Rail Passes

If you just scan back a few postings under transportation you find this is a frequently discussed issue. The short answer is you have to do you own homework by determining you schedule and the total cost of p2p tickets. Remember you obtain deep discounted tickets if willing to commit to a specific day and time. Second, most trains will charge a train premiums - varies by train and country - for using a pass. So that charge must be added to the cost of the rail pass. Rail pass are no longer the no brainer, good deal, they once were twenty years ago. And no one here can help you because we do not know your schedule.

How are you getting between Switzerland and Belgium? Unless you are flying, you'll have to go through Germany or France and you'll need a pass that includes that country. I agree with Frank. You need to figure where you are going and do the calculations, but, today, rail passes often don't pay off.

I agree with Frank but note that in Switzerland you do not need pass holder reservations except reservations are required on some private scenic railway journeys - but for all not just pass holders - but the exception to the exception is that there are also unreserved normal trains on the same routes at the same speed. in Germany virtually no reservations are required of any sort in Austria pass holder reservations are not required Czech Republic - dunno Belgium - only required, and expensive, on Thalys. If going from Brussels to London all seats on Eurostar are reserved and your pass only gets a discount.

Even if you calculate that a rail pass will be worthwhile in the other countries, don't waste money including Belgium on it. The most expensive round trip 2nd class ticket on Belgium's domestic rail service is only about €35. I doubt a rail pass's daily cost will be less than that. PS- If you will be on a "very low budget", your costs increase considerably everytime you change locations. You might want to reconsider the overall flow of the trip. I would drop Switzerland. It's an amazing country, but also amazingly expensive. And April is the "shoulder season" in the mountains, when most of the tourist infrastructure takes a temporary holiday between the winter ski season and summer climbing season.