Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Buying train tickets can be a little complicated because each country has their own rail system,
ticket sales website, and pricing structure. Finding the best price is even more complicated
because there is no single website that displays the best ticket prices for all routes. Therefore,
it takes a little work and planning to find the best deal.
The easy way to purchase tickets
The simplest way to purchase tickets online is through
RailEurope.com
. Rail Europe is a joint
venture between a handful of European railways and it was created to sell rail tickets to non-
Europeans. Unlike many European rail networks, Rail Europe will mail tickets purchased on-
line outside Europe. You also don't have to worry about difficulties that sometimes arise when
paying from a US bank account.
Unfortunately, buying tickets though Rail Europe is more expensive than buying tickets
directly through each country's rail network website. That's because Rail Europe does not al-
ways display the current travel specials and they charge an extra commission.
Additionally, you can always purchase tickets directly at the train station. The tickets will be
expensive if you buy them last minute (unless it's a country that has fixed pricing) and you'll
have the potential of waiting in a long line. I once waited well over an hour to buy tickets so
buy your tickets early if you can.
The cheapest way to purchase tickets online
As mentioned before, there is no single website where you can find all the best train fares for
every train route. To get the best deal, you'll have to go directly to each country's rail operator.
For example, when traveling in France you should check the prices at
www.voyages-sncf.com
.
However, it isn't as simple as it seems. Each country's website has its own rules and quirks
that you'll have to deal with. Some sites randomly won't accept US credit cards and others
won't mail tickets outside Europe, but you can often pick them up at the ticket window. So-
metimes you're able to print them yourself. So when it comes time to book, read the fine print
closely so you don't get any nasty surprises. If you book online, ensure you bring the same
bankcard you used to make the purchase online because you'll probably need the card to re-
trieve your tickets.
Booking tickets online in Eastern Europe is tougher/not always possible. It is usually best
to purchase them at the station or at a local travel agent. Ask your hostel or hotel and they'll
tell you where to locate an agent.
Point-to-point ticket money-saving strategies
Book long-distance trains early.
Most high-speed and long-distance trains operate on a
tiered pricing system so the cheapest tickets are available far in advance and the prices con-
tinue to rise as the departure date approaches. The difference in price is quite drastic. For ex-
