Eurail 1st class tickets

Here's the fine print from the ETBD web site:

Second-class Select Passes can only be used by travelers under 26; travelers age 26 or older must buy a first-class pass.

Thank you. Appreciate your response.

Go to www.seat61.com for all you'll need to book tickets on rail systems across Europe. Do not use Rail Europe. We use point to point tickets when traveling across France, Italy, and other places that go on sale 60-90 days prior to travel. Rail travel is exceptional but you have to know how to buy tickets to save lots of $$.

Thank you very much for the info and tip.

Hi,

Yes, you can get a 2nd class Pass. Is a Select Pass (four countries) really necessary? I'm in my mid-60s, used the 2nd class Pass , 10 days on the last trip last month. I use a regional Pass, Austria-Germany. Which 4 countries?

We will be in Europe for 5 weeks, 3 days and planning to travel to Germany, France, Italy and Switzerland via rail pass. Also Austria and possibly Belgium (time permitting) but we'd buy individual tickets to these two countries at the time.

You really need to do some comparative pricing checks. Rail pass are not an automatic good deal that they once were years ago. With premium fares for high speed trains, limited available of seats for rail passes and seat reservation fees for rail pass with the deep discounts available for on-line purchase, it is hard to justify a rail pass economically. A rail pass does provide some elements of convenience but you pay for that convenience. Need to put a pencil to you travel schedule.

Hi,

That's a total of 38 days. That long of a trip I certainly get a rail Pass but then it depends on a number of factors, travel style, how many long trips, taking a night or two, any zig zag traveling, which routes you take, which country in those 4 are you planning to do the most traveling? Of the countries listed I use the Pass and also discounted tickets, but keep in mind when you buy those on-line you've sacrificed flexibility for savings, since you have locked yourself in to a time specific train and departure. If you're traveling much in Germany, there are a lot of "disruptions" going on, ie changes in scheduling, trip duration, (Fahrzeitänderungen), tracks from which the trains depart, ie other than what is stated in the yellow Abfahrt/Departure schedule poster. If you have a train specific ticket, what happens when your train isn't running (Zug fällt aus). How do you know that? Its departure time doesn't show up on the blue electronic board.

The regional Pass is available in 2nd class. Based on your itinerary I would suggest the Germany-Switzerland or Germany-France, even though in France on their TGV train, they have a quota on passholders, which you may or may not run into. (no such thing in Germany). I've encountered this quota a few times, you just work around it, depending on the flexibility of your trip. They will tell you when you go to get the reservation for that particular TGV ride. Buy point to point tickets for traveling in other countries, such in Austria on Westbahn where you pay the conductor directly, and cheaper too.

Boy, lots to consider! had no idea, just expected to purchase a pass and travel in those countries whenever train available. Thanks, everyone for information. Keep suggestions coming.

A rail pass allows you to "travel whenever a train is available" for all of your destinations except France. The faster trains to/from/within France do limit the number of rail pass travelers and sell out early. See

• http://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation/trains/reservations and
• http://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation/trains/france-rail-passes#reservations

To/from/within Italy, faster trains also require reservations for about €10/each, but don't place artificial limits on pass holders (except to France), so you could book them at the last-minute. It's really the same procedure as buying a ticket, so you're not just hopping on those fast trains (as you could in Germany or Austria).