive. We get 3 weeks with our Pass for half the price we’d pay on a tour. And without the disadvantages and with all the advantages. I love planning the route and researching where to stay and what to see. No way I come home and can’t remember where we went!!
And I forgot to say – we never pay any extra for our trains either. Sometimes we choose to pay for a particular scenic route (€1.50 doesn’t break the bank!). And sometimes you can reserve a seat for free if you are in the country (e.g. Norway and Poland). French and German local trains are just as fast as the ICs, they have First class, and they are on time!
Hi Anne!!
Thanks for stopping by! 😀
So nice that you have travelled a lot with Eurail Pass, and always have a good time with them. We loved our experience too!
We say that the Eurail Pass can be expensive if you compare with low cost flights around Europe. For sure the flights won´t have all the advantages and comfort as a train trip, but they can be really cheap, especially if you get lucky with sales. So for backpackers or budget travellers Eurail might not be the cheapest option for discover Europe.
The extra payments only happen when you travel with overnight trains, or for high speed trains. The normal routes are hassle free! I have to say that the German and the Swiss trains were the best for us. Fast, comfy on time and with free WIFi! 😀
Thanks for commenting Anne, wish you all the best!
Nat
Traveling with the Eurail Pass pretty much completely ruined me for every other type of travel. It is so enjoyable and SO easy! We are hoping to take our toddler on an Amtrak trip soon to see how the experience in the U.S. compares to the one in Europe. And also because he loves trains. 😉
Hahaha…
Love you comment! 😀
It was hard for to get used again with low cost airlines. After good experience with Eurail Pass it’s difficult to travel without space and comfort again.
Hope you have a great trip with your kid, I´m sure will be great fun for him!
All the best,
Nat
I have used Eurail passes on two separate journeys through central and eastern Europe. I wouldn’t have done it any other way! Travel by rail is THE best way to experience the country, and first class provided the extra comforts that made my journeys so much more enjoyable.
I agree with all your points, and can only remember one hiccup, where we hadn’t validated our pass crossing from Austria to Germany (because we had two separate passes and one was validated in Hungary to allow entry into Austria only), but the conductor was kind enough to let us travel on without incident 🙂
Thanks for bringing back some wonderful memories! I have to get back there and do it again!
… and if you want to read about my journeys, you can do so here: http://journals.worldnomads.com/mattso
HI Mattso!!!
Thanks for stopping by!
So good to hear about other travellers adventures and how they enjoy a train ride. This was our first bit trip by train and as you were enjoyed a lot. Looking forward to the next one, maybe this time to eastern Europe following your tips! 🙂
All the best and safe journey!
Nat
Great tips, we’ll be travelling by rail in Europe throughout November to January so will be sure to bookmark this post.
Have a good time Lyn!!
It will be winter so the landscape will be perfect for a train ride!
Safe journey,
Nat
This article was very helpful. Thankyou!
You are welcome Sandy!!
I´m glad you liked it! We tried our best to put as much info together as possible. So people could enjoy travelling by train in Europe as we did!
All the best,
Nat
My strong preference is to experience Europe and the British Isles by train.
These are just not the same from a plane and it’s a lot less hassle. Moreover, some rail routes are destinations in themselves, such as along the Rhine, in Switzerland, along the French Riviera, some routes in Norway, etc.
Would like to emphasize what you mentioned about country and regional passes. These can really save money if travellers are focusing on specific areas. They should also investigate a combination of these passes and regular tickets.
Thanks for stopping by Don!
Glad to know that we have the same perception about how enjoyable is travelling by train! As you said, the journey itself is the fun, and every moment in the train or catching it is great. You gave me a great idea: French Riviera sounds like an amazing place to explore by train. Maybe on our next stop in Europe!
All the best,
Nat