Hello all. We (2 adults, 2 teenagers) will be travelling by rail through Italy, Switzerland, Germany and Austria this summer (mid-June through early-July) with Eurail Select passes. We plan to purchase advance reservations for all "compulsory" segments of our trip (Rome>Venice, Venice>Milan, Milan>Spiez and Zurich>Innsbruck) while we're still here in the States. My dilemma is whether it's worth the added expense to book reservations for trains that are "optional but recommended" in order to (1) guarantee us seats and (2) ensure that we're seated together. Considering the time of year that we're travelling and the fact that some trains (based upon what I've read) limit the number of seats they reserve for Eurail passholders, would it be wise to purchase reservations for non-compulsory segments (Interlaken>Bern, Bern>Zurich, Zurich>Innsbruck)? Our Eurail Select passes do entitle us to 1st class, so perhaps it's less of an issue finding seats together in 1st class vs 2nd class. Thanks in advance!
Posted by
Green Bay
20947 posts
For your Swiss segments, you can check your itinerary with the Online Timetable at www.sbb.ch. There will be icons on the right side of the train times that will show how full they expect the train to be. Do this the day or two before your travel for the most accurate estimate. Then you can decide. Generally, the direct IC trains are uncrowded, but EC trains do get crowded because they are through trains coming from Italy and/or continuing on to Germany or France.
France is the only country I know that limits passholders. Its not on your itinerary.
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
Yes, for a group of 4 always reserve. With a reservation, you can get 4 seats together (2 facing 2). Otherwise you will be separated. It is human nature, in a ½ full, or even ¼ full train, people pick a free seat pair, not next to someone else. Unless you are absolutely first on the train, you will find every group of 4 seats has 1 person in it.
Except, there are no bookings for trains inside Switzerland, so you cannot book Interlaken>Bern or Bern>Zürich. just get on the train fast, grab a groups of 4 seats.
"guarantee us seats" is not a problem, it is very rare to have to stand, and never in 1st class.
Posted by
Seattle
4637 posts
Nobody can guarantee you seats unless you reserve them. But with the first class I would take my chances. It's almost certain that in the first class all of you will sit even without reservation, in the worst case scenario not together.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23547 posts
Sometimes I have had first class seats when I was the only one in the first class car. I wouldn't worry unless it is absolutely critical for all four to set together. Our two teenage sons often liked sitting by themselves in another car.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
Only trains that require reservations have the possibility to limit the number of places for pass holders. It's our understanding that the reserved Italian trains don't apply any artificial limit (but fast trains in Belgium, France, Spain, Sweden, and some other areas do).
Zurich to Innsbruck is an optional reservation, not required, but among others on your list, that is probably the only optional reservation I would pay for. There's no deadline to do so; you could buy them at an earlier stop in Switzerland for about $5 per person.
Posted by
Bern, Switzerland
1026 posts
There is no need to book trains in Switzerland, there are trains about every half hour between the towns and cities you mentioned, so there should be plenty the of room in 2nd class, if not just grab the following train.
If Switzerland during rush hours you will find 1st class to be heavily occupied, as most companies provide some kind of reduced public transport tickets rather than company cars. I travel between Bern and Zurich each day for work and there is often less than three unoccupied seats in the carriage.