Eurail passes

Heather, Hi there, neighbor! Using a Railpass may or may not be the most cost effective method for the routes you listed. Passes DO NOT include the reservation fees that are compulsory on "premium" trains (I haven't checked on whether reservations are compulsory on the routes you'll be using). Also remember that each member of your party will require their own Railpass or ticket. To begin with, you may find it helpful to download the free PDF Rail Guide from this website. Click the "Railpasses" tab at the top of the page and then look in the lower right corner for the download link. You'll need to do some "number crunching" in order to compare the cost of P-P tickets vs a Railpass with reservation fees. Hopefully Lee or Tim will spot this post, as they will be able to advise on Sparpreis or other special fares in Germany and Austria that may be much cheaper than a Railpass (especially for a family). I don't have any information on travel in Krakow, Budapest or Slovenia, but if you need any details on your other stops, post another note. One point to note is arrival in Hallstatt. The station is across the lake from the town, so you'll need to take a short ride on Stephanie to get from the station to the town. Which Hotel are you planning to stay in? That's one of the most incredibly beautiful places I've seen in Europe! AFAIK, Railpasses all cost the same, regardless of where you buy them. I would suggest buying from this website, which is one of the largest Railpass vendors in North America. If you do decide to use a Railpass, it would be worthwhile to pay a few bucks on a long distance call to Seattle, and speak with Rick's Rail Experts. They'll be able to answer ALL of your questions. WHEN is this trip taking place? Happy travels!