Most reservations are NOT that much. Usually they are around 3-5 euros (5-7 USD), on like the TGV in France, etc., sometimes 10 euros (Eurostar Italia) and occasionally more on private trains like the Thalys (ours were 13 euros each way). These are all HIGH-SPEED trains, and are usually the only ones which require reservations (the regional, slower trains do not. and the high speed ICE trains in Germany only recommend reservations, they are not required.)
This is not including night train reservations which are typically around 5-9 euros for a reclining seat, and 25-30 euros for a couchette bed. This is obviously different from a regular train, thus requiring a supplement.

I think the only trains which might have higher reservation fees than this are like, the hotel trains that go between Spain and Paris or Milan. Those are pretty expensive even with a rail pass. Those can be avoided, however.

1) You always pay for a reservation if you choose to take a train that requires one. Whether or not you need a reservation and how much a reservation costs depends on which specific train you choose to take. If you buy a ticket for a train that requires a reservation, it will cost more than standard fare because it will include the reservation. So, were you comparing prices to standard fare or prices that included a reservation?
2) Where did you price the tickets? If you used a travel agency site, like the ones that sell railpasses, you will get “global” pricing — 30 to 35% more than you’d pay at the station or from the individual national rail company websites. Are you comparing prices that include a reservation to the pass, or the base fare?
3) Most of the specials are only available on-line and are non-refundable tickets that must be purchased in advance. Are you so sure of the exact dates and times that you want to do that to save a few bucks? n Most reservations only cost 4 or 5 euros although you’ll pay up to 10 in 2nd class and 20 in 1st class if you choose to take the fanciest premier trains in Italy.

Kayling05: Thank you, I am glad to hear the reservation fee is much less than I thought and that not all trains require them.
Oldlady: Thank you for the explanation. I was using raileurope.com to compare prices, do sites like that really have a 30-35% mark-up? They were recommended as best price for eurail passes.

When I checked prices for the point to point tickets I am not sure if the price included a reservation, I guess I just assumed it did if I was booking looking a a specific train.

I think I am leaning toward a pass now because my itinerary is pretty set and my travel is mostly from big city to big city and country to country. I was thinking that for my itinerary that I would just do point to point tickets in Italy, then get a Eurail East Pass to cover my travel in Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, and Austria. Then I would get a 4 country flex pass to cover getting from austria to germany, to netherlands, and to france.

One question I have is, if I am traveling to (or from) a country that I have a pass for to a country that I don’t have a pass for, how does that work? For example, I will end my time in Italy in Venice. From there I will need to get to Budapest. If I have an East Past which covers Hungary will I be able to board the train with the pass (or with a discount) since I am going to a country where I have a pass?

Any suggestions on passes for my itinerary would be appreciated!

Yes, raileurope is usually 35% higher than you’d pay at the station — plus you’ll pay handling charges and inflated prices for the reservations and shipping fees. I think not using a railpass in Italy is probably a reasonable decision. The cost difference between a railpass and point to point tickets is usually a toss-up in Italy and it’s easier to buy a ticket with reservation from the kiosk than it is to buy “just a reservation” to use with your railpass. For Eastern Europe it is very unlikely that the pass will pay. You’ll be using a railpass with a price based largely on expensive tickets in Austria to pay for cheap tickets in Slovakia, Poland and Czech Republic and average priced tickets in Hungary. Unless you’re doing tons of travel a European East pass seldom pays. Probably a good idea. Train travel is expensive in these countries. Plus reservations aren’t a big issue as there are lots of trains that don’t require reservations and reservations are generally cheap and easy to buy in these countries. Just buy a ticket from Venice to the border crossing town in the first country your railpass covers. If you show your railpass to the ticket agent and tell them what you want to do they will sell you the appropriate ticket. Check the “details” for the train on the German rail website (best for schedules and general information for trains anywhere in Europe) http://reiseauskunft… to find the border crossing so you’ll be able to tell the ticket agent.

Just to clarify on Ol’s point, she was talking about point-to-point tickets. There’s no mark up for eurail prices as you can only buy them from select agencies and not at stations in Europe.