Considering using a rail pass to travel by train in Europe? Want to have a relatively stress free trip, but don't want trawl through the pages of advice published on ThereByTrain.com. You've come to the right place!
1. Rail passes can save you money
Travel far enough (I reckon an average of 4hrs per journey) and you will save money with a rail pass, even in comparison to discounted train tickets which will have sold out days/weeks/months before you head off on your first journey
Eurail
InterRail
2 . Be Wary Of The Info You Can Find Online
You don't have to look too hard to find blog posts, forum comments, travel articles claiming that rail passes are a rip off etc etc. Maybe they weren't the best option for the respective authors, but every trip is different - including yours!
Many of these adverse comments fall into the trap of comparing the cost of using a a rail pass against the price of the cheapest discounted tickets.
However, if you want to spend the early hours of the morning on the date 3 months before your first journey booking multiple tickets online AND don't mind being locked into taking specific trains for your entire holiday, then rail passes may not be the best option.
3. Stop off somewhere amazing on the way
Rail passes give you much more freedom to explore than using ordinary tickets, particularly when you're travelling on a route that has regular trains that don't have to be reserved.
4. Keep your total travel distance to a minimum
Even if your not one of life's planners try to apply some logic to your trip, travel too far on one adventure and you'll begin to wish you'd never seen a train.
The most casual glance at this map, any map will show you that a Paris - Amsterdam - Berlin - Munich - Milan - Basel - Paris trip is shorter than a Paris - Munich - Amsterdam - Milan - Basel - Berlin - Paris trip etc etc.
5. You CAN get on almost on any daytime train
A travel myth that's gaining popularity is that, 'rail passes are a waste of time because you can use them on hardly European trains these days'.
Not so, Eurail and InterRail passes can be used on the red, yellow and pink routes shown on this map and on the blue routes you can use a use a pass if you pay a supplement (well nearly always - see item no.7).
When Eurail passes and InterRail passes were first launched the best and fastest trains in Europe were Trans Europe Express (TEE) trains which didn't accept any passes at all, so 'these days' is probably better than many people think!
6. You can avoid trains that charge a supplement (that are a con, a hassle etc)
You can travel a long way in Europe by train and without having to pay for any supplements/reservations - these itineraries show you far you can go without having to pay any extra fees.
7. You don't have to travel by trains that can be a problem for a rail pass users
Note the use of the world 'almost' in point No.5, some high speed trains have limited quotas of seats available to rail pass users.
This supplements guide shows you what those trains are; and explains the alternative trains/routes that can be taken instead.
8. Taking a seat
Boarding a train with Eurail or InterRail pass doesn't entitle you to a seat.
If you want to be sure of having a seat for a long journey, on an express train that doesn't have compulsory reservations, you can reserve it in advance for an average of €3s.
This isn't discrimination against rail pass users, ordinary ticket holders have made the same choice of whether to reserve or not.
Standing for hours in train corrdidors on long journeys is something else that fuels the anti rail pass debate, but these scenarios can be avoided for the sake of a few euros.
9. Plan ahead for the overnight train
As this overnight trains guide shows, taking the night train can be complicated for rail pass users, never simply turn up at the station and board an overnight train.
Beds in sleeping cabins, berths in couchettes and special reclining seats all now have to reserved in advance and standard seats, of they type that can be found on day trains, may not be available.
10. Overnight trains often aren't a money saving option
As this overnight trains guide shows, a rail pass covers the costs of the journey on an overnight train, but not those compulsory reservation fees for a any type of bed etc.
On many overnight train routes, particularly those served by 'hotel trains', you can't save the cost of a hostel etc, by taking the train.
11. Make Friends and swap travel tips on the night train
Many rail pass users opt for the couchettes on night trains, if you can get past 'What! I'm expected to sleep in here with all these other people?!?' then those people you've never met before, can actually help you have a great trip.
12. Crossing borders from one country to another can be hassle free
I got a bit carried away with the international trains guide, but rail passes can be a big plus when crossing borders, particularly when avoiding the supplements charged on many international express trains.
Rail pass users can hop on and off the alternative local trains, everyone else has to buy up to three separate tickets each time they change trains.
13. Don't make assumptions about trains (particularly in Italy, France, Spain, Hungary, The Czech Republic and Poland)
I'll admit I'm struggling to explain this, but trains that look similar to each other in these countries, may be actually very different.
