Hello! I tried to purchase tickets online to Euro Rail. My order would not process. I called in and the price went up $50. They said the pricing on their website is subject to change. Then, I was unable to complete the transaction without emailing them proof of my ID. Is this normal? Thank you!
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
I don't know which web site you're actually using, but two things are true: pass prices are subject to change at any time and booking by phone usually costs more. Rail Europe did have a price increase take effect today (but prices are still a dollar or two per person less than Eurail.com). I don't know why they would need ID, though the question has come up before. The combination of the two issues may point to credit card problem. If you're going for a pass that's 20% off, be sure to clarify that point. And don't pay for Rail Protection Plan if you don't want to.
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
Who do you mean by "Euro Rail"? Do you mean "Eurail"?
"Eurail" ( http://www.eurail.com/ ) is a ticket reselling agent specialising on the North American market. Most people (including me) recommend you buy direct from the railway company operating the trains, not from a reseller, who may offer a limited range of trains and/or charge extra.
What ticket are you trying to buy (from where to where?), then people can advice what site to buy from. For a primer on rail travel in Italy, start here: http://seat61.com/Italy-trains.htm
Posted by
Green Bay
21364 posts
Why on earth would you buy Italian rail tickets from "Euro Rail" (never heard of them). Buy tickets from the rail operators like http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en or http://www.italotreno.it/en
These people are with their trains in Italy and price the tickets in Euro, the legal tender of Italy. It has been dropping vs the U.S. $, so prices in dollar terms should be getting better.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
And if this question is about point-to-point tickets, then mid-speed and faster Italian trains offer three price levels within any one class of service. The cheapest rates are quick to sell out.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Sorry --- it is Rail Europe that raised the price and is asking for Identification. Not Euro Rail. I somehow mixed the name up.
Posted by
Green Bay
21364 posts
Like I said, go to the source if you want to buy train tickets, not a middle man like Rail Europe. At least you will know what the real ticket price is. And as Laura mentioned, cheap tickets sell out and you get bumped up to the next pricing tranche. They have 3 price tranches, Super Economy, Economy, and Base. When the predetermined number of Super Economy tickets are sold out, then only Economy and Base price tickets are available and when Economy sells out, then Base (full fare tickets) are all that are left.
On Italian rail sites, you can pay with a credit card but you will need to notify your credit card company that you are making an international transaction. Otherwise, it will be flagged as potentially fraudulent. The print-at-home ticket will have your name on it, so you will need your passport as ID when the conductor checks your ticket.