Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
For a summary of railpass deals and point-to-point ticket options (available in the
US and in Europe), check out our free, annually updated
Guide to Eurail Passes
at
www.ricksteves.com/rail
. If you decide to get a railpass, this guide will help you know
you're getting the right one for your trip. To study ahead on the Web, check
www.bahn.com
(Germany's excellent Europe-wide timetable).
Railpasses
Global Passes
offer you nearly unlimited travel on all public railways throughout most of
Europe(exceptGreatBritainandsomeofEasternEurope).Choosebetweentheconsecutive-
day pass (ranging from 15 days to three months) or the cheaper flexipass (any 10 or 15 in-
dividual days in two months). Travel partners (2-5 people traveling together) save 15 per-
cent with Saver Passes, available in consecutive-day and flexipass versions. Youths under
26 travel cheaper with second-class passes (for the rest of us, this pass is only available for
first-class travel). Kids under 12 pay half the adult rate.
Eurail Select Passes
give you a selected number of travel days in your choice of three,
four,orfiveadjoiningEurailcountries,whetherconnectedbyrailorferry(e.g.,athree-coun-
try Select Pass could cover Italy, Switzerland, and Germany). Select Passes are fine for a
focused trip, but to see the Best of Europe, you'd do best with a Eurail Global pass. These
passes also give a 15 percent Saverpass discount to two or more companions traveling to-
gether.
Eurail Analysis
Foranat-a-glancebreak-evenpoint,rememberthataone-monthEurailGlobalpassisagood
value if, for example, your route is Amsterdam-Rome-Madrid-Paris. Passes pay for them-
selves quicker in the north, where the cost per mile is higher. Check the Rail Tickets map in
this chapter to see if your planned travels merit purchasing a train pass. If it's about even, go
with the pass for the convenience of not having to wait in line to buy tickets (on trains that
don'trequirepaidreservations) andforthefunandfreedomtotravel “free.” Evenifsecond-
class tickets work out a bit cheaper than a first-class pass for travelers over 26, consider the
addedvalueofafirst-classpass:Onacrowdedtrain,yourchancesofgettingaseataremuch
better if your pass allows you to sit anywhere on the train.
Rail-and-drive passes
are popular varieties of many of these passes. Along with a rail-
pass, you get vouchers for a few Hertz or Avis car-rental days. These allow travelers to do
long trips by train and enjoy a car where they need the freedom to explore. Great areas for
a day of joyriding include Germany's Rhine Valley or Bavaria, France's Provence, and the
Alps(for“carhiking”).Whencomparingprices,rememberthateachdayofcarrentalcomes
with about $50 of extra expenses (CDW insurance, gas, parking).