Always try to double check before boarding whether you have to pay a supplement etc, if you don't you can find yourself being treated as though you haven't bought a ticket at all.
Don't assume that because the train you're about to board, looks sort of similar to a train that you hopped on to earlier with no problem, that the same 'rules' for using a rail pass will apply this time around!
14. Don't make assumptions about stations
The station you arrived at may not be the same station that your next train will depart from.
It's tempting to rush off to find where you'll be staying and see the sights, but taking 10 minutes to double check what time the next train you want to take is leaving; and from what station; and whether it is still running etc can save a LOT of panicing.
15. Leave more time you think to get to the station and board the train.
So the station isn't that far from you where you're staying and you've got a rail pass, so don't need to queue up and get a ticket etc - if only life was that easy.
You've probably never travelled TO that station before, or taken a train from it. It's easy to get lost on foot, take the wrong tram, head in the wrong direction on the metro, get stuck in traffic etc.
And you might need a reservation after all, so that booking office queue could unavoidable.
Racing to catch a train against the clock isn't fun.
16. Have the journey(s) of a lifetime
Some train journeys in Europe, can be very dull, but others are magical and can massively enhance your whole trip. This will tell you where and how!
17. Make the most of Switzerland
Like many things in Switzerland travelling on its incredible network of tourist trains through the mountains isn't cheap.
But one of the best benefits of a Eurail and InterRail passes is that they can be used to travel for FREE on many of these lines - including those that you will take you right across Switzerland.
18. Make the most of the reservation desks at major German stations
If trying to arrange your reservations before heading to Europe or boarding your first train would be a hassle (check out these options/hints for Eurail and InterRail), then include a German city towards the start of your trip!
Major German stations (the hauptbahnhofs) have reservation/information desks that can sell you reservations for most day and night trains across Europe, including those that don't travel anywhere near Germany - and you won't be charged any booking fees!
19. Think twice about heading to Greece
Getting to Greece by train has always been an experience to endure rather than enjoy, but now that they aren't any trains at all - forcing rail pass users to take a bus from Sofia; or a ferry/bus/train combo from Italy - the balance has tipped even further towards endurance.
20. Think twice about heading to Turkey
Night trains, that are somewhere towards the bottom of any 'most comfortable trains in Europe list, and having to leave the train to queue at the border in the middle of the night, can make getting a train to Turkey something of an ordeal.
However, sadly the balance has tipped even further of not taking the train for the time being. Work is being carried out on the line, so most nights passengers are being transferred between buses and trains in the middle of the night.
21. High Speed trains can be good value for money
Arguably Europe's most fabulous trains, German I.C.E. trains, are the only type of European high speed train that rail pass users don't have to pay a supplement to travel by, so make the most of them!
But paying those supplements to travel on high speed trains can actually be a bargain. Tickets for these trains are (a lot more) expensive than for ordinary trains, which is one of the reasons why Eurail and InterRail users have to pay a supplement to use them.
Pay the €10 supplement and you could be sat next to someone who has paid more than €80 for their ticket.
22. Rail Passes Aren't Just For Backpackers
Anyone can use a rail pass, you don't have to be about to graduate from college.
If you can afford it take advantage of of a 1st class Eurail or InterRail pass, particularly if you want to maximise the use of pass on a long itinerary.
The extra cost IS worth it and a big plus is you can avoid reservations on trains that don't have compulsory reservations, seats are virtually always available in 1st class!
23. The hidden costs of 1st class passes
You may have spotted that sweeping statement about 1st class passes being worth every euro, but there is a downside to having a 1st class pass, namely having to pay supplements at the 1st class rate -which can be more than double the 2nd class rate!
A friend told me that they'd spent more than £100 on airline style meals in plastic trays, none of which they touched!
24. Buy food/drink before you board the train
If you're not going to have the 'luxury' of an airline style meal set down before you, it's a good idea to take food and drink on board with you for long journeys
Not only will it cost twice as much on the train, you can't be 100% certain that the food counter will be open at all.
25. Take epic day trips
All the constant unpacking and moving on can be a drag on any rail pass itinerary. So take advantage of the pass and base yourself in fewer cities, but make epic day trips by train to multiple other towns and cities in a single day.
Cities that are good bases for all day excursions by train include Amsterdam, Basel, Brussels, Florence, Milan, Munich and Zurich
