Cheap Rail Tactics and Strategies
Getting around Europe can be tricky and expensive. Here are a few strategies to help you save money when riding the rails.
The Eurail Pass
Since the 1960’s the Eurail Pass has been the gold standard for backpackers and budget travelers in Europe. The pass allows you to freely travel within most of Europe for a certain number of days. It’s important to understand that it is not a point-to-point rail ticket and there are many different types of passes from which to choose.
1. The Global Pass
This is the most comprehensive pass. It allows continuous travel within 20 countries for anywhere from 15 days to 3 months. You can also choose to travel 10 to 15 days in a two month period. All of these options are priced accordingly.
2. Eurail Select Pass
Allows travel within 3-5 bordering countries and travel from 5 – 10 days in a two month period.
3. Eurail Regional Pass
Perfect for those traveling to a specific region of Europe. Provides rail travel for 3-10 days for two months.
NOTE: Not all European countries are covered by Eurail! Check the list of countries for more information.
The Eurail Pass Prices
Prices for these passes vary and the more travel days and countries, the higher the price. The Global Pass starts at $519, the Select Pass at $329, the Regional Pass at $179, and the One Country Pass at $49. Remember that these are starting prices, so any extra day, country, or goody you add on increases the rate.
Buying a Pass
Buy your pass before you arrive to Europe. Only a limited number of countries allow you to buy a pass in Europe and it will cost you up to 20% more. While we may be a bit biased, we suggest purchasing a pass from Eurotrip’s Eurail Booker. Here you can price, pick, and buy any one of the four types of passes.
If you are a resident of Europe, you will not be able to buy a Eurail pass. Fortunately, Europeans have the option to buy a similar style Interrail pass.
Point to Point Tickets
Sometimes a Eurail Pass is not the best option. For instance, if you are traveling within only Italy, you may do better buying point-to-point tickets when you arrive. If you know where you’ll be traveling, compare point-to-point prices with the Eurail fare. A good site to research ticket prices and schedules is the German rail site, Bahn.
More Advice
If you have any other questions about rail travel, be sure to visit Eurotrip Transportation Discussion Forum.
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