I purchased a raileurope flex pass, two countries, first class for two people. I am wondering if I made a mistake. I cannot make reservations. It states my pass is not valid for all the major cities in Spain. I purchased insurance wondering if I should cancel rail pass and purchase reservations per city? It looks like with the pass I will pay double.... Help....
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
Diane, before buying a Eurail pass, everybody should read this page, especially the section " Eurail or point-to-point tickets?": https://www.seat61.com/Railpass-and-Eurail-pass-guide.htm
According to that page, the only way to make passholder reservations for Spanish trains is (if you live in the USA) via: www.raileurope.com
A pass does not pay for many people, especially for southern and eastern European countries like Italy where tickets are (relatively) cheap.
In most countries you get significant reductions if you buy in advance, which totally undercut pass prices. And, if you buy normal tickets, the ticket includes the reservations. But, when you buy an advance-purchase ticket is for a specific train, you have to pay if you change your mind later.
If you do decide to buy normal tickets for Spain, see here for a "how to": https://www.seat61.com/Spain-trains.htm#How_to_buy_train_tickets_for_Spain (and read the rest of that page as well).
P.S. Which two countries, Spain and ????
Posted by
OP
3 posts
I think I made a mistake with the type of rail pass I purchased. We are going to be in Spain three weeks and Portugual two weeks. With the flex pass I think I use it within 10 days? Confused.... Should I call and change my pass or get a refund?
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
362 posts
Get a refund if possible. Here's a tripadvisor article on Portuguese rail advising against rail passes as it won't allow seat reservations on their fast trains.
I recall last year, discounts in Portugal available up to 5 days advance purchase. Official website www.cp.pt, tickets were easy to purchase from home.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
I don't think it's time to panic, yet. What dates are you trying to reserve? Don't expect to book more than two months ahead, and often less. Are you booking direct trains or connections? You may have to break up the connections. If you're trying to go to the running of the bulls in Pamplona, then don't expect to get a seat reservation for that.
If you perhaps can't reserve a connection to Granada at the moment, where there's been rail construction for a few years, that can be made at a train station, for instance when you first have the pass activated. Most reservations could be made in that way, but not on short notice for a busy period. Portuguese seat reservations are available in stations there. For instance, several Barcelona-Madrid departures are available to reserve in both 1st and 2nd class at https://ricksteves.raileurope.com/us/rail/point_to_point/triprequest.htm on a test date of June 20, but many others on the same day are not.
Insurance will allow you to get a full credit toward a different rail pass purchase, but if you do want a cash refund for an unused pass, then it would be about 85%, either with or without insurance. You have up to a year from the date of purchase to claim the refund, so you don't have to decide immediately. But if you do activate the pass, then use it to it's fullest, since there's no refund after that.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thank you for everyone's response... I spoke with RailEurope. The agent was wonderful! He scheduled our first class reservations. There was a minimal cost for seats. I feel good about the Flex pass. I am going to save all your info regarding trains in Spain and Portugal.
Thank you